Genomic discovery reveals a molecular system for resistance to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress in cultured glioma.

Oxygen is required for respiration and the energetic processes that enable aerobic life. Reactive oxygen species and free radicals, by-products of oxygen use, cause DNA damage and induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis. However, rapidly multiplying cancer cells are resistant to ER and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. The present article reports the results of highly specific genome-scale expression discovery used to identify genes differentially expressed in cultured glioma cells vs normal brain tissue. The discovered states of expression reveal a cohesive molecular system that protects rapidly growing glioma cells from ER and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.