Mechanisms of Gliomagenesis

Abstract

Malignant brain tumors are quickly become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and young adults, and the incidence of the disease has increased many folds in the elderly over the last decade. Currently, the rapid development of molecular technology provides great promise for understanding the mechanisms of gliomagenesis. A number of genetic abnormalities have been implicated in this malignant process, which are involved in signal transduc-tion, cell cycle control, cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. We discus here the genes and pathways believed to be critical in glioma formation and progression.