A research study published in the March issue of Cancer Cell uses gene expression profiling to identify molecular profiles and signaling pathways associated with tumor aggressiveness and disease progression.
This work provides clues about what drives tumor formation and progression and will guide researchers in new directions for development of more effective therapies for this devastating disease.
High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are the most common intrinsic brain tumors in adults and are known for being fast growing, difficult to treat, and for most patients, ultimately fatal. A group of scientists from Genentech, Inc., the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas used a sophisticated genetic screening technique to perform an extensive examination of samples from multiple HGGs. The researchers were able to identify molecular subclasses of tumors that were based on perturbation of specific signaling pathways and distinct clinical characteristics.