Ricerc@Sapienza

Brain tumors come in many types and differ greatly in outcome. They are classified by the cell of origin (astrocytoma, ependymoma, meningioma, medulloblastoma, glioma), although more recently molecular markers are used in addition to histology. Brain tumors are graded (from I to IV) to measure their malignancy. Glioblastoma, one of the most common adult primary brain tumors, displays the highest malignancy (grade IV), and median survival of about 15 months.

Background: The diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is based largely on a combination of clinical and radiological findings due to the difficulty of obtaining a biopsy. An accurate evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans is consequently essential. Recent analyses on the genomic landscape of DIPG revealed recurrent mutations in the H3F3A and HIST1H3B histone genes. We reviewed cases with available tumor tissue from institutional DIPG series to ascertain the consistency between their histo-molecular findings and clinical-radiological features.

Recent advances in genetic and molecular characterization of telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) highlighted their strong relationship with cancer pathogenesis; neoplastic cells rely on two mechanisms to maintain telomere length and escape from replicative senescence: (a) reactivation of telomerase expression and (b) activation of alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT).

Background: Malignant Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor are a relatively uncommon entity affecting patients whose prognosis is quickly and relentlessly dismal. Since the ‘50s Spinal Cordectomy’ has been advocated for the surgical management of these conditions, but to date, no standard operative protocol has been reported yet. Objective: Although apparently “easy”, burdened by virtually no further risk for the neurological function in paraplegic or severely paraparetic patients, SCt conceals notable pitfalls and surgical problems that are to date not yet completely discussed.

Background: Hypnosis is a technique that could aid awake surgery protocols. The aim of the present study is to describe the results of a preliminary experience of a cohort of patients operated on with an original protocol of hypnosis-aided awake surgery (HAS). Methods: All patients were operated on with the aid of HAS and their data were retrospectively reviewed.

Glial cells actively maintain the homeostasis of brain parenchyma, regulating neuronal excitability and preserving the physiological composition of the extracellular milieu. Under pathological conditions, some functions of glial cells could be compromised, exacerbating the neurotoxic processes. We investigated if the homeostatic activities of astrocytes and microglia could be modulated by the voltage-gated K+ channel Kv1.3.

Extracellular-released vesicles (EVs), such as microvesicles (MV) and exosomes (Exo)
provide a new type of inter-cellular communication, directly transferring a ready to use
box of information, consisting of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. In the nervous
system, EVs participate to neuron-glial cross-talk, a bidirectional communication
important to preserve brain homeostasis and, when dysfunctional, involved in several
CNS diseases. We investigated whether microglia-derived EVs could be used to transfer

Oleandrin is a glycoside that inhibits the ubiquitous enzyme Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase. In addition to its known effects on cardiac muscle, recent in vitro and in vivo evidence highlighted its potential for anticancer properties. Here, we evaluated for the first time the effect of oleandrin on brain tumors. To this aim, mice were transplanted with human or murine glioma and analyzed for tumor progression upon oleandrin treatment. In both systems, oleandrin impaired glioma development, reduced tumor size, and inhibited cell proliferation.

Glioma is a CNS tumor with few therapeutic options. Recently, host microbiota has been involved in the immune modulation of different tumors, but no data are available on the possible effects of the gut-immune axis on brain tumors. Here we investigated the effect of gut microbiota alteration in a syngeneic (GL261) mouse model of glioma, treating mice with two antibiotics (ABX) and evaluating the effects on tumor growth, microbe composition, natural killer (NK) cells and microglia phenotype.