Brain Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Brain Cancer, including details on symptoms, benign and malignant tumors, gliomas, treatment.

Ligand-dependent activation of the hedgehog pathway in glioma progenitor cells.

Ehtesham M, Sarangi A, Valadez JG, Chanthaphaychith S, Becher MW, Abel TW, Thompson RC, Cooper MK

Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway regulates progenitor cells during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis in multiple organ systems. We have investigated the activity of this pathway in adult gliomas, and demonstrate that the Hh pathway is operational and activated within grade II and III gliomas, but not grade IV de novo glioblastoma multiforme. Furthermore, our studies reveal that pathway activity and responsiveness is confined to progenitor cells within these tumors. Additionally, we demonstrate that Hh signaling in glioma progenitor cells is ligand-dependent and provide evidence documenting the in vivo source of Sonic hedgehog protein. These findings suggest a regulatory role for the Hh pathway in progenitor cells within grade II and III gliomas, and the potential clinical utility of monitoring and targeting this pathway in these primary brain tumors.

Published 23 August 2007 in Oncogene, 26(39): 5752-61.
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