MicroRNAs and glioblastoma; the stem cell connection

• Published in: Cell death and differentiation Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 221 - 228
• Main Authors: Godlewski, J, Newton, H B, Chiocca, E A, Lawler, S E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-02-2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Ablation; Apoptosis; Biochemistry; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - genetics; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Cancer therapies; Cell Biology; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle Analysis; Cell death; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell division; Chemotherapy; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioblastoma - genetics; Glioblastoma - pathology; Humans; Hypotheses; Kinases; Life Sciences; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; Oncology; Radiation; review; Roles; Stem Cells; Stem Cells - pathology; Stem Cells - physiology; Surgery; Tumors; United States > US; Ohio; microRNA; development; glioblastoma; stem cell; brain
• ISSN: 1350-9047; 1476-5403
• DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2009.71

Recent data draw close parallels between cancer, including glial brain tumors, and the biology of stem and progenitor cells. At the same time, it has become clear that one of the major roles that microRNAs play is in the regulation of stem cell biology, differentiation, and cell ‘identity’. For example, microRNAs have been increasingly implicated in the regulation of neural differentiation. Interestingly, initial studies in the incurable brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme strongly suggest that microRNAs involved in neural development play a role in this disease. This encourages the idea that certain miRs allow continued tumor growth through the suppression of differentiation and the maintenance of the stem cell-like properties of tumor cells. These concepts will be explored in this article.