Human Cytomegalovirus as a Therapeutic Target in Glioma Stem Cells.
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2026-03
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Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive tumor among gliomas, and recurrence remains inevitable despite aggressive therapies. Resistance to existing treatment modalities is attributed in part to the presence of glioma stem cells, which comprise a distinct cell subpopulation that sustains cell renewal and tumor evasion through multiple mechanisms. Therapeutic strategies using herpesviruses have been evaluated following the discovery of differential human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) expression in glioblastoma tumor cells. The absence of expression in normal brain tissue led to multiple clinical trials demonstrating the potential clinical utility of targeted HCMV via herpesvirus-based oncolytic therapeutic strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing studies evaluating the expression and biological significance of HCMV within glioma stem cells. Targeting HCMV in this cellular compartment may disrupt the continuous cellular support and resilience of glioblastoma stem cells, thereby enhancing the efficacy of current treatments.
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Bou Dargham, Tarek, Eugene J Vaios, Sean Lawler and Kristen Batich (2026). Human Cytomegalovirus as a Therapeutic Target in Glioma Stem Cells. Cells, 15(7). p. 575. 10.3390/cells15070575 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/35578.
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Tarek Bou Dargham
Eugene John Vaios
Eugene John Vaios, MD, MBA, is an NIH-funded Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Duke Cancer Institute. He was previously at Harvard University where he completed his undergraduate and graduate education, as well as his internship at Cambridge Health Alliance. Eugene's research focus is at the intersection of radiation therapy and immunotherapy for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Active translational research includes the development of a liquid biopsy for non-invasive diagnosis, surveillance, and prediction of treatment response in patients with brain tumors. Other interests include leveraging artificial intelligence and big data to improve cancer outcomes. Outside Duke, Eugene holds leadership positions on the ASTRO Board Finance and Audit Committee and serves on the Lancet Commission on Neurorehabilitation.
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