NEUROTROPHIN SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION IN MEDULLOBLASTOMA

The members of the neurotrophin family play key biological roles in th e development of the nervous system. Based on studies initially in cel l lines (e.g., the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells), neurotrophins hav e been found to be important mediators of proliferation, differentiati on, and survival in the normal brain, but their role in brain tumors r emains unclear. Since neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors are fre quently detected in biopsy samples of central nervous system medullobl astomas, efforts have been undertaken in several laboratories to eluci date the potential effects of neurotrophins on the growth and differen tiation of these tumors. Results from these studies may have both basi c and clinical implications because medulloblastomas resemble embryoni c neuroectodermal stem cells and/or their immature neuronal and glial progeny. This review focuses on recent developments in our understandi ng of the role of neurotrophins in medulloblastomas, especially the ab ility of nerve growth factor to induce apoptosis in vitro in medullobl astomas. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.