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N‐myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is a member of the NDRG family, of which four members (NDRG1, NDRG2, NDRG3, and NDRG4) have been identified. NDRG1 is repressed by c‐MYC and N‐MYC proto‐oncogenes. NDRG1 is translated into a 43 kDa protein that is associated with the regulation of cellular stress responses, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between progression of glioblastoma (GB) IDH‐wildtype and NDRG1 expression in tumor cells. We assessed the expression of NDRG1 in 41 GBs using immunostaining and evaluated its prognostic significance. NDRG1 expression by GBs was evaluated using Histoscore, which showed high and low scores in 23 and 18 cases, respectively. NDRG1‐positive cells were strongly expressed in Ki‐67 labeled proliferating tumor cells and CD105 positive proliferating microvessels around the area of palisading necrosis. Statistical analyses showed lower survival rates in the high‐score group than the low‐score group (P < 0.01). This study indicated that overexpression of NDRG1 by GB reflects tumor angiogenesis and poor patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most meningiomas, which are frequent central nervous system tumors, are classified as World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1 because of their slow‐growing nature. However, the recurrence rate varies and is difficult to predict using conventional histopathological diagnoses. Leucine‐rich α‐2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) is involved in cell signal transduction, cell adhesion, and DNA repair and is a predictive biomarker in different malignant tumors; however, such a relationship has not been reported in meningiomas. We examined tissue microarrays of histological samples from 117 patients with grade 1 and 2 meningiomas and assessed their clinical and pathological features, including expression of LRG1 protein. LRG1‐high meningiomas showed an increased number of vessels with CD3‐positive cell infiltration (P = 0.0328) as well as higher CD105‐positive vessels (P = 0.0084), as compared to LRG1‐low cases. They also demonstrated better progression‐free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.016–0.841) compared to LRG1‐low patients (P = 0.033). Moreover, multivariate analysis indicated that high LRG1 expression was an independent prognostic factor (HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.018–0.991; P = 0.049). LRG1 immunohistochemistry may be a convenient tool for estimating the prognosis of meningiomas in routine practice. Further studies are required to elucidate the key role of LRG1 in meningioma progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of pediatric glioma with uncommon imaging, morphological, and genetic features. A one‐year‐old boy incidentally presented with a tumor in the fourth ventricle. The tumor was completely resected surgically and investigated pathologically. The mostly circumscribed tumor had piloid features but primitive and anaplastic histology, such as increasing cellularity and mitosis. The Ki‐67 staining index was 25% at the hotspot. KIAA1549::BRAF fusion and KIAA1549 partial deletions were detected by direct PCR, supported by Sanger sequencing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a glioma with both deletion of KIAA1549 p.P1771_P1899 and fusion of KIAA1549::BRAF. The tumor could not be classified using DNA methylome analysis. The present tumor fell into the category of pilocytic astrocytoma with histological features of anaplasia (aPA). Further studies are needed to establish pediatric aPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]