title: Molecular aspects of neuro-oncology.
abstract: Detailed understanding of molecular events responsible for brain tumor growth is a prerequisite for the development of effective therapeutic modalities leading to improved prognosis and cure. Advances in molecular biology in the past decades have revolutionized our understanding of cancer, including brain tumors. We have learned that abnormal proliferation, inability of the cells to die and their potential to modify their tissue environment result from accumulation of genetic aberrations. This article reviews genetic mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of nervous system tumors, such as unactivation of tumor suppressor and replication error genes, generation of abnormal growth factor loops, alterations of apoptotic pathways and angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Laboratories, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santarius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000502:physiology; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008967:Molecular Biology; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006133:Growth Substances; D019098:Telomerase