John S. Kuo

 

 

Molecular Biology of Normal and Tumor-Derived Neural Stem Cells

E-mail: j.kuo@neurosurg.wisc.edu

Research Strengths: Molecular Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease

My lab studies the molecular biology of brain cancer stem cells (CSC) via biological comparison with normal neural stem cells with the goal of developing novel therapies. CSCs are the hypothesized drivers of rapid brain cancer recurrence in humans, exhibit stem cell-like properties of self renewal and multipotent differentiation, and can initiate tumors with high efficiency in a SCID mouse xenograft model. Multiple human glioblastoma cancer stem cell lines were isolated, and molecular analysis of tumorigenic cell signaling/developmental pathways (e.g. Notch, EGFR family), CSC-specific oncogenic/tumor suppressor microRNAs, and a de novo screen for CSC-specific genes are being pursued to identify CSC-specific pathways and mechanisms for therapeutic targeting.

Selected Publications:

• Clark, P.A., D. Treisman, J. Ebben, and J.S. Kuo. 2007. Developmental signaling pathways in brain tumor stem cells. Developmental Dynamics 236: 3297-3308. [PDF]
• Kuo, J.S. and Rutka, J.T. 2004. Advances in understanding the molecular biology of brain tumors. J. Korean Neurosurg. Soc. 35: 1-11. [PDF]
• Yokota, N., T.G. Mainprize, M.D. Taylor, T. Kohata, M. Loreto, S. Ueda, W. Dura, W. Grajkowska, J.S. Kuo, and J.T. Rutka. 2004. Identification of differentially expressed and developmentally regulated genes in medulloblastoma using suppression subtraction hybridization. Oncogene 23: 3444-3453. [PDF]
• Rutka, J.T., J.S. Kuo, M. Carter, A. Ray, S. Ueda, and T.G. Mainprize. 2004. Advances in the surgical treatment of pediatric brain tumors. Expert . Neurotherapeutics 4: 879-893.
• Rutka, J.T. and J.S. Kuo. 2004. Pediatric surgical neuro-oncology: current best care practices and strategies. J. Neuro-oncol. 69: 139-150. [PDF]