MedWorm: Glioma

Endoscopic treatment of intranasal glioma in an infant presenting with dyspnea

Auris, Nasus, Larynx — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:19:49 +0100

We report one case of nasal glioma in a Japanese infant presenting with dyspnea and cyanosis. Diagnostic and therapeutic options are discussed in light of the current literature. (Source: Auris, Nasus, Larynx)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Nanoprodrugs of NSAIDs Inhibit the Growth of U87-MG Glioma Cells

Journal of Nanomaterials — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:08:53 +0100

In this study, we prepared six nanometer-sized prodrugs (nanoprodrugs) of NSAIDs, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen through the spontaneous emulsification mechanism using monomeric and dimeric derivatives of the NSAIDs. We evaluated their effect on the proliferation of U87-MG glioma cells by cell counting, WST-1 cell proliferation reagent, and propidium iodide incorporation. The two ibuprofen nanoprodrugs inhibited the cell growth more potently than the indomethacin nanoprodrugs, whereas the naproxen nanoprodrugs did not show any significant effect. Remarkably, ibuprofen did not show any effect at an equimolar concentration. Approximately, 4.4% of the ibuprofen nanoprodrugs was found in the cell, whereas no ibuprofen could be detected suggesting that the superior effect of the nano...

PPARs in Human Neuroepithelial Tumors: PPAR Ligands as Anticancer Therapies for the Most Common Human Neuroepithelial Tumors

PPAR Research — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:29:51 +0100

Neuroepithelial tumors represent a heterogeneous class of human tumors including benignant and malignant tumors. The incidence of central nervous system neoplasms ranges from 3.8 to 5.1 cases per 100,000 in the population. Among malignant neuroepithelial tumors, with regard to PPAR ligands, the most extensively studied were tumors of astrocytic origin and neuroblastoma. PPARs are expressed in developing and adult neuroepithelial cells, even if with different localization and relative abundance. The majority of malignant neuroepithelial tumors have poor prognosis and do not respond to conventional therapeutic protocols, therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Natural and synthetic PPAR ligands may represent a starting point for the formulation of new therapeutic approaches to be u...

Lycopene in treatment of high-grade gliomas: A pilot study.

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

2010 Ivy Request for Proposals

ScanGrants feed — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation is a non-profit organization that funds Patient-Focused Research on gliomas leading to the development of better diagnostics and treatment that offer long-term survival and a high quality of life for patients with brain tumors. Since our inception in 2007, the Foundation has funded $20.2M in glioma research. Guided by its strategic plan and mission, the Ivy Foundation is interested in funding projects on the leading edge whose primary objective is to accomplish one or more of the following in a 12-month project period starting no later than July 2010: Enhance the output of a clinical trial for adults with GBM by performing correlative studies which significantly increase understanding of the biologic impact of a candidate therapeutic and/or interpretat...

Imaging and Clinical Features of an Intra-Axial Brain Stem Schwannoma [BRAIN]

American Journal of Neuroradiology — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:24:08 +0100

SUMMARY: A 68-year-old man presented with a highly symptomatic brain stem tumor originally thought to be a brain stem glioma. Intraoperative MR imaging guidance was used to resect the tumor, and real-time evoked potentials improved during surgery. Pathology findings unexpectedly indicated that the tumor was an intra-axial brain stem schwannoma, a condition reported, to our knowledge, only 6 times previously in the literature. The patient made an excellent recovery with reversal of his symptoms. (Source: American Journal of Neuroradiology)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Preclinical Evaluation of Radiation and Perifosine in a Genetically and Histologically Accurate Model of Brainstem Glioma

Cancer Research — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:07:30 +0100

Results describe the first genetically engineered mouse model of brainstem glioma (Source: Cancer Research)

YKL-40 is directly produced by tumor cells and is inversely linked to EGFR in glioblastomas.

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:24:03 +0100

Authors: Horbinski C, Wang G, Wiley CA YKL-40 is a secreted chitinase-like molecule whose expression is associated with glioma grade. Expression is higher in astrocytomas than oligodendrogliomas and has been reported to predict shorter survival and radiation resistance in glioblastomas (GBMs). Whether YKL-40 is directly produced by glioma cells or other admixed nonneo-plastic cells, and whether it correlates with 1p/19q status or other hallmark molecular abnormalities, are unclear. A rank-order list of YKL-40 expression was determined immunohistochemically in 79 untreated high-grade adult glio-mas, including 28 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (AOs) and 51 GBMs. Relative YKL-40 expression was compared with glioma class, key molecular alterations, and immunohistochemical markers via a seri...

Frequently asked questions in the medical management of high-grade glioma: a short guide with practical answers

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

Frequently asked questions in the medical management of high-grade glioma: a short guide with practical answers

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

Frequently asked questions in the medical management of high-grade glioma: a short guide with practical answers

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Frequently asked questions in the medical management of high-grade glioma: a short guide with practical answers

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

A polymorphism of microRNA196a genome region was associated with decreased risk of glioma in Chinese population

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:26:23 +0100

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Aberrant expression and structural alternation of miRNAs are considered to participate in tumorigenesis and cancer development. Recently, different genotypes of miR-196a polymorphisms (SNP, rs11614913) were found to be associated with the survival of patients with lung cancer and increased risk of breast cancer. To further investigate whether this polymorphism may influence glioma risk or not, we examined the SNP allele frequency in Chinese population. Our data shows the genotype CC of miR-196a (rs11614913) polymorphism is associated with decreased risk of glioma in the Chinese population (OR = 0.74, 95% CI:0.56–0.98). Furthermore, a signi...

Role of temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma in children: experience at a single institution.

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

Role of temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma in children: experience at a single institution.

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

Role of temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma in children: experience at a single institution.

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Role of temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma in children: experience at a single institution.

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

Role of temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma in children: experience at a single institution.

Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:12:00 +0100

(Source: Clinical Trials And Noteworthy Treatments For Brain Tumors)

Ark Therapeutics Ltd Withdraws Its Marketing Authorisation Application For Cerepro (sitimagene Ceradenovec), Europe

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Ark Therapeutics Ltd of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralised marketing authorisation for the advanced therapy medicinal product Cerepro (sitimagene ceradenovec). Cerepro received an orphan designation on 6 February 2002 and was intended for the treatment of patients with high-grade operable glioma. Following the adoption of a negative opinion for Cerepro by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in December 2009, the company had requested a re-examination of the opinion... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Ark Therapeutics Ltd Withdraws Its Marketing Authorisation Application For Cerepro (sitimagene Ceradenovec), Europe

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Ark Therapeutics Ltd of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralised marketing authorisation for the advanced therapy medicinal product Cerepro (sitimagene ceradenovec). Cerepro received an orphan designation on 6 February 2002 and was intended for the treatment of patients with high-grade operable glioma... (Source: Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today)

MicroRNA-451 Regulates LKB1/AMPK Signaling and Allows Adaptation to Metabolic Stress in Glioma Cells

Molecular Cell — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:00:17 +0100

Jakub Godlewski, Michal O. Nowicki, Agnieszka Bronisz, Gerard Nuovo, Jeff Palatini, Michael De Lay, James Van Brocklyn, Michael C. Ostrowski, E. Antonio Chiocca, Sean E. Lawler. To sustain tumor growth, cancer cells must be able to adapt to fluctuations in energy availability. We have identified a single microRNA that controls glioma cell proliferation, migration, and res.... (Source: Molecular Cell)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Glioma stem cells involved in tumor tissue remodeling in a xenograft model.

Journal of Neurosurgery — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The results of this study indicated that the GFP transgenic nude mice model with GFP expression in essentially all tissues could be obtained by crossing nontransgenic athymic nude mice with transgenic GFP mice. This model should greatly expand our knowledge of glioma-host interactions. The data indicated that hGSCs might play a decisive role in tissue remodeling of gliomas as well. PMID: 20225923 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Neurosurgery)

New Hope for Battling Brain Cancer (preview)

Scientific American Topic - Medical Technology — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

In May 2006 Dwayne Berg woke up on a gurney in a Seattle emergency room, an IV in his arm and a team of doctors and nurses working him up. The last thing the 42-year-old financial executive could remember was running on a treadmill at his gym, part of his regular fitness regimen. He had suffered a seizure and tumbled off the machine, and although he had not hurt himself in the fall, doctors had asked for an MRI scan of his brain to see if they could find a cause for the seizure.They did, and the news was not good: the scan showed a large mass in the left frontal lobe that turned out to be a malignant glioma, a brain cancer that is almost invariably fatal. Berg underwent standard treatment: an operation to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation to eradicate any cancer cell...

New Hope for Battling Brain Cancer (preview)

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

New Hope for Battling Brain Cancer (preview)

Scientific American Topic - Biotechnology — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

New Hope for Battling Brain Cancer (preview)

Scientific American Topic - Stem Cell Research — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Different Patterns of Circulatory Shunting in Zebrafish Caldesmon Morphants: A Digital Motion Analysis

Heart, Lung & Circulation — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:57:54 +0100

Previously we reported the specific upregulation of low-molecular-weight caldesmon (l-CaD) in human glioma neovasculature and its association with migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) . The zebrafish homologue is similar to mammalian l-CaD. To explore the in vivo effects of this protein on the development of blood vessels, we used zebrafish caldesmon morphants (CaD-MOs) and investigated structural alterations of the developing vasculature . The determination and correct interconnection between the arteries and veins as well as the integrity of the specialised vessels are of critical importance for the proper function of the vascular system of vertebrates. Circulatory shunting (CS) is an important sign of functional abnormalities of ...

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of siRNA against basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA enhances the sensitivity of glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy

Medical Oncology — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:49:32 +0100

In this study, we used an adenovirus(Ad)-mediated transfer of siRNA against bFGF mRNA (Ad-bFGF-siRNA) to study the effect of down-regulating bFGF expression on the sensitivity of glioma cells to chemotherapeutics. An optimal siRNA sequence specific for bFGF mRNA was cloned into an adenoviral vector and transfected into three glioma cell lines: U251, A172, and LN229. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays were used to examine changes in cell proliferation, and changes in bFGF mRNA and protein levels in U251 cells were detected using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Apoptosis of U251 cells was detected using Hoechst staining and flow cytometry, with expression of apoptosis-related proteins evaluated by Western blot. Following the transfection of a bFGF-specific si...

Phase II TPDCV protocol for pediatric low-grade hypothalamic/chiasmatic gliomas: 15-year update

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:43:20 +0100

Abstract To report long-term results for children with low-grade hypothalamic/chiasmatic gliomas treated on a phase II chemotherapy protocol. Between 1984 and 1992, 33 children with hypothalamic/chiasmatic LGGs received TPDCV chemotherapy on a phase II prospective trial. Median age was 3.0 years (range 0.3–16.2). Twelve patients (36%) underwent STRs, 14 (42%) biopsy only, and seven (21%) no surgery. Twenty patients (61%) had pathologic JPAs, nine (27%) grade II gliomas, and four (12%) no surgical sampling. Median f/u for surviving patients was 15.2 years (range 5.3–20.7); 20 of the 23 surviving patients had 14 or more years of follow-up. Fifteen-year PFS and OS were 23.4 and 71.2%, respectively. Twenty-five patients progressed, of whom 13 are NED, two are AWD,...

Role of temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma in children: experience at a single institution

Child's Nervous System — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:39:34 +0100

Conclusions In this study, CCRT with TMZ followed by adjuvant TMZ did not result in a better outcome when compared with RT alone followed by adjuvant TMZ. In addition, TMZ either as adjuvant therapy or as CCRT did not improve the prognosis of the patients with newly diagnosed diffuse brainstem glioma. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperDOI 10.1007/s00381-010-1106-1Authors Kuo-Liang Chiang, Kuang-Tien General Hospital Departments of Pediatrics Taichung TaiwanKai-Ping Chang, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Department of Pediatrics No. 201, Sec 2, Shih-Pai Road 11217 Taipei TaiwanYi-Yen Lee, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute Taipei TaiwanPin-I Huang, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Cancer Center Taipe...

Levetiracetam may provide safe and effective option for treatment of epilepsy in patients with glioma

NeLM - News — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: Archives of Neurology Area: News According to research published in the Archives of Neurology, levetiracetam is safe and effective for the management of patients with epilepsy due to glioma. The prospective study included 176 hospitalised patients (101 men and 75 women) with a first diagnosis of glioma, and all patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy (n=82) were treated with levetiracetam, and clinical, histological, and magnetic resonance imaging findings were analysed. According to the researchers, at the last evaluation, 75 of 82 patients (91%) treated with levetiracetam were seizure free; in 2 of these patients, levetiracetam was withdrawn because of intolerable adverse effects. Prompt and long-lasting control of seizures was obtained in 49 of 82 patients (...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Investigators At University Of Chicago, Brain Tumor Center Have Published New Data On Cancer Gene Therapy

Cancercompass News: Other Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A report, 'Virotherapy against malignant glioma stem cells,' is newly published data in Cancer Letters. Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common primary intracranial malignancy, is associated with very poor outcome despite advances in surgical techniques and chemo-and radiation therapy. Many novel treatment modalities are being investigated with varying amount of success, researchers in the United States report. (Source: Cancercompass News: Other Cancer)

[Classification of orbital tumors.]

Neuro-Chirurgie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Civit T Knowledge of orbital tumor classification is essential because it is the basis of an optimal therapeutic strategy. These tumors comprise the sphenoorbital meningiomas, the optic nerve sheath meningiomas, the optic nerve gliomas, the schwannomas, the histiocytic tumors, the metastases, the lacrimal gland tumors, the mesenchymal tumors of the soft tissues, the primary orbital wall tumors, the tumors arising from the nasal and paranasal sinuses, the hematopoietic tumors, the vascular tumors, and the congenital tumors. PMID: 20227094 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Neuro-Chirurgie)

Expression and clinical significance of EGFL7 in malignant glioma

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:10:21 +0100

Conclusions Our data suggest that EGFL7 expression is a novel predictive factor for the clinical progression of malignant glioma, and may constitute a therapeutic target for anti-angiogenesis therapy in patients with the disease. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperDOI 10.1007/s00432-010-0832-9Authors Chun-hai Huang, Central South University Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital No 87 Xiangya Road Changsha 410008 ChinaXue-jun Li, Central South University Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital No 87 Xiangya Road Changsha 410008 ChinaYi-zeng Zhou, Jishou University Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital Jishou 416000 ChinaYong Luo, Jishou University Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital Jishou 416000 ChinaCui L...

Neoadjuvant targeting of glioblastoma multiforme with radiolabeled DOTAGA–substance P—results from a phase I study

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:43 +0100

Abstract Complete surgical resection beyond tumor margins cannot be achieved in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) because of infiltrative nature. In several cancers, neoadjuvant treatment has been implemented to reduce the risk of tumor cell spreading during resection. In GBM, the objective of a neoadjuvant approach is reduction of tumor cells within the main tumor mass and beyond in the infiltration zone. Such an approach can only be performed if elevated intracranial pressure can be medically controlled. In a previous study with recurrent gliomas, we showed that local intratumoral injection of radiolabeled DOTAGA–substance P substantially inhibited further growth and led to radionecrotic transformation of the tumor (CCR 2006). We have now examined this modality as neoadjuv...

CDC25A mRNA levels significantly correlate with Ki-67 expression in human glioma samples

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:42 +0100

This study evaluated the role of CDC25 phosphatases in human glioma proliferation. Upregulation of CDC25A was observed in human glioma specimens and human glioma cell lines. Comparison of expression levels of CDC25A and CDC25B messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) to Ki-67 labeling index in glioma tissues found that Ki-67 labeling index was significantly correlated with the expression of CDC25A, but not with that of CDC25B. Depletion of CDC25A by small interfering RNA and inhibition of CDC25 suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in glioma cell lines, indicating that CDC25A is a potential target for the development of new therapy for glioma. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Laboratory Investigation - Human/Animal TissueDOI 10.1007/s11060-010-0147-3Authors Yoji Yamas...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Phase 1 clinical trial of bortezomib in adults with recurrent malignant glioma

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:41 +0100

This study was conducted to determine the side effects and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of bortezomib in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Separate dose escalations were conducted in patients taking or not taking enzyme-inducing anti-seizure drugs (+/−EIASD). The starting dose in both groups was 0.9 mg/m2 intravenously twice weekly for the first three of each 4 week cycle. Imaging assessment of response was carried out and Plasma 20S proteasome activity inhibition and imaging was conducted to monitor efficacy. The 66 patients enrolled had a median age of 51 years, median KPS of 90%, and 77% had glioblastoma multiforme. The MTD in the −EIASD group was 1.70 mg/m2 based on grade 3 thrombocytopenia, sensory neuropathy and fatigue. In the +EIASD group escala...

Decreased pygopus 2 expression suppresses glioblastoma U251 cell growth

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:41 +0100

Abstract Gliomas are common malignant tumors of the human neural system, and Wnt signaling activation is closely related to glioma malignancy. Human Pygopus 2 (Pygo2) was recently discovered to be a component of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is required for β-catenin/Tcf-dependent transcription. However, the role of Pygo2 in glioblastoma cell growth and survival remains uncertain. In the present study, Pygo2 expression was evaluated in 80 glioma tissue samples. Results demonstrated that tumor grade exhibited a positive correlation with overexpression of Pygo2. In addition, small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to specifically knockdown Pygo2 expression in human glioblastoma U251 cell lines. Results showed that inhibition of Pygo2 expression resulted in inhibited cell prol...

Reovirus May Be A Novel Approach To Prostate Cancer Treatment

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0100

Researchers in Canada have detected a novel oncolytic viral therapy against prostate cancer with use of a virus called the reovirus, according to study results published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The respiratory, enteric, orphan virus (commonly known as reovirus) is a non-attenuated, environmental virus that has shown oncolytic potential against many types of cancer, specifically lymphoid, ovarian, breast, pancreatic and high grade glioma cancer, according to the study... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Polysialic Acid Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (PSA-NCAM) is an adverse prognosis factor in glioblastoma, and regulates olig2 expression in glioma cell lines

BMC Cancer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: PSA-NCAM represents a valuable biomarker for the prognosis of GBM patients. (Source: BMC Cancer)

Review: Bevacizumab for malignant gliomas

NeLM - News — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: Arch Neurol Area: News The Archives of Neurology has featured a review on bevacizumab for malignant gliomas. The review discusses the following: . Rationale for antiangiogenic therapies in malignant gliomas . Bevacizumab in malignant gliomas . Potential limitations of antiangiogenic therapy in glioma (Source: NeLM - News)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Review: Low-grade gliomas

NeLM - News — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: JAMA Area: News The Journal of the American Medical Association has featured a review of current and future therapeutic options for low-grade gliomas. The review starts with a case vignette, and describes the following: . Epidemiology and natural history of low-grade gliomas in adults . Clinical presentation . Indications for biopsy vs excision and current treatment modes . Perioperative care and morbidity due to treatment . The future of low-grade glioma management (Source: NeLM - News)

Glioma Pathogenesis-Related 1-Like 1 Is Testis Enriched, Dynamically Modified, and Redistributed during Male Germ Cell Maturation and Has a Potential Role in Sperm-Oocyte Binding.

Endocrinology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Gibbs GM, Lo JC, Nixon B, Jamsai D, O'Connor AE, Rijal S, Sanchez-Partida LG, Hearn MT, Bianco DM, O'Bryan MK The glioma pathogenesis-related 1 (GLIPR1) family consists of three genes [GLIPR1, GLIPR1-like 1 (GLIPR1L1), and GLIPR1-like 2 (GLIPR1L2)] and forms a distinct subgroup within the cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP), antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 (CAP) superfamily. CAP superfamily proteins are found in phyla ranging from plants to humans and, based largely on expression and limited functional studies, are hypothesized to have roles in carcinogenesis, immunity, cell adhesion, and male fertility. Specifically data from a number of systems suggests that sequences within the C-terminal CAP domain of CAP proteins have the ability to promote cell-cell adhesion. H...

A 31-Year-Old Woman With a Transformed Low-grade Glioma [Clinical Crossroads]

JAMA — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

Low-grade gliomas in adults have an incidence of 0.8 to 1.2 per 100 000, and their causes are unknown. Despite their histological classification as low-grade, they cannot be cured by any current treatment mode, and no class I evidence exists to guide initial treatment of these tumors. Median survival ranges between 7.5 years and 10 years, with a 5-year survival probability between 55% and 86%. The prognosis depends on age, World Health Organization (WHO) tumor grade, Karnofsky performance score, cytological type (oligodendroglioma vs astrocytoma), and, potentially, the extent of resection. Oligodendrogliomas with loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 1p and 19q have a distinctly more favorable prognosis and therapeutic response rate. Low-grade tumors progress to high-grade gliomas wit...

Gliomas [JAMA Patient Page]

JAMA — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Lycopene in treatment of high-grade gliomas: A pilot study

Neurology India — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:01:56 +0100

Conclusions : Addition of nutrition supplements such as lycopene may have potential therapeutic benefit in the adjuvant management of high-grade gliomas. (Source: Neurology India)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Optimization of magnetosonoporation for stem cell labeling

NMR in Biomedicine — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrated that the optimized MSP cell labeling technique can achieve both high cell viability and intracellular uptake of MR contrast agents, and has the potential to be a useful cell labeling technique to facilitate future clinical translation of MRI-integrated cell therapy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: NMR in Biomedicine)

Whole-Genome Profiling of Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas Highlights Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor {alpha} and Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase As Potential Therapeutic Targets [Pediatric Oncology]

Journal of Clinical Oncology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:01:29 +0100

Conclusion To our knowledge, our data provides the first, comprehensive high-resolution genomic analysis of pediatric DIPG. Our findings of recurrent involvement of the PDGFR pathway as well as defects in DNA repair pathways coupled with gain of PARP-1 highlight two potential, biologically based, therapeutic targets directed specifically at this devastating disease. (Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology)

New Insights Into Susceptibility to Glioma [Neurological Review]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

The study of inherited susceptibility to cancer has been one of the most informative areas of research in the past decade. Most of the cancer genetics studies have been focused on the common tumors such as breast and colorectal cancers. As the allelic architecture of these tumors is unraveled, research attention is turning to other rare cancers such as glioma, which are also likely to have a major genetic component as the basis of their development. In this brief review we discuss emerging data on glioma whole genome–association searches to identify risk loci. Two glioma genome-wide association studies have so far been reported. Our group identified 5 risk loci for glioma susceptibility (TERT rs2736100, CCDC26 rs4295627, CDKN2A/CDKN2B rs4977756, RTEL1 rs6010620, and PHLDB1 rs498872)....

Bevacizumab for Malignant Gliomas [Neurological Review]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

Malignant gliomas are the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors in adults. Despite optimal treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide, tumor recurrences are frequent and patients with malignant gliomas continue to have poor prognoses. Malignant gliomas are often highly vascularized, and significant advances have been made in the last few decades in our understanding of the mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis. Recently, bevacizumab, an antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has demonstrated significant activity in recurrent glioblastomas, resulting in US Food and Drug Administration approval and raising the prospect for other antiangiogenic drugs now entering clinical trials. (Source: Archives of Neurology)

Morphological Characteristics of Brain Tumors Causing Seizures [Original Contribution]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

Conclusions The influence of size and location of the tumors on their propensity to cause seizures varies with the grade of the tumor. In high-grade gliomas, rapidly growing tumors, particularly those situated in deeper structures, present with non–seizure-related symptoms. In low-grade gliomas, lesions in the temporal lobe or the insula grow large without other symptoms and eventually cause seizures. Quantitative image analysis allows for the mapping of regions in each group that are more or less susceptible to seizures. (Source: Archives of Neurology)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam in Patients With Glioma: A Clinical Prospective Study [Original Contribution]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

Conclusion The results of this study provide good evidence that levetiracetam is efficacious and safe in patients with epilepsy due to glioma. (Source: Archives of Neurology)

Diffuse Brain Stem Glioma [Images in Neurology]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

(Source: Archives of Neurology)

Evaluation of O-(2-[18F]-Fluoroethyl)-L-Tyrosine in the Diagnosis of Glioblastoma [Observation]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:43 +0100

Conclusion The initial results are promising and indicate that FET PET is a valuable and applicable tool for the imaging of high-grade glioma. (Source: Archives of Neurology)

Tat-BMPs-PAMAM Conjugates Enhance Therapeutic Effect of Small Interference RNA on U251 Glioma Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

Human Gene Therapy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:07:21 +0100

Human Gene Therapy , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Human Gene Therapy)

Improved Killing of Human High-Grade Glioma Cells by Combining Ionizing Radiation with Oncolytic Parvovirus H-1 Infection

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:09:57 +0100

Conclusion. This study demonstrates intact susceptibility of previously irradiated glioma-cells for H-1PV induced oncolysis. The combination of ionizing radiation followed by H-1PV infection increased viral cytotoxicity, especially in radioresistant gliomas. These findings support the ongoing development of a clinical trial of H-1PV in patients with recurrent glioblastomas. (Source: Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced interleukin-6 synthesis in glioma cells

BioMed Central — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that TNF-alpha induces IL-6 synthesis through the JAK/STAT3 pathway in addition to p38 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK in C6 glioma cells, and that phosphorylation of NFkB at Ser 536 and Ser 468, and NADPH oxidase are involved in TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis. (Source: BioMed Central)

Genetic advances in glioma: susceptibility genes and networks.

Current Opinion in Genetics and Development — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Liu Y, Shete S, Hosking F, Robertson L, Houlston R, Bondy M Recent advances in human genome studies have opened new avenues for the identification of susceptibility genes for many complex genetic disorders, especially in the field of rare cancers such as glioma. To date, eight glioma susceptibility loci have been identified by candidate gene-association studies: PRKDC G6721T, XRCC1 W399R, PARP1 A762V, MGMT F84L, ERCC1 A8092C, ERCC2 Q751K, EGF +61 A/G, and IL13 R110G. Five loci have been identified by genome-wide association studies: TERT rs2736100, CCDC26 rs4295627, CDKN2A-CDKN2B rs4977756, PHLDB1 rs498872, and RTEL1 rs6010620. Using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis tool, we investigated whether these 13 susceptibility genes are biologically related. Our data provide not only ne...

The Imprinted Gene PEG3 Inhibits Wnt Signaling and Regulates Glioma Growth [Cell Biology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:37:15 +0100

The imprinted gene PEG3 confers parenting and sexual behaviors, alters growth and development, and regulates apoptosis. However, a molecular mechanism that can account for the diverse functions of Peg3/Pw1 is not known. To elucidate Peg3-regulated pathways, we performed a functional screen in zebrafish. Enforced overexpression of PEG3 mRNA during zebrafish embryogenesis decreased β-catenin protein expression and inhibited Wnt-dependent tail development. Peg3/Pw1 also inhibited Wnt signaling in human cells by binding to β-catenin and promoting its degradation via a p53/Siah1-dependent, GSK3β-independent proteasomal pathway. The inhibition of the Wnt pathway by Peg3/Pw1 suggested a role in tumor suppression. Hypermethylation of the PEG3 promoter in primary human gliomas led to...

Accumulation of CD133-positive glioma cells after high-dose irradiation by Gamma Knife surgery plus external beam radiation.

Journal of Neurosurgery — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The results indicate that CD133-positive glioma stemlike cells can survive high-dose irradiation, leading to recurrence, despite prolonged damage to tumor blood vessels. This could be an essential factor limiting the effectiveness of GKS plus EBRT for malignant gliomas. PMID: 20205512 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Neurosurgery)

Carvedilol in glioma treatment alone and with imatinib in vitro.

International Journal of Oncology — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:59:18 +0100

Authors: Erguven M, Yazihan N, Aktas E, Sabanci A, Li CJ, Oktem G, Bilir A The purpose of the study was to investigate whether carvedilol has an antiproliferative effect alone and whether carvedilol provides an additive, synergistic or antagonistic effect on imatinib mesylate-induced cytotoxicity in both C6 glioma monolayer and spheroid culture. The C6 rat glioma chemoresistant experimental brain tumour cell line, that is notoriously difficult to treat with combination chemotherapy, was used both in monolayer and spheroid cultures. We treated C6 glioma cells with carvedilol alone and a combination of carvedilol and imatinib mesylate at a concentration of 10 microM. Following treatment, we evaluated cell proliferation index, bromodeoxyuridine labelling index (BrDU-LI), cell cycle distri...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

miR-221/222 promote malignant progression of glioma through activation of the Akt pathway.

International Journal of Oncology — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:58:53 +0100

In this study, we aimed to explore the coordinated function of miR-221/222 in glioma by bioinformatics and experiment methods. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-221/222 had the potential to regulate about 70 common target genes and may exert a cooperative effect on regulation and function via Akt signaling pathway. Overexpression of miR-221/222 increased glioma cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and induced glioma growth in a subcutaneous mouse model. Furthermore, miR-221/222 overexpression resulted in an obvious activation of p-Akt and significant changes of Akt-related gene expression in glioma cells. Our results suggest that miR-221/222 co-enhance the glioma malignant phenotype via activation of the Akt pathway mediated by regulation of common gene expression. PMID: 20...

Gene expression profile in a glioma cell line resistant to cell death induced by a the chimeric tumor suppressor-1 (CTS-1), a dominant-positive variant of p53--the role of NF{kappa}B

Carcinogenesis — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:26:26 +0100

The identification of genes involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression is of great interest since these genes might be feasible as candidates for new tumor-targeted therapy strategies. Chimeric tumor suppressor-1 (CTS-1), an artificial synthetic variant of p53, resists common p53 inactivation and could therefore be defined as a dominant-positive p53 variant. Overexpression of CTS-1 induces caspase-independent cell death. We used whole-genome microarray expression analysis in a parental (229P) and a CTS-1-resistant glioma cell line (229Res) to analyze alterations in gene expression in Ad-CTS-1-infected and in uninfected parental and resistant cells. In total, 700 genes were differentially expressed in infected and 313 genes in uninfected 229Res versus 229P cells. Ingenuity Pathway Ana...

Capsaicin sensitizes malignant glioma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis via DR5 upregulation and survivin downregulation

Carcinogenesis — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:26:25 +0100

Capsaicin, a pungent ingredient of red chili peppers, has been reported to possess antitumor activities. Here, we show that subtoxic doses of capsaicin effectively sensitize multiple malignant glioma cell lines to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. Although TRAIL alone mediated partial proteolytic processing of procaspase-3 in glioma cells, cotreatment with capsaicin and TRAIL efficiently restored complete activation of caspases. We found that treatment of various gliomas with capsaicin significantly upregulated DR5, a death receptor of TRAIL, and downregulated the caspase inhibitor survivin. The induction of DR5 was mediated by CHOP/GADD153. The reduction in survivin protein level was associated with downregulation of cyclin B and Cdc2 expre...

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor content in human glioma and normal brain.

Brain Research Bulletin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study is the first to confirm the presence of GRPR in human glioma specimens and normal human neurons. PMID: 20211708 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Research Bulletin)

Low field intraoperative MRI-guided surgery of gliomas: A single center experience

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:56:25 +0100

Conclusion: Low field iMRI is a helpful tool in modern neurosurgery and facilitates brain tumor resection to a maximum safe extent. Its use translates into a better prognosis for these patients with devastating tumors. Future studies covering the use of iMRI will need to be conducted in a prospective, randomized fashion to prove the true benefit of iMRI in glioma surgery. (Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Resisting arrest: a switch from angiogenesis to vasculogenesis in recurrent malignant gliomas

Journal of Clinical Investigation — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:25:43 +0100

The cellular and molecular events that initiate and promote malignant glioma development are not completely understood. The treatment modalities designed to promote its demise are all ultimately ineffective, leading to disease progression. In this issue of the JCI, Kioi et al. demonstrate that vasculogenesis and angiogenesis potentially play distinct roles in the etiology of primary and recurrent malignant gliomas, suggesting that patient therapy should perhaps be tailored specifically against the predominant vasculature pathway at a given specific stage of gliomagenesis. (Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation)

The striate sign: peritumoural perfusion pattern of infiltrative primary and recurrent gliomas

Urosurgical Review — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:03:30 +0100

Abstract MR perfusion depicts angiogenesis as a key factor for growth and malignancy in gliomas by means of increased regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV). The rCBV increase is not limited to the tumour area, but may also produce a stripe-like pattern of peritumoural rCBV increase that we defined as the “striate sign”. We evaluated if prior radiochemotherapy influences perfusion values and pattern in and adjacent to malignant gliomas comparing rCBV of treated recurrent gliomas with untreated gliomas. Ninety-three patients with primary or recurrent WHO grades II–IV glial tumours underwent T2*-weighted dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced (DSC)-MRI. Differences of normalised rCBV and rCBVmax were evaluated using Kruskal−Wallis analysis with post hoc test...

Response to article "Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the distinction of high-grade cerebral gliomas from single metastatic brain tumors"

Acta Radiologica — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sijens PE PMID: 20192894 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Radiologica)

Preclinical Evaluation of Radiation and Perifosine in a Genetically and Histologically Accurate Model of Brainstem Glioma.

Cell Research — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We report the development of a genetically engineered mouse model of BSG using the RCAS/tv-a system and its implementation in preclinical trials. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor alpha is overexpressed in 67% of pediatric BSGs. Based on this observation, we induced low-grade BSGs by overexpressing PDGF-B in the posterior fossa of neonatal nestin tv-a mice. To generate high-grade BSGs, we overexpressed PDGF-B in combination with Ink4a-ARF loss, given that this locus is commonly lost in high-grade pediatric BSGs. We show that the likely cells of origin for these mouse BSGs exist on the floor of the fourth ventricle and cerebral aqueduct. Irradiation of these high-grade BSGs shows that although single doses of 2, 6, and 10 Gy significant...

CD44 Attenuates Activation of the Hippo Signaling Pathway and Is a Prime Therapeutic Target for Glioblastoma.

Cell Research — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Xu Y, Stamenkovic I, Yu Q Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor that, by virtue of its resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is currently incurable. Identification of molecules whose targeting may eliminate GBM cells and/or sensitize glioblastoma cells to cytotoxic drugs is therefore urgently needed. CD44 is a major cell surface hyaluronan receptor and cancer stem cell marker that has been implicated in the progression of a variety of cancer types. However, the major downstream signaling pathways that mediate its protumor effects and the role of CD44 in the progression and chemoresponse of GBM have not been established. Here we show that CD44 is upregulated in GBM and that its depletion blocks GBM growth and sensitizes GBM cells to cytotoxic d...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Integrated genomic profiling identifies candidate genes implicated in glioma-genesis and a novel LEO1-SLC12A1 fusion gene

Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We performed genotyping and exon-level expression profiling on 21 glioblastomas (GBMs) and 19 oligodendrogliomas (ODs) to identify genes involved in glioma initiation and/or progression. Low-copy number amplifications (2.5 < n < 7) and high-copy number amplifications (n > 7) were more frequently observed in GBMs; ODs generally have more heterozygous deletions per tumor. Four high-copy amplicons were identified in more than one sample and resulted in overexpression of the known oncogenes EGFR, MDM2, and CDK4. In the fourth amplicon, RBBP5, a member of the RB pathway, may act as a novel oncogene in GBMs. Not all hCNAs contain known genes, which may suggest that other transcriptional and/or regulatory elements are the target for amplification. Regions with most frequent allelic loss, both in ...

[Reflection and Reaction] Whole-brain irradiation for patients with brain metastases: still the standard of care – Authors' reply

The Lancet Oncology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Previously, one could not establish from the published studies whether whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) or the risk of brain tumour recurrence posed a greater threat to the neurological and neurocognitive function of a patient with brain metastasis. Our study provides clarification and guidance by lending support to using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone with close observation for patients with one to three brain metastases. We agree that for patients with four or more brain metastases, the standard of care remains WBRT. Randomised trials seek to balance out both known and unknown prognostic factors between groups to minimise bias. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification was used as a robust validated method for patient stratification. In addition, graded prognostic a...

[From the Archives] The first reported localisation and resection of a brain tumour

The Lancet Oncology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the publication of a case report that documented the first surgical resection of a cerebral glioma: performed by Sir Rickman Godlee, a surgeon at University College Hospital, at the urging of A Hughes Bennett, a physician to the Hospital for Epilepsy and Paralysis. Although the surgical techniques seem primitive by today's standards, they incorporated many cutting edge surgical and scientific advances of the day, including new antiseptic techniques pioneered by Godlee's uncle Joseph Lister, and work by David Ferrier on the mapping of the animal cerebral cortex. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

The lectin concanavalin-A signals MT1-MMP catalytic independent induction of COX-2 through an IKKgamma/NF-kappaB-dependent pathway.

Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sina A, Proulx-Bonneau S, Roy A, Poliquin L, Cao J, Annabi B The lectin from Canavalia ensiformis (Concanavalin-A, ConA), one of the most abundant lectins known, enables one to mimic biological lectin/carbohydrate interactions that regulate extracellular matrix protein recognition. As such, ConA is known to induce membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) which expression is increased in brain cancer. Given that MT1-MMP correlated to high expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in gliomas with increasing histological grade, we specifically assessed the early proinflammatory cellular signaling processes triggered by ConA in the regulation of COX-2. We found that treatment with ConA or direct overexpression of a recombinant MT1-MMP resulted in the induction of COX-2 expres...

Characteristic 8 keV X Rays Possess Radiobiological Properties of Higher-LET Radiation.

Radiation Research — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shridhar R, Estabrook W, Yudelev M, Rakowski J, Burmeister J, Wilson GD, Joiner MC Abstract Electronic brachytherapy systems are being developed that can deliver X rays of varying energy depending on the material of a secondary target. A copper target produces characteristic 8 keV X rays. Our aim was to determine whether 8 keV X rays might deliver greater biological effectiveness than megavoltage photons. Cells of the U251 human glioma cell line were used to compare the biological effects of 8 keV X rays and (60)Co gamma rays in terms of relative biological effectiveness (RBE), oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), and DNA damage. The RBE at 50% and 10% survival was 2.6 and 1.9, respectively. At 50% survival, the OER for cells treated with 8 keV X rays was 1.6 compared with 3.0 for ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Brain and spinal tumours: contemporary challenges in clinical practice

Paediatrics and Child Health — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Brain and spinal tumours in children present serious diagnostic challenge for a wide range of practitioners, are common enough to appear regularly as a problem for rehabilitation in hospital, community and school. The range of treatments and their consequences are identified and explored in the way they are selected and delivered to young children versus older children as a consequence of their impact upon brain development. The specific clinical approaches to different tumour types and the impact of their anatomical presentation, biological characteristics are described including spinal cord tumours. The importance of integrating clinical research with daily clinical practice is emphasized especially the importance of obtaining tissue from tumours suitable for biological charact...

Ark Therapeutics Files Cerepro(R) Re-Examination Documentation With The European Medicines Agency

Health News from Medical News Today — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Ark Therapeutics Group plc (AKT: LSE) ("Ark" or "the Company"), announces that it has filed documentation with the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") in relation to its request for re-examination of the marketing approval application ("MAA") for Cerepro®, Ark's novel gene based therapy for the treatment of operable malignant glioma (brain cancer). The EMA have acknowledged receipt of the filing. The re-examination filing provides evidence from the Phase III trial (Study 904) in relation to possible bias in the decision to re-intervene, and the validity of the endpoint... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Ark Therapeutics Files Cerepro(R) Re-Examination Documentation With The European Medicines Agency

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Anti-tumor immune response correlates with neurological symptoms in a dog with spontaneous astrocytoma treated by gene and vaccine therapy.

Vaccine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Pluhar GE, Grogan PG, Seiler C, Goulart M, Santacruz KS, Carlson C, Chen W, Olin MR, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG, Haines SJ, Ohlfest JR Gene therapy and vaccination have been tested in malignant glioma patients with modest, albeit encouraging results. The combination of these therapies has demonstrated synergistic efficacy in murine models but has not been reported in large animals. Gemistocytic astrocytoma (GemA) is a low-grade glioma that typically progresses to lethal malignancy despite conventional therapies. Until now there has been no useful animal model of GemA. Here we report the treatment of a dog with spontaneous GemA using the combination of surgery, intracavitary adenoviral interferon gamma (IFNgamma) gene transfer, and vaccination with glioma cell lysates mixed with ...

Knockdown of E2f1 by RNA interference impairs proliferation of rat cells in vitro

Genetics and Molecular Biology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:04:27 +0100

In this study, the introduction of specific short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) reduced E2f1 expression by up to 77%, and impaired rat glioma cell proliferation by approximately 70%, as compared to control cells. Furthermore, we investigated the expression of E2f1 target genes, Cyclin A and Cyclin E. Cyclin A was found to be down-regulated, whereas Cyclin E had similar expression to control cells, indicating that gene(s) other than E2f1 control its transcription. Other E2f family members, E2f2 and E2f3, which have been classified in the same subgroup of transcriptional activators, were also analyzed. Expression of both E2f2 and E2f3 was similar to control cells, showing no cross-inactivation or up-regulation to compensate for the absence of E2f1. Nevertheless, their expression was insufficient to ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Alterations in gene expression profiles correlated with cisplatin cytotoxicity in the glioma U343 cell line

Genetics and Molecular Biology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:04:27 +0100

Gliomas are the most common tumors in the central nervous system, the average survival time of patients with glioblastoma multiforme being about 1 year from diagnosis, in spite of harsh therapy. Aiming to study the transcriptional profiles displayed by glioma cells undergoing cisplatin treatment, gene expression analysis was performed by the cDNA microarray method. Cell survival and apoptosis induction following treatment were also evaluated. Drug concentrations of 12.5 to 300 μM caused a pronounced reduction in cell survival rates five days after treatment, whereas concentrations higher than 25 μM were effective in reducing the survival rates to ~1%. However, the maximum apoptosis frequency was 20.4% for 25 μM cisplatin in cells analyzed at 72 h, indicating that apoptosis is not the on...

Steroid requirements during radiotherapy for malignant gliomas

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:45:53 +0100

Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) is the standard treatment for high-grade gliomas. However, toxicity may develop during RT, such as brain edema or worsening of neurological symptoms. Surprisingly, no dedicated study had focused on steroid requirements during RT in adult patients with malignant gliomas. We evaluated prospectively all patients with malignant gliomas treated by RT in a single center from July 2006 to May 2009. Age, sex, initial Karnofsky performance status (KPS), tumor localization and histology, type of surgical resection, clinical target volume, total dose and duration of RT, concomitant treatment with temozolomide, and steroid dosage during RT and at 1 and 3 months after RT were recorded in all patients. Most of the 80 patients (70%) were already taking st...

Bioluminescent approaches for measuring tumor growth in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis.

Toxicologic Pathology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:52:03 +0100

Authors: Hawes JJ, Reilly KM Neurofibomatosis (NF1) patients are susceptible to multiple tumors of the nervous system including neurofibromas, optic glioma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), and astrocytoma. The Nf1+/-;Trp53+/- (NPcis) mouse model of NF1 spontaneously develops astrocytoma and MPNSTs that are very similar to human NF1 tumors. To use this model for testing potential therapeutics, we have developed systems that take advantage of bioluminescent reporters of tumor growth. We have generated E2F1 promoter-driving luciferase (ELUX) reporter mice to detect proliferating tumors in NPcis mice in vivo using bioluminescence. The power of this system is that it enables looking at tumor evolution and detecting spontaneous tumors at early stages of development as they...

Expression of growth factors in brain tumors: correlation with tumor grade, recurrence and survival.

Clinical Neuropathology — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:22:05 +0100

Conclusion: The immunohistochemical study of expression of VEGF, EGFR, TGFβ2, TGFβ3, PDGF and p53 in all low-grade (Grade II) brain gliomas at the first operation may help to differentiate cases with slower evolution and longer survival from those with higher potential of anaplastic transformation. PMID: 20175962 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Neuropathology)

Minimally perturbing a gene regulatory network to avoid a disease phenotype: the glioma network as a test case

BioMed Central — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our method allows perturbation analysis of regulatory networks and can overcome incomplete information. It can help in identifying drug targets and in prioritizing perturbation experiments. (Source: BioMed Central)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Screening of biochemical/histological changes associated to C6 glioma tumor development by FTIR/PCA imaging

RSC - Analyst latest articles — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abdelilah Beljebbar, Sylvain Dukic, Nadia Amharref, Michel Manfait (Paper from Analyst) Abdelilah Beljebbar, Analyst, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/b922184k To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above. The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - Analyst latest articles)

Comparison of apparent diffusion coefficients and distributed diffusion coefficients in high-grade gliomas

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To compare apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) with distributed diffusion coefficients (DDCs) in high-grade gliomas.Twenty patients with high-grade gliomas prospectively underwent diffusion-weighted MRI. Traditional ADC maps were created using b-values of 0 and 1000 s/mm2. In addition, DDC maps were created by applying the stretched-exponential model using b-values of 0, 1000, 2000, and 4000 s/mm2. Whole-tumor ADCs and DDCs (in 10-3 mm2/s) were measured and analyzed with a paired t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the Bland-Altman method.Tumor ADCs (1.14 ± 0.26) were significantly lower (P = 0.0001) than DDCs (1.64 ± 0.71). Tumor ADCs and DDCs were strongly correlated (R = 0.9716; P < 0.0001), but mean bias ± limits of agreement between tumor ADCs and DDCs was -0.50 ± 0....

Validation of functional diffusion maps (fDMs) as a biomarker for human glioma cellularity

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Evaluation of gadobutrol, a macrocyclic, nonionic gadolinium chelate in a brain glioma model: Comparison with gadoterate meglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine at 1.5 T, combined with an assessment of field strength dependence, specifically 1.5 versus 3 T

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To evaluate in a rat brain glioma model intraindividual tumor enhancement at 1.5 T using gadobutrol (Gadovist), a nonionic, macrocyclic chelate currently in clinical trials in the United States, in comparison with both an ionic macrocyclic chelate, gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem), and an ionic linear chelate, gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist), and to compare the degree of tumor enhancement with gadobutrol at 1.5 and 3 T.A total of 24 rats, divided into three groups with n = 8 animals per group, were evaluated. Animals in group 1 received injections of gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine, whereas those in group 2 received gadobutrol and gadoterate meglumine. Injections were performed in random order and separated by 24 hours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were perfor...

Utility of positron emission tomography for tumour surveillance in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:47:39 +0100

Conclusion PET/CT may contribute useful information to the surveillance of OPG in childhood NF1—particularly to identify progressive, symptomatic tumours. As in adults, PET/CT is useful for the detection of malignant transformation in PNFs in children with NF1. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00259-010-1386-4Authors Mahendranath Moharir, The Hospital for Sick Children Division of Neurology 555 University Avenue, Toronto Ontario M5G 1X8 CanadaKevin London, Children’s Hospital at Westmead Department of Nuclear Medicine Sydney NSW 2145 AustraliaRobert Howman-Giles, University of Sydney Discipline of Imaging, Faculty of Medicine Sydney AustraliaKathryn North, Children’s Hospital at Westmead Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Re...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Disruption of LGI1-linked synaptic complex causes abnormal synaptic transmission and epilepsy [Neuroscience]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:51:52 +0100

Epilepsy is a devastating and poorly understood disease. Mutations in a secreted neuronal protein, leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1), were... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

CD133, CD15/SSEA-1, CD34 or side populations do not resume tumor-initiating properties of long-term cultured cancer stem cells from human malignant glio-neuronal tumors.

BMC Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our results further substantiate the specificity of a subset of high grade gliomas, MGNT. TICs derived from these tumors represent a new tool to screen for innovative therapies. (Source: BMC Cancer)

Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms are associated with survival in anaplastic glioma patients

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are polymorphic enzymes that are responsible for glutathione conjugation of alkylators and scavenging of free radicals created by radiation. GST polymorphisms may result in altered or absent enzyme activity and have been associated with survival in patients with cancer. The authors of this report hypothesized that patients with anaplastic glioma (AG) who have GST genotypes that encode for lower activity enzymes will have longer survival than similar patients who have higher activity genotypes. The current study was performed to investigate the role of GST enzyme polymorphisms in predicting the survival of patients with AG.The medical records of 207 patients with AG from a single cancer center were reviewed retrospectively. Polymorphisms for the GST [mu]1 (...

Glycitein inhibits glioma cell invasion through down-regulation of MMP-3 and MMP-9 gene expression.

Chemico-Biological Interactions — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lee EJ, Kim SY, Hyun JW, Min SW, Kim DH, Kim HS Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that play a pivotal role in invasion and angiogenesis of malignant glioma cells. Therefore, the inhibition of MMPs has been suggested to be a promising therapeutic strategy for brain tumors. In the present study, we found that glycitein, a bacterial metabolite of the isoflavone glycitin, inhibits the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-9 at promoter, mRNA, and protein levels in PMA-stimulated U87MG human astroglioma cells. In addition, gelatin zymography showed that glycitein inhibited the PMA-induced MMP-9 secretion in U87MG cells. A subsequent Matrigel-invasion assay revealed that glycitein suppresses the in vitro invasiveness of glioma cells, which may be at least part...

Comparison of two fMRI tasks for the evaluation of the expressive language function

Neuroradiology — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:17:35 +0100

Conclusions Both language tasks are useful in evaluation of expressive language. The VGT is a more specific task, while the VFT is more unspecific but activates language-related areas that are not found with the VGT owing to its phonological component. Therefore, each task contributes to the lateralisation and localisation of expressive language areas with complementary information. The advisability of combining tasks to improve fMRI presurgical evaluation is confirmed. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Functional NeuroradiologyDOI 10.1007/s00234-010-0667-8Authors Ana Sanjuán, Universitat Jaume I Departamento de Psicología Básica, Clínica y Psicobiología Avda. Sos Baynat, s/n 12071 Castellón de la Plana SpainJuan-Carlos Bustamante, Universitat Jaume I Depa...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

The small heterodimer partner suppresses the transcriptional activity and nuclear localization of hedgehog signaling protein Gli1

BJ Gene — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Glioma-associated oncogene homologue (Gli) acts as a terminal effector of hedgehog signaling pathway which is implicated in the development of many human malignancies. Gli activation is important for cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis in various cancers. Several studies have suggested that nuclear receptors have anti-cancer effects by inhibiting the activation of various oncoproteins. However, the involvement of nuclear receptors on Hedgehog-Gli signal pathway is poorly known. Here, we identified small heterodimer partner (SHP) as a nuclear receptor that decreased the expression of Gli target genes by repressing the transcriptional activity of Gli1. The inhibitory effect of SHP was associated with the inhibition of Gli1 nuclear localization by protein-protein interaction. Finally, SHP o...

Targeting A20 Decreases Glioma Stem Cell Survival and Tumor Growth

PLoS Biology: Archived Table of Contents — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The A20 protein is a known inhibitor of apoptosis that here is shown to be a novel cancer stem cell-promoting factor associated with poor glioma patient survival. (Source: PLoS Biology: Archived Table of Contents)

Effect of Combination Treatment of Rapamycin and Isoflavones on mTOR Pathway in Human Glioblastoma (U87) Cells.

Neurochemical Research — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study we investigated the effect of combination treatment of rapamycin with isoflavones such as genistein and biochanin A on mTOR pathway and activation of Akt and eIF4E in human glioblastoma (U87) cells. Our results show that combination treatment of rapamycin with isoflavones, especially biochanin A at 50 muM, decreased the phosphorylation of Akt and eIF4E proteins and rendered U87 cells more sensitive to rapamycin treatment when compared to cells treated with rapamycin alone. These results suggest the importance of combining chemopreventive with chemotherapeutic agents in order to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. PMID: 20177775 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Neurochemical Research)

A chitosan/beta-glycerophosphate thermo-sensitive gel for the delivery of ellagic acid for the treatment of brain cancer.

Biomaterials — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We report here the development of a chitosan/beta-glycerophosphate(Ch/beta-GP) thermo-sensitive gel to deliver ellagic acid (EA) for cancer treatment. The properties of the Ch/beta-GP gels were characterized regarding chemical structure, surface morphology, and viscoelasticity. In vitro EA release rate from the EA loaded Ch/beta-GP gel and chitosan degradation rate were investigated. The anti-tumor effect of the EA loaded Ch/beta-GP gel on brain cancer cells (human U87 glioblastomas and rat C6 glioma cells) was evaluated by examining cell viability. Cell number and activity were monitored by the MTS assay. The Ch/beta-GP solution formed a heat-induced gel at body temperature, and the gelation temperature and time were affected by the final pH of the Ch/beta-GP solution. The lysozyme increa...

The expression of GLTSCR2, a candidate tumor suppressor, is reduced in seborrheic keratosis compared to normal skin.

Pathology, Research and Practice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kim JY, Kim HS, Lee S, Park JH Glioma tumor-suppressor candidate region gene 2 (GLTSCR2) is a recently identified nuclear protein that interacts with the tumor suppressor PTEN. GLTSCR2 regulates the stability of PTEN, and is therefore believed to have a tumor suppressive function. In a recent study, we demonstrated that GLTSCR2 often exhibits genetic alterations and down-regulation in glioblastoma specimens. However, GLTSCR2 expression levels in human tumors and its mechanism of tumor suppression remain largely unknown. We performed an immunohistochemical examination of GLTSCR2 expression in samples of seborrheic keratosis (SK, n=69), a common benign skin tumor, and normal skin (n=23), and assessed the relationship between GLTSCR2 expression and the patients' clinicopathologic...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Targeting A20 Decreases Glioma Stem Cell Survival and Tumor Growth

PLoS Biology: Archived Table of Contents — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Cerebral Gliomas: Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging Analysis of Microstructural Differences [NEURORADIOLOGY]

Radiology — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:50:31 +0100

This study demonstrates significant differences in mean diffusional kurtosis (DK) between World Health Organization glioma grades II through IV, thereby showing a better separation between the tumor grades by mean DK than by conventional diffusion tensor imaging measurements such as apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy. (Source: Radiology)

Partially Resected Gliomas: Diagnostic Performance of Fluid-attenuated Inversion Recovery MR Imaging for Detection of Progression [NEURORADIOLOGY]

Radiology — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:50:31 +0100

An encapsulation of the resection cavity, presumably by tumor cells, of partially resected gliomas results in an increase in signal intensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR images within the resection cavity. (Source: Radiology)

CX3CR1 promotes recruitment of human glioma-infiltrating microglia/macrophages (GIMs).

Experimental Cell Research — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Held-Feindt J, Hattermann K, Müerköster SS, Wedderkopp H, Knerlich-Lukoschus F, Ungefroren H, Mehdorn HM, Mentlein R The transmembrane chemokine CX3CL1 and its receptor CX3CR1 are thought to be involved in the trafficking of immune cells during an immune response and in the pathology of various human diseases including cancer. However, little is known about the expression and function of CX3CR1 in human glioma-infiltrating microglia/macrophages (GIMs), representing the major cellular stroma component of highly malignant gliomas. Here, we show that CX3CR1 is overexpressed at both the mRNA and protein level in solid human astrocytomas of different malignancy grades and in glioblastomas. CX3CR1 was localized in ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and CD11b...

Overexpression and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor in hemangioblastomas

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:55:37 +0100

Abstract Hemangioblastomas frequently develop in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. The tumors are characterized by a dense network of blood capillaries, often in association with cysts. Although activation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in the development of malignant brain tumors such as high-grade gliomas, little is known about the role of RTK signaling in hemangioblastomas. To address this issue, we examined hemangioblastoma tumor specimens using receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activation profiling and immunohistochemistry. Six human hemangioblastomas were analyzed with a phospho-RTK antibody array, revealing EGFR phosphorylation in all...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Marker-independent identification of glioma-initiating cells

Nature Methods — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Virginie Clément, Denis Marino, Cristina Cudalbu, Marie-France Hamou, Vladimir Mlynarik, Nicolas de Tribolet, Pierre-Yves Dietrich, Rolf Gruetter, Monika E Hegi & Ivan Radovanovic (Source: Nature Methods)

Multicentric Tumor Manifestations of High Grade Gliomas: Independent Proliferation or Hallmark of Extensive Disease?

Zentralblatt fur Neurochirurgie - Central European Neurosurgery — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:45:13 +0100

Cen Eur Neurosurg 2010; 71: 20-25DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1241190Abstract Improvements in microneurosurgical techniques, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the treatment of high grade gliomas resulted in better local tumor control and longer progression-free survival. Multicentric (MC) lesions located distant from the initial resection area contribute to treatment failure in a growing number of patients. These MC lesions may develop within the course of the disease (metachronous) or may already be present at the time of first tumor manifestation (synchronous). To look for mechanisms and regular patterns behind MC glioma manifestations and to investigate whether they are “a second primary tumor” or the result of continuous diffuse glioblastoma cell invasion, we retrospectively analyze...

Prognostic significance of histological grading, p53 status, YKL-40 expression, and IDH1 mutations in pediatric high-grade gliomas

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:52:48 +0100

The objective of this study was to evaluate, in a series of 43 pediatric high-grade gliomas (21 anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade III and 22 glioblastoma WHO grade IV), the prognostic value of histological grading and expression of p53 and YKL-40. Moreover, mutational screening for TP53 and IDH1 was performed in 27 of 43 cases. The prognostic stratification for histological grading showed no difference in overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas. Overexpression of YKL40 was detected in 25 of 43 (58%) cases, but YKL-40 expression was not prognostic in terms of OS and PFS. p53 protein expression was observed in 13 of 43 (31%) cases but was not prognostic. TP53 mutations were detected in five of 27 (18%) cases (four glioblastomas a...

Pittsburgh Neurosurgeons Explore Use Of Drug That Illuminates Brain Tumor Cells To Guide Surgery

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Neurosurgeons at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) are exploring use of a drug that illuminates brain tumor cells to determine if the experimental visualization technique will enhance their ability to surgically excise tumors and improve patient survival. AGH is one of just three medical centers in the country approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate the efficacy of an oral fluorescent compound, called 5-aminoevulnic acid (ALA), in a clinical trial of patients diagnosed with a glioma, the most common form of primary brain tumor... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

The Common Feature of Leukemia-Associated IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations Is a Neomorphic Enzyme Activity Converting α-Ketoglutarate to 2-Hydroxyglutarate

Cancer Cell — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:00:14 +0100

Patrick S. Ward, Jay Patel, David R. Wise, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Bryson D. Bennett, Hilary A. Coller, Justin R. Cross, Valeria R. Fantin, Cyrus V. Hedvat, Alexander E. Perl, Joshua D. Rabinowitz, Martin Carroll, Shinsan M. Su, Kim A. Sharp, Ross L. Levine, Craig B. Thompson. The somatic mutations in cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) observed in gliomas can lead to the production of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). Here, we report that tumor 2HG is elevated in a hig.... (Source: Cancer Cell)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

miR-17-92 expression in differentiated T cells - implications for cancer immunotherapy

Journal of Translational Medicine — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The type-2-skewing tumor microenvironment induces the down-regulation of miR-17-92 expression in T cells, thereby diminishing the persistence of tumor-specific T cells and tumor control. Genetic engineering of T cells to express miR-17-92 may represent a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. (Source: Journal of Translational Medicine)

Incorporating BCNU Wafers into Malignant Glioma Treatment: European Case Studies

Clinical Drug Investigation — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:10:10 +0100

(Source: Clinical Drug Investigation)

Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensor for studying the interactions of beta-amyloid peptide with metallic ions.

Talanta — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:42:18 +0100

Authors: Wang C, Wang J, Liu D, Wang Z In this paper, a kind of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta1-16) conjugated gold nanoparticles (Abeta1-16@GNPs) are prepared and employed as colorimetric indicator for studying the interaction of beta-amyloid peptide with metallic ions (e.g. Zn(2+) and Ca(2+)). In the presence of Zn(2+), mono-dispersing Abeta1-16@GNPs enable to form aggregates or attach on the SHG-44 (human glioma cell) cellular surface which results in significant color change of the solution. The experimental results indicate that Zn(2+) can interact with Abeta1-16 and form Zn(2+)-beta-amyloid peptide complexes. In particular, in the presence of Zn(2+), a time-dependent interaction of cells with Abeta1-16@GNPs has been observed that may suggest different expression levels of beta-amylo...

Mitf-Mdel, a novel melanocyte/melanoma-specific isoform of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-M, as a candidate biomarker for melanoma

BMC Medicine — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: MITF-Mdel, a novel melanocyte/melanoma-specific isoform of MITF-M, may serve as a potential candidate biomarker for diagnostic and follow-up purposes in melanoma. (Source: BMC Medicine)

Leucine-Rich Glioma Inactivated 3 Induces Neurite Outgrowth Through Akt and Focal Adhesion Kinase.

Neurochemical Research — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Park WJ, Lim YY, Kwon NS, Baek KJ, Kim DS, Yun HY Leucine-rich glioma inactivated 3 (LGI3) is a secreted protein that belongs to LGI/epitempin family. LGI3 is highly expressed in brain in a transcriptionally and developmentally regulated manner. Here we found that LGI3 induced neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2a cells and dorsal root ganglia explants. LGI3 treatment or overexpression increased neurite outgrowth and knockdown of LGI3 by siRNA had opposite effect. LGI3 treatment increased phosphorylation of Akt and a 125-kDa protein. Immunoprecipitation identified the 125-kDa protein as focal adhesion kinase (FAK). LGI3 overexpression increased phospho-Akt, phospho-FAK and FAK protein. Inhibition of Akt activation by PI3 kinase inhibitor attenuated LGI3-induced FAK phosphorylation and...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

A 31-Year-Old Woman With a Low-grade Glioma [Clinical Crossroads]

JAMA — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:41:38 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Paroxysmal Ictal Phonemes in a Patient With Angiocentric Glioma [LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:34:00 +0100

(Source: J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci)

HGF upregulates CXCR4 expression in gliomas via NF-κB: implications for glioma cell migration

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:41:53 +0100

Abstract Invasion is a hallmark of malignant gliomas and is the main reason for therapeutic failure and recurrence of the tumor. CXCR4 is a key chemokine receptor implicated in glioma cell migration whose expression is regulated by hypoxia. Here, we report that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) upregulated CXCR4 protein expression in glioma cells. HGF pre-treatment increased migration of U87MG and LN229 glioma cells towards the CXCR4 ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α). AMD3100, a CXCR4 inhibitor, inhibited the increased migration of HGF pre-treated LN229 glioma cells towards SDF-1α. Following exposure to HGF and hypoxia, both cell lines showed nuclear translocation of NF-κB (p65). The HGF- and hypoxia-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB (p65) involved pho...

Survival, self-renewing capacity and multi-lineage potency of breast cancer initiating cells during fractionated radiation treatment

Breast Cancer Research — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: We conclude that increases in the number of cancer initiating cells after sublethal doses of radiation are potentially of clinically importance because the CIC population retains increased self-renewal capacity over several generations. Prevention of this process may therefore lead to improved clinical outcome. (Source: Breast Cancer Research)

Site-specific opening of the blood-brain barrier

Journal of Biophotonics — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant impediment for the delivery of therapeutic drugs into the brain. This is particularly problematic for the treatment of malignant gliomas which are characterized by diffuse infiltration of tumor cells into normal brain where they are protected by a patent BBB. Selective disruption of the BBB, followed by administration of anti-cancer agents, represents a promising approach for the elimination of infiltrating glioma cells. A summary of the techniques (focused ultrasound, photodynamic therapy and photochemical internalization) for site-specific opening of the BBB will be discussed in this review. Each approach is capable of causing localized and transient opening of the BBB with minimal damage to surrounding normal brain as evidenced from magn...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Survival and self-renewing capacity of breast cancer initiating cells during fractionated radiation treatment

Breast Cancer Research — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations Are Prognostic but not Predictive for Outcome in Anaplastic Oligodendroglial Tumors: A Report of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group.

Clinical Cancer Research — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: In this homogeneously treated group of anaplastic oligodendroglioma patients, the presence of IDH1 mutations was found to carry a very strong prognostic significance for OS but without evidence of a predictive significance for outcome to PCV chemotherapy. IDH1 mutations were strongly associated with 1p/19q codeletion and MGMT promoter methylation. Clin Cancer Res; 16(5); OF1-8. PMID: 20160062 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Cancer Research)

Survival and self-renewing capacity of breast cancer initiating cells during fractionated radiation treatment

Breast Cancer Research — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Targeted alpha-radionuclide therapy of functionally critically located gliomas with 213Bi-DOTA-[Thi8,Met(O2)11]-substance P: a pilot trial

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:58:46 +0100

Conclusion This study provides proof of concept that targeted local radiotherapy using 213Bi-DOTA-substance P is feasible and may represent an innovative and effective treatment for critically located gliomas. Primarily non-operable gliomas may become resectable with this treatment, thereby possibly improving the prognosis. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00259-010-1385-5Authors D. Cordier, University Hospitals Division of Neurosurgery Basel SwitzerlandF. Forrer, University Hospitals Institute of Nuclear Medicine Basel SwitzerlandF. Bruchertseifer, Institute for Transuranium Elements European Commission, Joint Research Centre Karlsruhe GermanyA. Morgenstern, Institute for Transuranium Elements European Commission, Joint Research Centre...

Cancer-associated metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate accumulates in acute myelogenous leukemia with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations

The Journal of Experimental Medicine — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:21:57 +0100

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2), are present in most gliomas and secondary glioblastomas, but are rare in other neoplasms. IDH1/2 mutations are heterozygous, and affect a single arginine residue. Recently, IDH1 mutations were identified in 8% of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients. A glioma study revealed that IDH1 mutations cause a gain-of-function, resulting in the production and accumulation of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). Genotyping of 145 AML biopsies identified 11 IDH1 R132 mutant samples. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite screening revealed increased 2-HG levels in IDH1 R132 mutant cells and sera, and uncovered two IDH2 R172K mutations. IDH1/2 mutations were associated with normal karyotypes. Recombinant IDH1 R132C and IDH2 R172K proteins ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Epigenetic Downregulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase MKP-2 Relieves Its Growth Suppressive Activity in Glioma Cells

Cancer Research — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:08:33 +0100

Sites of frequent epigenetic alteration in the genome of brain cancer cells may reveal novel tumor suppressors the inactivation of which could affect the etiology, prognosis, or therapy of brain cancer. (Source: Cancer Research)

A lower-dose, lower-toxicity cisplatin–etoposide regimen for childhood progressive low-grade glioma

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:09:58 +0100

Abstract After successfully using cisplatin (30 mg/m2/day) and etoposide (150 mg/m2/day) in ten three-day courses for progressive low-grade gliomas, a subsequent protocol reduced the daily doses of cisplatin (to 25 mg) and etoposide (to 100 mg), with the objective of achieving the same response and three-year PFS rates with lower neurotoxicity and myelotoxicity. We treated 37 patients (median age 6 years); 23 had optochiasmatic tumours and nine were metastatic cases. Diagnoses were clinical in 13 cases and histological in 24, and comprised: pilocytic astrocytoma (17), ganglioglioma (3), pilomyxoid astrocytoma (2), and fibrillary astrocytoma (2). Treatment was prompted by radiological evidence of progression and/or clinical deterioration a median 18 ...

Rebound tumour progression after the cessation of bevacizumab therapy in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:09:58 +0100

Abstract After withdrawal of bevacizumab in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma, we have observed a rapid tumour re-growth or “rebound” radiographic phenomenon with accelerated clinical decline. We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients treated at the Henry Ford Hermelin Brain Tumor Center with recurrent high-grade glioma who demonstrated a rebound progression pattern after the discontinuation of bevacizumab. The original tumour area-of-enhancement increased by a mean of 158%, when compared to the rebound magnetic resonance imaging. After rebound, no patients (0/8) showed a response to next-line treatments that did not include bevacizumab. The median survival of those re-treated with bevacizumab was 149 and 32 days for those who received other regimens. Abrupt...

Three distinct co-existent primary brain tumors in a patient

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:47:35 +0100

Iyer Veena R, Sanghvi Darshana A, Shenoy Asha, Goel AtulJournal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2009 5(4):293-296A rare case of simultaneous occurrence of three entirely distinct intracranial tumors is described. A 55-year-old male with no evidence of phacomatoses or history of radiation therapy presented with complaints of increased drowsiness, headaches, and dysarthria. Investigations revealed an olfactory groove meningioma, a glioblastoma multiforme in the left medial temporal lobe, and a diffuse glioma in the brain stem. Occurrence of multiple varieties of tumors at the same time is extremely rare. Theories that explain their occurrences including the role of common carcinogens, autocrine growth factors, and tumor suppressor genes are discussed. (Source: Journal of Cancer Research ...

Sp1 and Sp3 regulate transcription of the chicken GAS41 gene.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we have localized the GAS 41 promoter to this narrow region. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that Sp1 and Sp3 bind to this promoter. Mapping by a technique of indirect end-labelling demonstrated that the Sp1 binding sites contained in this region exactly co-map with two previously identified DNase I hypersensitive (HS) sites, which suggests the important role of Sp1 binding in maintaining an open chromatin structure of the GAS41 promoter. We further found that Sp1 as well as Sp3 strongly activate CAT expression controlled by the putative GAS41 promoter in Drosophila Schneider S2 cells and that deletion of the Sp1 sites resulted in a loss of promoter activity in chicken HD11 cells. The results indicate that transcripti...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mutant EGFR is required for maintenance of glioma growth in vivo, and its ablation leads to escape from receptor dependence [Medical_Sciences]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:51:09 +0100

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification is the most common genetic alteration in high-grade glioma, and 50% of EGFR-amplified... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Leptomeningeal gliomatosis as the initial presentation of gliomatosis cerebri

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:45:29 +0100

We describe the case of a patient who presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement in the brain and spinal cord on MRI. After a period of surveillance, intraparenchymal lesions developed in association with widespread diffuse infiltration. The diagnosis of gliomatosis cerebri with diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis was established in hindsight. Initial treatment consisted of six cycles of temozolomide chemotherapy. Following radiological progression, the patient received craniospinal radiotherapy. Four months later the patient’s symptoms had resolved and MRI demonstrated near complete response of leptomeningeal enhancement and intraparenchymal lesions. Six months after radiotherapy, the patient remains clinically well without rad...

Bradykinin increases the permeability of the blood-tumor barrier by the caveolae-mediated transcellular pathway

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:45:27 +0100

This study thus contributes further to elucidating the molecular mechanism of opening of the BTB by BK and provides a theoretical basis for clinical application of BK. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Laboratory Investigation - Human/Animal TissueDOI 10.1007/s11060-010-0124-xAuthors Li-bo Liu, China Medical University Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine 110001 Shenyang Liaoning Province People’s Republic of ChinaYi-xue Xue, China Medical University Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine 110001 Shenyang Liaoning Province People’s Republic of ChinaYun-hui Liu, China Medical University Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital 110004 Shenyang People’s Republic of China Journal Journal of Neuro-OncologyOnline ISSN 1573-7373Print ISSN...

Role of ERCC1 promoter hypermethylation in drug resistance to cisplatin in human gliomas

International Journal of Cancer — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Overexpression of ERCC1 mRNA is associated with drug resistance to cisplatin in human gliomas, but the role of the ERCC1 promoter in drug resistance has not been demonstrated. We have used sodium bisulfite sequencing to compare ERCC1 promoter methylation patterns in cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant glioma cells. The levels of ERCC1 DNA methylation, mRNA and protein in 32 human glioma samples were examined by methylation specific PCR, real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Meanwhile, cisplatin sensitivities to these human glioma samples were tested by histoculture drug response assay. Hypermethylation was observed in the upstream 5Kb region of the ERCC1 promoter of cisplatin-sensitive glioma cell lines. ERCC1 DNA methylation levels were highly variable in 32 hum...

Is there a role for myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell rescue in the management of childhood high-grade astrocytomas?

Pediatric Blood and Cancer — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

High-grade or malignant glioma represent 10% of pediatric brain tumors and are, taken as a whole, the second more frequent malignant histotype after medulloblastoma. Apart from a complete excision followed by full dose local radiotherapy, chemotherapy seems to give some beneficial to final outcome. Different trials have explored the role of high-dose chemotherapy that theoretically could give an advantage to these patients by overcoming blood-brain barrier, tumor cell chemo-resistance and inducing a wider number of responses. It is, however, still doubtful if better responses translate into improved outcome and which patients can have a true beneficial from this treatment strategy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:641-643. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: Pediatric Blood and Cancer)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Novel membrane-permeable contrast agent for brain tumor detection by MRI

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

One of the key challenges hindering the clinical intervention against brain cancer is defined by the inability to detect brain tumors at an early enough stage to permit effective therapy. Furthermore, the rapid growth and severe lethality of this form of cancer predicate the vital importance of monitoring the development of the pathology and its outcome after therapeutic intervention. With this in mind, we designed a novel membrane-permeant contrast agent, MN-MPAP-Cy5.5, which consists of a superparamagnetic iron oxide core, for MRI conjugated to myristoylated polyarginine peptides, as a membrane translocation module and labeled with the near-infrared dye Cy5.5 for correlative microscopy. This probe showed a remarkable uptake by U-87 human glioma cells in vitro and localized and delineated...

Novel membrane-permeable contrast agent for brain tumor detection by MRI.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kumar M, Medarova Z, Pantazopoulos P, Dai G, Moore A One of the key challenges hindering the clinical intervention against brain cancer is defined by the inability to detect brain tumors at an early enough stage to permit effective therapy. Furthermore, the rapid growth and severe lethality of this form of cancer predicate the vital importance of monitoring the development of the pathology and its outcome after therapeutic intervention. With this in mind, we designed a novel membrane-permeant contrast agent, MN-MPAP-Cy5.5, which consists of a superparamagnetic iron oxide core, for MRI conjugated to myristoylated polyarginine peptides, as a membrane translocation module and labeled with the near-infrared dye Cy5.5 for correlative microscopy. This probe showed a remarkable uptak...

Development of a bifunctional immunoliposome system for combined drug delivery and imaging in vivo.

Biomaterials — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we fused the antibody affinity motif of protein A (ZZ) with Gaussia luciferase (GLase). The fused protein conjugated with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (GLase-ZZ-His-mAb) was effectively delivered into glioma cells expressing an activated EGFR mutant (EGFRvIII) and the bioluminescence was visualized in the cells. Immunoliposomes were further constructed with DSPE-PEG-MAL for covalent GLase-ZZ-His-mAb conjugation. A fluorescence dye (HPTS) encapsulated in immunoliposomes conjugated with GLase-ZZ-His-mAb was effectively delivered into EGFRvIII-expressing glioma cells. In a murine xenograft model of glioma, moreover, specific targeting of the immunoliposomes was visualized in the tumor. This new bifunctional immunoliposome system has the po...

MRI-coupled Fluorescence Tomography Quantifies EGFR Activity in Brain Tumors

Academic Radiology — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:28:42 +0100

Conclusions: This preclinical study suggests that MRI-FMT with fluorescent EGF provides excellent discrimination between tumors based on EGFR status. Reliable quantification of receptor status using minimally invasive techniques would be an important innovation for investigating new and existing cancer treatments that target these cellular mechanisms in research animals, and may be applied to identify receptor amplification in human brain cancer patients. This study represents the first systematic multianimal validation of receptor-specific imaging using MRI-guided fluorescence tomography. (Source: Academic Radiology)

Phase 2 trial of talampanel, a glutamate receptor inhibitor, for adults with recurrent malignant gliomas

Cancer — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Glioma cells secrete glutamate and also express [alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5 methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) glutamate receptors, which contribute to the proliferation, migration, and neurotoxicity of malignant gliomas. Talampanel is an oral AMPA receptor inhibitor with excellent central nervous system penetration and good tolerability in clinical trials for epilepsy and other neurologic disorders.A phase 2 trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of talampanel in patients with recurrent malignant glioma as measured by 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6).Thirty patients (22 with glioblastomas [GBMs] and 8 with anaplastic gliomas [AGs]; 63% men) with median age of 51 years (range, 20-67 years) and a median Karnofsky performance scale of 80 were included. Patients tolerated treatme...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Selected Update: Systems biology: Network spreading

Nature Signaling Update — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:38:49 +0100

Identification of a small transcription factor network that is responsible for the mesenchymal behavior of glioma cells. (Source: Nature Signaling Update)

Annexin A2 Is a Molecular Target for TM601, a Peptide with Tumor-targeting and Anti-angiogenic Effects [Signal Transduction]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:38:36 +0100

TM601 is a synthetic form of chlorotoxin, a 36-amino acid peptide derived from the venom of the Israeli scorpion, Leirius quinquestriatus, initially found to specifically bind and inhibit the migration of glioma cells in culture. Subsequent studies demonstrated specific in vitro binding to additional tumor cell lines. Recently, we demonstrated that proliferating human vascular endothelial cells are the only normal cell line tested that exhibits specific binding to TM601. Here, we identify annexin A2 as a novel binding partner for TM601 in multiple human tumor cell lines and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). We demonstrate that the surface binding of TM601 to the pancreatic tumor cell line Panc-1 is dependent on the expression of annexin A2. Identification of annexin A2 as a bi...

Activation of JAK/STAT signal pathway predicts poor prognosis of patients with gliomas

Medical Oncology — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:14:12 +0100

Abstract JAK/STAT pathway transmits signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus in response to extracellular growth factors and cytokines. Activation of this pathway has been found in certain types of human tumors. The goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between the JAK/STAT pathway in human gliomas and patients’ prognosis, which currently is unknown. Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect JAK-1, phosphorylated JAK-1, and STAT-3 expression patterns in the biopsies from 96 patients with primary gliomas. Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the prognosis of patients. Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemical staining both indicated that the expression levels o...

Image-guided frameless stereotactic biopsy without intraoperative neuropathological examination.

Journal of Neurosurgery — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions This technique of image-guided biopsy has high diagnostic yield with acceptably low morbidity and may be performed as a day case. Intraoperative neuropathological examination would not have increased the diagnostic yield further in this study, and its routine use may not be necessary. In the authors' department pound70,350 (UK)/$114,522 (US) would have been saved by not using intraoperative neuropathology in this series. Therefore, intraoperative neuropathology should no longer be routinely recommended. PMID: 20136389 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Neurosurgery)

Perivascular Nitric Oxide Activates Notch Signaling and Promotes Stem-like Character in PDGF-Induced Glioma Cells.

Cell Stem Cell — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Charles N, Ozawa T, Squatrito M, Bleau AM, Brennan CW, Hambardzumyan D, Holland EC eNOS expression is elevated in human glioblastomas and correlated with increased tumor growth and aggressive character. We investigated the potential role of nitric oxide (NO) activity in the perivascular niche (PVN) using a genetic engineered mouse model of PDGF-induced gliomas. eNOS expression is highly elevated in tumor vascular endothelium adjacent to perivascular glioma cells expressing Nestin, Notch, and the NO receptor, sGC. In addition, the NO/cGMP/PKG pathway drives Notch signaling in PDGF-induced gliomas in vitro, and induces the side population phenotype in primary glioma cell cultures. NO also increases neurosphere forming capacity of PDGF-driven glioma primary cultures, and enhances...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

NO Signals from the Cancer Stem Cell Niche.

Cell Stem Cell — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Seoane J Characterization of signaling pathways that control cancer stem cells may lead to more effective treatments against cancer. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, a study by Charles et al. (2010) identifies the NO and Notch pathways as important regulators of the perivascular niche of cancer stem cells in glioma. PMID: 20144782 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Cell Stem Cell)

The Utility and Limitations of Neurosphere Assay, CD133 Immunophenotyping and Side Population Assay in Glioma Stem Cell Research

Brain Pathology — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The newly proposed glioma stem cell (GSC) hypothesis may re-model the way we diagnose and treat the tumor, which highlights the need for a complete knowledge on the genetic and epigenetic "blueprints" of GSCs. To identify the true "stemness" signatures, pure GSC populations are primarily needed. Reliable in vitro methods enriching for GSCs and thereby identifying the key stem-like characteristics constitute the preliminary step forward. We discuss in this review the current widely used methods for enriching and isolating GSCs, namely neurosphere assay, CD133 Immunophenotyping and side population assay, and detail their limitations and potential pitfalls that could complicate interpretation of corresponding results. (Source: Brain Pathology)

Role of the AKT pathway in microRNA expression of human U251 glioblastoma cells.

International Journal of Oncology — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:22:29 +0100

Authors: Zhou X, Ren Y, Han L, Mei M, Xu P, Zhang CZ, Wang GX, Jia ZF, Pu PY, Kang CS Activation of the AKT (serine-threonine kinase) pathway is a common feature in glioblastoma cells. Downstream factors of the AKT pathway are involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cellular migration and angiogenesis. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small non-coding RNAs that block targeted mRNA expression at the post-transcriptional level. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the AKT pathway in regulating miRNA. The changes of miRNA expression profile in human glioblastome U251 cells after AKT small interfering RNA transfection were examined by a microarray, and confirmed by Northern blotting. Down-regulation of AKT expression by siRNA decreased the activity of AKT pathway...

Symposium on the Future of Therapeutics Inaugurates New UCSF Department

UCSF School of Pharmacy News — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:31:40 +0100

February 3, 2010In the first symposium held by the newly minted UCSF Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, researchers described progress in the fields of systems biology, pharmacogenomics, and bioengineering, and how scientists in these fields are working in concert to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics to effectively and safely diagnose and treat disease. The conference, Picking up the Pace of Therapeutics Research and Application, was held January 26, 2010 at the William J. Rutter Center on the UCSF Mission Bay Campus. Strategies shared included the targeted delivery of therapeutics with nano- and micro-technologies, drug design aimed at biological networks rather than any one metabolic step, and the engineering of cheap but sturdy medical devices to help pati...