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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Bmi1 and Cell of Origin Determinants of Brain Tumor Phenotype

Peter B. Dirks

subject

Cancer ResearchTime FactorsCell of originCellular differentiationBrain tumormacromolecular substancesBiologyMiceProto-Oncogene ProteinsPrecursor cellmedicineAnimalsHumansCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16Cell ProliferationNeoplasm StagingMice KnockoutNeuronsPolycomb Repressive Complex 1Brain NeoplasmsCell growthStem CellsNuclear ProteinsCell DifferentiationNeoplasms ExperimentalCell Biologymedicine.diseaseStem Cell Self-RenewalErbB ReceptorsGene Expression Regulation NeoplasticRepressor ProteinsCell Transformation NeoplasticPhenotypeOncologyBMI1AstrocytesMutationCancer cellCancer researchGlioblastomaSignal Transduction

description

Glioblastomas frequently express oncogenic EGFR and loss of the Ink4a/Arf locus. Bmi1, a positive regulator of stem cell self renewal, may be critical to drive brain tumor growth. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Bruggeman and colleagues suggest that brain tumors with these molecular alterations can be initiated in both neural precursor and differentiated cell compartments in the absence of Bmi1; however, tumorigenicity is reduced, and tumors contain fewer precursor cells. Surprisingly, tumors appear less malignant when initiated in precursor cells. Bmi1-deficient tumors also had fewer neuronal lineage cells, suggesting a role for Bmi1 in determination of cell lineage and tumor phenotype.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2007-10-01Cancer Cell
10.1016/j.ccr.2007.10.003http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2007.10.003