Search for distinctive markers in DNT and cortical grade II glioma in children: same clinicopathological and molecular entities?

Background: Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumours (DNT) are benign brain lesions arising during childhood that are characterized by early onset partial seizures, no neurological deficit and cortical location. Pathological diagnosis is easy when the glioneuronal element is present. Its absence might lead to the diagnosis of non-specific DNT or low-grade glioma (LGG).

Adrenomedullin expression and regulation in human glioblastoma, cultured human glioblastoma cell lines and pilocytic astrocytoma.

Clinical and experimental studies suggest that angiogenesis is a prerequisite for solid tumour growth. Glioblastoma (GBM) and pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), both angiogenic tumours display strong contrast enhancement associated with peripheral oedema in GBM but not in PA indicating differences in vascular permeability in these two types of gliomas. Here we show that expression of adrenomedullin (AM) mRNA is induced in GBM whereas is barely detectable in PA.

High expression of cathepsin B and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 are strong predictors of survival in glioblastomas.

In contrast to pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO grade I gliomas) that are circumscribed and cured by surgical resection, invasion is a hallmark of grades II-IV gliomas. Proteases play a major role in the invasion process and correlations between glioma grading, survival and protease expression have been demonstrated. In this study, we have chosen to study using different technical approaches (Q-RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry) the expression of five molecules involved in extracellular matrix degradation (cathepsin B, MMP2, MMP9, uPA and PAI-1) in glioblastomas in order to determine their prognostic impact among grade IV gliomas.

Pilocytic astrocytoma of the optic pathway: a tumour deriving from radial glia cells with a specific gene signature.

Pilocytic astrocytomas are WHO grade I gliomas that occur predominantly in childhood. They share features of both astroglial and oligodendroglial lineages. These tumours affect preferentially the cerebellum (benign clinical course) and the optic pathway, especially the hypothalamo-chiasmatic region (poor prognosis).

Hidden chromosomal abnormalities in pleuropulmonary blastomas identified by multiplex FISH.

Background: Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare childhood dysontogenetic intrathoracic neoplasm associated with an unfavourable clinical behaviour.

Cases Presentation: We report pathological and cytogenetic findings in two cases of PPB at initial diagnosis and recurrence. Both tumors were classified as type III pneumoblastoma and histological findings were similar at diagnosis and relapse.