Global epigenetic profiling identifies methylation subgroups associated with recurrence-free survival in meningioma.

Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor and carries a substantial risk of local recurrence. Methylation profiles of meningioma and their clinical implications are not well understood. We hypothesized that aggressive meningiomas have unique DNA methylation patterns that could be used to better stratify patient management.

Genome-wide copy number aberrations and HER2 and FGFR1 alterations in primary breast cancer by molecular inversion probe microarray.

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women despite stratification based on standard hormonal receptor (HR) and HER2 testing. Additional prognostic markers are needed to improve breast cancer treatment. Chromothripsis, a catastrophic genome rearrangement, has been described recently in various cancer genomes and affects cancer progression and prognosis.

Phase I trial of aflibercept (VEGF trap) with radiation therapy and concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide in patients with high-grade gliomas.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has shown promise in the treatment of high-grade gliomas (HGG). Aflibercept is a recombinant human fusion protein that acts as a soluble decoy receptor for VEGF-A, VEGF-B and placental growth factor, depleting circulating levels of these growth factors. The Adult Brain Tumor Consortium conducted a phase I trial of aflibercept and temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with newly diagnosed HGG with 2 dose levels and a 3+3 design.

Molecular-Based Recursive Partitioning Analysis Model for Glioblastoma in the Temozolomide Era: A Correlative Analysis Based on NRG Oncology RTOG 0525.

Importance: There is a need for a more refined, molecularly based classification model for glioblastoma (GBM) in the temozolomide era.

Objective: To refine the existing clinically based recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) model by incorporating molecular variables.

Design, Setting, And Participants: NRG Oncology RTOG 0525 specimens (n = 452) were analyzed for protein biomarkers representing key pathways in GBM by a quantitative molecular microscopy-based approach with semiquantitative immunohistochemical validation.

Phase III randomized study of radiation and temozolomide versus radiation and nitrosourea therapy for anaplastic astrocytoma: results of NRG Oncology RTOG 9813.

Background: The primary objective of this study was to compare the overall survival (OS) of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) treated with radiotherapy (RT) and either temozolomide (TMZ) or a nitrosourea (NU). Secondary endpoints were time to tumor progression (TTP), toxicity, and the effect of IDH1 mutation status on clinical outcome.

Methods: Eligible patients with centrally reviewed, histologically confirmed, newly diagnosed AA were randomized to receive either RT+TMZ (n = 97) or RT+NU (n = 99).

The current consensus on the clinical management of intracranial ependymoma and its distinct molecular variants.

Multiple independent genomic profiling efforts have recently identified clinically and molecularly distinct subgroups of ependymoma arising from all three anatomic compartments of the central nervous system (supratentorial brain, posterior fossa, and spinal cord). These advances motivated a consensus meeting to discuss: (1) the utility of current histologic grading criteria, (2) the integration of molecular-based stratification schemes in future clinical trials for patients with ependymoma and (3) current therapy in the context of molecular subgroups. Discussion at the meeting generated a series of consensus statements and recommendations from the attendees, which comment on the prognostic evaluation and treatment decisions of patients with intracranial ependymoma (WHO Grade II/III) based on the knowledge of its molecular subgroups.

Targeting hexokinase 2 enhances response to radio-chemotherapy in glioblastoma.

First-line cancer therapies such as alkylating agents and radiation have limited survival benefits for Glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Current research strongly supports the notion that inhibition of aberrant tumor metabolism holds promise as a therapeutic strategy when used in combination with radiation and chemotherapy. Hexokinase 2 (HK2) has been shown to be a key driver of altered metabolism in GBM, and presents an attractive therapeutic target.

The genomic landscape of schwannoma.

Schwannomas are common peripheral nerve sheath tumors that can cause debilitating morbidities. We performed an integrative analysis to determine genomic aberrations common to sporadic schwannomas. Exome sequence analysis with validation by targeted DNA sequencing of 125 samples uncovered, in addition to expected NF2 disruption, recurrent mutations in ARID1A, ARID1B and DDR1.

NRG oncology RTOG 0625: a randomized phase II trial of bevacizumab with either irinotecan or dose-dense temozolomide in recurrent glioblastoma.

Angiogenesis, a hallmark of glioblastoma, can potentially be targeted by inhibiting the VEGF pathway using bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF-A. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and safety of these regimens in the cooperative group setting. Eligibility included age ≥18, recurrent or progressive GBM after standard chemoradiation.

Integrating molecular markers into the World Health Organization classification of CNS tumors: a survey of the neuro-oncology community.

Background: Molecular markers provide important biological and clinical information related to the classification of brain tumors, and the integration of relevant molecular parameters into brain tumor classification systems has been a widely discussed topic in neuro-oncology over the past decade. With recent advances in the development of clinically relevant molecular signatures and the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) update, the views of the neuro-oncology community on such changes would be informative for implementing this process.

Methods: A survey with 8 questions regarding molecular markers in tumor classification was sent to an email list of Society for Neuro-Oncology members and attendees of prior meetings (n=5065).

Biphasic components of sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinomas are molecularly similar to each other, but distinct from, non-sarcomatoid renal carcinomas.

Sarcomatoid transformation, wherein an epithelioid carcinomatous tumour component coexists with a sarcomatoid histology, is a predictor of poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Our understanding of sarcomatoid change has been hindered by the lack of molecular examination. Thus, we sought to characterize molecularly the biphasic epithelioid and sarcomatoid components of sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma and compare them to non-sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

DICER governs characteristics of glioma stem cells and the resulting tumors in xenograft mouse models of glioblastoma.

The RNAse III endonuclease DICER is a key regulator of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and is frequently decreased in a variety of malignancies. We characterized the role of DICER in glioblastoma (GB), specifically demonstrating its effects on the ability of glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) to form tumors in a mouse model of GB. DICER silencing in GSCs reduced their stem cell characteristics, while tumors arising from these cells were more aggressive, larger in volume, and displayed a higher proliferation index and lineage differentiation.

Cribriform neuroepithelial tumor: molecular characterization of a SMARCB1-deficient non-rhabdoid tumor with favorable long-term outcome.

Rhabdoid phenotype and loss of SMARCB1 expression in a brain tumor are characteristic features of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT). Rare non-rhabdoid brain tumors showing cribriform growth pattern and SMARCB1 loss have been designated cribriform neuroepithelial tumor (CRINET). Small case series suggest that CRINETs may have a relatively favorable prognosis.

Impact of IDH1 mutation status on outcome in clinical trials for recurrent glioblastoma.

IDH1 mutated glioblastoma (GB) has a better prognosis than IDH1 wildtype GB. However, it remains unknown whether patients (pts) with IDH1 mutated GB have a higher 6-month progression free survival (PFS6) or radiographic response (RR) rate on clinical trials for recurrence. Retrospective review of GB pts at MDACC between 2006 and 2012 identified 330 patients in recurrent GB trials.

Therapeutic Impact of Cytoreductive Surgery and Irradiation of Posterior Fossa Ependymoma in the Molecular Era: A Retrospective Multicohort Analysis.

Purpose: Posterior fossa ependymoma comprises two distinct molecular variants termed EPN_PFA and EPN_PFB that have a distinct biology and natural history. The therapeutic value of cytoreductive surgery and radiation therapy for posterior fossa ependymoma after accounting for molecular subgroup is not known.

Methods: Four independent nonoverlapping retrospective cohorts of posterior fossa ependymomas (n = 820) were profiled using genome-wide methylation arrays.

Treatment of Adult Lower-Grade Glioma in the Era of Genomic Medicine.

By convention, gliomas are histopathologically classified into four grades by the World Health Organization (WHO) legacy criteria, in which increasing grade is associated with worse prognosis and grades also are subtyped by presumed cell of origin. This classification has prognostic value but is limited by wide variability of outcome within each grade, so the classification is rapidly undergoing dramatic re-evaluation in the context of a superior understanding of the biologic heterogeneity and molecular make-up of these tumors, such that we now recognize that some low-grade gliomas behave almost like malignant glioblastoma, whereas other anaplastic gliomas have outcomes comparable to favorable low-grade gliomas. This clinical spectrum is partly accounted for by the dispersion of several molecular genetic alterations inherent to clinical tumor behavior.

Sox2: regulation of expression and contribution to brain tumors.

Tumors of the CNS are composed of a complex mixture of neoplastic cells, in addition to vascular, inflammatory and stromal components. Similar to most other tumors, brain tumors contain a heterogeneous population of cells that are found at different stages of differentiation. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that all tumors are composed of subpopulation of cells with stem-like properties, which are capable of self-renewal, display resistance to therapy and lead to tumor recurrence.

Creation of an NCI comparative brain tumor consortium: informing the translation of new knowledge from canine to human brain tumor patients.

On September 14-15, 2015, a meeting of clinicians and investigators in the fields of veterinary and human neuro-oncology, clinical trials, neuropathology, and drug development was convened at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This meeting served as the inaugural event launching a new consortium focused on improving the knowledge, development of, and access to naturally occurring canine brain cancer, specifically glioma, as a model for human disease. Within the meeting, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) assessment was undertaken to critically evaluate the role that naturally occurring canine brain tumors could have in advancing this aspect of comparative oncology aimed at improving outcomes for dogs and human beings.

Identification of Factors Affecting the Success of Next-Generation Sequencing Testing in Solid Tumors.

Objectives: Clinical laboratories are rapidly implementing next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests for mutation analysis, but there are few guidelines regarding sample quality for successful results.

Methods: We aimed to establish tissue quality parameters for successful NGS in solid tumors and to improve NGS performance.

Results: Analysis of 614 clinical cases tested in 2013 using a 50-gene hotspot mutation panel identified the major cause for unsuccessful NGS analysis was DNA less than 10 ng (91%, 67/74) associated with extremely small and low cellularity samples.

Next-generation molecular diagnostics.

The classification of brain tumors is based on the time-honored tradition of histologic examination, coupled with clinicopathologic correlation, and is based on the fundamental importance of microscopic morphologic interpretation. Supplementation by immunohistochemical markers is of substantial value to distinguish related entities and to confirm morphologic impressions. The use of techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is also critical in specific situations.