Participation of the subventricular zone of the brain in the development of brain glioma

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor with an average survival rate of 15–16 months with standard treatment; however, cases of successful treatment provide hope that a better understanding of the pathology will improve prognosis. Glial tumors contain clonogenic cells (cells capable of forming colonies in a culture medium) with a high proliferative potential, and their descendants have a wide range of possible differentiation; these clonogenic cells are currently considered as glioma stem cells (GSCs). In normal and pathological conditions, there are zones in the adult brain that contain proliferating neural stem cells (NSCs) and their descendants – progenitor cells that have begun to differentiate. One such zone lying on the lateral wall of the lateral ventricle, called the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ), has attracted much attention due to its importance for gliomagenesis. Numerous studies have shown that the intense exchange of signaling molecules and cells between the GBM and the SVZ leads to accelerated tumor growth and an increased risk of relapse. Research results indicate the possibility of developing new, more effective strategies to combat this dangerous disease, taking into account knowledge about the role of SVZ in the development of this pathology.