The role of glioma stem cells in chemotherapy resistance and glioblastoma multiforme recurrence

Brenda Auffinger, Drew Spencer, Peter Pytel, Atique U. Ahmed, Maciej S. Lesniak*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

224 Scopus citations

Abstract

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) constitute a slow-dividing, small population within a heterogeneous glioblastoma. They are able to self-renew, recapitulate a whole tumor, and differentiate into other specific glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) subpopulations. Therefore, they have been held responsible for malignant relapse after primary standard therapy and the poor prognosis of recurrent GBM. The failure of current therapies to eliminate specific GSC subpopulations has been considered a major factor contributing to the inevitable recurrence in GBM patients after treatment. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance of GSCs and the reasons why complete eradication of GSCs is so difficult to achieve. We will also describe the targeted therapies currently available for GSCs and possible mechanisms to overcome such chemoresistance and avoid therapeutic relapse.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)741-752
Number of pages12
JournalExpert Review of Neurotherapeutics
Volume15
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2015

Funding

This work was supported by the NCI (R01CA122930, R01CA138587), the NIH (R01NS077388), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U01NS069997), and the American Cancer Society (RSG-07-276-01-MGO). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Keywords

  • Chemoresistance
  • glioma stem cells
  • malignant glioma
  • mechanisms
  • plasticity
  • recurrence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Pharmacology (medical)
  • General Neuroscience

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