Pilocytic astrocytoma in adults: histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular study

• Grant number: 20/11662-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: João N. Stávale
• Grantee: João N. Stávale
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Andréa Cristina de Moraes Malinverni ; Débora Salles Marcos

Abstract

Pilocytic astrocytomas are the primary tumors most frequently found in children and adolescents, accounting for approximately 15,6% of all brain tumors and 5,4% of all gliomas. They are mostly found in infratentorial structures such as cerebellum and in midline cerebral structures such as optic nerve, hypothalamus and brainstem. Pilocytic astrocytoma has been associated with higher mortality in adult patients than in children and adolescents. However, due to relative rarity of this disease in older individuals, there are few publications on the most effective treatment strategies and subsequent patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to analyze this group of tumors, in a retrospective study of patients over 18 years-old with a diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma in the Neurooncology sector at UNIFESP/EPM, from 1991 to 2015. The histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of each case will be evaluated as soon as the molecular techniques will be applied like RNA extraction, Rt-PCR and if necessary the FISH. (AU)