title: Cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities in primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system.
abstract: Primitive neuroectodermal tumors constitute a large class of pediatric brain tumors. Despite notable recent advances in improving treatment and survival, the pathogenesis and the molecular genetic bases of these malignancies remain poorly understood. Combined cytogenetic and molecular genetic approaches have been used to identify genomic alterations in different histologic tumor types. Translation of these advances from basic science to clinical application is currently underway. Goals for the future include the development of more efficacious treatment strategies while simultaneously lessening toxicity. The most important cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities documented to date together with their potential prognostic significance are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Goussia
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruner
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Agnantis
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Fuller
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006040:Goals; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000235:genetics; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006133:Growth Substances; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor