[Pediatric brain tumors]

[Pediatric supratentorial brain tumors]

BACKGROUND

Pediatric brain tumors differ regarding location and histopathological features compared to those in adults. In children, 30% of pediatric brain tumors are supratentorial lesions. Low-grade astrocytomas, e.g. pilocystic astrocytoma or craniopharyngioma, are the most common tumors.

IMAGING MODALITIES

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the default imaging technique that is used to evaluate the findings. Ultrasound and cranial computed tomography (CCT) accompany the imaging, although CCT is mainly used in emergency situations.

TOPICS COVERED

The following article describes the most common pediatric supratentorial brain tumors with reference to imaging criteria as well as changes in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.

[Tumors of the central nervous system in children and adolescents]

CLINICAL/METHODOLOGICAL ISSUE

Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in childhood and the most frequent cancer after leukemia. The incidence is continuously increasing. The WHO classification of brain tumors, valid since 2016, is now based on the combination of histological and molecular genetic diagnostics.

STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS

Diagnostics are mainly performed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); only in emergencies with computed tomography (CT).

METHODOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS

Diffusion and susceptibility weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging and spectroscopy are used.

PERFORMANCE

Improved diagnosis regarding dignity, size determination, adjacency assessment, and morphological description of tumor composition.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Modern MRI with functional techniques is now the gold standard for differential diagnosis and staging of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in pediatrics.

4SC-202 as a Potential Treatment for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Medulloblastoma

This project involves an examination of the effect of the small molecule inhibitor 4SC-202 on the growth of the pediatric brain cancer medulloblastoma. The small molecule inhibitor 4SC-202 significantly inhibits the viability of the pediatric desmoplastic cerebellar human medulloblastoma cell line DAOY, with an IC₅₀ = 58.1 nM, but does not affect the viability of noncancerous neural stem cells (NSC). 4SC-202 exposure inhibits hedgehog expression in the DAOY cell line. Furthermore, microarray analysis of human medulloblastoma patient tumors indicate significant upregulation of key targets in the Hedgehog signaling pathway and Protein Tyrosine Kinase (PTK7).