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Molecular biology of malignant gliomas

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Abstract

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumours. In keeping with the degree of aggressiveness, gliomas are divided into four grades, with different biological behaviour. Furthermore, as different gliomas share a predominant histological appearance, the final classification includes both, histological features and degree of malignancy. For example, gliomas of astrocytic origin (astrocytomas) are classified into pilocytic astrocytoma (grade I), astrocytoma (grade II), anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III) and glioblastoma multiforme (GMB) (grade IV). Tumors derived from oligodendrocytes include grade II (oligodendrogliomas) and grade III neoplasms (oligoastrocytoma).

Each subtype has a specific prognosis that dictates the clinical management. In this regard, a patient diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma totally removed has 10–15 years of potential survival. On the opposite site, patients carrying a glioblastoma multiforme usually die within the first year after the diagnosis is made (table 1). Therefore, different approaches are needed in each case.

Obviously, prognosis and biological behaviour of malignant gliomas are closely related and supported by the different molecular background that possesses each type of glioma. Furthermore, the ability that allows several low-grade gliomas to progress into more aggressive tumors has allowed cancer researchers to elucidate several pathways implicated in molecular biology of these devastating tumors.

In this review, we describe classical pathways involved in human malignant gliomas with special focus with recent advances, such as glioma stem-like cells and expression patterns from microarray studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Oncology Unit (CSIC/UAM) at Medical Oncology Division, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Cristóbal Belda-Iniesta, Javier de Castro Carpeño, Enrique Casado Sáenz, Paloma Cejas Guerrero & Manuel González Barón

  2. Translational Oncology Unit (CSIC/UAM), Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas del CSIC/UAM, C/ Arturo Duperier 4, Madrid, Spain

    Rosario Perona

Authors
  1. Cristóbal Belda-Iniesta
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  2. Javier de Castro Carpeño
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  3. Enrique Casado Sáenz
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  4. Paloma Cejas Guerrero
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  5. Rosario Perona
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  6. Manuel González Barón
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Cristóbal Belda-Iniesta or Rosario Perona.

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Supported by an unrestricted educational grant by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

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Belda-Iniesta, C., de Castro Carpeño, J., Sáenz, E.C. et al. Molecular biology of malignant gliomas. Clin Transl Oncol 8, 635–641 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-006-0033-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-006-0033-9

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