Disease relevance of Brain Stem Neoplasms

• Forty-one percent of all VHL patients with CNS tumors were neurologically asymptomatic: cerebellar tumors (50%), spinal cord tumors (50%), and brainstem tumors (44%) were often without clinical signs or symptoms [1].
• Seven NF1 patients (41%) required shunt placement for hydrocephalus at initial diagnosis, more frequent than in non-NF1 brainstem tumor patients [2].
• Pheochromocytoma is a rare adrenal medullary tumor of chromaffin cell origin that presents a syndrome of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation due to secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine [3].
• Neither analysis of the urinary catecholamine metabolites vanillymandelic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol nor blood pressure measurements allowed the detection of adrenal medullary tumors or hyperplasia in 115 aged male Wistar rats (70 rats, 24 months of age and 45 rats, 30 months of age) [4].
• These gastric carcinomas might be categorized into medullary tumor with gastrointestinal tract-specific AFP [5].

High impact information on Brain Stem Neoplasms

• We conclude that IGF-II is an autocrine growth factor for SK-N-AS cells and suggest that this mechanism may contribute to the growth of some adrenal medullary tumors [6].
• All 13 HNPCC and six medullary tumors had intact cytoplasmic and nuclear Dpc4 localization [7].
• This study, which evaluated 17 NF1 patients with brainstem tumors, is the largest series to date [2].
• Dihydropyridine binding and calcium channel function in clonal rat adrenal medullary tumor cells [8].
• BCL-2 does not appear to be useful in differentiating adrenal cortical from medullary tumors [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of Brain Stem Neoplasms

• The PC12 phenochromocytoma tumor cell line is derived from a rat adrenal medullary tumor and secretes dopamine [10].
• The first FDG-PET study revealed markedly increased glucose metabolism in the brainstem, matching exactly the signal abnormalities exhibited on magnetic resonance images and indicating a brainstem tumor [11].
• Metrizamide-enhanced CT for evaluation of brainstem tumors [12].
• Section on tumors: Young Investigator Award: Local release of carboplatin via an Alzet mini-osmotic pump prolongs survival in a rat brainstem tumor model [13].
• In the other patients strikingly elevated choline/creatinine ratios and myoinositol levels were observed in comparison with typical pontine tumors [14].

Gene context of Brain Stem Neoplasms

• The role of calretinin, inhibin, melan-A, BCL-2, and C-kit in differentiating adrenal cortical and medullary tumors: an immunohistochemical study [9].
• Adrenomedullin (AM) was originally characterized in extracts of an adrenal medullary tumor [15].
• Patients with either mucinous, tubular, or papillary cancers fared significantly better than those having not otherwise specific (NOS) or atypical medullary tumors [16].
• Staining for fibronectin was seen in only a minority of the cases, with medullary tumors being the most positive [17].
• CONCLUSIONS: Image-guided surgery with an MKM microscope allows surgical outlines to be injected in the microscope viewer and facilitates resection of extensive brainstem tumors previously considered inoperable [18].

References