HIGH GRADE GLIOMAS AND DIPG

ABSTRACT: In contrast to most other malignant diseases, especially in children, up to now glioblastoma multiforma (GBM) is a lethal diagnosis for most of the patients. Operation and radiotherapy are very effective to reduce the tumor burden, however, a strong adjuvant treatment is lacking. To target glioblastoma cells more effectively, it is crucial to understand the cellular signaling and regulation, particularly in the EGF and VEGF dependent pathways. Since it has been shown that glioblastomas are extremely heterogeneous regarding genetic, epigenetic or signaling regulation, receptor expression etc., analysis of individual patient derived tumor cells is particularly important. We established a collection of well-characterized heterogeneous early-passage brain tumor cell lines. Since August 2009, more than 26 clinical samples from patients with WHO grade IV GBM and Anaplastic Astrocytoma, WHO grade III, were collected. Cell lines were established that were in depth analysed both for genetic and epigenetic regulation, receptor expression, and sensitivity to cytostatic or targeted drugs. We found that cells in monolayer and spheroid cultures, and cells grown using standard and stem cell selective culture medium, respectively, or, further, tumors grown in xenograft models behave differently with regard to the receptor dependent signaling pathways. Establishment of such models is crucial to design targeted therapy approaches that allow direct transfer from the laboratory system to the clinical application.

SUBMITTER: Classen C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4046287 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature