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Recent advances in pediatric renal neoplasia.

Over the past 6 years, molecular genetic studies have significantly advanced our understanding of pediatric renal neoplasms. The cellular variant of congenital mesoblastic nephroma (but not the classic variant) has been shown to bear the same t(12;15)(p13;q25) and ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion as infantile fibrosarcoma, a tumor with which it shares morphologic and clinical features. Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney is characterized by deletion of the hSNF5/INI1 gene, which links it to other rhabdoid tumors of infancy that arise in the soft tissue and brain. Primary renal synovial sarcomas and renal primitive neuroectodermal tumors have become accepted entities, and likely comprise a subset of what had previously been termed "adult Wilms tumor." Renal carcinomas associated with Xp11.2 translocations that result in fusions involving the TFE3 transcription factor gene have been delineated, including a distinctive neoplasm that shares the identical gene fusion as alveolar soft part sarcoma. Most recently, a distinctive type of renal neoplasm with a t(6;11)(p21;q12) has been described, and the cloning of the resulting gene fusion links it to the Xp11 translocation carcinomas. Together, these last two translocation-associated tumors represent a significant proportion of pediatric renal cell carcinomas. This review highlights each of these recent advances.

Adolescent↗

Mural tumors with cysts in the cerebral hemispheres of children.

Thirteen infants and children with mural tumors (i.e., cysts with mural nodules) in the cerebral hemisphere are presented. The tumors comprise five benign astrocytomas, three ependymomas, two choroid plexus papillomas, one oncocytoma, one hamartoma, and one primitive neuroectodermal tumor. Computed tomography showed well-enhanced mural nodules. Cyst walls did not enhance in any but one, in which the enhancement was attributed to hemorrhage in the cyst. None of the cyst walls contained neoplastic cells. Cerebral angiography was performed in all patients, and five showed extensive vascularity in the tumor nodule. The importance of preoperative angiography is emphasized. Total extirpation of the mural nodule without excision of the cyst wall led to excellent prognosis for these patients.

Adenoma↗

Central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors of infancy and childhood.

In 1987, a distinctive brain tumor arising in young children was first described. This tumor contained neuroepithelial, peripheral epithelial, and mesenchymal elements, but lacked divergent tissue differentiation characteristic of malignant teratomas. It was originally designated as atypical teratoid tumor, but because of the prominent rhabdoid component, the tumor designation was modified to atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) of infancy and childhood. AT/RTs occur most commonly in infants under 2 years of age, often have central nervous system (CNS) dissemination, do not respond to therapy, and typically are fatal within 1 year. Most are located in the cerebellum (65%), but they may arise at any CNS site. Histologically, various patterns can be present within the same tumor, but they all have a population of rhabdoid cells, and 70% contain fields typical of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET/medulloblastoma). Less frequently, malignant mesenchymal tissue and/or an epithelial component are found. Necrosis and brisk mitotic activity are common. The immunocytochemical profile is complex, but germ cell markers are consistently negative. Ultrastructural features vary and depend on the site sampled, but whorled bundles of cytoplasmic intermediate filaments are a distinctive finding in cells of the rhabdoid component. The authors report 4 AT/RTs (2 males, 2 females, age range 6 months to 4 1/2 years, 3 cerebellar, 1 cerebral). All cases showed a variety of histologic patterns with necrosis. Typical rhabdoid cells, PNET areas, undifferentiated bland large cell regions, dense connective tissue, and solid clusters of epithelial cells were present. Immunocytochemistry showed strong vimentin reactivity, whereas epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100 protein, desmin, and smooth muscle actin were present to a lesser extent in most cases. Germ cell markers were negative. Ultrastructurally, many cells contained aggregates of cytoplasmic intermediate filaments, and some cells had a basal lamina on one aspect. Cells with interdigitating cytoplasmic borders were seen and rare cells had microtubules. Cytogenetic studies were normal in 2 cases. Follow-up has shown that 3 children have died of disease (< 1 year after diagnosis) and 1 child is alive with disease (18 months after diagnosis). Separation of AT/RT from PNET based on histopathologic and biologic evaluation is important, because AT/RTs are aggressive tumors with a dismal prognosis and currently there is no effective treatment. Neither clinical signs and symptoms nor radiologic features will distinguish AT/RTs from PNETs.

Brain Neoplasms↗

[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the hand].

Most soft tissue sarcomas are malignant tumors of the mesodermal tissue of the head and neck, trunk, retroperitoneum or extremities, although neurosarcomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors are of ectodermal origin. Soft-tissue sarcomas of the upper extremity constitute 14% of all soft-tissue sarcomas, they are one third as common as those of the lower extremity. A case of patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the fourth finger of the left hand is presented. (Tab. 2, Fig. 10, Ref. 15.)

Female↗

Role of the aspartyl-asparaginyl-beta-hydroxylase gene in neuroblastoma cell motility.

Aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase (AAH) is overexpressed in various malignant neoplasms, and high levels of immunoreactivity mainly occur in infiltrating or metastasized tumors. In addition, AAH is abundantly expressed in normally invasive placental trophoblastic cells. These observations led to the hypothesis that AAH may have a role in motility and aggressive behavior of tumor cells. The present study demonstrates that AAH is overexpressed in primary human malignant neuroectodermal tumors, including medulloblastomas and neuroblastomas, and that AAH expression is at a low level or undetectable in the normal mature brain. In the Sy5y neuroblastoma cell line, endogenous expression of the approximately 86-kd AAH protein was demonstrated by Western blot analysis, and immunoreactivity predominantly localized to the cell surface by immunocytochemical staining and FACS analysis. Sy5y cells that were stably transfected with the human AAH cDNA had increased levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Bcl-2, and reduced levels of p21/Waf1 and p16. In addition, increased AAH expression enhanced Sy5y cell motility, whereas antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibition of AAH significantly reduced Sy5y cell motility and increased the levels of p21/Waf1 and p16. The findings suggest that AAH overexpression contributes to the malignant phenotype of neuroectodermal tumor cells by increasing motility and enhancing proliferation, survival, and cell cycle progression. Because AAH expression is at a low level or undetectable in normal brain, the AAH gene may be a target for treating primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

p53 gene mutations in pediatric brain tumors.

We investigated the frequency of p53 mutations in 47 pediatric brain tumors of various histologic subtypes that were collected over a period of 5 years. The specimens included 15 primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), 17 low grade astrocytomas, one anaplastic astrocytoma, three glioblastomas (GBMs), one mixed glial tumor, eight ependymomas, one choroid plexus carcinoma, and one gangliocytoma/ganglioneuroma. Mutations were identified by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of exons 4-8 and verified by sequencing. Mutations were present in 2 of 3 cases of GBM, but not in 17 low grade astrocytomas (P = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). One GBM demonstrated a germline GGC to AGC transition (gly to ser) at codon 245 with loss of the wild-type allele. A second GBM contained a CGG to TGG transition (arg to trp) at codon 248, also with loss of the wild-type allele, but normal tissue was not available for comparison. In addition, one of 15 PNETs retained heterozygosity but demonstrated a somatic CGT to TGT transition (arg to cys) at codon 273. p53 mutations were absent in other histologic subtypes and in two cases with multiple primary cancers. These data are consistent with earlier findings that p53 mutations are rare in PNETs, which are primarily pediatric tumors. In contrast to adult gliomas, p53 mutations in pediatric gliomas appear restricted to the GBMs. The lack of p53 mutations in pediatric low grade astrocytomas suggests not only histological differences, but also a different molecular pathogenesis in adult and pediatric patients.

Adolescent↗

Detection of the EWS/WT1 gene fusion by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor.

We report two cases of intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor with characteristic clinical, histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features. Fusion of the EWS gene on chromosome 22 and the WT1 gene on chromosome 11, resulting from the chromosomal translocation t(11;22)(p13;q12), was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in both cases. This translocation has been previously reported in this type of tumor using either cytogenetic or molecular biological techniques. Tumor tissue from both cases revealed no chimeric fusion transcripts characteristic of the Ewing sarcoma family of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors or of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, two tumors in the differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor. This report demonstrates the utility of molecular studies as an adjunct in the diagnosis of this rare and aggressive tumor.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

From the archives of the AFIP. Primary tumors of the spine: radiologic pathologic correlation.

Primary tumors of the spine are relatively infrequent lesions compared with metastatic disease, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma. However, when a solitary lesion of the spine occurs, these neoplasms represent an important group of entities for diagnostic consideration. A wide variety of benign neoplasms can involve the spine, including osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor, enostosis, and osteochondroma. Common primary nonlymphoproliferative malignant neoplasms of the spine include chordoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and osteosarcoma. The imaging features of these lesions of the spine are often characteristic. These changes include a small sclerotic focus with irregular thorny margins in the vertebral body (enostosis), a small radiolucent nidus with central calcification in the posterior elements of the vertebral body (osteoid osteoma), a large expansile lesion with multiple fluid-fluid levels (aneurysmal bone cyst), and an aggressive mineralized mass (chondroid or osteoid) with osseous and soft-tissue involvement (chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma). Radiologists should be aware of the appearance of these unusual neoplasms in order to provide a complete differential diagnosis and to guide clinical colleagues in patient treatment.

Adolescent↗

Primary intracranial atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor in a child with Canavan disease.

A primary intracranial atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor was encountered in a child (age 4 years and 9 months) with Canavan disease. The tumor contained a large spindled cell component as well as classical rhabdoid morphology and focal areas resembling a primitive neuroectodermal tumor. The rhabdoid areas of the neoplasm were immunoreactive with antibodies against epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin, in the classically described pattern. Ultrastructurally these portions of the tumor displayed the characteristic perinuclear whorls of intermediate filaments reported in rhabdoid tumors of all body sites. Thought to be purely coincidental, this is also the first description of any intracranial neoplasm associated with Canavan disease.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Biological stability of RNA isolated from RNAlater-treated brain tumor and neuroblastoma xenografts.

BACKGROUND: Advances in molecular biological research have led to identification of prognostic factors such as Trk mRNA expression in primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the CNS and neuroblastoma. To study prospectively the importance of these prognostic factors in large groups of homogeneously treated patients, tumor specimens of good quality must be acquired, preserved, and stored at multiple institutions. Immediate freezing of tumor biopsy samples in liquid nitrogen and storage at -70 degrees C are the most commonly used method of tissue preservation for future RNA analysis. PROCEDURE: To evaluate alternative methods of preserving tissue samples for subsequent RNA analysis, we tested a new RNA stabilization solution. Using tumor tissue of two CNS tumor and one neuroblastoma human xenografts, we compared total RNA isolated from tumor tissue stored for 7 days at room temperature in stabilization solution to that of snap-frozen tissue. The quality of the RNA was studied by spectrophotometry, gel electrophoresis, RT-PCR, and gene expression profiling. RESULTS: No major differences were observed in the quality of RNA isolated from tumor samples stored at room temperature in the RNA stabilization solution compared to snap-frozen tumor samples stored at -70 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: High-quality RNA can be prepared from tumor tissue stored at room temperature. Whenever snap freezing is not feasible, pieces of tumor tissue can be treated with RNAlater for subsequent RNA analysis. Short-term storage and shipment of well-preserved tumor tissue are clearly feasible for all institutions, thereby facilitating large multiinstitutional studies of biological prognostic factors.

Animals↗

Cisplatin in the treatment of recurrent childhood primary brain tumors.

Thirty-three patients were treated with intravenous (IV) cisplatin (CPDD) of whom 32 were considered evaluable. There were 14 medulloblastomas, five primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), nine gliomas, three ependymomas, and one germ cell tumor. The overall response rate was 13 of 32 (41%). Eleven responses (five complete [CR], five partial [PR], one mixed [MR]) were noted in the patients with medulloblastoma. The response rate within this group was 79%. Toxicity was tolerable, although it precluded further therapy in five patients.

Adult↗

Monoclonal antibody to stage-specific fetal brain 68-kDa glycoprotein (FGP68) revealed increased FGP68 expression in human primary brain tumors.

We have produced a novel rat IgG(2a) monoclonal antibody against a stage-specific fetal brain glycoprotein of 68 kDa (FGP68), and succeeded in applying it to staining paraffin sections. To gain some insight into the pathobiological significance of this FGP68, this monoclonal antibody was used in immunohistochemical studies to compare the expression of FGP68 and Ki-67 antigen (MIB-1) in 235 primary brain tumors. Approximately half of the glioblastomas multiforme (GBMs) (44/75) and anaplastic astrocytomas (9/17) as well as some astrocytomas (5/30), medulloblastomas (2/14) and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (2/10) had tumor cells that expressed FGP68; however, pilocytic astrocytomas (0/7), oligodendrogliomas (0/15), ependymomas (0/6), schwannomas (0/21), meningiomas (0/22) and pituitary adenomas (0/18) did not express FGP68. The values of the MIB-1 labeling index were statistically higher in GBMs (0.005< P<0.01, Wilcoxon rank-sum test) and anaplastic astrocytomas (0.025< P<0.05) that expressed FGP68 than in those that did not. Normal brain tissue from 20 individuals aged 3-75 years was negative for FGP68 and MIB-1. We conclude that primary brain tumors express FGP68, one of the oncofetal proteins derived from fetal brain, and that FGP68 expression in certain brain tumor cells may depend, in part, on proliferation potential. Based on the possibility that the stage-specific FGP68 plays an important role in brain embryogenesis, some of FGP68-expressing tumor cells might phylogenetically revert to more primitive cells.

Animals↗

alpha-Synuclein is expressed in a variety of brain tumors showing neuronal differentiation.

alpha-Synuclein is presynaptic nerve terminal protein and its immunoreactivity has been observed in such neurodegenerative structures as senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease or Lewy bodies of Parkinson's disease. The physiological role of alpha-synuclein is still unknown. It is speculated that alpha-synuclein may be expressed in brain tumors, especially in those showing neuronal differentiation. We examined the immunohistochemical localization of alpha-synuclein in 77 human brain tumors. alpha-Synuclein was widely distributed in the brain tumors showing neuronal differentiation. As a result, positive immunostaining for alpha-synuclein was observed in ganglioglioma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, pineocytoma/pineoblastoma, and central neurocytoma. Compared with other neuronal markers, the positive ratio of alpha-synuclein was not as high as synaptophysin, microtubule-associated protein 2, neuron-specific enolase and tau, but it was higher than neurofilament and chromogranin A. The expression of synaptophysin was diffusely observed in the cytoplasm, cellular processes and nucleus in tumors showing neuronal differentiation; however, the expression of alpha-synuclein was predominantly observed in the cytoplasm of the tumors as well as in the cellular processes. On the other hand, non-neuronal brain tumors such as astrocytic tumors or meningiomas were totally negative for alpha-synuclein. In conclusion, the appearance of an alpha-synuclein-positive structure was not limited to neurodegenerative diseases, but could also be detected in neoplastic cells showing neuronal differentiation.

Adolescent↗

Stereotactic radiotherapy for localized low-grade gliomas in children: final results of a prospective trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for small, localized, pediatric brain tumors and to determine the patterns of failure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 81 patients were enrolled in an institutional review board-approved prospective Dana-Farber Cancer Institute protocol between 1992 and 1998. Of the 81 patients, 50 had low-grade astrocytoma, 23 had residual or recurrent craniopharyngioma, 4 had posterior fossa ependymoma, and 4 had other histologic types. All patients underwent biopsy for diagnosis, with the exception of patients with neurofibromatosis and radiographic evidence of an optic system tumor. The neurocognitive outcome for all patients was also an endpoint of the study and will be reported separately. This report focused on the patients with low-grade gliomas only. Of the 50 patients, 26 were males and 24 females; the median age was 9 years (range, 2-26 years). The indications for treatment of patients with low-grade gliomas were progression during or after chemotherapy or progression after surgery alone. SRT was delivered using a dedicated 6-MV linear accelerator. Immobilization was accomplished with a removable head-frame. CT and MRI fusion was used for treatment planning. The target volume generally included the preoperative tumor plus a 2-mm margin for the planning target volume. The median collimator size was 47.25 mm (range, 30-60 mm). Three to nine arcs were used to deliver a mean total dose of 52.2 Gy in 1.8-Gy daily fractions. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 6.9 years (range, 0.9-10.2 years), the progression-free survival rate was 82.5% at 5 years and 65% at 8 years. The overall survival was 97.8% at 5 years and 82% at 8 years. Six patients had local progression. Two of the patients with local progression had pathologic progression to anaplastic astrocytoma 3 and 7 years after initial SRT. Five patients, all with optic system/hypothalamic primary tumors, developed central nervous system dissemination 1.0-7.4 years after SRT. One patient developed a presumed radiation-induced primitive neuroectodermal tumor 6 years after initial treatment. Six patients died, three of dissemination, two of progression to higher grade tumors, and one of a secondary radiation-induced tumor. All 6 cases of local progression were within the primary tumor bed at the time of progression and had received the full prescription dose. No marginal failures occurred. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic radiotherapy provides excellent local control for children with small, localized low-grade glial tumors. Marginal failures have not been observed, supporting the use of limited margins to minimize late sequelae using stereotactic immobilization and planning techniques.

Adolescent↗

Expression of neuronal markers in the so-called ENU-induced schwannomas.

The present data show that the so-called ENU-induced malignant schwannomas express neuronal markers. This finding supports the hypothesis that a population of tumor cells in these neoplasms are neuroblastic in nature, and suggests the classification of ENU-induced schwannomas as primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

Animals↗

Pediatric spinal tumors.

We present an overview of the clinical outcome and surgical treatment of 34 pediatric spinal tumors, carried out in our center from 1981 to 1999. Follow-ups were available for 25.5 months on average. Clinical history, signs, surgical approach, outcome and radiological reports were obtained by review of the patients' charts. These pediatric tumors formed a very heterogeneous group, with a predominance of neurinomas and neurofibromas in older children and neuroblastomas or primitive neuroectodermal tumors in younger ones. Ependymomas and astrocytomas were the most frequent intramedullary tumors. Extradural tumors included tumors such as aneurysmal bone cysts, Ewing's sarcoma, histiocytomas, chordomas and an angiofibroma. Following decompression of the spinal cord, the neurological status improved with good functional recovery in 23 children and had deteriorated at follow-up in 5 children. Relapse occurred in 12 cases, including histiocytomas, chordomas, medulloblastoma and tumors associated with genetic disorders. Eighteen children underwent a combined treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The spectrum of pathology is wide and requires multidisciplinary treatment.

Adolescent↗

[Histologic classification and prevalence of tumors of the central nervous system in infants. Study of 100 excision samples].

In order to assess the epidemiological and histological distributions of brain tumors in infants under 2 years of age, 100 cases collected in the Neurosurgery Department of Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris during an 11 year period, were reviewed. Histopathological diagnoses were analyzed with special reference to age at the time of diagnosis, sex, topography and grading. Brain tumors were classified into 2 groups: under one year of age, and between 1 and 2 years of age. Certain neoplasms were reclassified after review of the slides. The male-to-female ratio was 1.09:1 for the first group, and 1.25:1 for the second one. In the group of tumors diagnosed under 1 year of age, 60% were supratentorial, and 40% were infratentorial. The percentages reversed after 1 year of age in favor of those of the posterior fossa. The histopathological distribution of these tumors was assessed in the two groups according to Rorke's classification. The three most common histological types were astrocytoma (27% under 1 year versus 36% after 1 year), ependymoma (25% versus 16%) and medulloblastoma (14% in each group). There was a significantly higher prevalence of some types of tumors in the first year of life as compared with those diagnosed after one year.: ependymomas (25% versus 16%), primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) other than medulloblastomas (9% versus 3.5%), choroid plexus tumors (9% versus 17%), and teratomas (5% versus 1.7%). Craniopharyngiomas (2%) and non-tumoral lesions (vascular malformations) (7%) had similar distributions in both groups. There was a preponderance of malignant tumors in the first year of life. Our study demonstrates that brain tumors diagnosed during the first year of life have characteristic and specific features in terms of topography, histopathological distribution and grading.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Highly selective recognition of human neuroblastoma cells by mouse monoclonal antibody to a cytoplasmic antigen.

Immunization of a BALB/c mouse with cells from the human neuroblastoma line LAN-1 and fusion of the spleen cells with mouse myeloma cells, NS-1, led to the production of a monoclonal antibody (Mab) with a rather unique reactivity for neuroblastoma. This Mab, named 5 A7, detects an antigen of an apparent molecular weight of 65,000-67,000, localized mainly in the cytoplasm and released into culture medium, as revealed by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting experiments. By immunoperoxidase staining using a biotin-avidin technique, Mab 5 A7 demonstrates a restrictive staining for neuroblastoma cell lines. Following extensive testing on freshly frozen specimens of neuroblastoma and other tumors, Mab 5 A7 shows a highly selective reactivity for neuroblastomas (13 of 14) and some cells of one primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ependymoblastoma). No reactivity could be detected with Mab 5 A7 on the 57 other tumor tissues tested. Among the normal fetal or adult tissue specimens tested, positive staining is found only on adult brain, colonic crypts, some renal tubules, and fetal medulla of the adrenal gland. Among bone marrow specimens tested, only those infiltrated by neuroblastoma cells gave a positive staining. Normal or malignant hematopoietic cells showed no reactivity with Mab 5 A7. Our results with Mab 5 A7 suggest that this reagent not only provides a valuable probe for the immunohistological diagnosis of neuroblastoma on fresh tumor specimens but also allows the detection of bone marrow infiltration by neuroblastoma cells.

Animals↗