Brain tumors represent one of the most devastating malignancies affecting both children and adults.
The prognosis for these tumors remains essentially unchanged despite significant advancements in neuro-oncology and radiation therapy. Currently available in vitro and in vivo tumor models unfortunately do not accurately duplicate human astrocytomas. One of the central pathways that regulates cell growth in astrocytes and astrocytomas is the RAS signaling pathway. These tissue culture and animal models of astrocytomas would therefore greatly advance our ability to treat human astrocytomas and in that fashion serve as informative models to allow for testing of novel therapies. We are generating primary astrocyte cultures that harbor the same alterations in these molecules seen in astrocytomas to determine whether these changes are necessary and sufficient for the development of tumors in vitro.