Enhanced expression of cancer testis antigen genes in glioma stem cells.

Cancer stem cells are an important target for effective therapy, since they show tumorigenicity, chemoresistance, and radioresistance. We isolated cancer stem cells from glioma cell lines and tissues and examined the expression of cancer testis antigen (CTA) genes as potential target molecules for cancer vaccine therapy. CTA genes were highly and frequently expressed in cancer stem cells compared with differentiated cells.

Primary malignant B-cell-type dural lymphoma: Case report.

Background: The primary malignant dural lymphoma of B-cell type is rare. Our review of the literature (24 cases) indicated that patients with this tumor had female predominance, immunocompetency, and longer survival compared with those with primary malignant intracerebral lymphomas. Based on its clinicopathological features, this dural lymphoma may be classified differently from other types of malignant lymphomas in the central nervous system.

Clinico-pathological significance of RCAS1 expression in gliomas: a potential mechanism of tumor immune escape.

RCAS1, one of the tumor cell surface antigens, is strongly expressed in aggressive tumors. RCAS1 suppresses the in vitro growth of immune effector cells. We investigated the expression of RCAS1 in 57 gliomas using immunohistochemistry.

A rapidly enlarging nocardial brain abscess mimicking malignant glioma.

Nocardial brain abscesses are uncommon and are not preceded by clear infectious symptoms in most cases. Delayed identification of the bacteria is responsible for a high mortality rate. A 58-year-old afebrile woman was admitted to our hospital because of progressive right hemiparesis and aphasia.

Characterization of microglia induced from mouse embryonic stem cells and their migration into the brain parenchyma.

We derived microglia from mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells) at very high density. Using the markers Mac1(+)/CD45(low) and Mac1(+)/CD45(high) to define microglia and macrophages, respectively, we show that Mac1(+) cells are induced by GM-CSF stimulation following neuronal differentiation of mouse ES cells using a five-step method. CD45(low) expression was high and CD45(high) expression was low on induced cells.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) treated with interferon-beta after surgical removal and irradiation: case report.

This case report describes an 11-year-old boy with primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), which remains the pediatric brain tumor with the worst prognosis despite combination treatment with surgery, irradiation and anti-cancer drugs. The boy was successfully treated with intratumoral administration of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) following surgical resection and irradiation. Two million units of IFN-beta were locally administered into the post-operative cavity through the Ommaya's reservoir every two weeks after discharge.