scholarly journals From first symptoms to diagnosis: Initial clinical presentation of primary brain tumors

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 2514183X2096836
Author(s):  
B Alther ◽  
V Mylius ◽  
M Weller ◽  
AR Gantenbein
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Primary Brain Tumors ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Time To Diagnosis

Background: Despite modern imaging methods, a long symptom-to-diagnosis interval can be observed in patients with primary brain tumors. Objective: The study evaluated the initial and subsequent clinical presentation of patients with brain tumors in the context of time to diagnosis, localization, histology, and tumor grading. Methods: In this retrospective analysis of 85 consecutive patients with primary brain tumors, we assessed the presenting symptoms and signs. The analyses were based on entries from medical records at the Department of Neurology of Zurich University Hospital between 2005 and 2010. Results: A total of 54 men and 31 women with a mean age at diagnosis of 48 years were included. 60% of the patients present with a malignant tumor (World Health Organization grading III–IV), 24.7% with a benign tumor (I–II), and 15.3% were not classified. The interval between symptom onset and diagnosis varied from 1 day to 96 months (median: 39 days). High-grade tumors (III–IV) were diagnosed significantly earlier than low-grade tumors (II) after the first symptoms occurred (median: 26 vs. 138 days; z = −3.847, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Symptoms with a short symptom-to-diagnosis interval such as nausea/vomiting, seizures, as well as of personality change are assumed to contribute to a faster diagnosis in high-grade tumors. Visual disturbances and headaches, although occurring relatively seldom, did not contribute to a decrease in time to diagnosis and should therefore be considered for further diagnostic workup.

scholarly journals Genetic Abnormalities, Clonal Evolution, and Cancer Stem Cells of Brain Tumors

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugo Testa ◽  
Germana Castelli ◽  
Elvira Pelosi
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Clonal Evolution ◽  
Pediatric Brain Tumors ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
World Health ◽  
Driver Mutations ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Genetic Profiling ◽  
Health Organization

Brain tumors are highly heterogeneous and have been classified by the World Health Organization in various histological and molecular subtypes. Gliomas have been classified as ranging from low-grade astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas to high-grade astrocytomas or glioblastomas. These tumors are characterized by a peculiar pattern of genetic alterations. Pediatric high-grade gliomas are histologically indistinguishable from adult glioblastomas, but they are considered distinct from adult glioblastomas because they possess a different spectrum of driver mutations (genes encoding histones H3.3 and H3.1). Medulloblastomas, the most frequent pediatric brain tumors, are considered to be of embryonic derivation and are currently subdivided into distinct subgroups depending on histological features and genetic profiling. There is emerging evidence that brain tumors are maintained by a special neural or glial stem cell-like population that self-renews and gives rise to differentiated progeny. In many instances, the prognosis of the majority of brain tumors remains negative and there is hope that the new acquisition of information on the molecular and cellular bases of these tumors will be translated in the development of new, more active treatments.

scholarly journals Use of fluorescence to guide resection or biopsy of primary brain tumors and brain metastases

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. E10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serge Marbacher ◽  
Elisabeth Klinger ◽  
Lucia Schwyzer ◽  
Ingeborg Fischer ◽  
Edin Nevzati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Open Resection ◽  
Who Grade ◽  
Primary Brain Tumors ◽  
High Grade Gliomas ◽  
Surgical Adjunct

Object The accurate discrimination between tumor and normal tissue is crucial for determining how much to resect and therefore for the clinical outcome of patients with brain tumors. In recent years, guidance with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)–induced intraoperative fluorescence has proven to be a useful surgical adjunct for gross-total resection of high-grade gliomas. The clinical utility of 5-ALA in resection of brain tumors other than glioblastomas has not yet been established. The authors assessed the frequency of positive 5-ALA fluorescence in a cohort of patients with primary brain tumors and metastases. Methods The authors conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of 531 patients with intracranial tumors treated by 5-ALA–guided resection or biopsy. They analyzed patient characteristics, preoperative and postoperative liver function test results, intraoperative tumor fluorescence, and histological data. They also screened discharge summaries for clinical adverse effects resulting from the administration of 5-ALA. Intraoperative qualitative 5-ALA fluorescence (none, mild, moderate, and strong) was documented by the surgeon and dichotomized into negative and positive fluorescence. Results A total of 458 cases qualified for final analysis. The highest percentage of 5-ALA–positive fluorescence in open resection was found in glioblastomas (96%, n = 99/103). Among other tumors, 5-ALA–positive fluorescence was detected in 88% (n = 21/32) of anaplastic gliomas (WHO Grade III), 40% (n = 8/19) of low-grade gliomas (WHO Grade II), no (n = 0/3) WHO Grade I gliomas, and 77% (n = 85/110) of meningiomas. Among metastases, the highest percentage of 5-ALA–positive fluorescence was detected in adenocarcinomas (48%, n = 13/27). Low rates or absence of positive fluorescence was found among pituitary adenomas (8%, n = 1/12) and schwannomas (0%, n = 0/7). Biopsies of high-grade primary brain tumors showed positive rates of fluorescence similar to those recorded for open resection. No clinical adverse effects associated with use of 5-ALA were observed. Only 1 patient had clinically silent transient elevation of liver enzymes. Conclusions Study findings suggest that the administration of 5-ALA as a surgical adjunct for resection and biopsy of primary brain tumors and brain metastases is safe. In light of the high rate of positive fluorescence in high-grade gliomas other than glioblastomas, meningiomas, and a variety of metastatic cancers, 5-ALA seems to be a promising tool for enhancing intraoperative identification of neoplastic tissue and optimizing the extent of resection.

scholarly journals Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1) Is a Positive Prognosticator for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8479
Author(s):  
Tilman L. R. Vogelsang ◽  
Aurelia Vattai ◽  
Elisa Schmoeckel ◽  
Till Kaltofen ◽  
Anca Chelariu-Raicu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Epithelial Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Tnm Classification ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cancer Tissue ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Trace Amine

Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a Gαs- protein coupled receptor that plays an important role in the regulation of the immune system and neurotransmission in the CNS. In ovarian cancer cell lines, stimulation of TAAR1 via 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) reduces cell viability and induces cell death and DNA damage. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TAAR1 on overall survival of ovarian carcinoma patients and the correlation of TAAR1 expression with clinical parameters. Ovarian cancer tissue of n = 156 patients who were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (serous, n = 110 (high-grade, n = 80; low-grade, n = 24; unknown, n = 6); clear cell, n = 12; endometrioid, n = 21; mucinous, n = 13), and who underwent surgery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany between 1990 and 2002, were analyzed. The tissue was stained immunohistochemically with anti-TAAR1 and evaluated with the semiquantitative immunoreactive score (IRS). TAAR1 expression was correlated with grading, FIGO and TNM-classification, and analyzed via the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Further statistical analysis was obtained using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test and Mann-Whitney-U-test. This study shows that high TAAR1 expression is a positive prognosticator for overall survival in ovarian cancer patients and is significantly enhanced in low-grade serous carcinomas compared to high-grade serous carcinomas. The influence of TAAR1 as a positive prognosticator on overall survival indicates a potential prognostic relevance of signal transduction of thyroid hormone derivatives in epithelial ovarian cancer. Further studies are required to evaluate TAAR1 and its role in the development of ovarian cancer.

The Prognostic Significance of DNA Topoisomerase II-alpha (Ki-S1), p21/Cip-1, and p27/Kip-1 Protein Immunoexpression in Oligodendrogliomas

2001 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 892-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Korshunov ◽  
Andrey Golanov
Keyword(s):  
Topoisomerase Ii ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Image Analyzer ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Dna Topoisomerase Ii ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
Topoisomerase Ii Alpha ◽  
Dna Topoisomerase ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Objective.—To evaluate a possible association between clinical outcome of patients with oligodendroglioma and expression of 2 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21/Cip-1 (p21) and p27/Kip-1 (p27), and of DNA topoisomerase II-alpha (Ki-S1), which has been recently used as a marker of cellular proliferation. Design.—Ninety-one specially selected patients with cerebral oligodendrogliomas treated with surgery and radiotherapy were studied retrospectively. Tumor specimens were immunohistochemically examined with antibodies to p21, p27, and Ki-S1. A computerized color image analyzer was used to count immunostained nuclei. Results.—The mean Ki-S1 labeling index (LI) was found to be significantly prominent for World Health Organization (WHO) high-grade tumors (9.5% vs 3.2% for WHO low-grade tumors). In contrast, the mean p27 LI was significantly higher for low-grade tumors (43.3% vs 25.7% for high-grade tumors). The number of p21-positive cases and the mean p21 LI were found to be relatively equal for low- and high-grade tumors. For low-grade oligodendrogliomas, the progression-free and overall survival times were found to be significantly shorter for tumors with p27 LIs less than 20%. For high-grade oligodendrogliomas, survival times were significantly reduced for tumors with Ki-S1 LIs greater than 10%. Regression-tree analysis identified 4 groups of oligodendrogliomas with distinctly different outcomes: (1) 32 patients with low-grade tumors and p27 LIs greater than 20%; (2) 14 patients with low-grade tumors and p27 LIs less than 20%; (3) 25 patients with high-grade tumors and Ki-S1 LIs less than 10%; and (4) 20 patients with high-grade tumors and Ki-S1 LIs greater than 10%. Conclusions.—Immunoreactivity for Ki-S1 and p27 was found to be useful for further subdividing oligodendroglioma prognoses among low-grade and high-grade tumors. It seems unlikely that p21 immunohistochemistry will be of value for determining clinical outcomes for patients with oligodendrogliomas.

scholarly journals INCIDENCE AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HIGH GRADE PROSTATIC INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA IN TURP SPECIFIMENS

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
B. Pavan Kumar ◽  
Imran Ali ◽  
Anwar Miya ◽  
Kishan Kishan
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Prostatic Carcinoma ◽  
Invasive Carcinoma ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Intraepithelial Neoplasia ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Transurethral Resection Of Prostate ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Precancerous Condition

BACKGROUND : PIN is a well known precancerous condition of prostatic carcinoma. Transurethral resection of prostate has become the most prominent and the easiest way, to morphologically evaluate lesions of PIN. But clinicians are sometimes confused by the grading that is given in the report. So there is a need to define the diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis of PIN using newer diagnostic techniques to assist in the better diagnosis and grading. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the diagnostic criteria can be defined PIN and using newer techniques for PIN grading to improve the clinical management of patients with prostatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study will be done in the Department of Pathology MGM Hospitals, Warangal for a period of 2 years and includes consecutive cases of TURP specimens from the patients who present with obstructive symptoms as a major clinical presentation and correlated with PSA levels. INCLULSION CRITERIA: Patients who present with obstructive symptoms as a major clinical presentation. RESULTS: 1.160 cases of TURP specimens were studied out of which 53 (33.12%) cases are PIN. BPH -78 (48/74%), PC-15 (9.37%), SM-14 (8.75%) 2. Majority cases are low grade PIN 34 out of 53 cases (21.25%) High Grade PIN 19 out of 53cases. (11.87%) 3. High Grade PIN and prostatic Carcinoma shared increased incidence and severity with advancing age in the study. Majority of HG PIN cases in our study noted in (70-79 years of age) 4. The risk of carcinoma is more in cases of High Grade PIN (68.42%) than in low grade PIN (17.64%) 5. This warrants are need for repeat prostatic biopsies to diagnose the invasive carcinoma in patient with High grade PIN.

scholarly journals BRAF Mutations and the Utility of RAF and MEK Inhibitors in Primary Brain Tumors

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karisa C. Schreck ◽  
Stuart A. Grossman ◽  
Christine A. Pratilas
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Primary Brain Tumor ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Braf Mutations ◽  
Mek Inhibitors ◽  
Primary Brain Tumors ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Oncogenic Mutations ◽  
Tumor Types

BRAF mutations have been identified as targetable, oncogenic mutations in many cancers. Given the paucity of treatments for primary brain tumors and the poor prognosis associated with high-grade gliomas, BRAF mutations in glioma are of considerable interest. In this review, we present the spectrum of BRAF mutations and fusion alterations present in each class of primary brain tumor based on publicly available databases and publications. We also summarize clinical experience with RAF and MEK inhibitors in patients with primary brain tumors and describe ongoing clinical trials of RAF inhibitors in glioma. Sensitivity to RAF and MEK inhibitors varies among BRAF mutations and between tumor types as only class I BRAF V600 mutations are sensitive to clinically available RAF inhibitors. While class II and III BRAF mutations are found in primary brain tumors, further research is necessary to determine their sensitivity to third-generation RAF inhibitors and/or MEK inhibitors. We recommend that the neuro-oncologist consider using these drugs primarily in the setting of a clinical trial for patients with BRAF-altered glioma in order to advance our knowledge of their efficacy in this patient population.

scholarly journals GENE-03. SPECIFIC SIGNATURES OF microRNA IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS AND METASTASES

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi98-vi98
Author(s):  
Radim Jancalek ◽  
Martin Smrcka ◽  
Alena Kopkova ◽  
Jiri Sana ◽  
Marek Vecera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Independent Set ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Primary Brain Tumors ◽  
Csf Analysis ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) baths extracellular environment of the central nervous system, and thus, it is ideal source of tumor diagnostic biomarkers like microRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNAs involved in the pathogenesis of many cancers. As dysregulated levels of brain tumor specific miRNAs have been already observed in CSF, analysis of CSF miRNAs in brain tumor patients might help to develop new diagnostic platform. Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) was performed for analysis of small RNAs in 89 CSF samples taken from 32 glioblastomas (GBM), 14 low-grade gliomas (LGG), 11 meningiomas, 13 brain metastases and 19 non-tumor donors. Subsequently, according to NGS results levels of 10 miRNAs were measured in independent set of CSF samples (41 GBM, 44 meningiomas, 12 brain metastases and 20 non-tumor donors) using TaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays. NGS analysis revealed 22, 12 and 35 CSF miRNAs with significantly different levels in GBM, meningiomas, and brain metastases (adj.p < 0.0005, adj.p < 0.01, and adj.p < 0.005) respectively, in comparison with non-tumor CSF samples. Subsequent validation of selected CSF miRNAs has confirmed different levels of 7 miRNAs in GBM, 2 in meningiomas, and 2 in brain metastases compared to non-tumors. Panel of miR-30e-5p and miR-140-5p was able to distinguish brain metastases with 65% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared to non-tumor samples (AUC = 0.8167); panel of miR-21-3p and miR-196-5p classified metastatic patients with 78% sensitivity and 92 % specificity in comparison to GBM (AUC = 0.90854) and with 75% sensitivity and 83% specificity compared to meningiomas (AUC = 0.84848). We have observed that CSFs from patients with various primary brain tumors and metastases are characterized by specific miRNA signatures. This work was supported by the Ministry of Health, Czech Republic grant nr. NV18-03-00398 and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic under the project CEITEC 2020 (LQ1601).

Secondary brain tumors in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 3761-3767 ◽  
Author(s):  
A W Walter ◽  
M L Hancock ◽  
C H Pui ◽  
M M Hudson ◽  
J S Ochs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Research Hospital ◽  
Dose Dependent

PURPOSE To evaluate the incidence of and potential risk factors for second malignant neoplasms of the brain following treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PATIENTS AND METHODS The study population consisted of 1,612 consecutively enrolled protocol patients treated on sequential institutional protocols for newly diagnosed ALL at St Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) between 1967 and 1988. The median follow-up duration is 15.9 years (range, 5.5 to 29.9 y). RESULTS The cumulative incidence of brain tumors at 20 years is 1.39% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63% to 2.15%). Twenty-two brain tumors (10 high-grade gliomas, one low-grade glioma, and 11 meningiomas) were diagnosed among 21 patients after a median latency of 12.6 years (high-grade gliomas, 9.1 years; meningiomas, 19 years). Tumor type was linked to outcome, with patients who developed high-grade tumors doing poorly and those who developed low-grade tumors doing well. Risk factors for developing any secondary brain tumor included the presence of CNS leukemia at diagnosis, treatment on Total X therapy, and the use of cranial irradiation, which was dose-dependent. Age less than 6 years was associated with an increased risk of developing a high-grade glioma. CONCLUSION This single-institution study, with a high rate of long-term data capture, demonstrated that brain tumors are a rare, late complication of therapy for ALL. We report many more low-grade tumors than others probably because of exhaustive long-term follow-up evaluation. The importance of limiting cranial radiation is underscored by the dose-dependent tumorigenic effect of radiation therapy seen in this study.

scholarly journals Expressions of Endocan in Patients with Meningiomas and Gliomas

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinar Atukeren ◽  
Ahmad Kunbaz ◽  
Okan Turk ◽  
Rahsan Kemerdere ◽  
Mustafa Onur Ulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Control Brain ◽  
Tumor Group ◽  
Degree Of Malignancy

Objective. Endocan has been shown to be a marker for several cancers and may show degree of malignancy. The aim of this study is to assess tissue levels of endocan in common brain tumors, namely, meningiomas, low-grade gliomas (LGGs), and high-grade gliomas (HGGs).Patients and Methods. Endocan was assayed by commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits in a total of 50 brain tumors (20 meningiomas, 19 LGGs, and 20 HGGs) and 15 controls. The results were compared to control brain tissues.Results. Each tumor group showed significant higher levels of endocan compared to controls (p<0.05). In addition, endocan levels showed steady increase from the least (meningiomas) to the most (HGGs) malignant tumors and positive correlation was noted between the degree of malignancy and endocan level (p=0.0001).Conclusion. Endocan, a vital molecule for angiogenesis, is expressed in common brain tumors and results suggest that endocan could be a marker for malignancy.

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