An RNAi Screen Identifies TRRAP as a Regulator of Brain Tumor-Initiating Cell Differentiation

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor. The brain-infiltrative character of glioblastoma makes complete surgical removal of the tumor impossible and neither radiation nor current chemotherapy provide cure. Recent evidence shows that glioblastoma multiforme consists of heterogeneous cell populations which differ in tumor-forming potential. Enriched tumor-initiating capacity has been linked to poorly differentiated glioblastoma cells sharing features with neural stem cells. Thus, these cells are important targets for new therapeutic strategies.

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Wurdak H, Zhu S, Romero A, Lorger M, Watson J, Chiang CY, Zhang J, Natu VS, Lairson LL, Walker JR, Trussell CM, Harsh GR, Vogel H, Felding-Habermann B, Orth AP, Miraglia LJ, Rines DR, Skirboll SL, Schultz PG