Inside pLGG
Identifying the tumor’s biology
Ayiden, lives with pLGG.
Lives for basketball.
Understanding tumor biology may help with choosing the best available treatment
Before diving into how pediatric Low grade = slow growing Glioma = brain tumor (pLGG) tumors behave, it is important to first understand the function of normal cells in the human body.
Normal cells need proteins to work properly in order to regulate growth. These proteins work together and relay information between each other to control cell growth. There are many different groups of proteins in normal cells that effectively relay signals.
However, in tumors such as pLGG, there may be an Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development or malfunction in one of these proteins that results in continuous signaling, leading to uncontrolled cell growth.
Learn more about pLGG biology and cell growth in the video below
BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth is the gene most commonly altered in pLGG
of children with pLGG have some type of BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development*
*Incidence of BRAF alterations varies across pLGG subtypes.
There are 2 primary types of BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development—a BRAF fusion = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, KIAA1549-BRAF fusion) and a BRAF point mutation = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, BRAF V600E).
In pLGG, a V600E mutation is the most common BRAF point mutation = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, BRAF V600E) and KIAA1549-BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth is the most common BRAF fusion = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, KIAA1549-BRAF fusion).
Tumor growth occurs in both BRAF point mutation = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, BRAF V600E) or BRAF fusion = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, KIAA1549-BRAF fusion).
In children with BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth-altered pLGG, approximately 80% have a BRAF fusion = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, KIAA1549-BRAF fusion)†; approximately 20% have a BRAF point mutation = 1 of the 2 most common types of BRAF alterations in pLGG (ie, BRAF V600E).‡
†Predominantly seen in pilocytic astrocytomas.
‡May vary across pLGG subtypes.
For explanations of terms used throughout the site, please see the glossary.
It is important to know if your child’s pLGG has one of these BRAF = a gene that, when altered, may be a driver of pLGG growth Alteration = a type of genomic change (mutation or fusion) in the BRAF gene that may contribute to cancer development so that his or her healthcare team can identify an appropriate treatment.
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