Summary
April 2008, Vol. 12, No. 4, Pages 449-461 , DOI 10.1517/14728222.12.4.449

Therapeutic targets for medulloblastoma
Pawel K Wlodarski & Jaroslaw Jozwiak
Medical University of Warsaw, Center for Biostructure Research, Department of Histology and Embryology, Poland +48 22 629 5282; +48 22 629 5282;
Author for correspondence



Background: Present treatment of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In spite of radical treatment, only about 70% of patients survive. Also side effects of the treatment are severe, mostly due to applied radiotherapy. Objective: The following review highlights potential molecular targets for pharmacotherapy of medulloblastoma, as well as the directions in which, in the authors' opinion, the field will evolve in near future. Methods: Present literature on pathways engaged in formation of medulloblastoma is summarized in the context of their available pharmacological modulators. Results: The quest for a better treatment modalities includes better risk stratification methods, including molecular profiling of individual tumors and a search for new small molecules capable of inhibiting hyperactive signaling pathways. Several candidates for such agents are being tested presently.

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Authors:
Pawel K Wlodarski
Jaroslaw Jozwiak
Keywords:
Akt
beta-catenin
cyclopamine
hedgehog
IGF
MAPK
medulloblastoma
mTOR
Myc
PDGF
PNET
Wnt