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Combining PARP with ATR inhibition overcomes PARP inhibitor and platinum resistance in ovarian cancer models. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3726. [PMID: 32709856 PMCID: PMC7381609 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17127-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OVCA) inevitably acquires resistance to platinum chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors (PARPi). We show that acquisition of PARPi-resistance is accompanied by increased ATR-CHK1 activity and sensitivity to ATR inhibition (ATRi). However, PARPi-resistant cells are remarkably more sensitive to ATRi when combined with PARPi (PARPi-ATRi). Sensitivity to PARPi-ATRi in diverse PARPi and platinum-resistant models, including BRCA1/2 reversion and CCNE1-amplified models, correlate with synergistic increases in replication fork stalling, double-strand breaks, and apoptosis. Surprisingly, BRCA reversion mutations and an ability to form RAD51 foci are frequently not observed in models of acquired PARPi-resistance, suggesting the existence of alternative resistance mechanisms. However, regardless of the mechanisms of resistance, complete and durable therapeutic responses to PARPi-ATRi that significantly increase survival are observed in clinically relevant platinum and acquired PARPi-resistant patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) models. These findings indicate that PARPi-ATRi is a highly promising strategy for OVCAs that acquire resistance to PARPi and platinum.
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Estiar MA, Javan F, Zekri A, Mehrazin M, Mehdipour P. Prognostic significance of MYCN gene amplification and protein expression in primary brain tumors: Astrocytoma and meningioma. Cancer Biomark 2017; 19:341-351. [PMID: 28453467 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-160546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Astrocytoma and meningioma are the most common primary brain tumors. MYCN as a member of MYC proto-oncogenes has recently appeared as an attractive therapeutic target. Functions of MYCN are critical for growth of nervous system and neural differentiation. OBJECTIVE We examined MYCN amplification and protein expression in astrocytoma and meningioma cases. METHODS In this study, we used real-time PCR, FISH assay and flowcytometry to analyze DNA amplification and protein expression of MYCN. RESULTS Among 30 samples of brain tumor, 14 cases (46.6%) revealed MYCN amplification. High-protein expression of MYCN was also observed in 43.3% of patients. There was a significant correlation between MYCN gene amplification and protein expression (r= 0.523; p= 0.003), interestingly five case showed discrepancy between the gene amplification and protein expression. Although MYCN amplification fails to show correlation with poor prognosis (p= 0.305), protein high-expression of MYCN significantly reduce disease-free survival (p= 0.019). CONCLUSIONS Our results challenge the concept of the neural specificity of MYCN by demonstrating contribution of MYCN in meningioma. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of research at both level of DNA and protein, to determine the biological functions and medical impacts of MYCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Asghari Estiar
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Firouzeh Javan
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Zekri
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Mehrazin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parvin Mehdipour
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Metastasis-associated MCL1 and P16 copy number alterations dictate resistance to vemurafenib in a BRAFV600E patient-derived papillary thyroid carcinoma preclinical model. Oncotarget 2016; 6:42445-67. [PMID: 26636651 PMCID: PMC4767444 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BRAFV600E mutation exerts an essential oncogenic function in many tumors, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Although BRAFV600E inhibitors are available, lack of response has been frequently observed. To study the mechanism underlying intrinsic resistance to the mutant BRAFV600E selective inhibitor vemurafenib, we established short-term primary cell cultures of human metastatic/recurrent BRAFV600E-PTC, intrathyroidal BRAFV600E-PTC, and normal thyroid (NT). We also generated an early intervention model of human BRAFV600E-PTC orthotopic mouse. We find that metastatic BRAFV600E-PTC cells elicit paracrine-signaling which trigger migration of pericytes, blood endothelial cells and lymphatic endothelial cells as compared to BRAFWT-PTC cells, and show a higher rate of invasion. We further show that vemurafenib therapy significantly suppresses these aberrant functions in non-metastatic BRAFV600E-PTC cells but lesser in metastatic BRAFV600E-PTC cells as compared to vehicle treatment. These results concur with similar folds of down-regulation of tumor microenvironment–associated pro-metastatic molecules, with no effects in BRAFWT-PTC and NT cells. Our early intervention preclinical trial shows that vemurafenib delays tumor growth in the orthotopic BRAFWT/V600E-PTC mice. Importantly, we identify high copy number gain of MCL1 (chromosome 1q) and loss of CDKN2A (P16, chromosome 9p) in metastatic BRAFV600E-PTC cells which are associated with resistance to vemurafenib treatment. Critically, we demonstrate that combined vemurafenib therapy with BCL2/MCL1 inhibitor increases metastatic BRAFV600E-PTC cell death and ameliorates response to vemurafenib treatment as compared to single agent treatment. In conclusion, short-term PTC and NT cultures offer a predictive model for evaluating therapeutic response in patients with PTC. Our PTC pre-clinical model suggests that combined targeted therapy might be an important therapeutic strategy for metastatic and refractory BRAFV600E-positive PTC.
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Gogas H, Kotoula V, Alexopoulou Z, Christodoulou C, Kostopoulos I, Bobos M, Raptou G, Charalambous E, Tsolaki E, Xanthakis I, Pentheroudakis G, Koutras A, Bafaloukos D, Papakostas P, Aravantinos G, Psyrri A, Petraki K, Kalogeras KT, Pectasides D, Fountzilas G. MYC copy gain, chromosomal instability and PI3K activation as potential markers of unfavourable outcome in trastuzumab-treated patients with metastatic breast cancer. J Transl Med 2016; 14:136. [PMID: 27184134 PMCID: PMC4869295 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-016-0883-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an unmet need for more efficient patient stratification for receiving trastuzumab in the metastatic breast cancer (mBC) setting, since only part of such patients benefit from the addition of this agent to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of biomarkers including MYC and MET in mBC patients treated with trastuzumab-based regimens. METHODS mBC patients, locally tested as HER2-positive, treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy between 1998 and 2010 were evaluated. Paraffin tumors (n = 229) were retrospectively centrally assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for HER2, ER, PgR and Ki67; fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER2, TOP2A and centromere (CEN) 17, MYC and CEN8, MET and CEN7; qPCR for MYC, MET copy number (CN); and, for PI3K activation (PIK3CA mutations; PTEN and phospho-mTOR protein expression). Increased CEN CN was assessed based on normal cut-offs. Time to progression (TTP) and survival were evaluated from the initiation of trastuzumab as first line treatment. RESULTS Among all tumors, 90 were HER2-negative upon central testing (ambiguous HER2) and the rest were true HER2-positive. Further, 156 patients presented with mBC upon relapse of pre-treated disease (R-mBC) and 65 were diagnosed at stage IV (de novo mBC). Concordance between FISH and qPCR on gene CN status was fair for MYC (Kappa = 0.458) and absent for MET. The presence of MYC CN gain with qPCR and the absence of PI3K activation were infrequent events (7 and 8 % of evaluable tumors, respectively), while 41 % of tumors had increased CEN CN in one or more chromosomes, indicative of chromosomal instability. The most consistent finding in the entire cohort and in the above patient subgroups with respect to outcome was the unfavourable effect of MYC CN gain, which was retained upon multivariable analysis (e.g., survival in the entire cohort, HR 6.02; 95 % CI 2.67-13.6; p < 0.001). Further unfavourable prognosticators were increased CEN CN in one chromosome in R-mBC but not in de novo mBC (multivariable interaction p = 0.048), PI3K activation in R-mBC (multivariable p = 0.004) and increased Ki67 for patient TTP. CONCLUSIONS MYC gene copies, centromere status and PI3K activation may adversely impact trastuzumab treated mBC patient outcome and seem worthy validating in larger series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Gogas
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
| | - Vassiliki Kotoula
- Department of Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Zoi Alexopoulou
- Department of Biostatistics, Health Data Specialists Ltd, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis Kostopoulos
- Department of Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mattheos Bobos
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Raptou
- Department of Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Elpida Charalambous
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Tsolaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Xanthakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Angelos Koutras
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
| | | | | | - Gerasimos Aravantinos
- Second Department of Medical Oncology, Agii Anargiri Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Amanda Psyrri
- Division of Oncology, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Konstantine T Kalogeras
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Translational Research Section, Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group, Data Office, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Pectasides
- Oncology Section, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George Fountzilas
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hellenic Foundation for Cancer Research/Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Petrich AM, Nabhan C, Smith SM. MYC-associated and double-hit lymphomas: A review of pathobiology, prognosis, and therapeutic approaches. Cancer 2014; 120:3884-95. [DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam M. Petrich
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago Illinois
| | - Chadi Nabhan
- The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine; Chicago Illinois
| | - Sonali M. Smith
- The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine; Chicago Illinois
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Terashima K, Chow K, Jones J, Ahern C, Jo E, Ellezam B, Paulino AC, Okcu MF, Su J, Adesina A, Mahajan A, Dauser R, Whitehead W, Lau C, Chintagumpala M. Long-term outcome of centrally located low-grade glioma in children. Cancer 2013; 119:2630-8. [PMID: 23625612 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimal management of children with centrally located low-grade glioma (LGG) is unclear. Initial interventions in most children are chemotherapy in younger and radiation therapy (RT) in older children. A better understanding of the inherent risk factors along with the effects of interventions on long-term outcome can lead to reassessment of the current approaches to minimize long-term morbidity. METHODS To reassess the current treatment strategies of centrally located LGG, we compared the long-term survival and morbidity of different treatment regimens. Medical records of patients primarily treated at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers between 1987 and 2008 were reviewed. RESULTS Forty-seven patients with a median follow-up of 79 months were included in the analysis. The 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients were 96% and 53%, respectively. The 5-year PFS for those treated initially with RT (12 patients; median age, 11 years [range, 3-15 years]) and with chemotherapy (28 patients; median age, 2 years [range 0-8 years]) were 76% and 37%, respectively (log-rank test P = .02). Among children who progressed after chemotherapy, the 5-year PFS after salvage RT was 55%. Patients diagnosed at a younger age (<5 years) were more likely to experience endocrine abnormalities (Fisher exact test; P<.00001). CONCLUSIONS Effective and durable tumor control was obtained with RT as initial treatment. In younger patients, chemotherapy can delay the use of RT; however, frequent progression and long-term morbidity are common. More effective and less toxic therapies are required in these patients, the majority of whom are long-term survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Terashima
- Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, Texas, USA
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Packer RJ, Macdonald T, Vezina G, Keating R, Santi M. Medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2012; 105:529-548. [PMID: 22230517 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-53502-3.00007-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastomas and sPNETs remain highly problematic tumors to treat. Prognosis has improved over the past two decades, but many children who survive treatment have significant long-term sequelae. The improvements in outcome have been due to advances in surgical techniques, the wider use of chemotherapy, and the more judicious use of radiotherapy. For further improvements,the recent impressive discoveries concerning molecular mechanisms of embryonal tumor origin, development,and growth will need to be translated into molecularly based, risk-adapted therapy.
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Molecular diagnostics of CNS embryonal tumors. Acta Neuropathol 2010; 120:553-66. [PMID: 20882288 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-010-0751-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2010] [Revised: 09/20/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Tremendous progress has recently been made in both molecular subgrouping, and the establishment of prognostic biomarkers for embryonal brain tumors, particularly medulloblastoma. Several prognostic biomarkers that were initially identified in retrospective cohorts of medulloblastoma, including MYC and MYCN amplification, nuclear β-catenin accumulation, and chromosome 17 aberrations have now been validated in clinical trials. Moreover, molecular subgroups based on distinct transcriptome profiles have been consistently reported from various groups on different platforms demonstrating that the concept of distinct medulloblastoma subgroups is very robust. Well-described subgroups of medulloblastomas include tumors showing wingless signaling pathway (Wnt) activation, and another characterized by sonic hedgehog pathway activity. Two or more additional subgroups were consistently reported to contain the vast majority of high-risk tumors, including most tumors with metastatic disease at diagnosis and/or large cell/anaplastic histology. Several years ago, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) was recognized as a separate entity based on its distinct biology and particularly aggressive clinical behavior. These tumors may occur supra or infratentorially and are usually found to have genetic alterations of SMARCB1 (INI1/hSNF5), a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 22q. Subsequent loss of SMARCB1 protein expression comprises a relatively specific and sensitive diagnostic marker for AT/RT. For CNS primitive neuroectodermal tumors (CNS PNETs), a consistent finding has been that they are molecularly distinct from medulloblastoma. Furthermore, a distinct fraction of CNS PNETs with particularly poor prognosis only occurring in young children was delineated, which was previously labeled ependymoblastoma or embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes (ETANTR) and which is morphologically characterized by the presence of multilayered "ependymoblastic" rosettes. This group of tumors shows a unique cytogenetic abnormality not seen in other brain tumors: focal amplification of a micro-RNA cluster at chromosome 19q13.42, which has never been found to be amplified in other CNS PNETs, medulloblastoma or AT/RT. In summary, these consistent findings have significantly contributed to our ability to sub-classify embryonal brain tumors into clinically and biologically meaningful strata and, for some of the subgroups, have led to the identification of specific targets for future development of molecularly targeted therapies.
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Zitterbart K, Filkova H, Tomasikova L, Necesalova E, Zambo I, Kantorova D, Slamova I, Vranova V, Zezulkova D, Pesakova M, Pavelka Z, Veselska R, Kuglik P, Sterba J. Low-level copy number changes of MYC genes have a prognostic impact in medulloblastoma. J Neurooncol 2010; 102:25-33. [PMID: 20607354 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-010-0289-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2010] [Accepted: 06/21/2010] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
High-level amplifications of MYC genes are associated with poor outcomes in childhood medulloblastoma (MB). However, the occurrence of MYCN and MYCC copy number increases below the intense amplification pattern is rarely reported, and its clinical impact has not yet been determined. Here, we describe this phenomenon and its prognostic significance in a cohort of 29 MB patients. Using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH), low-level copy number alterations, i.e. gain of MYCN, were shown in 5/27 (19%) samples, whereas amplification was revealed in only 1/27 (4%) samples. MYCC gain was revealed in 6/29 (21%) MB, while amplification was disclosed in only 2/29 (7%). Hyperploidy and co-incidence of gains in both MYC loci were frequently observed in samples with copy number aberrations. Survival analysis has clearly shown that MYC copy number increases are associated with lowered event-free survival and overall survival in MB. In the case of MYCN, this negative correlation was statistically significant. We conclude that limited numerical alterations in loci 2p24 (MYCN) and 8q24 (MYCC), as assessed by I-FISH, are present in MB with a higher frequency than high-level amplifications. Poor prognoses were observed in patients with copy number increases in MYC genes. Our data illustrate the importance of further investigations in multicenter trials to better refine the emerging genomic-based prognostic stratification in MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Zitterbart
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Cernopolni 9, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Swartling FJ, Grimmer MR, Hackett CS, Northcott PA, Fan QW, Goldenberg DD, Lau J, Masic S, Nguyen K, Yakovenko S, Zhe XN, Gilmer HCF, Collins R, Nagaoka M, Phillips JJ, Jenkins RB, Tihan T, Vandenberg SR, James CD, Tanaka K, Taylor MD, Weiss WA, Chesler L. Pleiotropic role for MYCN in medulloblastoma. Genes Dev 2010; 24:1059-72. [PMID: 20478998 DOI: 10.1101/gad.1907510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling drives a minority of MB, correlating with desmoplastic pathology and favorable outcome. The majority, however, arises independently of SHH and displays classic or large cell anaplastic (LCA) pathology and poor prognosis. To identify common signaling abnormalities, we profiled mRNA, demonstrating misexpression of MYCN in the majority of human MB and negligible expression in normal cerebella. We clarified a role in pathogenesis by targeting MYCN (and luciferase) to cerebella of transgenic mice. MYCN-driven MB showed either classic or LCA pathologies, with Shh signaling activated in approximately 5% of tumors, demonstrating that MYCN can drive MB independently of Shh. MB arose at high penetrance, consistent with a role for MYCN in initiation. Tumor burden correlated with bioluminescence, with rare metastatic spread to the leptomeninges, suggesting roles for MYCN in both progression and metastasis. Transient pharmacological down-regulation of MYCN led to both clearance and senescence of tumor cells, and improved survival. Targeted expression of MYCN thus contributes to initiation, progression, and maintenance of MB, suggesting a central role for MYCN in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik J Swartling
- University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most frequent brain tumors in childhood. The mortality of medulloblastoma decreased significantly during the last few decades, which was the result of the better surgical and radiotherapeutic methods and of the development of chemotherapy. The aim of this publication is the critical review of the present chemotherapeutic treatment. The new therapeutic trials based on the molecular genetic mechanism of these tumors are also mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezsô Schuler
- Semmelweis Egyetem AOK II. sz. Gyermekgyógyászati Klinika 1094 Budapest Tuzoltó utca 7-9.
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Buccoliero AM, Castiglione F, Rossi Degl'Innocenti D, Franchi A, Paglierani M, Sanzo M, Cetica V, Giunti L, Sardi I, Genitori L, Taddei GL. Embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes: morphological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and molecular study of a case showing features of medulloepithelioma and areas of mesenchymal and epithelial differentiation. Neuropathology 2009; 30:84-91. [PMID: 19563506 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2009.01040.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Embryonal tumors are a group of malignant neoplasms that most commonly affect the pediatric population. Embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes is a recently recognized rare tumor. It is composed of neurocytes and undifferentiated neuroepithelial cells arranged in clusters, cords and several types of rosettes in a prominent neuropil-rich background. We describe a new case of this tumor. The patient, a 24-month-old female infant, was referred to the Meyer Children's Hospital with a history of right brachio-crural deficit associated with occasional episodes of headache and vomiting. Computed tomography scan and MRI revealed a large bihemispheric mass. The patient underwent two consecutive surgeries. The resultant surgical resection of the tumor was macroscopically complete. The postoperative period was uneventful. On light microscopy the tumor showed a composite morphology: embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes (specimen from the first surgery); medulloepithelioma with mesenchymal and epithelial areas (specimen from the second surgery). The immunohistochemistry evidenced the heterogeneous (neuronal, mesenchymal and epithelial) immunoprofile of tumoral cells. By real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the PTEN gene expression in the tumor was lower than in the five non-neoplastic brain tissues used as control. Mutation analysis did not show any variation in INI-1 and PTEN sequence while P53 analysis showed the presence of homozygote P72R variation. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis showed polysomy of chromosome 2 while amplification of N-MYC was not detected. Owing to the rarity of embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes, each new case should be recorded to produce a better clinical, pathological and molecular characterization of this lesion.
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