Page 23 - Molecular features of low-grade developmental brain tumours

GENERAL INTRODUCTION & OUTLINE OF THE THESIS
In chapter 4, the coding and non-coding transcriptome of SEGAs was analysed. The expression of the ERK/MAPK pathway as well as the Ragulator complex (LAMTOR1- LAMTOR5) were investigated in SEGAs. Subsequently, the effect of an ERK inhibitor and one miRNA were investigated in patient-derived SEGA cultures or foetal astrocyte-enriched cell cultures, respectively.
In chapter 5, we go in more detail on the role of the extracellular matrix in SEGAs, which was identified in chapter 4. As such, the expression of the MMPs and TIMPs were investigated in SEGAs. Additionally, the regulation of MMPs by one miRNA was evaluated using foetal astrocyte-enriched cell cultures.
In chapter 6, we aimed to identify miRNAs that could help distinguish GGs from DNTs and other low and high grade gliomas, including SEGAs. The expression of two selected miRNAs were analysed in GGs, DNTs, peritumoural tissue and several astrocytoma entities. Moreover, the role of these miRNAs were investigated in the cell cycle in a pediatric low grade astrocytoma cell line.
In chapter 7 the content of this thesis is summarized and discussed.
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