Glioma models

Gliomas are primary central nervous system tumors that arise from astrocyte s, oligodendrocytes or their precursors. Gliomas can be classified into sev eral groups according to their histologic characteristics, the most maligna nt of the gliomas is glioblastoma multiforme. In contrast to the long-stand ing and well-defined histopathology, the underlying molecular and genetic b ases for gliomas are only just emerging. Many genetic alterations have been identified in human gliomas, however, establishing unequivocal correlation between these genetic alterations and gliomagenesis requires accurate anim al models for this disease. Here we are reviewing the existing animal model s for gliomas with different strategies and our current knowledge on the im portant issues about this disease, such as activation of signal transductio n pathways, disruption of cell cycle arrest pathways, cell-of-origin of gli omas, and therapeutic strategies. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.