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La Torre D, Della Torre A, Lo Turco E, Longo P, Pugliese D, Lacroce P, Raudino G, Romano A, Lavano A, Tomasello F. Primary Intracranial Gliosarcoma: Is It Really a Variant of Glioblastoma? An Update of the Clinical, Radiological, and Biomolecular Characteristics. J Clin Med 2023; 13:83. [PMID: 38202090 PMCID: PMC10779593 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gliosarcomas (GS) are sporadic malignant tumors classified as a Glioblastoma (GBM) variant with IDH-wild type phenotype. It appears as a well-circumscribed lesion with a biphasic, glial, and metaplastic mesenchymal component. The current knowledge about GS comes from the limited literature. Furthermore, recent studies describe peculiar characteristics of GS, such as hypothesizing that it could be a clinical-pathological entity different from GBM. Here, we review radiological, biomolecular, and clinical data to describe the peculiar characteristics of PGS, treatment options, and outcomes in light of the most recent literature. A comprehensive literature review of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted for articles written in English focused on gliosarcoma until 2023. We include relevant data from a few case series and only a single meta-analysis. Recent evidence describes peculiar characteristics of PGS, suggesting that it might be a specific clinical-pathological entity different from GBM. This review facilitates our understanding of this rare malignant brain tumor. However, in the future we recommend multi-center studies and large-scale metanalyses to clarify the biomolecular pathways of PGS to develop new specific therapeutic protocols, different from conventional GBM therapy in light of the new therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico La Torre
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, School of Medicine, AOU “Renato Dulbecco”, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.D.T.); (P.L.); (P.L.); (A.L.)
| | - Attilio Della Torre
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, School of Medicine, AOU “Renato Dulbecco”, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.D.T.); (P.L.); (P.L.); (A.L.)
| | - Erica Lo Turco
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, School of Medicine, AOU “Renato Dulbecco”, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.D.T.); (P.L.); (P.L.); (A.L.)
| | - Prospero Longo
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, School of Medicine, AOU “Renato Dulbecco”, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.D.T.); (P.L.); (P.L.); (A.L.)
| | - Dorotea Pugliese
- Humanitas, Istituto Clinico Catanese, 95045 Catania, Italy; (D.P.); (G.R.); (A.R.); (F.T.)
| | - Paola Lacroce
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, School of Medicine, AOU “Renato Dulbecco”, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.D.T.); (P.L.); (P.L.); (A.L.)
| | - Giuseppe Raudino
- Humanitas, Istituto Clinico Catanese, 95045 Catania, Italy; (D.P.); (G.R.); (A.R.); (F.T.)
| | - Alberto Romano
- Humanitas, Istituto Clinico Catanese, 95045 Catania, Italy; (D.P.); (G.R.); (A.R.); (F.T.)
| | - Angelo Lavano
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, School of Medicine, AOU “Renato Dulbecco”, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.D.T.); (P.L.); (P.L.); (A.L.)
| | - Francesco Tomasello
- Humanitas, Istituto Clinico Catanese, 95045 Catania, Italy; (D.P.); (G.R.); (A.R.); (F.T.)
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Legrand C, Andriantsoa R, Lichter P, Raddatz G, Lyko F. Time-resolved, integrated analysis of clonally evolving genomes. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011085. [PMID: 38096267 PMCID: PMC10754456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonal genome evolution is a key feature of asexually reproducing species and human cancer development. While many studies have described the landscapes of clonal genome evolution in cancer, few determine the underlying evolutionary parameters from molecular data, and even fewer integrate theory with data. We derived theoretical results linking mutation rate, time, expansion dynamics, and biological/clinical parameters. Subsequently, we inferred time-resolved estimates of evolutionary parameters from mutation accumulation, mutational signatures and selection. We then applied this framework to predict the time of speciation of the marbled crayfish, an enigmatic, globally invasive parthenogenetic freshwater crayfish. The results predict that speciation occurred between 1986 and 1990, which is consistent with biological records. We also used our framework to analyze whole-genome sequencing datasets from primary and relapsed glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. The results identified evolutionary subgroups and showed that tumor cell survival could be inferred from genomic data that was generated during the resection of the primary tumor. In conclusion, our framework allowed a time-resolved, integrated analysis of key parameters in clonally evolving genomes, and provided novel insights into the evolutionary age of marbled crayfish and the progression of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Legrand
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Université Paris Cité, Génomes, biologie cellulaire et thérapeutique U944, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Ranja Andriantsoa
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Lichter
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Precision Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Günter Raddatz
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
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Achi J, Achi XW, Veintimilla P, Cueva J. Unusual extraneural metastasis of glioblastoma. Surg Neurol Int 2023; 14:218. [PMID: 37404487 PMCID: PMC10316183 DOI: 10.25259/sni_191_2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults. Extracranial metastases are very rare, been described in the lungs, soft tissue, or the intraspinal space. Case Description Through a PubMed-based bibliographic search, the authors reviewed the cases reported in the literature to date, emphasizing the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this rare condition. A clinical case of a 46-year-old man with an initial diagnosis of gliosarcoma, who received complete surgical and adjuvant treatment and later recurred as GB with incidental finding of a lung tumor, whose pathology reported metastasis of the primary, is illustrated. Conclusion Understanding the pathophysiology, it is likely that the incidence of extraneural metastases may continue to increase. Considering improvements in diagnostic techniques that allow early diagnosis, as well as advances in neurosurgical therapy and multimodal management with the aim of improving patient survival, the period in which malignant cells can spread and form extracranial metastases could increase. When screening should be performed to detect metastases in these patients is still not clear. The neuro-oncologists should pay attention to the systematic survey for extraneural metastasis of the GB. Timely detection and early treatment improve overall quality of patients' life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Achi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínica Kennedy, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Xavier Wong Achi
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paula Veintimilla
- Department of Medicine, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondon, Ecuador
| | - Janina Cueva
- Department of General Surgery, Hospital Clínica Kennedy, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Frosina G. Recapitulating the Key Advances in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of High-Grade Gliomas: Second Half of 2021 Update. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076375. [PMID: 37047356 PMCID: PMC10094646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
High-grade gliomas (World Health Organization grades III and IV) are the most frequent and fatal brain tumors, with median overall survivals of 24–72 and 14–16 months, respectively. We reviewed the progress in the diagnosis and prognosis of high-grade gliomas published in the second half of 2021. A literature search was performed in PubMed using the general terms “radio* and gliom*” and a time limit from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021. Important advances were provided in both imaging and non-imaging diagnoses of these hard-to-treat cancers. Our prognostic capacity also increased during the second half of 2021. This review article demonstrates slow, but steady improvements, both scientifically and technically, which express an increased chance that patients with high-grade gliomas may be correctly diagnosed without invasive procedures. The prognosis of those patients strictly depends on the final results of that complex diagnostic process, with widely varying survival rates.
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A Rare Adult Primary Intracranial Sarcoma, DICER1-Mutant Identified by Epigenomic Profiling: A Case Report. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020235. [PMID: 36831778 PMCID: PMC9953897 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnoses of primary malignant mesenchymal brain tumors are a challenge for pathologists. Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old man with a primary brain tumor, histologically diagnosed as a high-grade glioma, not otherwise specified (NOS). The patient underwent two neurosurgeries in several months, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We re-examined the tumor samples by methylome profiling. Methylome analysis revealed an epi-signature typical of a primary intracranial sarcoma, DICER1-mutant, an extremely rare tumor. The diagnosis was confirmed by DNA sequencing that revealed a mutation in DICER1 exon 25. DICER1 mutations were not found in the patient's blood cells, thus excluding an inherited DICER1 syndrome. The methylome profile of the DICER1 mutant sarcoma was then compared with that of a high-grade glioma, a morphologically similar tumor type. We found that several relevant regions were differentially methylated. Taken together, we report the morphological, epigenetic, and genetic characterization of the sixth described case of an adult primary intracranial sarcoma, DICER1-mutant to-date. Furthermore, this case report underscores the importance of methylome analysis to refine primary brain tumor diagnosis and to avoid misdiagnosis among morphologically similar subtypes.
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Fan H, Yu Y, Du J, Liu L, Luo Y, Yu H, Liao X. Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Pathological Features of Gliosarcoma. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:2577-2589. [PMID: 36387942 PMCID: PMC9642797 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s386616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical, imaging, and pathological features of gliosarcoma. METHODS The clinical data of 14 patients with gliosarcoma confirmed by surgery and pathology at our hospital between 2010 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, and the relevant literature was reviewed. RESULTS In all 14 cases, the gliosarcoma was located in the supratentorial brain parenchyma and involved a single lesion. There were more male patients (64.3%) than female patients (35.7%), and 57.1% of all the patients were 40-60 years of age. The prognosis of all 14 patients was poor, and the average survival time was approximately seven months. The computed tomography findings revealed mostly mixed density lesions, and some cases were complicated with bleeding. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed irregularly shaped mass lesions of different sizes, with uneven or circular enhancement. Cystic degeneration and necrosis could be seen in all the masses, some of which showed signs of bleeding and were surrounded by different degrees of edema and space-occupying effects. The pathological examination revealed that the tumors had bidirectional differentiation of the glial and sarcoma components, while the immunohistochemistry examination revealed glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive and reticular fiber-positive staining in the sarcoma. CONCLUSION The clinical manifestations of gliosarcoma are nonspecific, but imaging reveals that the condition has certain characteristics, typically consisting of a huge supratentorial mass, with an irregular heterogeneous periphery or obvious mass-like augmentation after enhancement. The final diagnosis depends on the results of a pathological examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Fan
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinhui Du
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Likun Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilin Luo
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Liao
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, 550004, People's Republic of China
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Drug Repurposing for Glioblastoma and Current Advances in Drug Delivery-A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121870. [PMID: 34944514 PMCID: PMC8699739 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults with an extremely poor prognosis. There is a dire need to develop effective therapeutics to overcome the intrinsic and acquired resistance of GBM to current therapies. The process of developing novel anti-neoplastic drugs from bench to bedside can incur significant time and cost implications. Drug repurposing may help overcome that obstacle. A wide range of drugs that are already approved for clinical use for the treatment of other diseases have been found to target GBM-associated signaling pathways and are being repurposed for the treatment of GBM. While many of these drugs are undergoing pre-clinical testing, others are in the clinical trial phase. Since GBM stem cells (GSCs) have been found to be a main source of tumor recurrence after surgery, recent studies have also investigated whether repurposed drugs that target these pathways can be used to counteract tumor recurrence. While several repurposed drugs have shown significant efficacy against GBM cell lines, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) can limit the ability of many of these drugs to reach intratumoral therapeutic concentrations. Localized intracranial delivery may help to achieve therapeutic drug concentration at the site of tumor resection while simultaneously minimizing toxicity and side effects. These strategies can be considered while repurposing drugs for GBM.
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