Publications by authors named "K L Ligon"

Purpose: Adavosertib is an oral small molecular inhibitor of Wee1. The Adult Brain Tumor Consortium performed a phase I study of adavosertib, radiation (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) as well as a surgical window of opportunity study in recurrent GBM.

Patients And Methods: The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of adavosertib was determined in adult patients with newly diagnosed GBM using a standard 3+3 design in 2 separate cohorts: with concurrent RT/TMZ or with adjuvant TMZ.

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Low-grade gliomas and reactive piloid gliosis can present with overlapping features on conventional histology. Given the large implications for patient treatment, there is a need for effective methods to discriminate these morphologically similar but clinically distinct entities. Using routinely available stains, we hypothesize that a limited panel including SOX10, p16, and cyclin D1 may be useful in differentiating mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-activated low-grade gliomas from piloid gliosis.

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Purpose: Melanoma brain metastases (MBMs) are a common, lethal complication of metastatic melanoma. Despite improvements in treatments, subsets of MBM patients experience rapid decline, and few prognostic biomarkers have been identified. An improved understanding of the molecular features specifically associated with MBM overall survival (OS) and intracranial progression free survival (PFS) could facilitate the development of more effective clinical management strategies.

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Article Synopsis
  • Glioblastoma is described as immunologically "cold," making it resistant to solo immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) like pembrolizumab, although neoadjuvant use may improve survival based on prior studies.
  • A study involving 25 additional patients analyzed tumor tissue for gene signatures and found that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab led to decreased cancer proliferation genes and increased T-cell activity, indicating a specific response to this treatment.
  • Despite observing these molecular changes, the study did not confirm an overall survival benefit from neoadjuvant pembrolizumab, suggesting that some patients may inherently resist ICI and may need additional therapies for effective treatment.
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Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) has a median survival of <2 years. Pexidartinib (PLX3397) is a small-molecule inhibitor of CSF1R, KIT, and oncogenic FTL3, which are implicated in GBM treatment resistance. Results from glioma models indicate that combining radiation therapy (RT) and pexidartinib reduces radiation resistance.

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