Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), a serine/threonine protein kinase, has various targets involved in numerous cellular functions such as metabolic and signaling pathways as well as modification of structual proteins. Recent studies have revealed that aberrant regulation of GSK3β mediates glucose intolerance, inflammation and fibrosis, neurodegenerative disorders and the malignant phenotypes of various human cancers including glioma. This review focuses on the pathophysiological roles of GSK3β contributing to glioma biology and potential therapeutic impact of targeting GSK3β in malignant glioma.

Leptomeningeal carcinoma is a devastating complication of solid cancers. The median survival time is less than two months without treatment. Eff ective management depends on early diagnosis. However, repeated CSF and MR examinations are often required for defi nitive diagnosis. Recent development of techniques in detecting circulating tumor cells may contribute to accurate diagnosis. Therapeutic options include local therapy with whole brain radiation therapy, primary cancer-specifi c systemic therapy and intra-CSF administration of anticancer drugs. Indication of treatment relates to the extent of neurologic burden of disease, systemic disease, estimated time of survival, and the available specific therapies. However, in the personalized treatment era, new therapies with improved CSF penetration have been developed for subgroups of molecular selected patients indicating they could be promising therapeutic options for managing leptomeningeal disease.

Authors reviewed brain radiation necrosis after cranial irradiation for brain tumors, including pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Inflammation and angiogenesis were associated with the formation of radiation necrosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and CXCL12 were overexpressed around the necrotic core. Radiological diagnosis is sometimes difficult to distinguish brain radiation necrosis from tumor recurrence. Chemical and perfusion images are helpful to differentiate these two pathologies.

Nuclear medicine images also help us clinically diagnosis radiation necrosis. Corticosteroids are useful to reduce brain edema and improve patient symptoms. In cases with progressive radiation necrosis, corticosteroids are no longer effective and surgical removal of necrosis is used to be required. Recently, bevacizumab was reported to markedly reduced brain edema and improve neurological symptoms and could be a novel treatment for brain radiation necrosis.