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. 2011 Mar 7;3(1):1129-40.
doi: 10.3390/cancers3011129.

Genetic alterations in glioma

Linda B C Bralten  1 , Pim J French
Affiliations

Genetic alterations in glioma

Linda B C Bralten et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor and have a dismal prognosis. Understanding the genetic alterations that drive glioma formation and progression may help improve patient prognosis by identification of novel treatment targets. Recently, two major studies have performed in-depth mutation analysis of glioblastomas (the most common and aggressive subtype of glioma). This systematic approach revealed three major pathways that are affected in glioblastomas: The receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, the TP53 pathway and the pRB pathway. Apart from frequent mutations in the IDH1/2 gene, much less is known about the causal genetic changes of grade II and III (anaplastic) gliomas. Exceptions include TP53 mutations and fusion genes involving the BRAF gene in astrocytic and pilocytic glioma subtypes, respectively. In this review, we provide an update on all common events involved in the initiation and/or progression across the different subtypes of glioma and provide future directions for research into the genetic changes.

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Figures

Scheme 1.
Scheme 1.
The three major pathways affected in a high percentage of glioblastomas and the most common genes affected in those pathways. Following the gene names, the percentages of genetic alterations found in glioblastoma are depicted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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