Neuro-oncology Five new things

Abstract

Recent reports herald important advances in our understanding and management of gliomas. A role for alkylator chemotherapy in the management of certain high-grade gliomas has been confirmed and linked to specific, clinically ascertainable molecular markers. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can now image 2-hydroxyglutarate, an oncometabolite restricted to the three-quarters of low-intermediate grade gliomas harboring an isocitrate dehydrogenase gene mutation; this has powerful implications for diagnosis and assessment of response to therapies. Genome-wide association studies point to several SNPs conveying increased risk of glioma; further studies of the involved genes and RNA products will enhance our understanding of glioma development. Finally, high-throughput sequencing has identified novel mutations in a histone-coding gene and in genes related to the histone complex in pediatric glioblastoma. © 2013 American Academy of Neurology.