cyclic-gmp and Medulloblastoma

Recent advances indicate that cyclic nucleotides and perhaps certain adrenergic metabolites might be directly involved in contact-inhibition mechanisms and tumoral cell growth. CSF levels of 3'-5' cAMP, 3'-5' cGMP, HVA, and 5-HIAA were investigated in patients with supratentorial malignant gliomas, brain stem gliomas and posterior fossa medulloblastoma. cAMP levels were slightly decreased only in medulloblastomas, whereas no significant difference was detectable in patients with supratentorial gliomas. cGMP values turned out to be significantly higher, with a very peculiar increase in the most anaplastic neoplasms. Postoperative follow-up showed a gradual decrease of cGMP values, with progressive restoring of a normal cAMP/cGMP ratio. The possible correlation of these findings with CSF levels of HVA and 5-HIAA is discussed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Neoplasms; Brain Stem; Cranial Fossa, Posterior; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Female; Glioma; Homovanillic Acid; Humans; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; Male; Medulloblastoma; Middle Aged; Phenylacetates

The tumoral and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of cyclic nucleotides and of the main adrenergic metabolites (homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacaetic acid) were investigated in a group of children with posterior fossa medulloblastomas. A longitudinal evaluation of CSF change of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and adrenergic metabolites before and after surgical removal of the tumor mass is presented. Some preliminary patterns concerning correlative levels in the neoplastic tissue are discussed. The relevant increase of cGMP in medulloblastoma specimens and in CSF samples operation and the rapid decrease in the CSF after surgical removal of the tumor seem to suggest a possible role of cyclic nucleotides in the neoplastic growth of these tumors. (Neurosurgery, 7: 359-362, 1980).

Topics: Blood-Brain Barrier; Cerebellar Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Female; Homovanillic Acid; Humans; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; Infant; Male; Medulloblastoma; Nucleotides, Cyclic

Recent evidence indicates that cyclic nucleotides are of importance for general and neurosurgical oncology, especially with respect to the contact-inhibition mechanisms and tumour cell growth. This preliminary report deals with the CSF levels of c-AMP and c-GMP in primary neoplasms in children and to problems related to the blood-brain barrier. Some cases of medulloblastoma were studied as well as a few cases of brain stem glioma and cystic astrocytoma. The importance of some rather unusual findings seems undebatable, i.e., the marked increase in c-GMP values usually observed in medulloblastoma and the decrease of c-AMP, that is fairly common in all malignant neoplasms. The main changes in the c-AMP/c-GMP ratio are also discussed.

Topics: Astrocytoma; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Neoplasms; Brain Stem; Cerebellar Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Glioma; Humans; Infant; Medulloblastoma