Michelle Monje Lab

Cell · 2015

Neuronal activity promotes glioma growth through neuroligin-3 secretion

Venkatesh HS, Johung TB, Caretti V, et al., Monje M

Why this matters: Links controlled neuronal activity and secreted growth factors in mouse glioma models.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.04.012

Nature · 2017

Targeting neuronal activity-regulated neuroligin-3 dependency in high-grade glioma

Venkatesh HS, Tam LT, Woo PJ, et al., Monje M

Why this matters: Tests NLGN3 dependency and shedding, with escape and model scope relevant.

DOI: 10.1038/nature24014

Nature · 2019

Electrical and synaptic integration of glioma into neural circuits

Venkatesh HS, Morishita W, Geraghty AC, et al., Monje M

Why this matters: Combines synaptic structure and functional electrical recordings in subsets of tumor cells.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1563-y

Nature · 2023

Glioma synapses recruit mechanisms of adaptive plasticity

Taylor KR, Barron T, Hui A, et al., Monje M

Why this matters: Shows preclinical recruitment of BDNF-TrkB and receptor-trafficking mechanisms.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06678-1

Nature · 2025

GABAergic neuron-to-glioma synapses in diffuse midline gliomas

Barron T, Yalçın B, Su M, et al., Kaila K, Monje M

Why this matters: Shows that chloride regulation can make GABA depolarizing in DMG models.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08579-3

Cell · 2025

Cholinergic neuronal activity promotes diffuse midline glioma growth through muscarinic signaling

Drexler R, Drinnenberg A, Gavish A, et al., Deisseroth K, Monje M

Why this matters: Supports muscarinic growth signaling; published abstract and preprint details were checked, not proof of cholinergic synapses.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.031

Nat Neurosci · 2026

Neuroligin-3–CSPG4 interaction maintains oligodendrocyte precursor cell progenitor state and promotes glioma proliferation through mechanotransduction

Kim YS, Gillespie SM, Geraghty AC, et al., Trotter J, Monje M

Why this matters: Connects binding, membrane tension, and electrical/growth responses while implicating normal OPC biology.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-026-02397-8

Nat Med · 2026

Levetiracetam therapeutically targets GABAergic synapses in diffuse midline glioma

Barron T, Drexler R, Mochizuki A, et al., Koschmann C, Monje M

Why this matters: Combines preclinical benefits and retrospective associations; prospective clinical efficacy remains to be tested.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04646-6

Cancer Cell · 2023

Cancer hallmarks intersect with neuroscience in the tumor microenvironment

Hanahan D, Monje M

Why this matters: A perspective placing neural components in the tumor ecosystem, not declaring a new official hallmark.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.02.012

Cell · 2023

Cancer neuroscience: State of the field, emerging directions

Winkler F, Venkatesh HS, Amit M, et al

Why this matters: Reviews diverse mechanisms and translational questions without flattening tumor contexts.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.002

Science · 2018

Developmental and oncogenic programs in H3K27M gliomas dissected by single-cell RNA-seq

Filbin MG, Tirosh I, Hovestadt V, et al

Why this matters: Characterizes developmental cell states without proving a universal cell of origin.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aao4750

Nature · 2025

Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas

Monje M, Mahdi J, Majzner R, et al., Mackall C

Why this matters: Reports small phase-one clinical activity and serious toxicity; not established cure or comparative efficacy.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08171-9

Nat Med · 2018

Potent antitumor efficacy of anti-GD2 CAR T cells in H3-K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas

Mount CW, Majzner RG, Sundaresh S, et al., Mackall CL, Monje M

Why this matters: Provides preclinical rationale, with animal effects separate from clinical outcomes.

DOI: 10.1038/s41591-018-0006-x

Cell · 2019

Methotrexate chemotherapy induces persistent tri-glial dysregulation that underlies chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment

Gibson EM, Nagaraja S, Ocampo A, et al., Monje M

Why this matters: Studies treatment-related glial effects in a preclinical setting.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.10.049

Cell · 2025

Immunotherapy-related cognitive impairment after CAR T cell therapy in mice

Geraghty AC, Acosta-Alvarez L, Rotiroti MC, et al., Monje M

Why this matters: Examines mouse neural effects; this is not evidence of human cognitive rescue.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.041

Cancer Discov · 2022

Hallmarks of Cancer: New Dimensions

Hanahan D

Why this matters: Distinguishes eight core capabilities from proposed plasticity and other new dimensions in the 2022 framework.

DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-1059

Intermediate

Analyze public glioma single-cell states

Computational simulation or public-data/literature analysis

Compare OPC-like and other expression programs in a public dataset without inferring universal origins.

Background

Complete the relevant primer lessons, Basic Python and data-analysis skills

Data

{"Public data accompanying Filbin 2018; no private patient records."}

Output

A cell-state analysis with donor-aware validation and limitations.

Independent learning idea, not offered or supervised by the lab. Use public de-identified data or synthetic simulations only; no animal, human, or wet-lab intervention protocols and no clinical recommendations.

Intermediate

Map hallmark capabilities to glioma expression signatures

Computational simulation or public-data/literature analysis

Build a version-labeled literature and expression map distinguishing core, enabling, and proposed dimensions.

Background

Complete the relevant primer lessons, Basic Python and data-analysis skills

Data

{"Hanahan 2022 framework and public glioma transcriptomic datasets."}

Output

A taxonomy matrix and expression analysis that does not treat RNA as functional proof.

Independent learning idea, not offered or supervised by the lab. Use public de-identified data or synthetic simulations only; no animal, human, or wet-lab intervention protocols and no clinical recommendations.

Intermediate

Model neuron-to-glioma excitatory signaling

Computational simulation or public-data/literature analysis

Use a toy receptor-current model to compare transient synaptic and slower depolarizing inputs.

Background

Complete the relevant primer lessons, Basic Python and data-analysis skills

Data

{"Venkatesh 2019 and Taylor 2023 source documentation; synthetic signals."}

Output

Parameter-sensitivity simulations with explicit nonclinical scope.

Independent learning idea, not offered or supervised by the lab. Use public de-identified data or synthetic simulations only; no animal, human, or wet-lab intervention protocols and no clinical recommendations.

Intermediate

Compare glutamatergic and GABAergic tumor signaling

Computational simulation or public-data/literature analysis

Use literature and a chloride-gradient toy model to explain cell-dependent current direction.

Background

Complete the relevant primer lessons, Basic Python and data-analysis skills

Data

{"Venkatesh 2019 and Barron 2025 papers; synthetic ion gradients."}

Output

A mechanistic comparison of evidence, current direction, and tumor context.

Independent learning idea, not offered or supervised by the lab. Use public de-identified data or synthetic simulations only; no animal, human, or wet-lab intervention protocols and no clinical recommendations.

Intermediate

Analyze public tumor-microenvironment cell types

Computational simulation or public-data/literature analysis

Compare annotated public tumor datasets while separating neural, immune, vascular, and stromal states.

Background

Complete the relevant primer lessons, Basic Python and data-analysis skills

Data

{"Public single-cell datasets and the approved m1-4 source map."}

Output

A cell-composition report distinguishing brain tumors from general carcinomas.

Independent learning idea, not offered or supervised by the lab. Use public de-identified data or synthetic simulations only; no animal, human, or wet-lab intervention protocols and no clinical recommendations.