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PMID: 8817414 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Cellular and molecular pathology of medulloblastoma.

Journal of neuro-oncology ·Vol. 29 ·No. 1 ·1996-07-00 ·Pages 35-43

Provias JP, Becker LE

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is a malignant embryonal tumor predominantly of childhood. It occurs principally in the midline cerebellar region but is prone to invade the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid spaces. It is the principal posterior fossa tumor in children and represents 20% of all brain tumors in this age group. Considerable advances have been made in characterizing the morphologic subtypes, immunophenotypes, and in vitro behavior of cell lines. However, the cell of origin and its relationship to other related primitive neuroectodermal tumors remains uncertain. Although recent advances in the application of proliferation markers and the use of apoptosis in situ labelling have been applied, a prognostically relevant marker applicable to surgical neuropathology remains to be developed. The fundamental molecular pathogenesis of tumor development remains unknown, although recent exciting advances have shown alterations in some members of the PAX family of genes as well as increased expression of neurotrophin receptors. These may prove to be of prognostic significance.

MeSH Terms
Adult Animals Apoptosis Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis Cell Division Cerebellar Neoplasms/pathology,surgery Child Growth Substances/analysis Humans Medulloblastoma/pathology,surgery Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules/analysis Neuroectodermal Tumors/pathology Neurons/pathology Oncogenes Prognosis Syndrome
Chemicals
Biomarkers, Tumor Growth Substances Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Provias J P
Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Becker L E
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of neuro-oncology
Abbr.
J Neurooncol
ISSN
0167-594X
DOI
10.1007/BF00165516
Published
1996-07-00
Pages
35-43
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8309335
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00165516 View journal details
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