Marker-independent method for isolating slow-dividing cancer stem cells in human glioblastoma.

ABSTRACT: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating brain tumor with a poor survival outcome. It is generated and propagated by a small subpopulation of rare and hierarchically organized cells that share stem-like features with normal stem cells but, however, appear dysregulated in terms of self-renewal and proliferation and aberrantly differentiate into cells forming the bulk of the disorganized cancer tissues. The complexity and heterogeneity of human GBMs underlie the lack of standardized and effective treatments. This study is based on the assumption that available markers defining cancer stem cells (CSCs) in all GBMs are not conclusive and further work is required to identify the CSC. We implemented a method to isolate CSCs independently from cell surface markers: four patient-derived GBM neurosphere

SUBMITTER: Richichi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3689246 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature