Hematopoietic stem cells as a tool for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive malignant brain tumor with terminal consequences. A primary reason for its resistance to treatment is associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs), of which there are currently no effective ways to destroy. It remains unclear what cancer cells become a target of stem cell migration, what the role of this process is in oncogenesis and what stem cell lines should be used in developing antitumor technologies. Using modern post-genome technologies, the present study investigated the migration of human stem cells to cancer cells in vitro, the comparative study of cell proteomes of certain stem cells (including CSCs) was conducted and stem cell migration in vivo was examined. Of all glioblastoma cells, CSCs have the stability to attract normal stem cells. Critical differences in cell proteomes allow the consideration of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as an instrument for interaction with glioblastoma CSCs. Following injection into the bloodstream of animals with glioblastoma, the majority of HSCs migrated to the tumor-containing brain hemisphere and penetrated the tumor tissue. HSCs therefore are of potential use in the development of methods to target CSCs.