Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Mature teratoma of the pineal region in the paediatric age group: A case report and review of the literature.
De Los Reyes EV, et al
Researchers from Malaysia report a rare case of a mature teratoma arising in the pineal region of a 9-year-old boy, contributing to the limited literature on this uncommon pediatric brain tumor. The child presented with an eight-day history of frontal headaches, light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, and double vision, prompting neurosurgical biopsy guided by intraoperative navigation. Histopathological examination confirmed a fully mature teratoma with no evidence of immature tissue or malignant transformation, while post-operative cerebrospinal fluid tumor markers showed a notable rise in beta-HCG despite low alpha-fetoprotein levels. Imaging after surgery revealed a residual lesion, highlighting the challenges of achieving complete resection in the deep-seated pineal region. This case underscores the critical importance of combining imaging studies, tissue pathology, and both serum and CSF tumor marker analysis to accurately diagnose and manage pineal region tumors in children. Given how rarely these tumors are encountered and how technically demanding their biopsy is, detailed case reports such as this provide valuable guidance for clinicians facing similar diagnostic dilemmas.
The Malaysian journal of pathology
Source →PHOX2B is a reliable immunomarker in distinguishing peripheral neuroblastic tumours from CNS embryonal tumours.
Alexandrescu S, et al
Researchers investigated whether the protein marker PHOX2B could reliably distinguish peripheral neuroblastic tumours — cancers arising from the peripheral nervous system, such as neuroblastoma — from central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumours, which are aggressive brain cancers most commonly affecting children. The study analyzed 29 paediatric cases using PHOX2B immunostaining alongside other diagnostic markers and molecular tests, including array CGH and OncoPanel sequencing. Results showed that medulloblastomas, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours, embryonal tumours with multilayered rosettes, retinoblastomas, and unclassified CNS embryonal tumours were essentially negative for PHOX2B, while neuroblastomas showed strong positive staining. An important caveat was identified: two out of six pineoblastomas — rare pineal gland tumours — showed significant PHOX2B expression, meaning this marker cannot be used in isolation when pineoblastoma is a diagnostic possibility. These findings provide clinicians and pathologists with a practical and reliable immunohistochemical tool to resolve difficult differential diagnoses between peripheral and central nervous system tumours in children, ultimately supporting more accurate treatment decisions.
Histopathology
Source →Subependymomas - Characteristics of a "Leave me Alone" Lesion.
Kammerer S, et al
Researchers from Germany conducted a retrospective imaging study of 33 patients diagnosed with intracranial subependymomas, a rare and mostly benign type of brain tumor classified as WHO Grade I. These slow-growing tumors are often discovered incidentally and rarely cause symptoms, yet their imaging characteristics have been poorly described in the existing medical literature. The study found that subependymomas display distinctive features on MRI and other imaging modalities that allow radiologists to differentiate them from more dangerous brain tumors, with the most common location being the fourth ventricle and a higher incidence observed in middle-aged and older men. When tumors are found in the lateral ventricles and do cause symptoms, hydrocephalus is a frequent complication. Importantly, the researchers noted that a rare mixed subtype combining subependymoma with ependymal cell fractions cannot be reliably distinguished through imaging alone. These findings are clinically significant because accurate radiological identification can help clinicians decide whether a patient requires only watchful waiting, further diagnostic workup, or surgical removal of the tumor.
RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin
Source →CNS embryonal tumours: WHO 2016 and beyond.
Pickles JC, et al
This review examines the classification and diagnosis of embryonal tumours of the central nervous system (CNS), a group of aggressive brain cancers that predominantly affect young children and carry very high mortality rates. The authors focus on the landmark 2016 WHO classification update, which for the first time incorporated molecular and genetic data alongside traditional microscopic features to define CNS tumour types more precisely. This integration of histology with genomics has substantially transformed how these tumours are diagnosed and reported in clinical settings. However, the authors note that embryonal tumours present particular challenges due to their previously underappreciated biological heterogeneity, which complicates accurate classification. The review outlines the key revisions introduced in the updated WHO 4th edition and discusses common diagnostic testing approaches used to navigate this complexity. For patients and clinicians, these advances offer the potential for more precise diagnosis, better risk stratification, and ultimately more tailored treatment strategies for children with these devastating tumours.
Neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Source →Second malignant neoplasms after childhood non-central nervous system embryonal tumours in North America: A population-based study.
Zong X, et al
A large population-based study examined the risk of developing second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) among survivors of childhood non-central nervous system embryonal tumours in the United States and Canada, drawing on data from over 13,000 patients diagnosed between 1969 and 2010. Researchers found that these survivors faced a 6.4 times higher overall risk of developing a second cancer compared to the general population, with bone and joint cancers showing the most striking elevation in risk. The cumulative probability of developing a second cancer reached 4.1% by 30 years after the original diagnosis, and survivors of rhabdomyosarcoma were identified as being at particularly elevated risk. Risk was also found to diminish with longer time since the original diagnosis and was less pronounced in children first diagnosed between ages 1 and 4. These findings highlight the importance of long-term surveillance and targeted follow-up strategies for high-risk subgroups of childhood cancer survivors to enable early detection of subsequent malignancies.
European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
Source →