Our group works with mouse models of Glioblastoma to study their behavior in the brain
We use both genetically engineered mouse models of high-grade gliomas, including models for EGFR-driven glioblastoma, MET fusion-driven high-grade pediatric gliomas, and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. These models allow us to study tumor cell interactions and growth patterns in the brain microenvironment. Ongoing research projects focus on the function of transcriptional effectors of receptor tyrosine kinases and RNA-binding proteins in invasive tumor cells, signaling between tumor stem cells and glial cells within the tumor microenvironment, and cell signaling pathways activated by receptor tyrosine kinase fusion variants in pediatric gliomas. We have also developed new RCAS retrovirus-based models of glioblastoma immunocompetent mice that facilitate studies of interactions between tumor cells and immune cells within the brain.
Examples of our work in these areas include:
Ross, J.L., Z. Chen, C.J. Herting, F. Szulzewsky, M.P. Vallcorba, L. Monterroza, J. Switchenko, P.J. Cimino, A. Mackay, C. Jones, R.D. Read, T. MacDonald, M. Schniederjan, O.J. Becher, D. Hambardzumyan. 2020. PDGFB is a Potent Inflammatory Driver in Paediatric High-Grade Glioma. Brain. Dec 10;awaa382 doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa382.
Chen, Z., C.J. Herting, J.L. Ross, B. Gabanic, M.P. Vallcorba, F. Szulzewsky, M.L. Wojciechowwicz, P.J. Cimino, R. Ezhilarasan, E.P. Sulman, M. Ying, A. Ma’ayan, R.D. Read, D. Hambardzumyan. 2020. Genetic driver mutations introduced in identical cell-of-origin in murine glioblastoma reveal distinct immune landscapes but similar response to checkpoint blockade. Glia. Oct;68(10):2148-2166. doi: 10.1002/glia.238.