Molecular pathways of glial tumorigenesis

Abstract

Gliomas are the most frequently occurring central nervous system tumours that include astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme. In spite of modern therapeutic procedures, the outcome of patients with glial tumours remains unchanged. The development of gliomas, like many other tumours, is a multistep process involving the accumulation of several genetic events which include activation of oncogenes, growth factors and their receptors and the loss of tumour suppressor genes leading to the perturbation of pathways regulating cell growth and differentiation. Genomic instability also develops during the course of glioma formation. There has been an increase in our understanding of the genesis and progression of human astrocytic tumours. This review focuses on various genetic events known to occur in the development and progression of human astrocytic tumours.