The Role of Stem Cells in the Glioma Growth

Abstract

Malignant glioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor and represents one of the most lethal cancers. In contrast to the long-standing and well-defined histopathology, the underlying molecular and genetic bases for gliomas are less known. (Collins, 2004; Dai & Holland, 2001). As some other human cancers, particularly central nervous tumors are highly heterogeneous. Primarily because of its diffuse nature, relatively little is known about the processes by which they develop (Hulleman & Helin, 2005). Thus, the traditional evolution concept of tumors arising from a single mutated cell has limitations in explaining the heterogeneity observed in a single tumor nest. Recent decades have seen only limited progress in treatment trials and basic research on human glioma, the most common central nervous malignancy (Huang et al., 2008). Unfortunately, for such gliomas, tumor recurrence after treatment is the rule due to the infiltrative nature of these tumors and the presence of cellular populations with ability to escape therapies and drive tumor recurrence and progression. At least in some cases, these resistant cells exhibit stem cell properties (Frosina, 2011). For these reasons the comprehension of the current knowledge of cancer stem cells (CSC) in relation to gliomas origin, growth and treatment is crucial. As the stem cells (for glioma, neuronal stem cells) are more susceptible to mutation, they become altered easily for their genetic composition and therefore act as the source of cancer/glioma cells. They are not actually a separate cell type and in most cases they are misinterpreted as cancer stem cells (in brain, they are glioma stem cells).