CD24 AS A BRAIN TUMOR STEM CELL MARKER AND A DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TARGET IN PRIMARY NEURAL AND GLIAL TUMORS OF THE BRAIN

摘要

The present invention is directed to methods of treating a primary brain tumorand preventing the migratory spreadof a primary brain tumor in a subject. These methods involve utilizing theCD24 surface protein selectively expressed on tumorprogenitor cells as a therapeutic target as well as a means for directingoncolytic therapeutics directly to the tumor site. The presentinvention further relates to methods of diagnosing the presence of a braintumor and monitoring the status of the brain tumor in asubject based on CD24 expression in tumor progenitor cells.