Glioblastoma, Glioblastoma Stem Cells and Radiotherapy

摘要

Abstract Despite a tremendous effort in basic science, clinical trials, drug development, and technical advances in radiation oncology, glioblastoma remains incurable and improvements in overall survival have been marginal. While radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatment options for glioblastoma it cannot control the disease over time. This led us to conclude that novel combination therapies are desperately needed to improve radiation treatment outcome for patients suffering from this disease. The studies outlined in this proposal make are base on a hypothesis that is backed by our extensive preliminary data and published data in the literature. Specifically, that radiation causes a phenotype conversion of differentiated glioma cells into therapy-resistant glioma-initiating cells (GICs) and that interfering with this process will increase the efficiency of radiotherapy. The three aims of this study will address this aspect of glioma biology using an innovative tool to track GICs and their progeny and make use of unique resources and expertise available at UCLA. If successful, results from these studies and in particular Aim 2 and 3 will have wider impact on radiation oncology as these principles apply not only to glioblastoma but many other solid cancer.