Peer-Reviewed Science
The foundational science behind OLIG2 inhibition, the role of cancer stem cells, and the dual-action mechanism of CT-179 has been rigorously validated in leading scientific literature.
February 4, 2026 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Targeting Pediatric Glioblastomas by Combining OLIG2 Inhibitor CT-179 with Fractionated Radiation in a Panel of Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Mouse Models
Lindsay, H., Du, Y., Qi, L., Zhang, H., Zhao, S., Braun, F. K., Kogiso, M., Stephan, C., Alton, G., Stein, G., Beaton, G., Kesari, S., Neuhauser, S., Stearns, T., Chuang, J., Jocoy, E. L., Bult, C. J., Teicher, B., Smith, M. A., & Li, X.-N. (2026). Targeting Pediatric Glioblastomas by Combining OLIG2 Inhibitor CT-179 with Fractionated Radiation in a Panel of Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Mouse Models. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(3), 1543.
January 27, 2026 | Journal of Clinical Investigation
Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 orchestrates glioblastoma immune evasion by suppressing CXCL10 and CD8+ T cell activation
Zhang, X., Xue, J., Zhao, C., Zeng, C., Zhong, J., Yu, G., Yang, X., Ling, Y., Li, D., Yang, J., Xiu, Y., Li, H., Hong, S., Qiao, L., Chen, S., Lu, Q. R., Deng, Y., Tang, Z., & Lu, F. (2026). Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 orchestrates glioblastoma immune evasion by suppressing CXCL10 and CD8+ T cell activation. Journal of Clinical Investigation.
February 4, 2025 | Nature Communications
Suppressing recurrence in Sonic Hedgehog subgroup medulloblastoma using the OLIG2 inhibitor CT-179
Li, Y., Lim, C., Dismuke, T., Malawsky, D. S., Oasa, S., Bruce, Z. C., Offenhäuser, C., Baumgartner, U., D’Souza, R. C. J., Edwards, S. L., French, J. D., Ock, L. S. H., Nair, S., Sivakumaran, H., Harris, L., Tikunov, A. P., Hwang, D., Alicea Pauneto, C. D. M., Maybury, M., … Day, B. W. (2025). Suppressing recurrence in Sonic Hedgehog subgroup medulloblastoma using the OLIG2 inhibitor CT-179. Nature Communications, 16(1), 1091.
February 4, 2025 | Nature Communications
OLIG2 mediates a rare targetable stem cell fate transition in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma
Desai, K., Wanggou, S., Luis, E., Whetstone, H., Yu, C., Vanner, R. J., Selvadurai, H. J., Lee, L., Vijay, J., Jaramillo, J. E., Fan, J., Guilhamon, P., Kushida, M., Li, X., Stein, G., Kesari, S., Simons, B. D., Huang, X., & Dirks, P. B. (2025). OLIG2 mediates a rare targetable stem cell fate transition in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma. Nature Communications, 16(1), 1092.
December 2, 2024 | Cancer Research
Fitness Screens Map State-Specific Glioblastoma Stem Cell Vulnerabilities
MacLeod, G., Molaei, F., Haider, S., Almeida, M. P., Lin, S., Kushida, M., Sureshkumar, H., Bhatti, J. K., Lu, J. Q., Schramek, D., Dirks, P. B., & Angers, S. (2024). Fitness Screens Map State-Specific Glioblastoma Stem Cell Vulnerabilities. Cancer Research, 84(23), 3967–3983.
November 28, 2024 | Nature Communications
Transcription factors ASCL1 and OLIG2 drive glioblastoma initiation and co-regulate tumor cell types and migration
Myers, B. L., Brayer, K. J., Paez-Beltran, L. E., Villicana, E., Keith, M. S., Suzuki, H., Newville, J., Anderson, R. H., Lo, Y., Mertz, C. M., Kollipara, R. K., Borromeo, M. D., Lu, Q. R., Bachoo, R. M., Johnson, J. E., & Vue, T. Y. (2024). Transcription factors ASCL1 and OLIG2 drive glioblastoma initiation and co-regulate tumor cell types and migration. Nature Communications, 15(1), 10363.
May 17, 2023 | Frontiers in Neuroscience
Biological functions of the Olig gene family in brain cancer and therapeutic targeting
Szu, J. I., Tsigelny, I. F., Wojcinski, A., & Kesari, S. (2023). Biological functions of the Olig gene family in brain cancer and therapeutic targeting. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17(May), 1129434.
October 3, 2022 | Clinical Cancer Research
OLIG2 Is a Determinant for the Relapse of MYC-Amplified Medulloblastoma
Xu, Z., Murad, N., Malawsky, D., Tao, R., Rivero-Hinojosa, S., Holdhof, D., Schüller, U., Zhang, P., Lazarski, C., Rood, B. R., Packer, R., Gershon, T., & Pei, Y. (2022). OLIG2 Is a Determinant for the Relapse of MYC -Amplified Medulloblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research, 28(19), 4278–4291.
February 12, 2016 | Future Oncology
Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors Of The OLIG2 Transcription Factor: Promising New Therapeutics For Glioblastoma
Alton, G., & Kesari, S. (2016). Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Olig2 Transcription Factor: Promising New Therapeutics for Glioblastoma. Future Oncology, 12(8), 1001–1004.
October 30, 2015 | Oncotarget
Multiple Spatially Related Pharmacophores Define Small Molecule Inhibitors of OLIG2 in Glioblastoma
Tsigelny, I. F., Mukthavaram, R., Kouznetsova, V. L., Chao, Y., Babic, I., Nurmemmedov, E., Pastorino, S., Jiang, P., Calligaris, D., Agar, N., Scadeng, M., Pingle, S. C., Wrasidlo, W., Makale, M. T., & Kesari, S. (2017). Multiple spatially related pharmacophores define small molecule inhibitors of OLIG2 in glioblastoma. Oncotarget, 8(14), 22370–22384.
March 8, 2011 | Cancer Cell
The Central Nervous System-Restricted Transcription Factor OLIG2 Opposes P53 Responses to Genotoxic Damage in Neural Progenitors and Malignant Glioma
Mehta, S., Huillard, E., Kesari, S., Maire, C. L., Golebiowski, D., Harrington, E. P., Alberta, J. a, Kane, M. F., Theisen, M., Ligon, K. L., Rowitch, D. H., & Stiles, C. D. (2011). The central nervous system-restricted transcription factor Olig2 opposes p53 responses to genotoxic damage in neural progenitors and malignant glioma. Cancer Cell, 19(3), 359–371.
February 15, 2007 | Neuron
OLIG2-Regulated Lineage-Restricted Pathway Controls Replication Competence in Neural Stem Cells and Malignant Glioma
Ligon, K. L., Huillard, E., Mehta, S., Kesari, S., Liu, H., Alberta, J. a, Bachoo, R. M., Kane, M., Louis, D. N., Depinho, R. a, Anderson, D. J., Stiles, C. D., & Rowitch, D. H. (2007). Olig2-regulated lineage-restricted pathway controls replication competence in neural stem cells and malignant glioma. Neuron, 53(4), 503–517.
May 1, 2004 | Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
The Oligodendroglial Lineage Marker OLIG2 is Universally Expressed in Diffuse Gliomas
Ligon, K. L., Alberta, J. a, Kho, A. T., Weiss, J., Kwaan, M. R., Nutt, C. L., Louis, D. N., Stiles, C. D., & Rowitch, D. H. (2004). The oligodendroglial lineage marker OLIG2 is universally expressed in diffuse gliomas. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 63(5), 499–509.