Molecularly Targeted Therapies for Astrocytomas

摘要: Astrocytomas constitute the largest group of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms during childhood, and incorporate tumors with diverse histological features biological characteristics (Pollack 1994). Whereas patients superficial low-grade gliomas are often cured surgery alone, deep-seated or malignant continue to have a suboptimal prognosis, despite recent improvements in adjuvant therapy. The prognosis remains particularly grim for gliomas, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) anaplastic astrocytoma, which generally lead death within several years after diagnosis (Finlay et al. 1995). poor response these conventional therapies reflects resistance glioma cells undergo apoptosis DNA damage, may result from mutations tumor suppressor cell cycle control genes aberrant activation growth survival signaling pathways. Although molecular pathways leading tumorigenesis been clearly established adult (Louis 1997), involvement pediatric glial neoplasia inferential. For example, because platelet-derived factor receptor (PDGFR) epidermal (EGFR) observed play important roles proliferation, therefore constituted logical targets molecularly targeted therapies, approaches concurrently explored gliomas. This chapter reviews childhood associated disease progression discusses therapeutic strategies.