Ependymomas

- What are ependymal cells?

- Type of neuronal support cell (glial cell) that forms epithelial
lining of the ventricles
- Why are ventricles important?
-

Site of production of CSF

- What are ependymomas?

- Type of neuroglial tumor arising from ependymal cells
- Various different kinds of ependymal tumors, ependymomas
are most common

Background of ependymal cells

Several important functions:
Possess cilia influences the direction of flow of CSF
Bring nutrients to neurons
Filter out harmful chemicals
The coordinated movement may also facilitate NT distribution
Structure:
Tight junctions between cells to control fluid release across
epithelium
Type of simple columnar or cuboid ciliated cell
Main mechanism of action is interrupting the flow of CSF

Causes, treatments, incidence

Cause is basically unknown
Treatment is difficult main method is surgery
However because the ventricles are located so deep its difficult
Despite complete tumor removal in conjuction with
radiotherapy, local recurrence can still occur in up to 50% of
the cases
Third most common brain tumor for children
For adults tends to be in the spinal cord
Is a genetic cancer, we still are working on identifying key
genes

Figure 1: diagram of brain showing location of

ventricles

Refrences:
Perilongo, Giorgio, et al. "Analyses of prognostic factors
in a retrospective review of 92 children with
ependymoma: Italian Pediatric NeuroOncology
Group."Medical and pediatric oncology29.2 (1997): 7985.
de Bont, Judith M., et al. "Biological background of
pediatric medulloblastoma and ependymoma: a review
from a translational research perspective."Neurooncology10.6 (2008): 1040-1060.
Kilday, John-Paul, et al. "Pediatric ependymoma:
biological perspectives."Molecular Cancer Research7.6
(2009): 765-786.