Notch Promotes Radioresistance of Glioma Stem Cells  

Radiotherapy represents the most effective nonsurgical treatments for gliomas. However, gliomas are highly radioresistant and recurrence is nearly universal. Results from our laboratory and other groups suggest that cancer stem cells contribute to radioresistance in gliomas and breast cancers. The Notch pathway is critically implicated in stem cell fate determination and cancer. In this study, we show that inhibition of Notch pathway with gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) renders the glioma stem cells more sensitive to radiation at clinically relevant doses. GSIs enhance radiation-induced cell death and impair clonogenic survival of glioma stem cells but not non-stem glioma cells. Expression of the…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• DR
  Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
• AA
  Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust
• AB
  Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure
• NB
  National Brain Tumor Society
• CB
  Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation
• GF
  Goldhirsh Foundation
• SK
  Sidney Kimmel Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: CA129190