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Laopajon W, Takheaw N, Kotemul K, Pata S, Hongeng S, Kasinrerk W. Chimeric single-chain variable fragment-human immunoglobulin G crystallizable fragment antibody against GD2 for neuroblastoma targeted immunotherapy. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:1145-1156. [PMID: 38213540 PMCID: PMC10776594 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim The present study aims to generate chimeric mouse single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) crystallizable fragment (Fc) antibody against disialoganglioside (GD2) for the treatment of neuroblastoma (NB). The generated scFv-IgG Fc antibody, lacking first constant domain of heavy chain (CH1), is of a smaller size than the natural antibody and has anti-tumor activity. Methods Vector for scFv-IgG Fc antibody was constructed and scFv-IgG Fc antibody was expressed in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cell line. Purification of scFv-IgG Fc antibody from the culture supernatant of transfected HEK293T cells was performed by Protein G affinity chromatography. The structure and binding activity of scFv-IgG Fc antibody were verified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence techniques. Anti-tumor activities by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) were determined. Results Using plasmid fusion-human IgG1-Fc2 tag vector (pFUSE-hIgG1-Fc2), a plasmid vector encoding chimeric mouse scFv and hIgG1 Fc antibody against GD2 was successfully constructed. This vector was transfected into human HEK293T cells to produce scFv-IgG Fc antibody. The transfected HEK293T cells could produce chimeric scFv-IgG Fc antibody against GD2, which lacks the IgG heavy chain CH1 domain but carries CH2 and CH3 domains. The chimeric antibodies could be purified from the culture supernatant of the transfected HEK293T culture in the presence of zeocin drug. The produced GD2 scFv-IgG Fc antibodies, which are smaller in size than the intact antibody, could trigger the killing of GD2 expressed NB cell line SH-SY5Y by ADCC and ADCP mechanisms. Conclusions The results indicate that chimeric scFv-hIgG Fc antibody, lacking heavy chain CH1 domain, could mediate antibody induced anti-tumor activities. The small size of this type of chimeric antibody may be employed as anti-GD2 antibody for NB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witida Laopajon
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nuchjira Takheaw
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Kamonporn Kotemul
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Supansa Pata
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Watchara Kasinrerk
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Kahana-Edwin S, Cain LE, McCowage G, Darmanian A, Wright D, Mullins A, Saletta F, Karpelowsky J. Neuroblastoma Molecular Risk-Stratification of DNA Copy Number and ALK Genotyping via Cell-Free Circulating Tumor DNA Profiling. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3365. [PMID: 34282791 PMCID: PMC8267662 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MYCN amplification (MNA), segmental chromosomal aberrations (SCA) and ALK activating mutations are biomarkers for risk-group stratification and for targeted therapeutics for neuroblastoma, both of which are currently assessed on tissue biopsy. Increase in demand for tumor genetic testing for neuroblastoma diagnosis is posing a challenge to current practice, as the small size of the core needle biopsies obtained are required for multiple molecular tests. We evaluated the utility of detecting these biomarkers in the circulation. METHODS Various pre-analytical conditions tested to optimize circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) copy number changes evaluations. Plasma samples from 10 patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma assessed for SCA and MNA using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array approach currently used for neuroblastoma diagnosis, with MNA status assessed independently using digital-droplet PCR (ddPCR). Three patients (one in common with the previous 10) tested for ALK activating mutations p.F1174L and p.F1245I using ddPCR. RESULTS Copy number detection is highly affected by physical perturbations of the blood sample (mimicking suboptimal sample shipment), which could be overcome using specialized preservative collection tubes. Pre-analytical DNA repair procedures on ctDNA before SNP chromosome microarray processing improved the lower limit of detection for SCA and MNA, defined as 20% and 10%, respectively. We detected SCA in 10/10 (100%) patients using SNP array, 7 of which also presented MNA. Circulating-free DNA (cfDNA) and matched tumor DNA profiles were generally identical. MNA was detected using ddPCR in 7/7 (100%) of MNA and 0/12 (0%) non-MNA cases. MNA and ALK mutation dynamic change was assessed in longitudinal samples from 4 and 3 patients (one patient with both), respectively, accurately reflected response to treatment in 6/6 (100%) and disease recurrence in 5/6 (83%) of cases. Samples taken prior to targeted treatment with the ALK inhibitor Lorlatinib and 6-8 weeks on treatment showed reduction/increase in ALK variants according to response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the feasibility of ctDNA profiling for molecular risk-stratification, and treatment monitoring in a clinically relevant time frame and the potential to reduce fresh tissue requirements currently embedded in the management of neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smadar Kahana-Edwin
- Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, Children’s Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (F.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Lucy E. Cain
- Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (L.E.C.); (G.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Geoffrey McCowage
- Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (L.E.C.); (G.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Artur Darmanian
- Cytogenetics Department, Sydney Genome Diagnostics, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (A.D.); (D.W.)
| | - Dale Wright
- Cytogenetics Department, Sydney Genome Diagnostics, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (A.D.); (D.W.)
- Division of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Anna Mullins
- Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (L.E.C.); (G.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Federica Saletta
- Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, Children’s Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (F.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Jonathan Karpelowsky
- Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, Children’s Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; (F.S.); (J.K.)
- Division of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
- Paediatric Oncology and Thoracic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
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van Heerden J, Esterhuizen TM, Hendricks M, Poole J, Büchner A, Naidu G, du Plessis J, van Emmenes B, Uys R, Hadley GP, Kruger M. Age at diagnosis as a prognostic factor in South African children with neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e28878. [PMID: 33484106 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) reported a higher median age at diagnosis of neuroblastoma (NB) compared to high-income countries. The aim was to determine if the optimal age at diagnosis, which maximizes the difference in overall survival between younger versus older patients in the South African population was similar to the internationally validated 18 months age cut-point. METHODS Four hundred sixty NB patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 were included. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to predict potential age cut-point values for overall survival in all risk group classifications. Risk ratios, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values at the specific cut-points were estimated with 95% confidence intervals, and time to mortality by age at the specific cut-points was shown with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared using log-rank tests. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis for the total cohort was 31.9 months (range 0.2-204.7). For high-risk (HR), intermediate-risk, low-risk, and very low-risk patients, the median age at diagnosis was, respectively, 36 months (range 0.4-204.7), 16.8 months (range 0.7-145.1), 14.2 months (range 2.0-143.5), and 8.7 months (range 0.2-75.6). The ROC curves for the total NB cohort (area under the curve [AUC] 0.696; P < .001) and HR (AUC 0.682; P < .001) were analyzed further. The optimal cut-point value for the total cohort was at 19.1 months (sensitivity 59%; specificity 78%). The HR cohort had potential cut-point values identified at 18.4 months age at diagnosis (sensitivity 45%; specificity 87%) and 31.1 months (sensitivity 67%; specificity 62%). The 19.1 months cut-point value in the total cohort and the 18.4 months cut-point value in HR were as useful in predicting overall survival as 18 months age at diagnosis. CONCLUSION The 18 months cut-point value appears to be the appropriate age for prognostic determination, despite the higher median age at diagnosis in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaques van Heerden
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.,Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Tonya M Esterhuizen
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Marc Hendricks
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Service, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Janet Poole
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ané Büchner
- Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gita Naidu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jan du Plessis
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Barry van Emmenes
- Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Frere Hospital, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Ronelle Uys
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - G P Hadley
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa
| | - Mariana Kruger
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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van Heerden J, Kruger M. Management of neuroblastoma in limited-resource settings. World J Clin Oncol 2020; 11:629-643. [PMID: 32879849 PMCID: PMC7443833 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v11.i8.629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma (NB) is a heterogeneous disease with variable outcomes among countries. Little is known about NB in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
AIM The aim of this review was to evaluate regional management protocols and challenges in treating NB in paediatric oncology units in LMICs compared to high-income countries (HICs).
METHODS PubMed, Global Health, Embase, SciELO, African Index Medicus and Google Scholar were searched for publications with keywords pertaining to NB, LMICs and outcomes. Only English language manuscripts and abstracts were included. A descriptive review was done, and tables illustrating the findings were constructed.
RESULTS Limited information beyond single-institution experiences regarding NB outcomes in LMICs was available. The disease characteristics varied among countries for the following variables: sex, age at presentation, MYCN amplification, stage and outcome. LMICs were found to be burdened with a higher percentage of stage 4 and high-risk NB compared to HICs. Implementation of evidence-based treatment protocols was still a barrier to care. Many socioeconomic variables also influenced the diagnosis, management and follow-up of patients with NB.
CONCLUSION Patients presented at a later age with more advanced disease in LMICs. Management was limited by the lack of resources and genetic studies for improved NB classification. Further research is needed to develop modified diagnostic and treatment protocols for LMICs in the face of limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaques van Heerden
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem 2650, Belgium
| | - Mariana Kruger
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
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Keane S, Améen S, Lindlöf A, Ejeskär K. Low DLG2 gene expression, a link between 11q-deleted and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma, causes forced cell cycle progression, and predicts poor patient survival. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:65. [PMID: 32312269 PMCID: PMC7171851 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00553-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood neural crest tumor. There are two groups of aggressive NBs, one with MYCN amplification, and another with 11q chromosomal deletion; these chromosomal aberrations are generally mutually exclusive. The DLG2 gene resides in the 11q-deleted region, thus makes it an interesting NB candidate tumor suppressor gene. Methods We evaluated the association of DLG2 gene expression in NB with patient outcomes, stage and MYCN status, using online microarray data combining independent NB patient data sets. Functional studies were also conducted using NB cell models and the fruit fly. Results Using the array data we concluded that higher DLG2 expression was positively correlated to patient survival. We could also see that expression of DLG2 was inversely correlated with MYCN status and tumor stage. Cell proliferation was lowered in both 11q-normal and 11q-deleted NB cells after DLG2 over expression, and increased in 11q-normal NB cells after DLG2 silencing. Higher level of DLG2 increased the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase and decreased the percentage of cells in the G1 phase. We detected increased protein levels of Cyclin A and Cyclin B in fruit fly models either over expressing dMyc or with RNAi-silenced dmDLG, indicating that both events resulted in enhanced cell cycling. Induced MYCN expression in NB cells lowered DLG2 gene expression, which was confirmed in the fly; when dMyc was over expressed, the dmDLG protein level was lowered, indicating a link between Myc over expression and low dmDLG level. Conclusion We conclude that low DLG2 expression level forces cell cycle progression, and that it predicts poor NB patient survival. The low DLG2 expression level could be caused by either MYCN-amplification or 11q-deletion. Graphical abstract ![]()
Video Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Keane
- Translational Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, PO Box 408, SE-54128, Skövde, Sweden
| | - Sophie Améen
- Translational Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, PO Box 408, SE-54128, Skövde, Sweden
| | - Angelica Lindlöf
- Translational Bioinformatics, School of Biosciences, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden
| | - Katarina Ejeskär
- Translational Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, PO Box 408, SE-54128, Skövde, Sweden.
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Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood with a median age of presentation of 17 months. A common theme in high-risk neuroblastoma is maintenance of telomeres, one mechanism for which involves alternate lengthening of telomeres (ALT) associated with ATRX gene mutations. Mutations are believed to result in loss of ATRX protein, and therefore immunohistochemistry is used to detect mutations. We screened 133 cases of neuroblastoma by ATRX immunohistochemistry, and found 9 cases with partial to total absence of ATRX. Sequencing for ATRX mutations detected a mutation in 1 of 9 cases, suggesting immunostaining was not reliable for detecting mutations. To correlate immunostaining with ALT, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for ALT was performed in 6 of these cases and 5 (from 4 patients) showed ALT, implying impaired ATRX protein function, despite the failure to identify a mutation. Two other cases with large deletions in the ATRX gene showed diffusely positive staining for ATRX protein but showed ALT by FISH. Four of the 6 patients with ALT-positive tumors were over 5 years old. Therefore, 29 additional patients 5 years old and above with ATRX-positive tumors were screened for ALT by FISH and 6 additional cases with ALT were detected, bringing the total to 29% (10/34) of children 5 years old and above, 70% of which showed positive ATRX immunohistochemistry. Patients with ATRX mutations in neuroblastoma tend to have a more chronic and progressive course of disease. Screening neuroblastoma tumors at diagnosis for ATRX mutations may help identify patients who might benefit from personalized therapy directed against ALT. However, relaying on negative immunohistochemistry for ATRX protein to identify ALT in neuroblastoma may miss a significant proportion of patients. The addition of FISH for ALT as part of the diagnostic workup, especially for older children (5 y old and above), would help ensure that patients are correctly identified for anti-ALT therapy.
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Mohamed A, Campbell-Hewson Q, Gabra HOS. Neuroblastoma of the Urinary Bladder in an Infant. European J Pediatr Surg Rep 2019; 7:e32-e35. [PMID: 31214484 PMCID: PMC6579728 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1692192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As it originates from neural crest cells, Neuroblastoma (NBL) can arise anywhere along the sympathetic chain. However, its occurrence in the urinary bladder (UB) is extremely rare. We present a case of an incidentally diagnosed pelvic NBL arising from the dome of the UB in a 7-month-old infant. The mass was treated with surgical excision only after being classified as a very low risk group according to the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group staging system. The patient was disease free after 5 years of follow-up. Although rare, we suggest that NBL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of UB masses in children and investigated accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mohamed
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary Infirmary Square Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | | | - Hany O S Gabra
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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Lucena JN, Alves MTS, Abib SCV, Souza GOD, Neves RPDC, Caran EMM. CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SURVIVAL OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN WITH NEUROBLASTOMA: 21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT THE INSTITUTO DE ONCOLOGIA PEDIÁTRICA, IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 36:254-260. [PMID: 29995142 PMCID: PMC6202906 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/;2018;36;3;00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and survival
outcomes of children with neuroblastoma (NB) treated at a pediatric oncology
center from 1991 to 2012. Methods: A retrospective study with clinical and epidemiological data from 258
patients with neuroblastoma treated at a pediatric oncology center from 1991
to 2012, using medical records. Results: The average age of the children at diagnosis was 40.5±46.4 months with a
median age of 28.9 months (interquartile range 42.2). The male:female ratio
was 1.3:1, and 1% of the patients were asymptomatic. The most frequent
manifestations were: fever (25%), abdominal pain (22%), abdominal mass
(19%), and bone pain (19%). The mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis
was 3.0±4.8 months. The most common location of the tumor was the abdomen
(63%). Metastases occurred in the bone marrow (37%) and in the bone (33%).
Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in five years were 62
and 52%, respectively. The main cause of death was the progression of the
disease (72%). Conclusions: The clinical features of children with neuroblastoma are variable and mostly
nonspecific, which makes clinical recognition difficult and, in general, too
late. In children less than 5 years old, with an abdominal mass and/or bone
pain, irritability, and a fever from an unknown cause, neuroblastoma should
be considered as a possible diagnosis.
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Sensitive detection of viral transcripts in human tumor transcriptomes. PLoS Comput Biol 2013; 9:e1003228. [PMID: 24098097 PMCID: PMC3789765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In excess of % of human cancer incidents have a viral cofactor. Epidemiological studies of idiopathic human cancers indicate that additional tumor viruses remain to be discovered. Recent advances in sequencing technology have enabled systematic screenings of human tumor transcriptomes for viral transcripts. However, technical problems such as low abundances of viral transcripts in large volumes of sequencing data, viral sequence divergence, and homology between viral and human factors significantly confound identification of tumor viruses. We have developed a novel computational approach for detecting viral transcripts in human cancers that takes the aforementioned confounding factors into account and is applicable to a wide variety of viruses and tumors. We apply the approach to conducting the first systematic search for viruses in neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in infancy. The diverse clinical progression of this disease as well as related epidemiological and virological findings are highly suggestive of a pathogenic cofactor. However, a viral etiology of neuroblastoma is currently contested. We mapped transcriptomes of neuroblastoma as well as positive and negative controls to the human and all known viral genomes in order to detect both known and unknown viruses. Analysis of controls, comparisons with related methods, and statistical estimates demonstrate the high sensitivity of our approach. Detailed investigation of putative viral transcripts within neuroblastoma samples did not provide evidence for the existence of any known human viruses. Likewise, de-novo assembly and analysis of chimeric transcripts did not result in expression signatures associated with novel human pathogens. While confounding factors such as sample dilution or viral clearance in progressed tumors may mask viral cofactors in the data, in principle, this is rendered less likely by the high sensitivity of our approach and the number of biological replicates analyzed. Therefore, our results suggest that frequent viral cofactors of metastatic neuroblastoma are unlikely. Many human cancers are caused by infections with tumor viruses and identification of these pathogens is considered a critical contribution to cancer prevention. Deep sequencing enables us to systematically investigate viral nucleotide signatures in order to either verify or exclude the existence of viruses in idiopathic human cancers. We have developed Virana, a novel computational approach for identifying tumor viruses in human cancers that is applicable to a wide variety of tumors and viruses. Virana firstly addresses several important biological confounding factors that may hinder successful detection of these pathogens. We applied our approach in the first systematic search for cancer-causing viruses in metastatic neuroblastoma, the most common form of cancer in infancy. Although the heterogeneous clinical progression of this disease as well as epidemiological and virological findings are suggestive of a pathogenic cofactor, the viral etiology of neuroblastoma is currently contested. We conducted an analysis of experimental controls, comparisons with related approaches, as well as statistical analyses in order to validate our method. In spite of the high sensitivity of our approach, analyses of neuroblastoma transcriptomes did not provide evidence for the existence of any known or unknown human viruses. Our results therefore suggest that frequent viral cofactors of metastatic neuroblastoma are unlikely.
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Rogers DA, Schor NF. Kidins220/ARMS depletion is associated with the neural-to Schwann-like transition in a human neuroblastoma cell line model. Exp Cell Res 2013; 319:660-9. [PMID: 23333500 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral neuroblastic tumors exist as a heterogeneous mixture of neuroblastic (N-type) cells and Schwannian stromal (S-type) cells. These stromal cells not only represent a differentiated and less aggressive fraction of the tumor, but also have properties that can influence the further differentiation of nearby malignant cells. In vitro neuroblastoma cultures exhibit similar heterogeneity with N-type and S-type cells representing the neuroblastic and stromal portions of the tumor, respectively, in behavior, morphology, and molecular expression patterns. In this study, we deplete kinase D-interacting substrate of 220kD (Kidins220) with an shRNA construct and thereby cause morphologic transition of the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line from N-type to S-type. The resulting cells have similar morphology and expression profile to SH-EP1 cells, a native S-type cell line from the same parent cell line, and to SH-SY5Y cells treated with BrdU, a treatment that induces S-type morphology. Specifically, both Kidins220-deficient SH-SY5Y cells and native SH-EP1 cells demonstrate down-regulation of the genes DCX and STMN2, markers for the neuronal lineage. We further show that Kidins220, DCX and STMN2 are co-down-regulated in cells of S-type morphology generated by methods other than Kidins220 depletion. Finally, we report that the association of low Kidins220 expression with S-type morphology and low DCX and STMN2 expression is demonstrated in spontaneously occurring human peripheral neuroblastic tumors. We propose that Kidins220 is critical in N- to S-type transition of neural crest tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny A Rogers
- Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neurobiology & Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 777, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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Pediatric malignancies: neuroblastoma, Wilm's tumor, hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and sacroccygeal teratoma. Surg Clin North Am 2012; 92:745-67, x. [PMID: 22595719 DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2012.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Common pediatric malignancies are reviewed: neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and sacrococcygeal teratoma. Elements of presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and longterm prognosis are discussed, with particular attention to surgical management.
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