Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare genetic disorder, which is caused by partial deletion of the short arm of one chromosome 4. Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings are lacking. We report on brain findings in 10 children with WHS. We evaluated the MR imaging films of 10 subjects affected by WHS, which had been confirmed by genetic study. The age range at MR imaging was between 1 month and 9 years. In 9/10 cases enlargement of the third lateral ventricles was present. In 9/10 cases a global reduction of cerebral hemispheres white matter was present. In 10/10 cases diffuse thinning of the corpus callosum was visible; it was severe in 7/10 cases. In 5/10 cases small foci of T (2) hyper intense signal were visible within the subcortical white matter. In three of the six cases studied within the first year of life frontal periventricular cysts were present. In three of the four cases studied after the first year of life a squared shape of the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles was visible. The MR imaging findings reported in WHS cannot be considered pathognomonic of the syndrome, however, they may suggest WHS.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a congenital autosomic dominant condition characterized by a variable spectrum from a clinical and genetical point of view. Germline mutations in more than ten genes involved in RAS–MAPK signal pathway have been demonstrated to cause the disease. An higher risk for leukemia and solid malignancies, including brain tumors, is related to NS. A review of the published literature concerning low grade gliomas (LGGs) in NS is presented. We described also a 13-year-old girl with NS associated with a recurrent mutation in PTPN11, who developed three different types of brain tumors, i.e., an optic pathway glioma, a glioneuronal neoplasm of the left temporal lobe and a cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma. Molecular characterization of the glioneuronal tumor allowed to detect high levels of phosphorylated MTOR (pMTOR); therefore, a therapeutic approach based on an mTOR inhibitor (everolimus) was elected. The treatment was well tolerated and proved to be effective, leading to a stabilization of the tumor, which was surgical removed. The positive outcome of the present case suggests considering this approach for patients with RASopathies and brain tumors with hyperactivated MTOR signaling.

Pediatric low‐grade gliomas (pLGGs) are the most frequent brain tumor in children. Adjuvant treatment, consisting in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is often necessary if a complete surgical resection cannot be obtained. Traditional treatment approaches result in a significant long‐term morbidity, with a detrimental impact on quality of life. Dysregulation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is the molecular hallmark of pLGGs and hyperactivation of the downstream mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is frequently observed. We report clinical and radiological results of front‐line treatment with everolimus in 10 consecutive patients diagnosed with m‐TOR positive pLGGs at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, Italy. Median duration of treatment was 19 months (range from 13‐60). Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed stable disease in 7 patients, partial response in 1 and disease progression in 2. Therapy‐related adverse events were always reversible after dose reduction or temporary treatment interruption. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of everolimus treatment for chemo‐ and radiotherapy‐naïve children with pLGG. Our results provide preliminary support, despite low sample size, for the use of everolimus as target therapy in pLGG showing lack of progression with a manageable toxicity profile.

The implementation of screening programs for early detection of patients with sickle cell disease has become necessary in Italy as a result of the high rate of migration from areas with a high prevalence of the disease (Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and the Balkans). Following a pilot study performed in the province of Modena, Italy in 2011-2013, an official screening program was established on May 31 2014 for all pregnant women, free-of-charge for the family according to the National Guidelines for Physiological Pregnancy. Hemoglobin (Hb) profiles of pregnant women within 10 weeks of pregnancy, of new mothers at delivery and of the newborns of mothers with variant Hb profiles (newborns at-risk), were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples from 17,077 new mothers were analyzed and 993 showed alteration of Hb patterns (5.8%) (1.0% Hb AS carriers); of the 1011 at-risk newborns, four (0.4%) carried sickle cell disease and 90 (8.9%) were Hb AS carriers. These data show that early diagnosis of sickle cell disease or carrier status can be obtained in high-risk newborns, providing valuable information on the frequency of these conditions in geographic areas in which the disease is historically rare.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. In addition to sporadic cases, medulloblastoma may occur in association with cancer predisposition syndromes. This review aims to provide a complete description of inherited cancer syndromes associated with medulloblastoma. We examine their epidemiological, clinical, genetic, and diagnostic features and therapeutic approaches, including their correlation with medulloblastoma. Furthermore, according to the most recent molecular advances, we describe the association between the various molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma and each cancer predisposition syndrome. Knowledge of the aforementioned conditions can guide pediatric oncologists in performing adequate cancer surveillance. This will allow clinicians to promptly diagnose and treat medulloblastoma in syndromic children, forming a team with all specialists necessary for the correct management of the other various manifestations/symptoms related to the inherited cancer syndromes.

Background Paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is characterized by poor outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory disease, despite the improvements in intensive standard therapy. The leukaemic cells of paediatric AML patients show high expression of the CD123 antigen, and this finding provides the biological basis to target CD123 with the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). However, CAR.CD123 therapy in AML is hampered by on-target off-tumour toxicity and a long “vein-to-vein” time. Methods We developed an off-the-shelf product based on allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells derived from the peripheral blood of healthy donors and engineered them to express a second-generation CAR targeting CD123 (CAR.CD123). Results CAR.CD123-NK cells showed significant anti-leukaemia activity not only in vitro against CD123+ AML cell lines and CD123+ primary blasts but also in two animal models of human AML-bearing immune-deficient mice. Data on anti-leukaemia activity were also corroborated by the quantification of inflammatory cytokines, namely granzyme B (Granz B), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), both in vitro and in the plasma of mice treated with CAR.CD123-NK cells. To evaluate and compare the on-target off-tumour effects of CAR.CD123-T and NK cells, we engrafted human haematopoietic cells (hHCs) in an immune-deficient mouse model. All mice infused with CAR.CD123-T cells died by Day 5, developing toxicity against primary human bone marrow (BM) cells with a decreased number of total hCD45+ cells and, in particular, of hCD34+CD38− stem cells. In contrast, treatment with CAR.CD123-NK cells was not associated with toxicity, and all mice were alive at the end of the experiments. Finally, in a mouse model engrafted with human endothelial tissues, we demonstrated that CAR.CD123-NK cells were characterized by negligible endothelial toxicity when compared to CAR.CD123-T cells. Conclusions Our data indicate the feasibility of an innovative off-the-shelf therapeutic strategy based on CAR.CD123-NK cells, characterized by remarkable efficacy and an improved safety profile compared to CAR.CD123-T cells. These findings open a novel intriguing scenario not only for the treatment of refractory/resistant AML patients but also to further investigate the use of CAR-NK cells in other cancers characterized by highly difficult targeting with the most conventional T effector cells.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosome abnormality with a unique cancer predisposition syndrome pattern: a higher risk to develop acute leukemia and a lower incidence of solid tumors. In particular, brain tumors are rarely reported in the DS population, and biological behavior and natural history are not well described and identified. We report a case of a 10-year-old child with DS who presented with a medulloblastoma (MB). Histological examination revealed a classic MB with focal anaplasia and the molecular profile showed the presence of a CTNNB1 variant associated with the wingless (WNT) molecular subgroup with a good prognosis in contrast to our case report that has shown an early metastatic relapse. The nearly seven-fold decreased risk of MB in children with DS suggests the presence of protective biological mechanisms. The cerebellum hypoplasia and the reduced volume of cerebellar granule neuron progenitor cells seem to be a possible favorable condition to prevent MB development via inhibition of neuroectodermal differentiation. Moreover, the NOTCH/WNT dysregulation in DS, which is probably associated with an increased risk of leukemia, suggests a pivotal role of this pathway alteration in the pathogenesis of MB; therefore, this condition should be further investigated in future studies by molecular characterizations.

We present a case demonstrating the performance of different radiographical imaging modalities in the diagnostic work-up of a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and plexiform neurofibroma (PN). The newborn boy showed an expansive-infiltrative cervical and facial mass presented with macrocrania, craniofacial disfigurement, exophthalmos and glaucoma. A computer tomography (CT) and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. The CT was fundamental to evaluate the bone dysmorphisms and the MRI was crucial to estimate the mass extension. The biopsy of the lesion confirmed the suspicion of PN, thus allowing the diagnosis of NF1. PN is a variant of neurofibromas, a peripheral nerves sheath tumor typically associated with NF1. Even through currently available improved detection techniques, NF1 diagnosis at birth remains a challenge due to a lack of pathognomonic signs; therefore congenital PN are recognized in 20% of cases. This case highlights the importance of using different radiological methods both for the correct diagnosis and the follow-up of the patient with PN. Thanks to MRI evaluation, it was possible to identify earlier the progressive increasing size of the PN and the possible life threatening evolution in order to perform a tracheostomy to avoid airways compression.