AUTHOR=Szu Jenny I. , Tsigelny Igor F. , Wojcinski Alexander , Kesari Santosh 

TITLE=Biological functions of the Olig gene family in brain cancer and therapeutic targeting

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=17

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1129434

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2023.1129434

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<p>The <italic>Olig</italic> genes encode members of the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors. Olig1, Olig2, and Olig3 are expressed in both the developing and mature central nervous system (CNS) and regulate cellular specification and differentiation. Over the past decade extensive studies have established functional roles of <italic>Olig1</italic> and <italic>Olig2</italic> in development as well as in cancer. Olig2 overexpression drives glioma proliferation and resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize the biological functions of the Olig family in brain cancer and how targeting Olig family genes may have therapeutic benefit.</p>