Infant Brain Tumors: Incidence, Survival, and the Role of Radiation Based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Data

Abstract Introduction Intra-arterial (lA) delivery of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an evolving strategy which enables the distribution of high concentration therapeutics through a targeted vascular territory, while potentially limiting systemic toxicity. Studies have demonstrated lA methods to be safe and efficacious for a variety of therapeutics. However, further characterization of the clinical efficacy of lA therapy for the treatment of brain tumors and refinement of its potential applications are necessary. Methods We have reviewed the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting superselective intraarterial cerebral infusion (SSJACI) with BBB disruption for the treatment of brain tumors. In addition, we review ongoing clinical trials expanding the applicability and investigating the efficacy of lA therapy for the treatment of brain tumors. Results Trends in recent studies have embraced the use of SSIACI and less neurotoxic chemotherapies. The majority of trials continue to use mannitol as the preferred method of hyperosmolar BBB disruption. Recent preclinical and preliminary human investigations into the lA delivery of Bevacizumab have demonstrated its safety and efficacy as an anti-tumor agent both alone and in combination with chemotherapy. Conclusion lA drug delivery may significantly affect the way treatment are delivered to patients with brain tumors, and in particular GBM. With refinement and standardization of the techniques of lA drug delivery, improved drug selection and formulations, and the development of methods to minimize treatment-related neurological injury, lA therapy may offer significant benefits for the treatment of brain tumors.

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Laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) for the treatment of tumors of the brain and spine: a brief review

Journal of Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1007/s11060-020-03652-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 151 (3) ◽

pp. 429-442

Author(s):

Clark Chen ◽

Ian Lee ◽

Claudio Tatsui ◽

Theresa Elder ◽

Andrew E. Sloan

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Radiation Necrosis ◽

Spinal Metastasis ◽

Clinical Approach ◽

Invasive Treatment ◽

Primary Indication ◽

Interstitial Thermotherapy ◽

The Brain

Abstract Introduction Laser Interstitial Thermotherapy (LITT; also known as Stereotactic Laser Ablation or SLA), is a minimally invasive treatment modality that has recently gained prominence in the treatment of malignant primary and metastatic brain tumors and radiation necrosis and studies for treatment of spinal metastasis has recently been reported. Methods Here we provide a brief literature review of the various contemporary uses for LITT and their reported outcomes. Results Historically, the primary indication for LITT has been for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). However, indications have continued to expand and now include gliomas of different grades, brain metastasis (BM), radiation necrosis (RN), other types of brain tumors as well as spine metastasis. LITT is emerging as a safe, reliable, minimally invasive clinical approach, particularly for deep seated, focal malignant brain tumors and radiation necrosis. The role of LITT for treatment of other types of tumors of the brain and for spine tumors appears to be evolving at a small number of centers. While the technology appears to be safe and increasingly utilized, there have been few prospective clinical trials and most published studies combine different pathologies in the same report. Conclusion Well-designed prospective trials will be required to firmly establish the role of LITT in the treatment of lesions of the brain and spine.

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The Association of Human Herpesviruses with Malignant Brain Tumor Pathology and Therapy: Two Sides of a Coin

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22052250 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 2250

Author(s):

Evita Athanasiou ◽

Antonios N. Gargalionis ◽

Fotini Boufidou ◽

Athanassios Tsakris

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumor ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Comprehensive Evaluation ◽

Tumor Development ◽

Scientific Data ◽

Malignant Brain Tumor ◽

Direct Role ◽

Tumor Pathology ◽

Human Herpesviruses

The role of certain viruses in malignant brain tumor development remains controversial. Experimental data demonstrate that human herpesviruses (HHVs), particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), are implicated in brain tumor pathology, although their direct role has not yet been proven. CMV is present in most gliomas and medulloblastomas and is known to facilitate oncomodulation and/or immunomodulation, thus promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. EBV and HHV-6 have also been detected in brain tumors and high-grade gliomas, showing high rates of expression and an inflammatory potential. On the other hand, due to the neurotropic nature of HHVs, novel studies have highlighted the engagement of such viruses in the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches in the context of oncolytic viral treatment and vaccine-based strategies against brain tumors. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent scientific data concerning the emerging dual role of HHVs in malignant brain pathology, either as potential causative agents or as immunotherapeutic tools in the fight against these devastating diseases.

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Role of miRNA in distinguishing primary brain tumors from secondary tumors metastatic to the brain

Frontiers in Bioscience ◽

10.2741/201 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol S3 (1) ◽

pp. 970 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Matteo Fassan

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Primary Brain Tumors ◽

Secondary Tumors ◽

The Brain

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Infant brain tumors: a neuropathologic population-based institutional reappraisal

Human Pathology ◽

10.1016/j.humpath.2011.12.011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (10) ◽

pp. 1668-1676 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Christopher Dunham ◽

Shibu Pillai ◽

Paul Steinbok

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Population Based ◽

Infant Brain

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The role of CXCR3/LRP1 cross-talk in the invasion of primary brain tumors

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-017-01686-y ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Kevin Boyé ◽

Nadège Pujol ◽

Isabel D Alves ◽

Ya-Ping Chen ◽

Thomas Daubon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Cross Talk ◽

Primary Brain Tumors

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The Role of Musical Development in Early Language Acquisition

The Oxford Handbook of Music and the Brain ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198804123.013.23 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 565-591

Author(s):

Anthony Brandt ◽

L. Robert Slevc ◽

Molly Gebrian

Keyword(s):

Language Acquisition ◽

Cultural Transmission ◽

Developmental Disorders ◽

Native Language ◽

Current Understanding ◽

Early Language ◽

Music And Language ◽

Language And Music ◽

Infant Brain

Language and music are readily distinguished by adults, but there is growing evidence that infants first experience speech as a special type of music. By listening to the phonemic inventory and prosodic patterns of their caregivers’ speech, infants learn how their native language is composed, later bootstrapping referential meaning onto this musical framework. Our current understanding of infants’ sensitivities to the musical features of speech, the co-development of musical and linguistic abilities, and shared developmental disorders, supports the view that music and language are deeply entangled in the infant brain and modularity emerges over the course of development. This early entanglement of music and language is crucial to the cultural transmission of language and children’s ability to learn any of the world’s tongues.

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