NKG2C/ tumor cell expression enhances immunotherapeutic efficacy against glioblastoma.

Background: Activating and inhibitory receptors of natural killer (NK) cells such as NKp, NKG2, or CLEC are highly relevant to cold tumors including glioblastoma (GBM). Here, we aimed to characterize the expression of these receptors in GBM to gain insight into their potential role as modulators of the intratumoral microenvironment.

Methods: We performed a transcriptomic analysis of several NK receptors with a focus on the activating receptor encoded by NKG2C, among bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing GBM data sets.

Sexual-biased necroinflammation is revealed as a predictor of bevacizumab benefit in glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant brain tumor that affects men more often than women. In addition, the former shows a poorer survival prognosis. To date, the reason for this sex-specific aggressiveness remains unclear.

Predicting Regions of Local Recurrence in Glioblastomas Using Voxel-Based Radiomic Features of Multiparametric Postoperative MRI.

The globally accepted surgical strategy in glioblastomas is removing the enhancing tumor. However, the peritumoral region harbors infiltration areas responsible for future tumor recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate a predictive model that identifies areas of future recurrence using a voxel-based radiomics analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

Trotabresib, an oral potent bromodomain and extraterminal inhibitor, in patients with high-grade gliomas: A phase I, "window-of-opportunity" study.

Background: The bromodomain and extraterminal protein (BET) inhibitor trotabresib has demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors, including high-grade gliomas. CC-90010-GBM-001 (NCT04047303) is a phase I study investigating the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and CNS penetration of trotabresib in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas scheduled for salvage resection.

Methods: Patients received trotabresib 30 mg/day on days 1-4 before surgery, followed by maintenance trotabresib 45 mg/day 4 days on/24 days off after surgery.

Low grade gliomas guide-lines elaborated by the tumor section of Spanish Society of Neurosurgery.

Adult low-grade gliomas (Low Grade Gliomas, LGG) are tumors that originate from the glial cells of the brain and whose management involves great controversy, starting from the diagnosis, to the treatment and subsequent follow-up. For this reason, the Tumor Group of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery (GT-SENEC) has held a consensus meeting, in which the most relevant neurosurgical issues have been discussed, reaching recommendations based on the best scientific evidence. In order to obtain the maximum benefit from these treatments, an individualised assessment of each patient should be made by a multidisciplinary team.

Patients awaiting surgery for neurosurgical diseases during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: a multicentre cohort study.

Objectives: The large number of infected patients requiring mechanical ventilation has led to the postponement of scheduled neurosurgical procedures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study were to investigate the factors that influence the decision to postpone scheduled neurosurgical procedures and to evaluate the effect of the restriction in scheduled surgery adopted to deal with the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain on the outcome of patients awaiting surgery.

Design: This was an observational retrospective study.

Prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells in glioblastoma patients: a pilot study.

Aim: Glioblastoma (GB) is an aggressive tumor type and the detection of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in peripheral blood has been related to angiogenesis.

Materials & Methods: A prospective single-center pilot study of CEC detection at diagnosis in 22 patients with GB was performed, using the US FDA-approved CellSearch system.

Results: A CEC cutoff value was estimated using a receiver operating curve (ROC) and patients were classified into two groups: <40 CEC/4 ml and >40 CEC/4 ml blood.

Synthetic MRI improves radiomics-based glioblastoma survival prediction.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive and fast-growing brain tumor with poor prognosis. Predicting the expected survival of patients with glioblastoma is a key task for efficient treatment and surgery planning. Survival predictions could be enhanced by means of a radiomic system.

Stratification of radiosensitive brain metastases based on an actionable S100A9/RAGE resistance mechanism.

Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is the treatment backbone for many patients with brain metastasis; however, its efficacy in preventing disease progression and the associated toxicity have questioned the clinical impact of this approach and emphasized the need for alternative treatments. Given the limited therapeutic options available for these patients and the poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance of metastatic lesions to WBRT, we sought to uncover actionable targets and biomarkers that could help to refine patient selection. Through an unbiased analysis of experimental in vivo models of brain metastasis resistant to WBRT, we identified activation of the S100A9-RAGE-NF-κB-JunB pathway in brain metastases as a potential mediator of resistance in this organ.

A clinically compatible drug-screening platform based on organotypic cultures identifies vulnerabilities to prevent and treat brain metastasis.

We report a medium-throughput drug-screening platform (METPlatform) based on organotypic cultures that allows to evaluate inhibitors against metastases growing in situ. By applying this approach to the unmet clinical need of brain metastasis, we identified several vulnerabilities. Among them, a blood-brain barrier permeable HSP90 inhibitor showed high potency against mouse and human brain metastases at clinically relevant stages of the disease, including a novel model of local relapse after neurosurgery.

Impact of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the outcome of neurosurgical patients: a nationwide study in Spain.

Objective: To assess the effect of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the outcome of neurosurgical patients in Spain.

Settings: The initial flood of COVID-19 patients overwhelmed an unprepared healthcare system. Different measures were taken to deal with this overburden.

Predicting Short-Term Survival after Gross Total or Near Total Resection in Glioblastomas by Machine Learning-Based Radiomic Analysis of Preoperative MRI.

Radiomics, in combination with artificial intelligence, has emerged as a powerful tool for the development of predictive models in neuro-oncology. Our study aims to find an answer to a clinically relevant question: is there a radiomic profile that can identify glioblastoma (GBM) patients with short-term survival after complete tumor resection? A retrospective study of GBM patients who underwent surgery was conducted in two institutions between January 2019 and January 2020, along with cases from public databases. Cases with gross total or near total tumor resection were included.

Clinical improvement after cranioplasty and its relation to body position and cerebral hemodynamics.

Cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy (DC) has been found to improve the neurological condition. The underlying mechanisms are still unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of the postural changes and atmospheric pressure (AP) in the brain hemodynamics and their relationship with clinical improvement.

Implant Microbial Colonization Detected by Sonication as a Cause for Spinal Device Failure: A Prospective Study.

Study Design: A prospective single center observational study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the potential role of sonication in the diagnosis of low-grade infections and its association with pedicle screw (PS) loosening, and to describe risk factors and radiological findings associated with spinal implant infection.

Summary Of Background Data: Although PS loosening has mainly been attributed to mechanical overload, implant colonization and biofilm formation have recently been suggested.

GoRG: Towards a GPU-Accelerated Multiview Hyperspectral Depth Estimation Tool for Medical Applications.

HyperSpectral (HS) images have been successfully used for brain tumor boundary detection during resection operations. Nowadays, these classification maps coexist with other technologies such as MRI or IOUS that improve a neurosurgeon's action, with their incorporation being a neurosurgeon's task. The project in which this work is framed generates an unified and more accurate 3D immersive model using HS, MRI, and IOUS information.

Tumor-Derived Pericytes Driven by EGFR Mutations Govern the Vascular and Immune Microenvironment of Gliomas.

The extraordinary plasticity of glioma cells allows them to contribute to different cellular compartments in tumor vessels, reinforcing the vascular architecture. It was recently revealed that targeting glioma-derived pericytes, which represent a big percentage of the mural cell population in aggressive tumors, increases the permeability of the vessels and improves the efficiency of chemotherapy. However, the molecular determinants of this transdifferentiation process have not been elucidated.

Immune Profiling of Gliomas Reveals a Connection with IDH1/2 Mutations, Tau Function and the Vascular Phenotype.

Background: Gliomas remain refractory to all attempted treatments, including those using immune checkpoint inhibitors. The characterization of the tumor (immune) microenvironment has been recognized as an important challenge to explain this lack of response and to improve the therapy of glial tumors.

Methods: We designed a prospective analysis of the immune cells of gliomas by flow cytometry.

Snorting the Brain Away: Cerebral Damage as an Extension of Cocaine-Induced Midline Destructive Lesions.

Cocaine consumption is associated with a variety of clinical manifestations. Though cocaine intranasal inhalation always determines nasal mucosal damages, extensive septum perforations, and midline destructions-known as cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions (CIMDL)-affect only a limited fraction of patients. CIMDL is viewed as a cocaine-associated autoimmune phenomenon in which the presence of atypical anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) promotes and/or defines the disease phenotype.

Reduction in the infection rate of cranioplasty with a tailored antibiotic prophylaxis: a nonrandomized study.

Background: Cranioplasty carries a high risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) for a scheduled procedure, particularly with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Methods: The goal of this retrospective study was to measure the effect of tailored antibiotic prophylaxis on SSIs resulting from cranioplasties. The authors collected a prospective database of cranioplasties from 2009 to 2018.

Neuropsychological management of the awake patient surgery: A protocol based on 3-year experience with glial tumors.

Introduction: Glial brain tumours usually require neurosurgical treatment and they are associated with cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairments. Awake intraoperative brain mapping is the gold standard technique used to optimize the onco-functional balance. Neuropsychological assessment and intervention have relevance in this type of procedures.

The IDH-TAU-EGFR triad defines the neovascular landscape of diffuse gliomas.

Gliomas that express the mutated isoforms of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) have better prognosis than wild-type (wt) IDH1/2 gliomas. However, how these mutant (mut) proteins affect the tumor microenvironment is still a pending question. Here, we describe that the transcription of microtubule-associated protein TAU (), a gene that has been classically associated with neurodegenerative diseases, is epigenetically controlled by the balance between wt and mut IDH1/2 in mouse and human gliomas.

True Dural Spinal Epidural Cysts: Report of 5 Cases.

Background: Spinal arachnoid cysts are a rare cause of compressive myelopathy. Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs) are even rarer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the SEACs operated on in our hospital between 2015 and 2019, according to their clinical and radiologic findings, treatments performed, and outcomes.

Ocoxin Modulates Cancer Stem Cells and M2 Macrophage Polarization in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and devastating primary brain tumor. The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been linked to their therapy resistance. Molecular and cellular components of the tumor microenvironment also play a fundamental role in the aggressiveness of these tumors.