[Risk stratification in medulloblastoma: screening for molecular markers].

Background: The present study evaluates molecular markers for patients at risk of poor or no response to medulloblastoma. The aim of the study is to optimize therapy stratification.

Patients And Methods: 69 snap-frozen medulloblastoma samples were examined.

Expression of GAS7 in childhood CNS tumors.

Expression of growth arrest-specific (Gas) genes is observed during growth arrest in terminally differentiating cells during development of peripheral nerves. Gas7 is expressed predominantly in the brain and is required for neurite formation. Human GAS7 is located on chromosome 17p11.

No aberrant methylation of neurofibromatosis 1 gene (NF1) promoter in pilocytic astrocytoma in childhood.

Tumors of the central nervous system are the most frequent solid tumors in childhood. With 30-40% of this heterogenous group, low-grade astrocytomas represent the most common subtype. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is strongly associated with the development of pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), frequently appearing as optic glioma.

Promoter methylation pattern of caspase-8, P16INK4A, MGMT, TIMP-3, and E-cadherin in medulloblastoma.

Methylation of promoter regions of CpG-rich sites is an important mechanism for silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSG). To evaluate the role of tumor suppressor genes caspase-8 (CASP8), TIMP-3, E-cadherin (CDH1), p16INK4A, and MGMT in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis, 51 medulloblastomas (46 primary tumor specimens, 5 cell lines) were screened for methylation of promoter linked CpG-islands. For CASP8, we examined the 5' UTR region that has been shown to be associated with expression of CASP8.

Isochromosome 1q as an early genetic event in a child with intracranial ependymoma characterized by molecular cytogenetics.

Data concerning cytogenetic features of childhood ependymoma are rare. In this article, a gain of 1q was identified as the sole alteration in a primary childhood infratentorial ependymoma by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). A recurrence of this brain tumor was studied using multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) in addition to CGH and G-banding analysis.