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Neurosurgery @ MGHspacerMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical School

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Molecular Neuro-Oncology Laboratory
Molecular Genetic Study of Primary Human Brain Tumors


Our laboratory investigates the molecular genetic basis of human brain tumors, with a focus on the molecular genetics of sporadic malignant gliomas. Elucidating the molecular basis of glioma formation may impact both on diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of clinical neuro-oncology. For instance, we originally demonstrated that molecular genetic analysis could be used to define clinicopathologically relevant subsets of glioblastomas. In addition, we have recently shown that molecular genetic alterations are powerful predictors of chemotherapeutic response and survival in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. We are also engaged in positional cloning of a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 19q, which may be a glial-specific tumor suppressor gene.

The laboratory is also involved in molecular genetic study of other forms of primary human brain tumors, including medulloblastomas, meningiomas, schwannomas and hemangiopericytomas. In particular, we have studied the genetic basis of certain inherited neurological tumor syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis 2, which predispose patients to develop tumors such as schwannomas and meningiomas.

The laboratory also serves as a reference laboratory for standard pathological and immunohistochemical analysis, including for ongoing studies of gene therapy in patients with glioblastomas.

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