UCLA

Only a small fraction of the tumor cell population, glioma-initiating cells (GICs) help glioblastoma propagate, invade, evade immune recognition, repair DNA in response to radiation more efficiently, remodel the microenvironment for optimal growth, and actively pump out chemotherapies. Recent data hint that efforts toward GIC characterization and quantification can help predict patient outcomes, and yet the different subpopulations of GICs remain incompletely understood. A better understanding of GIC subtypes and functions proves critical for engineering targeted therapies. Challenges for doing so are discussed, and dopamine receptor antagonists are introduced as new means to enhance the efficacy of the current standard-of-care against GICs.