ISB News

Drs. Nitin Baliga and James Park

How Glioblastoma Resists Treatment – and Ways to Prevent It

Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest and most aggressive forms of primary brain cancer in adults and is known for its ability to resist treatment and to recur. ISB researchers have made breakthrough discoveries in understanding the mechanisms behind acquired resistance, focusing on a rare and stubborn group of cells within tumors called glioma stem-like cells.

New Publication in Cell Systems

April 25, 2017 A Cell-Surface Membrane Protein Signature for Glioblastoma 3 bullets: Using integrated protein and gene expression data, ISB researchers developed a 33-gene signature for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma gene signatures are associated with TGF-b signaling and cancer invasion. Researchers think that some of the glioblastoma gene signatures have the potential to be used as blood biomarkers for this aggressive cancer. Read the full summary…

New Baliga Lab Publication in Cell Systems

The Baliga Lab’s Dr. Christopher Plaisier was the lead author of the study “Causal Mechanistic Regulatory Network for Glioblastoma Deciphered Using Systems Genetics Network Analysis” which published online in Cell Systems on July 14. Dr. Plaisier wrote a summary of the research: 3 Bullets: Using data from TCGA and ENCODE, ISB researchers developed integrative database and analysis platforms that provide insight about the underpinnings of glioblastoma multiforme. Researchers developed a…

Cancer Detection requires a cross-disciplinary, systems biology approach.

Cancer Detection: A Systems Biology Approach

By Martin Shelton ISB Editorial Board Member With the exception of cancers of the skin, mouth, and blood, it is difficult to detect cancer by sight or with a routine health screen. The natural variety that exists at the cellular level — even within cells of the same type — challenges our ability to differentiate healthy tissue from diseased. This variety, what biologists call heterogeneity, means that equally healthy cells…