Stem Cell Research for the Treatment of Malignant Glioma

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor. Gene therapies, such as cytokine-based, suicide gene, and oncolytic virus therapies, are different types of treatments from chemo therapy such as using temozolomide as a standard treatment. However, overall survival was not prolonged in some clinical trials because of the low efficiency of gene transduc tion and viral infection. Neural stem cells (NSCs) have tumor trophic migratory capacity and can be cellular delivery vehicles of cytokines, suicide genes, and oncolytic virus. NSCs can be differentiated from embryonic stem cells. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells can be another cellular delivery vehicle. Recently, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been established. iPSCs are multipotent; hence, they can efficiently differentiate to NSCs and can possibly overcome ethical and practical issues in clinical application. In this study, current topics about stem cell therapy for malignant glioma are reviewed.