The Role of Gene Changes in Brain Tumor Formation and Growth

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important biological mediator of normal growth and repair and is critical to epithelial tissue development and maturation of the central nervous system, among other functions. EGF is a natural focus of interest in cancer research because of its influence over mitogenesis, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. In addition, unregulated expression of its receptor, EGFR, has been identified as a common event in neoplastic transformation. In patients with the most malignant primary tumor of the brain, the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), alterations in the EGFR or in its expression levels have been identified in approximately 50% of patients. We postulate that EGF-EGFR interactions may be important for the development, progression, and prognosis of human gliomas and that alterations of the EGF gene may predict the potential for glioma progression and the severity of disease. Patients suspected of having, or with prior biopsy proof of, a WHO grade II-IV central nervous system (CNS) glial tumor(s) seen in the Surgical Neurology Branch, NINDS, will be considered for entry into this study. Tissue samples of tumor resected as part of standard care will be collected at surgery and preserved for research. Blood samples will also be collected. Blood will also be collected from anonymous normal volunteers who donate blood at the NIH Blood Bank; these anonymous donors will serve as controls.