The Impact of Neural Stem Cell Biology on CNS Carcinogenesis and Tumor Types

K M Kurian

doi:10.4061/2011/685271

Abstract

The incidence of gliomas is on the increase, according to epidemiological data. This increase is a conundrum because the brain is in a privileged protected site behind the blood-brain barrier, and therefore partially buffered from environmental factors. In addition the brain also has a very low proliferative potential compared with other parts of the body. Recent advances in neural stem cell biology have impacted on our understanding of CNS carcinogenesis and tumor types. This article considers the cancer stem cell theory with regard to CNS cancers, whether CNS tumors arise from human neural stem cells and whether glioma stem cells can be reprogrammed.

Highlights

Epidemiological data suggests that the incidence of gliomas—the most common form of intrinsic brain tumour—is rising [1,2,3]
This paper considers the evidence for the cancer stem cell theory, whether CNS tumours arise from human neural stem cells and whether glioma stem cells can be reprogrammed
Brain cancer or glioma stem cells are a population within a glioma that can divide infinitely, have the capacity to show neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendroglial differentiation and can recapitulate the whole tumour when transplanted into the brain of a nude mouse [11,12,13]

Summary

Introduction

Epidemiological data suggests that the incidence of gliomas—the most common form of intrinsic brain tumour—is rising [1,2,3]. This is surprising, because the brain is partially protected from the environment factors by the blood-brain barrier and has a low proliferative potential compared with other organs. Recent advances from the stem-cell biology field have impacted on our understanding of CNS carcinogenesis and tumor types [4,5,6,7]. This paper considers the evidence for the cancer stem cell theory, whether CNS tumours arise from human neural stem cells and whether glioma stem cells can be reprogrammed

Cancer Stem-Cell Theory

Do CNS Tumours Arise from Human Neural Stem Cells?

Can We Reprogramme Glioma Stem Cells?

Conclusions