Acidic pH with coordinated reduction of basic fibroblast growth factor maintains the glioblastoma stem cell-like phenotype in vitro.

Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are a unique subpopulation of cells within glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors that possess the ability to self-renew and differentiate into bulk tumor cells. GSCs are resistant to currently available treatments and are the likely culprit behind tumor relapse in GBM patients. However, GSCs are currently inaccessible to the larger scientific community because obtaining a sufficient number of GSCs remains technically challenging and cost-prohibitive.

ROCK Inhibition Facilitates In Vitro Expansion of Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells.

Due to their stem-like characteristics and their resistance to existing chemo- and radiation therapies, there is a growing appreciation that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the root cause behind cancer metastasis and recurrence. However, these cells represent a small subpopulation of cancer cells and are difficult to propagate in vitro. Glioblastoma is an extremely deadly form of brain cancer that is hypothesized to have a subpopulation of CSCs called glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs; also called brain tumor initiating cells, BTICs).

The role of basic fibroblast growth factor in glioblastoma multiforme and glioblastoma stem cells and in their in vitro culture.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant form of central nervous system tumor, and current therapies are largely ineffective at treating the cancer. Developing a more complete understanding of the mechanisms controlling the tumor is important in order to explore new possible treatment options. It is speculated that the presence of glioblastoma stem or stem-like cells (GSCs), a rare type of pluripotent cancer cell that possesses the ability to self-renew and generate tumors, could be an important factor contributing to the resistance to treatment and deadliness of the cancer.