title: Further understanding of the pathology of glioma: implications for the clinic.
abstract: Glioma classification and grading has been historically based in morphologic appearance of tumor cells: astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, oligoastrocytomas and ependymomas. Recent molecular advances have transformed the field of neuro-oncology, as some molecular markers harbor diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications.
  
  
  
  In this paper we will review the major molecular changes associated with gliomas and their implications in diagnosis, prognosis, and opportunities in therapeutics. Expert commentary: Based on current understanding, adult diffuse infiltrating gliomas can be molecularly divided into three to five major subgroups with different clinical outcomes. Pediatric gliomas harbor mutations for H3F3A, ATRX and DAXX but not IDH. Circumscribed low-grade gliomas tend to have BRAF alterations. Clinical behavior of ependymomas correlates more with location than WHO grading. Posterior fossa ependymomas tend to behave worse than their cerebral or spinal cord counterparts. However, with the posterior fossa ependymomas, two distinct subtypes have emerged molecularly.
authors.affiliation: a Neuropathology Division, Pathology Department , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Camelo-Piragua
authors.affiliation: b Department of Translational Neuro-Oncology and Neurotherapeutics , John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center , Santa Monica , USA.|c Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center , Santa Monica , USA.|d Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute , Torrance , USA.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesari
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: 1p/19q; ATRX; BRAF; Glioma; H3.3; H3F3A; IDH; TERT