EGFR-targeted intraoperative fluorescence imaging detects high-grade glioma with panitumumab-IRDye800 in a phase 1 clinical trial.

: First-line therapy for high-grade gliomas (HGGs) includes maximal safe surgical resection. The extent of resection predicts overall survival, but current neuroimaging approaches lack tumor specificity. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a highly expressed HGG biomarker.

A phase 2 trial of verubulin for recurrent glioblastoma: a prospective study by the Brain Tumor Investigational Consortium (BTIC).

Treatment options are limited for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Verubulin is a microtubule destabilizer and vascular disrupting agent that achieve high brain concentration relative to plasma in animals. Adults with recurrent GBM who failed prior standard therapy were eligible.

Preliminary use of differential scanning calorimetry of cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme.

Thermal stability signatures of complex molecule interaction in biological fluids can be measured using a new approach called differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermal stability of plasma proteome has been described previously as a method of producing a disease-specific "signature," termed thermogram, in several neoplastic and autoimmune diseases. We describe the preliminary use of DSC performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a diagnostic tool for the identification of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

EGFRvIII expression and PTEN loss synergistically induce chromosomal instability and glial tumors.

Glioblastomas often show activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and loss of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) tumor suppressor, but it is not known if these two genetic lesions act together to transform cells. To answer this question, we infected PTEN-/- neural precursor cells with a retrovirus encoding EGFRvIII, which is a constitutively activated receptor. EGFRvIII PTEN-/- cells formed highly mitotic tumors with nuclear pleomorphism, necrotic areas, and glioblastoma markers.

Treatment of neoplastic meningitis: what is the standard of care?

This discussion will focus on defining the standard of care for neoplastic meningitis, including: What is the role of radiation therapy? What are first-line pharmacotherapeutic agents? Is combination therapy useful? What is the role of corticosteroids?

Profiling of genes expressed by PTEN haploinsufficient neural precursor cells.

PTEN is a lipid phosphatase, and PTEN mutations are associated with gliomas, macrocephaly, and mental deficiencies. We have used PTEN +/- and PTEN +/+ mice to prepare subventricular zone (SVZ) precursor cells. Using DNA microarrays, we compared the expression profiles of PTEN +/+ and PTEN +/- cells and identified 91 differentially expressed genes in PTEN +/- precursor cells.

PTEN in neural precursor cells: regulation of migration, apoptosis, and proliferation.

PTEN is a lipid phosphatase, and PTEN mutations are associated with gliomas, macrocephaly, and mental deficiencies. We have used PTEN +/- mice to assess PTEN's role in subventricular zone (SVZ) precursor cells. For cultured SVZ neurosphere cells, haploinsufficiency for PTEN increases phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead transcription factor and slightly enhances proliferation.