Desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma is a rare low-grade malignant brain tumor found in infants. Its pathological diagnosis can be made on the basis of its histological characteristics and immunohistochemical staining. A case of desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma, including its clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, is reported. Pr...

The IDH1/2 gene mutations, ATRX loss/mutation, 1p/19q status, and MGMT promoter methylation are increasingly used as prognostic or predictive biomarkers of gliomas. However, the effect of their combination on radiation therapy outcome is discussable. Previously, we demonstrated that the IDH1 c.G395A; p.R132H mutation was associated with longer survival in grade II astrocytoma and GBM (Glioblast...

The standard chemotherapy for brain tumors is temozolomide (TMZ), however, as many as 50% of brain tumors are reportedly TMZ resistant leaving patients without a chemotherapeutic option. We performed serial screening of TMZ resistant astrocytoma cell lines, and identified compounds that are cytotoxic to these cells. The most cytotoxic compound was an analog of thiobarbituric acid that we refer ...

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that on activation generates signals that can modulate crucial cell functions, including cell proliferation, migration, and survival. In vitro, overexpression of FAK has been shown to promote cell proliferation by signaling through the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in several cell types. We have shown previously that ov...

Aims-To elucidate the implications of allelic loss on chromosome 10 in the malignant progression of human gliomas.Methods-Eight microsatellite loci (D10S249, D10S191, D10S210, D10S219, D10S246, D10S222, D10S221, and D10S212) were analysed for chromosomal deletions in histologically benign and malignant, including recurrent, gliomas. Of the 16 original tumours studied (two astrocytomas, nine ana...

To cite: Lourenço EP, Nzwalo H, Sampaio MR, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2015213013 DESCRIPTION Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a benign tumour of childhood, often located in deep midline structures such as the brainstem and the cerebellum. Gross surgical resection is curative in the majority of patients. We report a case of recurrent PA di...

Astrocytomas are one of the most common brain tumours; however, the current methods used to characterize these tumours are inadequate. The establishment of molecular markers may identify variables required to improve tumour characterization and subtyping, and may aid to specify targets for improved treatment with essential prognostic value for patient survival. One such candidate is testin (TES...

BACKGROUND SIX homeobox 3 (SIX3) is a member of the sine oculis homeobox transcription factor family. It plays a vital role in the nervous system development. Our previous study showed that the SIX3 gene is hypermethylated, and its expression is decreased in astrocytoma, but the role of SIX3 remains unknown. METHODS Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were used ...

purpose : to report a rare case of large vascularized astrocytoma on optic disc. case report : a 12-year-old boy with history of decreased vision in the left eye since 5-6 months ago was referred to the ocular oncology service at rassoul akram hospital with provisional diagnosis of retinoblastoma. on examination, visual acuity was counting fingers at 50 cm, and a 3+ relative afferent pupillary ...

Neurologically, BRAF V600E mutation was detected in cerebellar anaplastic pilocytic astrocytoma [6], ganglioglioma [7], desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma [8], indeterminate cell tumor and interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma [9]. Hematologically, BRAF V600E mutation was also detected in multiple myeloma [10] and several leukemias (hairy cell, chronic lymphocytic, prolymphocytic and acute lym...