Brain Cancer: new classification of gliomas

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. The most relevant aspect to divide tumors in seven groups was DNA Methylation - one epigenetic mechanism that can activate or turn off a gene. The three groups with higher DNA methylation level aggregate patients with better survival. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United St

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. Tumors that carried a mutation in one of the IDH genes were found to lead to better prognosis in patients. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number of genes, genetic mutations, RNA expression, codeletion of 1p19q chromoso

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. The most relevant aspect to divide tumors in seven groups was DNA Methylation - one epigenetic mechanism that can activate or turn off a gene. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number of genes, genetic mutations, RNA expr

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. One aspect taken into consideration was copy number variations of genes, which can influence the frequency that genes are expressed. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number of genes, genetic mutations, RNA expression, co

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. One conclusion is that patients with tumors in which happened the codeletion of 1p19q chromosome have better prognosis. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number of genes, genetic mutations, RNA expression, codeletion of 1

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. Telomere length and its relation with mutations in some genes were taken into consideration. Surprisingly, the results didn’t confirm previous studies. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number of genes, genetic mutations,

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. It required the use of supercomputers around the world, and researcher's ability to cross the data in order to have results with statistical significance and biological relevance. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. 1,122 samples from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) Biobank were used in the study. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis included: DNA methylation, copy number of genes, genetic mutations, RNA expression, codeletion of 1p19q chromosome, telomere length and I

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. The current grades are defined by the feature of tumor cells seen in a microscope. The new classification results from the broadest genetic and epigenetic analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. This kind of analysis reveals how the cell works, which genes are active, which proteins were produced etc. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Analysis inclu

Gliomas are the most frequent and the most aggressive type of brain cancer. In the clinics, in order to choose a treatment for the patient, clinicians divide these tumors in 4 grades, according to the severity of the cancer: grade I, II, III or IV. Now researchers suggest a more accurate classification, with seven subtypes of tumors. Each of them defines a specific prognosis and also relate to different responses to treatment. Treatments currently available are: surgery, one kind of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Doctors don´t suggest that the cancer can be cured. To make matters worse, both the tumor and the treatments can cause severe sequelaes. The new classification results from the broadest analysis of brain tumors done to date, by scientists from 6 countries. The research was coordinated by Houtan Noushmehr, from University of Sao Paulo - USP (Brazil); Antonio Iavarone, from Columbia University (United States); and Roel Verhaak, from MD Anderson Cancer Center (United States). Ana