title: Genetics of nervous system tumors.
abstract: Genetic aberrations are being defined for the various glial tumors. Astrocytic tumors can evolve by two different pathways. The genetic aberrations now being defined for these two pathways are different and can be associated with the grade of malignancy. In oligodendrogliomas, the genetic lesions differ from the astrocytic tumors, and several markers have been linked to chemosensitivity response and survival. Genetic aberrations in ependymomas also differ from the astrocytic tumors or oligodendrogliomas. Although additional cases are needed to study the genetic aberrations, the abnormalities identified suggest that spinal cord tumors carry different markers than intracranial tumors and that the markers within the cranium may be different based on their location.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000235:genetics; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000235:genetics; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000235:genetics; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics