Genetic alterations of adult and paediatric astrocytic tumours

• Author(s): Reis, R. M. ; Lopes, J. M.
• Date: 2004
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/2009
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Adult and paediatric astrocytic tumours; CNS neoplasms; Genetic aberrations; Genetic instability; Molecular biology; Oncogenes; Tumour supressor genes
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Astocytic tumours represent the most frequent adult and paediatric brain tumours. Central nervous system (CNS) tumours are the second most frequent paediatric malignancies. Astrocytic tumours are a heterogeneous group, composed of different histological and biological subtypes organized into four grades of malignancy. Malignant astocytic tumours occur preferentially in adults, diffusely infiltrate the surrounding brain tissue and have inherited tendency for recurrence and malignant progression. Low-grade astrocytic tumours, particularly grade 1 tumours are more prevalent in children and have a more benign behaviour. Regardless of the significant advances in surgical techniques, radiation and chemotherapy, the prognosis of affected patients, particularly with high-grade lesions still carry a poor prognosis. Studies of astrocytic tumours, manly the malignant tumours of adults, identified major molecular pathways (e.g. p53 and Rb pathways, growth factor signalling and genetic instability), which are frequently disrupted and contribute to astrocytic cell transformation. The identification of the molecular profiles, would allowed a more objective and reliable classification of tumours and stratification of patients for current and/or new therapeutic approaches. The present review describes relevant genetic alterations of astrocytic tumours in adults and highlights the major differences found in their paediatric counterparts.