TY - JOUR
T1 - Pilocytic astrocytoma
T2 - a disease with evolving molecular heterogeneity.
AU - Sadighi, Zsila
AU - Slopis, John
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Medline is the source for the citation and abstract of this record.
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Pilocytic astrocytoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor, is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous disease that occurs most often in the cerebellum and hypothalamic and chiasmatic regions. Classically, pilocytic astrocytomas are driven by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Recently described genetic aberrations involving this pathway are critical for tumorigenesis. Tandem duplication of 7q34 encodes BRAF and produces several KIAA1549-BRAF novel oncogenic fusions. Activating point mutations of BRAF, such as BRAF (V600E), also lead to pilocytic astrocytoma. Loss of the NF1 gene allows hyperactivation of the oncogene KRAS. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the novel molecular aberrations described in pilocytic astrocytomas and their clinical relevance for prognosis and treatment. The prognostic indications of these aberrations are discussed with regard to tumor location, tumor pathology, and patient age. A better understanding of the evolving molecular heterogeneity of pilocytic astrocytomas offers hope for developing molecularly targeted therapeutic armamentariums.
AB - Pilocytic astrocytoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor, is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous disease that occurs most often in the cerebellum and hypothalamic and chiasmatic regions. Classically, pilocytic astrocytomas are driven by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Recently described genetic aberrations involving this pathway are critical for tumorigenesis. Tandem duplication of 7q34 encodes BRAF and produces several KIAA1549-BRAF novel oncogenic fusions. Activating point mutations of BRAF, such as BRAF (V600E), also lead to pilocytic astrocytoma. Loss of the NF1 gene allows hyperactivation of the oncogene KRAS. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the novel molecular aberrations described in pilocytic astrocytomas and their clinical relevance for prognosis and treatment. The prognostic indications of these aberrations are discussed with regard to tumor location, tumor pathology, and patient age. A better understanding of the evolving molecular heterogeneity of pilocytic astrocytomas offers hope for developing molecularly targeted therapeutic armamentariums.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885097535&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84885097535&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0883073813476141
DO - 10.1177/0883073813476141
M3 - Review article
C2 - 23439714
AN - SCOPUS:84885097535
SN - 1520-4391
VL - 28
SP - 625
EP - 632
JO - Unknown Journal
JF - Unknown Journal
IS - 5
ER -