Glial progenitors as targets for transformation in glioma

Shirin Ilkhanizadeh; Jasmine Lau; Miller Huang; Daniel J Foster; Robyn Wong; Aaron Frantz; Susan Wang; William A Weiss; Anders I Persson

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800249-0.00001-9

Glial progenitors as targets for transformation in glioma

Adv Cancer Res. 2014:121:1-65. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-800249-0.00001-9.

Authors

Shirin Ilkhanizadeh¹, Jasmine Lau¹, Miller Huang¹, Daniel J Foster², Robyn Wong¹, Aaron Frantz², Susan Wang², William A Weiss³, Anders I Persson⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
² Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery and Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Sandler Neurosciences Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
³ Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery and Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
⁴ Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery and Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Sandler Neurosciences Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. Electronic address: anders.persson@ucsf.edu.

Abstract

Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor and arises throughout the central nervous system. Recent focus on stem-like glioma cells has implicated neural stem cells (NSCs), a minor precursor population restricted to germinal zones, as a potential source of gliomas. In this review, we focus on the relationship between oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), the largest population of cycling glial progenitors in the postnatal brain, and gliomagenesis. OPCs can give rise to gliomas, with signaling pathways associated with NSCs also playing key roles during OPC lineage development. Gliomas can also undergo a switch from progenitor- to stem-like phenotype after therapy, consistent with an OPC-origin even for stem-like gliomas. Future in-depth studies of OPC biology may shed light on the etiology of OPC-derived gliomas and reveal new therapeutic avenues.

Keywords: Brain; Cancer; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Neural stem cell; Oligodendrocyte progenitor cell.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Differentiation / genetics
Cell Lineage / physiology
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic* / pathology
Glioma / genetics
Glioma / pathology*
Glioma / therapy
Humans
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Neural Stem Cells / pathology
Neural Stem Cells / physiology*
Neuroglia / pathology
Neuroglia / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding