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Neuro-oncology in 2016

Advances in brain tumour classification and therapy

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 13, pages 71–72 (2017)Cite this article

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Brain tumours encompass a heterogeneous collection of neoplasms, traditionally classified by histopathological criteria. In 2016, the WHO published an updated classification that, for the first time, defines brain tumour types according to integrated histological and molecular parameters. Furthermore, clinical trial results were reported that inform therapeutic decision-making in diffuse gliomas.

May 2016 saw the publication of CNS4+, an update to the WHO classification of tumours of the CNS1. For the first time, this new classification integrates histomorphological and molecular parameters for the diagnosis of primary brain tumours. It builds on recent advances, such as the demonstration that different genetic subtypes of morphologically identical tumours have different natural histories, and may differ significantly in their response to treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Matthias Preusser and Christine Marosi are at the Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,

    Matthias Preusser & Christine Marosi

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  1. Matthias Preusser
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  2. Christine Marosi
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Correspondence to Christine Marosi.

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Competing interests

M.P. has received research support from Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Roche, and honoraria for lectures, consultation or advisory board participation from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Gerson Lehrman Group, CMC Contrast, GlaxoSmithKline, Mundipharma, Roche and Astra Zeneca. C.M. declares no competing interests.

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Preusser, M., Marosi, C. Advances in brain tumour classification and therapy. Nat Rev Neurol 13, 71–72 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.3

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