title: Molecular Biology in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma: Impact on Prognosis and Treatment.
abstract: High-grade gliomas are the main cause of death in children with brain tumours. Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, their prognosis remains poor and the treatment is still challenging. To date, surgery followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide is the standard therapy. However, increasing knowledge of glioma biology is starting to impact drug development towards targeted therapies. The identification of agents directed against molecular targets aims at going beyond the traditional therapeutic approach in order to develop a personalized therapy and improve the outcome of pediatric high-grade gliomas. In this paper, we critically review the literature regarding the genetic abnormalities implicated in the pathogenesis of pediatric malignant gliomas and the current development of molecularly targeted therapies. In particular, we analyse the impact of molecular biology on the prognosis and treatment of pediatric high-grade glioma, comparing it to that of adult gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A Gemelli, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A Gemelli, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University, "A. Gemelli" Hospital, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A Gemelli, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A Gemelli, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Palma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maurizi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A Gemelli, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins