Apoptosis in glioma cells: Review and analysis of techniques used for study with focus on the laser scanning cytometer

Bardia Amirlak, William T. Couldwell

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Traditional approaches to the treatment of brain tumors are based on the hypothesis that tumors arise and grow because of the disordered regulation of cell proliferation. More recently, it has become apparent that tumor growth depends not only on the rate of cell proliferation but also on the rate of apoptosis (programmed cell death). Genomic alterations that occur in malignancy may limit the cell's ability to undergo apoptosis. Many new treatment strategies for gliomas stem from the use of techniques aimed at manipulating apoptosis. Being able to assess the efficacy of experimental treatments with refined techniques and being able to use instruments that can provide accurate measurements of the apoptotic markers will open the door for discovering novel strategies with the potential to induce effective and selective cytotoxicity. We discuss here in detail the major traditional techniques of assessing apoptosis. We provide an overview of cytometric techniques, including flow cytometry (FC), and will compare it with the laser scanning cytometer (LSC). This is a powerful new tool with potential for obtaining a fast and objective analysis of apoptosis through multiple mechanisms, as well as for assessing proliferation and DNA ploidy in solid malignant tumors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-145
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Neuro-Oncology
Volume63
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2003

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Flow cytometer
  • Glioma
  • Laser scanning cytometer
  • Programmed cell death

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cancer Research

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