title: Exploiting molecular biology for diagnosis and targeted management of pediatric low-grade gliomas.
abstract: The majority of brain tumors arising in children are low-grade gliomas. Although historically categorized together as pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs), there is significant histologic and genetic diversity within this group. In general, prognosis for PLGGs is excellent, and limitation of sequelae from tumor and treatment is paramount. Advances in high-throughput genetic sequencing and gene expression profiling are fundamentally changing the way PLGGs are classified and managed. Here, we review the histologic subtypes and highlight how recent advances in elucidating the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors have refined diagnosis and prognostication. Additionally, we discuss how characterizing specific genetic alterations has paved the way for the rational use of targeted therapies that are currently in various phase clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Daphne A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Haas-Kogan
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy
keywords: pediatric low-grade glioma; pediatrics; targeted therapy