Promoter Mutation in Adult Glioblastomas: It's Correlation with Other Relevant Molecular Markers.

Background: Telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (pTERT) mutation is a dominant altered telomere maintenance mechanism in primary glioblastomas (GBMs).

Objective: The aim of this study was to correlate pTERT mutations with clinico-histological features and other molecular markers (p53 protein-expression, ATRX protein-expression, IDH mutations, EGFR gene amplification and MGMT methylation) in adult GBMs.

Materials And Methods: Evaluated for histological patterns, p53 and ATRX protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), IDH mutations by IHC followed by sequencing in IHC negative cases, EGFR gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization, MGMT promoter methylation by methylation-specific PCR and pTERT mutation by sequencing.

Melanotic Schwannoma, a Deceptive Misnomer for a Tumor With Relative Aggressive Behavior: A Series of 7 Cranial and Spinal Cases.

The authors present in this article a series of 7 intracranial/spinal cases of melanotic schwannomas that highlight the aggressive nature of these tumors. The series comprises 2 males and 5 females, age range 19 to 50 years, with spinal/paraspinal location in 4/7 (57%), and intracranial (along the trigeminal nerve) location in 3/7 (43%). There was no association with Carney's complex.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification in high-grade gliomas: Western Indian tertiary cancer center experience.

Background: EGFR gene amplification is the hallmark of primary glioblastomas; however, its frequency in patients of Indian origin remains sparsely investigated.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the frequency of EGFR amplification in high grade gliomas (HGGs) in Indian patients and to study its correlation with p53 protein overexpression.

Methods And Materials: 324 cases of HGGs, where EGFR gene amplification was evaluated by fluorescence in-situ hybridization formed the study group.