Genetic Analyses Permit the Differentiation Between Reactive Malfunctions (‘Promyelocyte Arrest’) and Arising Promyelocyte Leukemia in a Pregnant Patient With a History of a Medulloblastoma

Apoptosis in glioma-bearing rats after neural stem cell transplantation

Abnormal activation of the Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk signaling cascade plays an important role in glioma. Inhibition of this aberrant activity could effectively hinder glioma cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis. To investigate the mechanism of glioblastoma treatment by neural stem cell transplantation with respect to the Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk pathway, C6 glioma cells were prepared in suspension and then infused into the rat brain to establish a glioblastoma model. Neural stem cells isolated from fetal rats were then injected into the brain of this glioblastoma model. Results showed that Raf-1, Erk and Bcl-2 protein expression significantly increased, while Caspase-3 protein expression decreased. After transplantation of neural stem cells, Raf-1, Erk and Bcl-2 protein expression significantly decreased, while Caspase-3 protein expression significantly increased. Our findings indicate that transplantation of neural stem cells may promote apoptosis of glioma cells by inhibiting Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk signaling, and thus may represent a novel treatment approach for glioblastoma.

Lymph node metastasis of medulloblastoma in a young adult

Medulloblastoma is the commonest primary central nervous system malignancy in childhood, but is rare in adults. Rarer still is metastasis of such a tumour to a lymph node. This report describes such a case, and briefly discusses relevant pathophysiology and epidemiology.