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Volume 5, Number 29 - 17 July 2006



1: Brain. 2006 Jul 10; [Epub ahead of print]
 
Irradiation and hypoxia promote homing of haematopoietic progenitor cells towards gliomas by TGF-{beta}-dependent HIF-1{alpha}-mediated induction of CXCL12.

Tabatabai G, Frank B, Mohle R, Weller M, Wick W.

Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of General Neurology and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tubingen, Germany.

Previously we defined a pathway of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXC chemokine ligand 12 (SDF-1alpha/CXCL12) dependent migration of adult haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HPC) towards glioma cells in vitro and their homing to experimental gliomas in vivo. Hypoxia is a critical aspect of the microenvironment of gliomas and irradiation is an essential part of the standard therapy. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of HPC as vectors for a cell-based therapy of gliomas, we investigated the impact of hypoxia and irradiation on the attraction of HPC by glioma cells. Temozolomide (TMZ) treatment and hyperthermia served as controls. Supernatants of irradiated or hypoxic LNT-229 glioma cells promote HPC migration in vitro. Reporter assays reveal that the CXCL12 promoter activity is enhanced in LNT-229 cells at 24 h after irradiation at 8 Gy or after exposure to 1% oxygen for 12 h. The irradiation- and hypoxia-induced release of CXCL12 depends on hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), but not on p53. Induction of transcriptional activity of HIF-1alpha by hypoxia or irradiation requires an intact TGF-beta signalling cascade. This delineates a novel stress signalling cascade in glioma cells involving TGF-beta, HIF-1alpha and CXCL12. Stress stimuli can be irradiation, hypoxia or TMZ, but not hyperthermia. Cerebral irradiation of nude mice at 21 days after intracerebral implantation of LNT-229 glioma induces tumour satellite formation and enhances the glioma tropism of HPC to the tumour bulk and even to these satellites in vivo. These data suggest that the use of HPC as cellular vectors in the treatment of glioblastoma may well be combined with irradiation or other anti-angiogenic therapies that induce tumour hypoxia.

PMID: 16835250 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher].

2: Int J Cancer. 2006 Jul 5; [Epub ahead of print]
 
History of allergies and risk of glioma in adults.

Schoemaker MJ, Swerdlow AJ, Hepworth SJ, McKinney PA, van Tongeren M, Muir KR.

Section of Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton SM2 5NG, United Kingdom.

Epidemiological studies have consistently reported an inverse association between a history of allergic disease and risk of glioma. The reason for this association is unclear, and there is a lack of studies with the detail and size to explore the association in depth. We conducted a UK population-based case-control study with 965 glioma cases and 1,716 controls to investigate glioma risk in relation to allergic disease. Risk was reduced in subjects reporting a history of asthma (odds ratio (OR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54-0.92), hay fever (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59-0.90), eczema (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56-0.97) and other allergies (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.90). Risk was reduced for all the main histological groups. There was no significant trend of risk with age, at the onset of each condition, or the number of conditions reported. Risk reductions were strongest for asthma or hay fever with recent onset. Risk in asthmatic subjects was not related to frequency of use of antiasthmatic drugs, but was significantly reduced for use of antiallergenic medication among subjects with hay fever. The study showed an inverse association of glioma risk with allergic disease. Possible reasons for the association, as well as potential immunological aetiology, include confounding, bias and reverse causality. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 16823851 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]..

 
3: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Jul 11; [Epub ahead of print]

Early change in glucose metabolic rate measured using fdg-pet in patients with high-grade glioma predicts response to temozolomide but not temozolomide plus radiotherapy.

Charnley N, West CM, Barnett CM, Brock C, Bydder GM, Glaser M, Newlands ES, Swindell R, Matthews J, Price P.

Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, The University of Manchester, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.

PURPOSE: To compare the ability of positron emission tomography (PET) to predict response to temozolomide vs. temozolomide plus radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Nineteen patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) were studied. Patients with recurrent glioma received temozolomide 75 mg/m(2) daily for 7 weeks (n = 8). Newly diagnosed patients received temozolomide 75 mg/m(2) daily plus radiotherapy 60 Gy/30 fractions over 6 weeks, followed by six cycles of adjuvant temozolomide 200 mg/m(2)/day (Days 1-5 q28) starting 1 month after radiotherapy (n = 11). [(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]FDG) PET scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed at baseline, and 7 and 19 weeks after initiation of temozolomide administration. Changes in glucose metabolic rate (MRGlu) and MRI response were correlated with patient survival. RESULTS: In the temozolomide-alone group, patients who survived >26 vs. </=26 weeks showed a greater reduction in MRGlu measured at 7 weeks with median changes of -34% and -4%, respectively (p = 0.02). PET responders, defined as a reduction in MRGlu >/=25%, survived longer than nonresponders with mean survival times of 75 weeks (95% CI, 34-115 vs. 20 weeks (95% CI, 14-26) (p = 0.0067). In the small group of patients studied, there was no relationship between MRI response and survival (p = 0.52). For patients receiving temozolomide plus radiotherapy, there was no difference in survival between PET responders and nonresponders (p = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Early changes in MRGlu predict response to temozolomide, but not temozolomide plus radiotherapy.

PMID: 16839701 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]...

 
4: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Jul 1;65(3):788-99. Epub 2006 May 6.
 
Patterns of practice and survival in a retrospective analysis of 1722 adult astrocytoma patients treated between 1985 and 2001 in 12 Italian radiation oncology centers.

Magrini SM, Ricardi U, Santoni R, Krengli M, Lupattelli M, Cafaro I, Scoccianti S, Menichelli C, Bertoni F, Enrici RM, Tombolini V, Buglione M, Pirtoli L.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the patterns of practice and survival in a series of 1722 adult astrocytoma patients treated in 12 Italian radiotherapy centers. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 1722 patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy (90% World Health Organization [WHO] Grade 3-4, 62% male, 44% aged >60 years, 25% with severe neurologic deficits, 44% after gross total resection, 52% with high-dose radiotherapy, and 16% with chemotherapy). Variations in the clinical-therapeutic features in three subsequent periods (1985 through 2001) were evaluated, along with overall survival for the different subgroups. RESULTS: The proportion of women, of older patients, of those with worse neurologic performance status (NPS), with WHO Grade 4, and with smaller tumors increased with time, as did the proportion of those treated with radical surgery, hypofractionated radiotherapy, and more sophisticated radiotherapy techniques, after staging procedures progressively became more accurate. The main prognostic factors for overall survival were age, sex, neurologic performance status, WHO grade, extent of surgery, and radiation dose. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, broader selection criteria for radiotherapy were adopted, together with simpler techniques, smaller total doses, and larger fraction sizes for the worse prognostic categories. Younger, fit patients are treated more aggressively, more often in association with chemotherapy. Survival did not change over time. The accurate evaluation of neurologic status is therefore of utmost importance before the best treatment option for the individual patient is chosen.

Publication Types:
  • Evaluation Studies
  • Multicenter Study

PMID: 16682131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE].

 
5: Neurology. 2006 Jul 11;67(1):156-8.
 
Pilot study of the combination of EGFR and mTOR inhibitors in recurrent malignant gliomas.

Doherty L, Gigas DC, Kesari S, Drappatz J, Kim R, Zimmerman J, Ostrowsky L, Wen PY.

Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Malignant gliomas are frequently characterized by amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and loss of PTEN tumor suppressor gene. Twenty-eight heavily pretreated patients with recurrent malignant gliomas were administered EGFR inhibitors (gefitinib or erlotinib) in combination with the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitor sirolimus. The regimens were reasonably well tolerated. Nineteen percent of patients experienced a partial response and 50% had stable disease. Six-month progression-free survival for glioblastoma patients was 25%.

PMID: 16832099 [PubMed - in process]..

 
6: Neurosurgery. 2006 Jul;59(1):115-25; discussion 115-25.
 
Intraoperative language localization in multilingual patients with gliomas.

Bello L, Acerbi F, Giussani C, Baratta P, Taccone P, Songa V, Fava M, Stocchetti N, Papagno C, Gaini SM.

Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy. lorenzo.bello@unimi.it

OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative localization of speech is problematic in patients who are fluent in different languages. Previous studies have generated various results depending on the series of patients studied, the type of language, and the sensitivity of the tasks applied. It is not clear whether languages are mediated by multiple and separate cortical areas or shared by common areas. Globally considered, previous studies recommended performing a multiple intraoperative mapping for all the languages in which the patient is fluent. The aim of this work was to study the feasibility of performing an intraoperative multiple language mapping in a group of multilingual patients with a glioma undergoing awake craniotomy for tumor removal and to describe the intraoperative cortical and subcortical findings in the area of craniotomy, with the final goal to maximally preserve patients' functional language. METHODS: Seven late, highly proficient multilingual patients with a left frontal glioma were submitted preoperatively to a battery of tests to evaluate oral language production, comprehension, and repetition. Each language was tested serially starting from the first acquired language. Items that were correctly named during these tests were used to build personalized blocks to be used intraoperatively. Language mapping was undertaken during awake craniotomies by the use of an Ojemann cortical stimulator during counting and oral naming tasks. Subcortical stimulation by using the same current threshold was applied during tumor resection, in a back and forth fashion, and the same tests. RESULTS: Cortical sites essential for oral naming were found in 87.5% of patients, those for the first acquired language in one to four sites, those for the other languages in one to three sites. Sites for each language were distinct and separate. Number and location of sites were not predictable, being randomly and widely distributed in the cortex around or less frequently over the tumor area. Subcortical stimulations found tracts for the first acquired language in four patients and for the other languages in three patients. Three of these patients decreased their fluency immediately after surgery, affecting the first acquired language, which fully recovered in two patients and partially in one. The procedure was agile and well tolerated by the patients. CONCLUSION: These findings show that multiple cortical and subcortical language mapping during awake craniotomy for tumor removal is a feasible procedure. They support the concept that intraoperative mapping should be performed for all the languages in which the patient is fluent in to preserve functional integrity.

PMID: 16823307 [PubMed - in process].

 
7: Neurosurgery. 2006 Jul;59(1):86-97; discussion 86-97.
 
Results of surgical resection for progression of brain metastases previously treated by gamma knife radiosurgery.

Truong MT, St Clair EG, Donahue BR, Rush SC, Miller DC, Formenti SC, Knopp EA, Han K, Golfinos JG.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. mttruong@partners.org

OBJECTIVE: To determine treatment outcome after surgical resection for progressive brain metastases after gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) and to explore the role of dynamic contrast agent-enhanced perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton spectroscopic MRI studies (MRS/P) in predicting pathological findings. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2002, 32 patients underwent surgical resection for suspected progression of brain metastases from a cohort of 245 patients with brain metastases treated with GKR. Postradiosurgery MRI surveillance was performed at 6 and 12 weeks, and then every 12 weeks after GKR. In some cases, additional MRI scanning with spectroscopy or perfusion (MRS/P) was used to aid differentiation of radiation change from tumor progression. The decision to perform neurosurgical resection was based on MRI or clinical evidence of lesion progression among patients with a Karnofsky performance score of 60 or more and absent or stable systemic disease. RESULTS: Thirteen percent (32 out of 245) of patients and 6% (38 out of 611) of lesions required surgical resection after GKR. The median time from GKR to surgical resection was 8.6 months (range, 1.7-27.1 mo). The 6-, 12-, and 24-month actuarial survival from time of GKR was 97, 78, and 47% for the resected patients and 65, 40, and 19% for the nonresected patients (P < 0.0001). The two-year survival rate of patients requiring two resections after GKR was 100% compared with 39% for patients undergoing one resection (P = 0.02). The median survival of resected patients was 27.2 months (range, 7.0-72.5 mo) from the diagnosis of brain metastases, 19.9 months (range, 5.0-60.7 mo) from GKR, and 8.9 months (range, 0.2-53.1 mo) from surgical resection. Tumor was found in 90% of resected specimens and necrosis alone in 10%. MRS/P studies were performed in 15 resected patients. Overall, MRS/P predicted tumor in 11 lesions, confirmed pathologically in nine lesions, and necrosis alone was found in two. The MRS/P predicted necrosis alone in three, whereas pathology revealed viable tumor in two and necrosis in one lesion. CONCLUSION: Surgical intervention of progressive brain metastases after GKR in selected patients leads to a meaningful improvement in survival rates. Further studies are necessary to determine the role of MRS/P in the postradiosurgery surveillance of brain metastases.

PMID: 16823304 [PubMed - in process]...

 
8: Neurosurgery. 2006 Jul;59(1):60-6; discussion 60-6.
 
Use of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in predicting early postoperative outcome of new neurological deficits after brain tumor resection.

Khan RB, Gutin PH, Rai SN, Zhang L, Krol G, DeAngelis LM.

Division of Neurology St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. raja.khan@stjude.org

OBJECTIVE: To study risk factors for the development of postoperative neurological deficits after brain tumor resection and to define prognostic factors for recovery. METHODS: We prospectively studied 82 brain tumor patients undergoing tumor resection. Pre- and postoperative neurological examination, functional and performance status, cancer treatment, cardiovascular risk factors, seizure history, and blood pressure and oxygen saturation were recorded perioperatively. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained within 72 hours of surgery, and the radiologist was blinded to the patient's status. Abnormalities on magnetic resonance diffusion weighted images were classified as new if they extended beyond the tumor cavity margins and were absent before surgery. RESULTS: Of the 80 assessable patients, 24 had a new or increased postoperative deficit by at least one point on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Presence of preoperative neurological deficits predicted development of postoperative deficits, whereas a new diffusion weighted imaging lesion after craniotomy predicted incomplete recovery of a new postoperative deficit. CONCLUSION: Postoperative diffusion magnetic resonance imaging is useful in predicting early functional recovery from new deficits after brain tumor surgery.

PMID: 16823301 [PubMed - in process]..

9: Oncogene. 2006 Jul 13;25(30):4256.
 
Gene expression profiling identifies molecular subtypes of gliomas.

Shai R, Shi T, Kremen TJ, Horvath S, Liau LM, Cloughesy TF, Mischel PS, Nelson SF.

PMID: 16837969 [PubMed - in process]...

 
10: Surg Neurol. 2006 Jun;65(6):635-6.
 
Comment on:
  • Surg Neurol. 1993 Nov;40(5):437-8.

A revolution in skull base surgery: the quality of life matters!

Ausman JI.

Publication Types:
  • Comment
  • Editorial

PMID: 16720196 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
11: Surg Neurol. 2006 Jun;65(6):611-4.
 
A large arachnoid cyst of the lateral ventricle extending from the supracerebellar cistern--case report.

Park SW, Yoon SH, Cho KH, Shin YS.

Department of Neurosurgery, Kangwon National University, College of Medicine, Chunchon 200-701, South Korea.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenetic mechanism of intraventricular arachnoid cyst development is still controversial, but is believed to originate from the vascular mesenchyme or as an extension of the arachnoid cyst in the subarachnoid space into the ventricle through the choroidal fissure. We report a case supporting the extension hypothesis and suggest differential points between an intraventricular arachnoid cyst that extended from the supracerebellar space and a lateral ventricular diverticulum that extended into the supracerebellar cistern. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 12-month-old girl presented with macrocephaly and developmental delay. Her magnetic resonance imaging showed an arachnoid cyst that had developed from the supracerebellar space in the posterior fossa, and which extended into the left lateral ventricle resulting in expansion of the left lateral ventricle and displacing the choroids plexus anteriorly and laterally and the midline to the right. We treated an intraventricular arachnoid cyst by endoscopic fenestration resulting in dramatic reduction of the intraventricular arachnoid cyst with large bilateral subdural fluid collection. We performed a subduroperitoneal shunt for subdural fluid collection and subsequent cystoperitoneal shunt for the remnant cyst. CONCLUSION: We suggest that this case supports the extension hypothesis from the subarachnoid space through the choroidal fissure into the lateral ventricle. We also suggest that one of the radiological differential points between an intraventricular arachnoid cyst and a ventricular diverticulum is displacement and compression of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle.

Publication Types:
  • Case Reports

PMID: 16720186 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 
12: Surg Neurol. 2006 Jun;65(6):604-10.
 
Psammomatous choroid plexus papilloma: three cases with atypical characteristics.

Tena-Suck ML, Lopez-Gomez M, Salinas-Lara C, Arce-Arellano RI, Biol AS, Renbao-Bojorquez D.

Departament of Neuropathology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico 14269. tenasuck@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND: Intravertricular papillary neoplasms are derived from choroid plexus epithelium. Although choroid plexus tumors account for 0.4% to 0.6% of all brain tumors, they represent 2% to 4%. Approximately 80% of choroid plexus carcinomas arise in children. CASES DESCRIPTION: We describe 3 cases of choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) with profuse psammomatous bodies and calcifications that have lost their normal papillary architecture. Immunohistochemistry was positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein in 2 cases, and proliferating cellular nuclear antigen index was higher compared with regular CPPs. All 3 patients were female and were 12, 40, and 48 years old, respectively. CONCLUSION: We describe psammomatous CPPs and suggest a difference from CPPs because of the more aggressive clinical course, and higher nuclear proliferation index (proliferating cellular nuclear antigen) than the CPPs that lack psammoma bodies.

Publication Types:
  • Case Reports

PMID: 16720185 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE].

 
13: Surg Neurol. 2006 Jun;65(6):595-603.
 
Meningioangiomatosis associated with neurofibromatosis: report of 2 cases in a single family and review of the literature.

Omeis I, Hillard VH, Braun A, Benzil DL, Murali R, Harter DH.

Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. ibrahim_omeis@nymc.edu

BACKGROUND: Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare benign disorder. It may occur sporadically or in association with neurofibromatosis (NF). The sporadic type typically presents with seizures, whereas that associated with NF is often asymptomatic. Of the 100 cases reported, only 14 are associated with NF. We now report 2 additional cases of MA associated with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) in a single family, with one occurring in the cerebellum. The etiology, pathology, and imaging features of MA are presented. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 38-year-old woman (patient 1) presented with a 4-month history of ataxia. She had been diagnosed previously with NF2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain revealed bilateral acoustic neuromas and multiple calcified intracranial lesions. Her 13-year-old daughter (patient 2) presented with complex partial seizures. MRI scans of the brain revealed bilateral acoustic neuromas and a right parietal mass. Patient 1 underwent a suboccipital craniotomy to resect the right-sided acoustic neuroma. A small portion of normal-appearing cerebellar cortex was resected to avoid undue retraction. Histopathologic examination showed the presence of a lesion consistent with MA. Patient 2 underwent a right temporal-parietal craniotomy to remove the enhancing epileptogenic right posterior temporoparietal lesion. Histopathologic analysis showed a lesion consistent with meningioma and MA. CONCLUSIONS: MA has been reported infrequently in association with NF2. We now report 2 cases of MA associated with NF2 in one family, and we add the cerebellum to possible locations of occurrence. MA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cortical lesions, particularly in patients with NF2.

Publication Types:
  • Case Reports
  • Review

PMID: 16720184 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]..

 
14: Surg Neurol. 2006 Jun;65(6):590-4.
 
Secondary central nervous system involvement by follicular lymphoma: case report and review of the literature.

Grupka NL, Seinfeld J, Ryder J, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK.

Department of Pathology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80262, USA.

BACKGROUND: We report a patient with indolent stage IV follicular lymphoma, grade 1, initially successfully treated with chemotherapy, who later developed aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the parieto-occipital lobe 8 years after initial presentation. The differing patterns of lymphomatous involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) are briefly reviewed, with a focus on the patterns seen in secondary CNS spread by low-grade lymphomas. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 53-year-old man was diagnosed with stage IV follicular lymphoma, grade 1, in 1996. Although initial chemotherapy was successful, he developed several recurrences of lymphoma over the following years. In May 2004, he presented with a discrete, single, massive parieto-occipital lobe brain lesion. The mass failed to regress with empiric cranial external beam radiotherapy. Because of suspicion of an unusual infection, the lesion was surgically excised in its entirety. The mass proved to be an aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, transformed from his previous follicular cell lymphoma, with retention of strong Bcl-2 and Bcl-6 immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Parenchymal brain involvement, as opposed to dural or leptomeningeal, is a relatively uncommon pattern of spread to the CNS for systemic lymphomas. More significantly, follicular lymphomas are one of the least frequent types of indolent lymphomas to develop clinically apparent, secondary CNS spread. The presentation of an indolent follicular lymphoma with transformation to an aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma within the brain parenchyma is rare. Its manifestation as a massive, singular lesion is unique and prompted diagnostic confusion.

Publication Types:
  • Case Reports
  • Review

PMID: 16720183 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE].
 
 

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