Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society

The Korean Neurosurgical Society (대한신경외과학회)
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Intracranial Germ Cell Tumor in the Molecular Era

  • Phi, Ji Hoon (Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Wang, Kyu-Chang (Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Seung-Ki (Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2018.03.12
  • Accepted : 2018.04.16
  • Published : 2018.05.01
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Abstract

Intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors with peculiar characteristics clearly distinguished from other brain tumors of neuroepithelial origin. Diverse histology, similarity to gonadal GCT, predilection to one sex, and geographic difference in incidence all present enigmas and fascinating challenges. The treatment of iGCT has advanced for germinoma to date; thus, clinical attention has shifted from survival to long-term quality of life. However, for non-germinomatous GCT, current protocols provide only modest improvement and more innovative therapies are needed. Recently, next-generation sequencing studies have revealed the genomic landscape of iGCT. Novel mutations in the KIT-RAS-MAPK and AKT-MTOR pathways were identified. More importantly, methylation profiling revealed a new method to assess the pathogenesis of iGCT. Molecular research will unleash new knowledge on the origin of iGCT and solve the many mysteries that have lingered on this peculiar neoplasm for a long time.

Keywords

References

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