The origin of brain tumor

本研究应用cDNA芯片技术分析了脑肿瘤干细胞的基因表达谱。肿瘤干细胞是我们从胶质母细胞瘤患者中分离出来的。对神经发生、肿瘤发生、包括神经干细胞在内的其他干细胞的相关基因进行了研究。从未分化状态、分化状态和去分化状态提取细胞。结果发现，脑肿瘤干细胞不仅表达癌基因（TGF、MYC、FOS等），还表达神经发生相关基因（EGFR、VEGF、BDNF、PDGF、Shh、Wnt、Sox等）。以及用于保持干性的基因，如LIF。另一方面，各细胞系的表达模式不同。这些模式太复杂了，以至于现在无法找到从最原始的细胞到更分化类型的肿瘤干细胞的分化层次。然而，这一发现应有助于建立个性化医疗，这必须比目前的治疗更有效。

In the present study, the gene expression patterns of brain tumor stem cells were analyzed by means of cDNA array. The tumor stem cells were separated from glioblastoma patients by us. Genes related to neurogenesis, oncogine, other stem cells including neural stem cells were studied. Cells were extracted from undifferentiated state, differentiated state, and dedifferentiated state. Each stage of the cells were examined and compared with different state or a cell line of glioblastoma (U87).As a result, we detected the brain tumor stem cells express not only oncogene (TGF, MYC, FOS, and so on), but also neurogenesis-related genes (EGFR, VEGF, BDNF, PDGF, Shh, Wnt, Sox, etc.) as well as genes for keeping stemness such as LIF. On the other hand, the expression patterns were different among respective cell lines. These patterns are too complicated for now to find a hierarchy of differentiation from the most primitive cells to more differentiated type of tumor stem cells. However, this discovery should contribute to establishment of personalized medicine which must be more effective than the present therapies.