Study Explores Differential Localization of Glioblastoma Subtypes and Pathogenesis
Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have demonstrated that distinct types of glioblastoma tend to develop in different regions of the brain. This finding provides an explanation for how the same cancer-causing mutation can give rise to different types of brain malignancies. Results of the study were published by Steed et al in Oncotarget.
“It is now well-documented that cancers that look the same under the microscope actually contain different genetic …mutations, and respond differently to therapy,” said Clark Chen, MD, PhD, Vice-Chair of Research and Academic Development in the Division of Neurosurgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “What remains unclear is how the exact, same mutation can give rise to different subtypes of tumor.”
Study Findings
To study this mystery, Dr. Chen's team developed a new computational method to define where different glioblastoma subtypes develop in the brain. Using clinical images derived from 217 brain tumor patients, Dr. Chen's team discovered that proneural and neural glioblastoma subtypes tend to occur closer to the center of the brain in a region called the subventricular zone. In contrast, mesenchymal and classical glioblastoma subtypes tend to develop farther from this region.
The subventricular zone is a unique region of the brain where neural stem cells reside. During brain development, these stem cells migrate outward from the center region. During this process, the stem cells transform into the dozen or so different cell types that compose the human brain.
“Our study suggests that if a cancer-causing mutation occurs in the neural stem cell population in the [subventricular zone], it gives rise to the proneural or the neural glioblastoma subtype. On the other hand, if the same mutation occurs in a different cell population located farther away from the [subventricular zone], it will give rise to other subtypes,” said Dr. Chen.
Through a mouse model of glioblastoma developed by Lionel Chow, MD, PhD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Dr. Chen's team was able to confirm this hypothesis. In Dr. Chow's model, all glioblastomas arise as a result of the same mutations. Nevertheless, the brain tumors that form closer to the subventricular zone tend to be proneural or neural subtypes, while tumors form farther from the subventricular zone tend to be classical or mesenchymal subtypes.
“Because glioblastoma subtypes respond differently to distinct therapies, subtype discrimination will be increasingly important,” said Bob Carter, MD, PhD, Chair of Neurosurgery at UC San Diego Health. “Refinement of this noninvasive method for determining glioblastoma subtypes may achieve the goal of personalizing glioblastoma therapy without subjecting our patients to surgery.”
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
