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Updated: Jun 23, 2025
Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients
Published on: December 18, 2016
From bedside to bench: New insights in epilepsy-associated tumors based on recent classification updates and animal
Silvia Cases-Cunillera1,2, Lea L Friker3, Philipp Müller2
1INSERM U1266, Neuronal Signaling in Epilepsy and Glioma, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (LGNTs), particularly those with glioneuronal histology, are highly associated with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Increasing research focused on these neoplastic lesions did not translate into drug discovery; and anticonvulsant or antitumor therapies are not available yet. During the last years, animal modeling has improved, thereby leading to the possibility of generating brain tumors in mice mimicking crucial genetic, molecular and immunohistological features. Among them, intraventricular in utero electroporation (IUE) has been proven to be a valuable tool for the generation of animal models for LGNTs allowing endogenous tumor growth within the mouse brain parenchyma. Epileptogenicity is mostly determined by the slow-growing patterns of these tumors, thus mirroring intrinsic interactions between tumor cells and surrounding neurons is crucial to investigate the mechanisms underlying convulsive activity. In this review, we provide an updated classification of the human LGNT and summarize the most recent data from human and animal models, with a focus on the crosstalk between brain tumors and neuronal function.
Insights
Low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (LGNTs) often cause drug-resistant epilepsy. This review explores recent advances in animal models for LGNTs, focusing on tumor-neuron interactions to understand epilepsy mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Epileptology
- Translational Neuroscience
Background:
- Low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (LGNTs), especially glioneuronal types, are strongly linked to pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
- Despite extensive research, effective anticonvulsant or antitumor therapies for LGNTs remain unavailable.
- Advances in animal modeling now allow for the creation of brain tumors that closely mimic human LGNTs' genetic and molecular characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated classification of human LGNTs.
- To summarize recent findings from human and animal studies on LGNTs.
- To highlight the crucial interactions between brain tumors and neuronal function in the context of epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on LGNT classification and pathogenesis.
- Analysis of data from human studies and advanced animal models of LGNTs.
- Focus on intraventricular in utero electroporation (IUE) as a key technique for generating relevant mouse models.
Main Results:
- LGNTs, characterized by slow growth, significantly impact neuronal function and contribute to epileptogenicity.
- Animal models, particularly those generated via IUE, effectively replicate key features of human LGNTs, enabling in-depth study.
- Understanding the tumor-cell and neuron crosstalk is vital for elucidating epilepsy mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Accurate classification and robust animal models are essential for advancing LGNT research.
- Investigating the intricate relationship between LGNTs and neuronal networks is critical for developing targeted therapies.
- Future research should focus on the molecular dialogue between tumor cells and the brain to combat associated epilepsy.
