Cytomegalovirus as an oncomodulatory agent in the progression of glioma

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive neoplastic brain tumor in humans with a median survival of less than 2 years. It is therefore critical to understand the mechanism of glioma progression and to identify future targets for intervention. We investigate the mechanisms of cytomegalovirus as an oncomodulatory agent implicated in glioma progression, as well as immunosuppression. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent investigative developments concerning the role of CMV in cellular processes during glioma growth. The manners in which CMV and its viral products interact with regulatory cellular signaling pathways in the host are of primary interest. Here, we examine some of the most significant oncomodulatory effects that CMV can confer in brain tumors, including the inhibition of apoptosis and promoting the growth of glioma stem cells, which are tightly linked to tumor survival and recurrence.

Keywords: Brain tumor; CMV; Glioblastoma; Oncomodulatory agent.