viii

Contents

2

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative

Diseases

42

Zihni Onur Çalışkaner

2.1

Introduction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42

2.2

Stem Cells

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

43

2.2.1

Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44

2.2.2

Adult Stem Cells (ASCs)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44

2.2.3

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) . . . . . . . .

47

2.3

Experimental and Clinical Attempts at Stem Cell Usage in Neu-

rodegenerative Diseases

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48

2.3.1

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49

2.3.2

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

54

2.3.3

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

56

2.3.4

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) . . . . . . . . . .

58

2.4

Conclusion

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

59

2.5

Acknowledgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

Bibliography

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

3

Tissue Engineered Models of Brain Tumors and Their

Applications

74

Tugba Bal

3.1

Introduction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

74

3.2

Glioblastoma (GBM) Microenvironment . . . . . . . . . . . .

75

3.2.1

Cellular Environment and Signals of GBM . . . . . . .

75

3.2.2

Extracellular Matrix (ECM) of Brain and GBM

. . .

81

3.2.3

Vasculature in Brain and GBM . . . . . . . . . . . . .

82

3.3

In vitro Experimental GBM Mimics

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84

3.3.1

2D Models

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84

3.3.2

2.5D Models

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84

3.3.3

3D Models

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85

3.4

Applications of GBM Models in Basic and Clinical Research

88

3.4.1

Tumor Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

89

3.4.2

Drug Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

90

3.4.3

Immunotherapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

93

3.4.4

Response to Radiotherapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

93

3.4.5

Biobanking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

94

3.5

Concluding Remarks

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

94

Bibliography

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

95

4

Brain Tumor Detection Using Image Processing

Techniques

115

Kristin Surpuhi Benli

4.1

Introduction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

115

4.2

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

116

4.2.1

Axial, Coronal, and Sagittal Plane . . . . . . . . . . .

116