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Acta Neuropathologica
Published in: Acta Neuropathologica 5/2010

01-05-2010 | Original Paper

Association of molecular alterations, including BRAF, with biology and outcome in pilocytic astrocytomas

Authors: Craig Horbinski, Ronald L. Hamilton, Yuri Nikiforov, Ian F. Pollack

Published in: Acta Neuropathologica | Issue 5/2010

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Abstract

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the most common glioma in the pediatric population. PAs can exhibit variable behavior that does not always correlate with location. Although oncogenic rearrangements of the BRAF gene have recently been described in PAs, it is not clear whether such alterations have an impact on outcome. An institutional cohort of 147 PAs (118 with outcome data) from both cerebellar and non-cerebellar locations (spine, diencephalon, midbrain, brainstem, and cortex) was utilized in this study. Parameters included quantification of characteristic morphologic variables as well as genes and molecular loci previously shown to be of relevance in high-grade gliomas, including 1p, 9p, 10q, 17p, 19q, and BRAF. Neither 1p, 9p, and 10q nor 19q showed significant association with outcome in PAs, although p16 deletion was more common in PAs of the midbrain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Loss of heterozygosity on 17p13 correlated with increased risk of recurrence in cerebellar tumors. BRAF gene rearrangements were more common in cerebellar tumors than non-cerebellar tumors and associated with classic biphasic histology in the cerebellum. However, clinical outcome was independent of BRAF status. The molecular biology of PAs differs according to location, yet BRAF rearrangements do not appear to produce PAs with different behavior. Nevertheless, such tumors may have altered sensitivity to pathway-specific adjuvant therapy. Additionally, deletion on 17p13 may be an adverse prognostic biomarker in cerebellar tumors.
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Metadata
Title
Association of molecular alterations, including BRAF, with biology and outcome in pilocytic astrocytomas
Authors
Craig Horbinski
Ronald L. Hamilton
Yuri Nikiforov
Ian F. Pollack
Publication date
01-05-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Acta Neuropathologica / Issue 5/2010
Print ISSN: 0001-6322
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0533
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-009-0634-9

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