The eighth in the essential Springer series on CNS neoplasms, this volume deals with seven distinct types in detail. Expert contributors share their wisdom, covering new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, and providing insights into hot research topics.

With tens of thousands of new CNS tumor cases each year in the US alone, this series of publications is a valuable aid to the diagnosis and treatment of these problematic neoplasms. Now, the eighth in the set returns to the topic of brain tumors, dealing with seven distinct types: astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma, chordoma, craniopharyngioma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma. After updating the classification of medulloblastoma the volume provides an overview of ependymoma as well as describing the delineation of prognosis based on the genetic aberrations of the latter patients. The material offers key insights into the molecular pathways involved in tumor biology, such as the role of E-cadherin gene instability, carbonic anhydrase II, urokinase plasminogen activator, and Wnt signaling in meningioma. Contributors explain the genetic and clinical features associated with recurring meningioma, including the role played by erythropoietin receptor, and examine the way in which OTX2 transcription factor functions as an oncogene in medulloblastoma. With much more besides, including discussion of the molecular mechanisms that result in resistance to chemotherapy in medulloblastoma, this volume and its companions have a positive role to play in inspiring a new generation of researchers to design new drugs that are better targetedand thus more effective.

New technologies and their applications in tumor diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed Methods to assess the effectiveness of cancer treatments are presented The importance of the quality of life after cancer therapy is pointed out Molecular profiling of brain tumors to select targeted therapy in clinical trials is explained A large number of color figures are included

Inhalt
Preface. I Astrocytoma.-1. Astrocytoma cell line: role of brain natriuretic peptide.-2 Malignant brain astrocytomas: extent of resection affects survival. II Medulloblastoma.-3 Medulloblastoma: classification (a review).-4 Medulloblastomas: clinically important microrna genes.-5 Medulloblastoma: role of otx2 transcription factors.-6 Molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in medulloblastoma.-7 Extraneural metastasis in medulloblastoma.-8 Medulloblastoma: therapy with bortezomib/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.-9 Standard-risk medulloblastoma: hyperfractionated radiotherapy.III Retinoblastoma.-10 Retinoma and retinoblastoma: genomic hybridisation.-11. cell cycle control by ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein through regulating retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation.-12. Role of survivin in retinoblastoma: diagnosis and prognosis.-13 Retinoblastoma: the role of epigenetics.-14 Retinoblastoma: disease, diagnosis, therapy and management.-15 Long-term survivors of retinoblastoma: risk of increased second malignancy.-16 New cancers among long-term survivors of retinoblastoma. IV chordoma.-17 Chordoma: role of cam5.2.-18 Chordomas and chondrosarcomas: treatment with particle radiotherapy.-19 Skull base chordomas: endonasal endoscopic transclival approach. V Craniopharyngioma.-20 Craniopharyngioma: comparison between supra-orbital versus endonasal keyhole approaches.-21 The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach for primary and recurrent craniopharyngiomas.-22 Craniopharyngioma: the role of radiation.-23. cystic craniopharyngiomas: intratumoral bleomycin therapy. VI Oligodendroglioma.-24 Anaplastic oligodendroglioma metastasized to extraneural sites.-25 Recurrent oligodendroglioma: treatment with bevacizumab. VII Ependymoma.-26 Ependymoma: an overview.-27 Ependymomas: prognosis based on genetic aberrations.-28 Aberrant dna methylation in ependymomas.-29 Progressively metastasizing ependymoma: genomic aberrations.-30 Extradural ependymoma: diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging.-31 Primary malignant ependymoma of the abdominal cavity: diagnosis.-32 Atypical histologic features and patterns of malignant evolution in tanycytic ependymoma.-33 Intracranial ependymoma: role for chemotherapy. Index.