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Zhang Z, Chen Y, Guo Y, Shen H, Wang J, Chen H. RFX2 promotes tumor cell stemness through epigenetic regulation of PAF1 in spinal ependymoma. J Neurooncol 2023; 165:487-497. [PMID: 38057505 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spinal ependymoma (SE) is a rare tumor that is most commonly low-grade and tends to recur when complete tumor resection is not feasible. We investigated the molecular mechanism induces stem cell features in SE. METHODS Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to analyze the expression of RFX2 in tumor tissues of SE patients at different stages. The expression of tumor stemness markers (Netsin and CD133) was analyzed using western blot analysis and IF, and the efficiency of sphere formation in SE cells was analyzed. The biological activities of SE cells were analyzed by EdU proliferation assay, TUNEL, wound healing, and Transwell assays. The regulatory relationship of RFX2 on PAF1 was verified by ChIP-qPCR and the dual-luciferase assay. SE cells were injected into the spinal cord of nude mice for in vivo assays. RESULTS RFX2 was higher in the tumor tissues of SE-III patients than in the tumor tissues of SE-I patients. RFX2 knockdown reduced the expression of tumor stemness markers in SE cells and inhibited the sphere formation efficiency. Moreover, RFX2 knockdown ameliorated the malignant progression of SE in nude mice, as manifested by prolonged survival and alleviated SE tumor infiltration. RFX2 bound to the PAF1 promoter to induce its transcription. Overexpression of PAF1 overturned the effects of RFX2 knockdown on stem cell features and biological activities of SE cells, thereby reducing survival in mice. CONCLUSIONS RFX2 activates PAF1 transcription, which promotes tumor stemness of SE cells and leads to the malignant progression of SE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yusheng Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanwei Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangtao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People's Republic of China.
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Lambrou GI, Poulou M, Giannikou K, Themistocleous M, Zaravinos A, Braoudaki M. Differential and Common Signatures of miRNA Expression and Methylation in Childhood Central Nervous System Malignancies: An Experimental and Computational Approach. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215491. [PMID: 34771655 PMCID: PMC8583574 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215491] [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: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are considered of utmost significance for tumor ontogenesis and progression. Especially, it has been found that miRNA expression, as well as DNA methylation plays a significant role in central nervous system tumors during childhood. A total of 49 resected brain tumors from children were used for further analysis. DNA methylation was identified with methylation-specific MLPA and, in particular, for the tumor suppressor genes CASP8, RASSF1, MGMT, MSH6, GATA5, ATM1, TP53, and CADM1. miRNAs were identified with microarray screening, as well as selected samples, were tested for their mRNA expression levels. CASP8, RASSF1 were the most frequently methylated genes in all tumor samples. Simultaneous methylation of genes manifested significant results with respect to tumor staging, tumor type, and the differentiation of tumor and control samples. There was no significant dependence observed with the methylation of one gene promoter, rather with the simultaneous presence of all detected methylated genes' promoters. miRNA expression was found to be correlated to gene methylation. Epigenetic regulation appears to be of major importance in tumor progression and pathophysiology, making it an imperative field of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- George I. Lambrou
- Choremeio Research Laboratory, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Myrto Poulou
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece;
| | - Krinio Giannikou
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Marios Themistocleous
- Department of Neurosurgery, “Aghia Sofia” Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Apostolos Zaravinos
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
- Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC), Cancer Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology Group, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
- Correspondence: (A.Z.); (M.B.)
| | - Maria Braoudaki
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK
- Correspondence: (A.Z.); (M.B.)
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Zhou C, Pan R, Hu H, Li B, Dai J, Ying X, Yu H, Zhong J, Mao Y, Zhang Y, Wu D, Duan S. TNFRSF10C methylation is a new epigenetic biomarker for colorectal cancer. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5336. [PMID: 30225159 PMCID: PMC6139245 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormal methylation of TNFRSF10C was found to be associated with different types of cancers, excluding colorectal cancer (CRC). In this paper, the performance of TNFRSF10C methylation in CRC was studied in two stages. Method The discovery stage was involved with 38 pairs of CRC tumor and paired adjacent non-tumor tissues, and 69 pairs of CRC tumor and paired adjacent non-tumor tissues were used for the validation stage. Quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP) method and percentage of methylated reference (PMR) were used to test and represent the methylation level of TNFRSF10C, respectively. A dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment was conducted to evaluate the promoter activity of TNFRSF10C fragment. Results A significant association of TNFRSF10C promoter hypermethylation with CRC was found and validated (discovery stage: 24.67 ± 7.52 vs. 3.36 ± 0.89; P = 0.003; validation stage: 31.21 ± 12.48 vs. 4.52 ± 1.47; P = 0.0005). Subsequent analyses of TCGA data among 46 pairs of CRC samples further confirmed our findings (cg23965061: P = 4E - 6; cg14015044: P = 1E - 7). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that TNFRSF10C fragment was able to significantly promote gene expression (Fold change = 2.375, P = 0.013). Our data confirmed that TNFRSF10C promoter hypermethylation can predict shorter overall survival of CRC patients (P = 0.032). Additionally, bioinformatics analyses indicated that TNFRSF10C hypermethylation was significantly associated with lower TNFRSF10C expression. Conclusion Our work suggested that TNFRSF10C hypermethylation was significantly associated with the risk of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhou
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Ranran Pan
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Haochang Hu
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Bin Li
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jie Dai
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiuru Ying
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hang Yu
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jie Zhong
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yiyi Mao
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Dongping Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
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Gao L, Han F, Jin Y, Xiong J, Lv Y, Yao Z, Zhang J. Imaging features of rosette-forming glioneuronal tumours. Clin Radiol 2018; 73:275-282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2017.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Mazzoni E, Di Stefano M, Fiore JR, Destro F, Manfrini M, Rotondo JC, Casali MV, Vesce F, Greco P, Scutiero G, Martini F, Tognon MG. Serum IgG Antibodies from Pregnant Women Reacting to Mimotopes of Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen, the Viral Oncoprotein. Front Immunol 2017; 8:411. [PMID: 28443094 PMCID: PMC5385463 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (LT) coding sequences were revealed in different human samples, whereas SV40 antibodies (Ab) were detected in human sera of cancer patients and healthy individuals, although with a lower prevalence. Previous studies carried out by the neutralization assay gave a SV40 seroprevalence, in the general population, up to 8%, although higher rates, 12%, were detected in kidney transplant children, in a group of HIV-positive patients, and in healthy females. In this study, serum samples from pregnant women, together with those from non-pregnant women, were analyzed to check the prevalence of IgG Ab reacting to SV40 LT antigens. Serum samples were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women, with the same mean age. Women were in the range of 15-48 years old. Samples were assayed by an indirect ELISA employing specific SV40 LT mimotopes as antigens, whereas functional analysis was performed by neutralization of the viral infectivity in cell cultures. As a control, sera were analyzed for Ab against BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), which is a human polyomavirus homologous to SV40. Statistical analyses employed chi-square with Yates' correction, and Student's t tests. Indirect ELISAs indicated that pregnant women tested SV40 LT-positive with a prevalence of 17% (23/134), whereas non-pregnant women had a prevalence of 20% (36/180) (P > 0.05). Ab against BKPyV were detected with a prevalence of 80% in pregnant women and with a prevalence of 78% in non-pregnant women. These data indicate that SV40 infects at a low prevalence pregnant women. We may speculate that SV40, or a close human polyomavirus still undetected, could be transmitted from mother to fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mazzoni
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mariantonietta Di Stefano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Josè R. Fiore
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Federica Destro
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marco Manfrini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - John Charles Rotondo
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria V. Casali
- Hospital Headquarter Department, State Hospital, Institute for Social Security, Borgo Maggiore, San Marino
| | - Fortunato Vesce
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pantaleo Greco
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gennaro Scutiero
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fernanda Martini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mauro G. Tognon
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Lee CH, Chung CK, Kim CH. Genetic differences on intracranial versus spinal cord ependymal tumors: a meta-analysis of genetic researches. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EUROPEAN SPINE SOCIETY, THE EUROPEAN SPINAL DEFORMITY SOCIETY, AND THE EUROPEAN SECTION OF THE CERVICAL SPINE RESEARCH SOCIETY 2016; 25:3942-3951. [DOI: 10.1007/s00586-016-4745-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Dorfer C, Tonn J, Rutka JT. Ependymoma: a heterogeneous tumor of uncertain origin and limited therapeutic options. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2016; 134:417-431. [PMID: 26948369 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-802997-8.00025-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ependymomas are tumors that typically occur with an age-based site preference, with adults harboring supratentorial and spinal tumors and pediatric tumors being mainly in the posterior fossa. Despite their similar histologic appearance, the prognosis varies significantly by age and tumor location, with a better prognosis in increasing age. The mainstay of treatment remains surgical excision with or without radiation therapy as the tumor biology is poorly understood and chemotherapy is generally considered to be ineffective. More recently, molecular biology data have increased our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic changes that drive these tumors, but still it will take a lot of effort to find effective chemotherapeutic regimens. Currently, we are trying to define a subset of tumors, for which radiation therapy can be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dorfer
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joerg Tonn
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinic of Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich-Großhadern, Munich, Germany
| | - James T Rutka
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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8
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Gupta K, Salunke P. Understanding Ependymoma Oncogenesis: an Update on Recent Molecular Advances and Current Perspectives. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 54:15-21. [PMID: 26712502 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9646-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Remarkable progress has been made in the last decade in understanding the biology and oncogenesis of this relatively rare childhood brain tumor-the ependymoma. Surgery and irradiation are the mainstays of therapeutic options; chemotherapy is yet to predictably affect outcome, and its role is currently being explored in several clinical trials. While WHO scores this tumor into three grades, grading of ependymoma into grade II and grade III is controversial because of its elusive histological criteria where no cut-offs have been defined for mitoses or percentage of tumor depicting increased cellularity. Grading remains unreliable in predicting outcome in several instances. There is a compelling need to integrate the molecular biomarkers highlighted in several studies over the past decade into patient risk stratification to help in better predicting the clinical outcome and to design effective tailored therapy. Genomic and transcriptomic studies lately have defined distinct molecular subgroups within ependymoma arising at three anatomic compartments-supratentorial, posterior fossa, and spinal cord. Review of pertinent literature on several seminal studies that have established a paradigm shift in understanding the oncogenesis of ependymoma has been carried out. The outcome, impact, and clinical relevance of these studies are also discussed. The review provides an update on progress and recent advances in understanding the biology and oncogenesis of ependymoma. The establishment of robust subgroups which are demographically, clinically, and molecularly distinct will provide new avenues for further refinement of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Gupta
- Neuropathology fellowship (St Jude, Memphis), Department of Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
| | - Pravin Salunke
- Department of Neurosurgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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9
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Lee Y, Kim SI, Kim SK, Kim IO, Park SH. A mixed choroid plexus papilloma and ependymoma. Brain Tumor Pathol 2015; 33:147-50. [PMID: 26670168 DOI: 10.1007/s10014-015-0242-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We report a novel case of a mixed choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) and ependymoma with cartilaginous differentiation. This kind of mixed tumor has not been previously reported in the English literature. The patient was a 5-year-old girl, who presented with a 1-week history of fever and numbness of the right lower limb. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with gadolinium revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mass in the occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle. Histologically, the tumor showed an intermixed CPP area and a low-grade papillary ependymoma-like area, which was studded with cartilage islands and psammoma bodies. In many foci, direct transition of CPP and ependymoma was observed, but there were no high-grade features. We report this novel case, describe the unique microscopic and immunohistochemical features, and speculate on the pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Ik Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital and College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In One Kim
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital and College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hye Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea. .,Neuroscience Institute, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Sexton-Oates A, MacGregor D, Dodgshun A, Saffery R. The potential for epigenetic analysis of paediatric CNS tumours to improve diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Ann Oncol 2015; 26:1314-24. [PMID: 25605740 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdv024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumours of central nervous system (CNS) origin are the second most prevalent group of cancers in children, yet account for the majority of childhood cancer-related deaths. Such tumours show diverse location, cell type of origin, disease course and long-term outcome, both across and within tumour types, making treatment problematic and contributing to the relatively modest progress in reducing mortality over recent decades. As technological advances begin to reveal the genetic landscape of all cancers, it is becoming increasingly clear that genetic disruption represents only one 'layer' of molecular disruption associated with disease aetiology. Obtaining a full understanding of tumour behaviour requires an understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways disrupted during tumourigenesis, particularly in relation to gene expression. The utility of such an approach has allowed stratification of cancers such as medulloblastoma into subgroups based on molecular features, with potential to refine risk prediction. Given that epigenetic disruption is a universal feature of all human cancers, it is logical to speculate that interrogating epigenetic marks may help to further define the molecular profile, and therefore the clinical trajectory, of tumours. An integrated approach to build a molecular 'signature' of individual tumours that incorporates traditional morphological and demographic information, genetic and transcriptome analysis, in addition to epigenomics (DNA methylation and non-coding RNA analysis), offers tremendous promise to (i) inform treatment approach, (ii) facilitate accurate early identification (preferably at diagnosis) of variable risk groups (both good and poor prognosis groups), and (iii) track disease progression in childhood CNS tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sexton-Oates
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne
| | - D MacGregor
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne
| | - A Dodgshun
- Children's Cancer Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - R Saffery
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne
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11
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Karakoula K, Jacques TS, Phipps KP, Harkness W, Thompson D, Harding BN, Darling JL, Warr TJ. Epigenetic genome-wide analysis identifies BEX1 as a candidate tumour suppressor gene in paediatric intracranial ependymoma. Cancer Lett 2013; 346:34-44. [PMID: 24333734 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Promoter hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing is a common epigenetic mechanism of gene inactivation in cancer. To identify targets of epigenetic silencing in paediatric intracranial ependymoma, we used a pharmacological unmasking approach through treatment of 3 ependymoma short-term cell cultures with the demethylating agent 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine followed by global expression microarray analysis. We identified 55 candidate epigenetically silenced genes, which are involved in the regulation of apoptosis, Wnt signalling, p53 and cell differentiation. The methylation status of 26 of these genes was further determined by combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) and genomic sequencing in a cohort of 40 ependymoma samples. The most frequently methylated genes were BEX1 (27/40 cases), BAI2 (20/40), CCND2 (18/40), and CDKN2A (14/40). A high correlation between promoter hypermethylation and decreased gene expression levels was established by real-time quantitative PCR, suggesting the involvement of these genes in ependymoma tumourigenesis. Furthermore, ectopic expression of brain-expressed X-linked 1 (BEX1) in paediatric ependymoma short-term cell cultures significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation. These data suggest that promoter hypermethylation contributes to silencing of target genes in paediatric intracranial ependymoma. Epigenetic inactivation of BEX1 supports its role as a candidate tumour suppressor gene in intracranial ependymoma, and a potential target for novel therapies for ependymoma in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Karakoula
- Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK.
| | - Thomas S Jacques
- Neural Development Unit, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Kim P Phipps
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - William Harkness
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Dominic Thompson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Brian N Harding
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399, USA
| | - John L Darling
- Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Tracy J Warr
- Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
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12
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Spyropoulou A, Piperi C, Adamopoulos C, Papavassiliou AG. Deregulated chromatin remodeling in the pathobiology of brain tumors. Neuromolecular Med 2013; 15:1-24. [PMID: 23114751 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-012-8205-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors encompass a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors with variable histopathology, aggressiveness, clinical outcome and prognosis. Current gene expression profiling studies indicate interplay of genetic and epigenetic alterations in their pathobiology. A central molecular event underlying epigenetics is the alteration of chromatin structure by post-translational modifications of DNA and histones as well as nucleosome repositioning. Dynamic remodeling of the fundamental nucleosomal structure of chromatin or covalent histone marks located in core histones regulate main cellular processes including DNA methylation, replication, DNA-damage repair as well as gene expression. Deregulation of these processes has been linked to tumor suppressor gene silencing, cancer initiation and progression. The reversible nature of deregulated chromatin structure by DNA methylation and histone deacetylation inhibitors, leading to re-expression of tumor suppressor genes, makes chromatin-remodeling pathways as promising therapeutic targets. In fact, a considerable number of these inhibitors are being tested today either alone or in combination with other agents or conventional treatments in the management of brain tumors with considerable success. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms underpinning deregulated chromatin remodeling in brain tumors, discuss their potential clinical implications and highlight the advances toward new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Spyropoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Street, 11527, Athens, Greece
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13
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Holliday EB, Sulman EP. Tumor prognostic factors and the challenge of developing predictive factors. Curr Oncol Rep 2013; 15:33-46. [PMID: 23224629 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-012-0283-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Histopathologic classification has been widely used to type and grade primary brain tumors. However, the diverse behavior of primary brain tumors has made prognostic determinations based purely on clinical and histopathologic variables difficult. Recent advances in the molecular genetics of brain tumors have helped to explain the witnessed heterogeneity regarding response to treatment, time to progression, and overall survival. Additionally, there has been interest in identifying predictive factors to help direct patients to therapeutic interventions specific to their tumor and patient biology. Further identification of both prognostic and predictive biomarkers will make possible better patient stratification and individualization of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma B Holliday
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Survival rates for patients with ependymoma, a glial tumor arising from the ependymal cells lining the ventricles of the brain and spinal cord canal, have changed little during the past decade. Contemporary "standard" therapy for children and adults with ependymoma consists of maximal surgical resection followed by focal irradiation except in cases of disseminated disease. Despite refinements in radiotherapy techniques and improvements in survival for patients with gross totally resected, nonanaplastic disease, many therapeutic challenges remain, especially for patients with unresectable, macroscopic, metastatic, or anaplastic disease. Moreover, radiotherapy to the developing central nervous system, especially in patients younger than age 5 years, can have potential long-term neurocognitive and neuroendocrine sequelae. Chemotherapy has not played a role in most treatment regimens for ependymoma to date, but due to the ongoing therapeutic challenges for a subset of patients, this modality is being reinvestigated in a few ongoing studies. Early recognition of patients who will not respond to primary therapy is imperative to modify treatment regimens, such as intensification with the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy, the use of novel experimental therapies, or their combination. Refinements in patient stratification schemes that are based on a combination of clinical variables and molecular profiles also require improved knowledge of tumor biology. Several molecular alterations have been identified already, some of which may be of prognostic significance. Furthermore, disruption of molecular alterations in signaling pathways involved in the development and maintenance of ependymoma by using novel molecularly targeted therapies may improve outcomes and reduce toxicity for patients with ependymoma.
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15
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Safaee M, Clark AJ, Bloch O, Oh MC, Singh A, Auguste KI, Gupta N, McDermott MW, Aghi MK, Berger MS, Parsa AT. Surgical outcomes in choroid plexus papillomas: an institutional experience. J Neurooncol 2013; 113:117-25. [PMID: 23468001 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-013-1097-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are rare, indolent lesions that comprise less than 0.5 % of intracranial tumors. We sought to assess the long-term outcomes and associated surgical complications at our institution. A review of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Brain Tumor Research Center (BTRC) database was performed to identify a cohort of patients treated for CPP from 1997 to 2011. Patients were grouped based on tumor location and extent of resection. Outcomes including progression-free survival and surgical complications were assessed. We identified 24 patients (16 female, 8 male) ranging in age from 6 months to 55 years (median 29 years) treated at our institution. Tumors were found in the following locations: 16 (67 %) fourth ventricle/cerebellopontine angle; 7 (29 %) lateral ventricle; 1 (4 %) third ventricle. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 20 patients (83 %) with subtotal resection (STR) in 4 (17 %). Median follow-up time was 2.8 years with 3 recurrences identified at 1.6, 3.3, and 8.5 years. Extent of resection and tumor location were not associated with recurrence. There was one new permanent neurologic deficit detected after surgery. All patients were alive at most recent follow-up. Attempted gross total resection is the standard treatment for CPPs and generally associated with excellent outcomes. Since recurrences are rare, even among patients who undergo STR, radiation may be reserved for cases of tumor progression. This modern experience at a tertiary care center performed exclusively during the MRI-era demonstrates that CPPs can be safely removed with minimal morbidity and good tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Safaee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
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16
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Mack SC, Witt H, Wang X, Milde T, Yao Y, Bertrand KC, Korshunov A, Pfister SM, Taylor MD. Emerging insights into the ependymoma epigenome. Brain Pathol 2013; 23:206-9. [PMID: 23432646 PMCID: PMC8028955 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ependymoma is the third most common pediatric brain tumor, yet because of the paucity of effective therapeutic interventions, 45% of patients remain incurable. Recent transcriptional and copy number profiling of the disease has identified few driver genes and in fact points to a balanced genomic profile. Candidate gene approaches looking at hypermethylated promoters and genome-wide epigenetic arrays suggest that DNA methylation may be critical to ependymoma pathogenesis. This review attempts to highlight existing and emerging evidence implicating the ependymoma epigenome as a key player and that epigenetic modifiers may offer new targeted therapeutic avenues for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Mack
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology ProgramThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Hendrik Witt
- Division of Pediatric NeurooncologyGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and ImmunologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Xin Wang
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology ProgramThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Till Milde
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and ImmunologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology G340German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Yuan Yao
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology ProgramThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Kelsey C. Bertrand
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology ProgramThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Andrey Korshunov
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology G340German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Department of NeuropathologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Stefan M. Pfister
- Division of Pediatric NeurooncologyGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and ImmunologyUniversity Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Michael D. Taylor
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology ProgramThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathobiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of SurgeryDivision of Neurosurgery and Labatt Brain Tumour Research CentreThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
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Abstract
Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death in children, with ependymoma being the third most common and posing a significant clinical burden. Its mechanism of pathogenesis, reliable prognostic indicators, and effective treatments other than surgical resection have all remained elusive. Until recently, ependymoma research was hindered by the small number of tumors available for study, low resolution of cytogenetic techniques, and lack of cell lines and animal models. Ependymoma heterogeneity, which manifests as variations in tumor location, patient age, histological grade, and clinical behavior, together with the observation of a balanced genomic profile in up to 50% of cases, presents additional challenges in understanding the development and progression of this disease. Despite these difficulties, we have made significant headway in the past decade in identifying the genetic alterations and pathways involved in ependymoma tumorigenesis through collaborative efforts and the application of microarray-based genetic (copy number) and transcriptome profiling platforms. Genetic characterization of ependymoma unraveled distinct mRNA-defined subclasses and led to the identification of radial glial cells as its cell type of origin. This review summarizes our current knowledge in the molecular genetics of ependymoma and proposes future research directions necessary to further advance this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yao
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Nagasawa DT, Trang A, Choy W, Spasic M, Yew A, Zarinkhou G, Garcia HM, Yang I. Genetic expression profiles of adult and pediatric ependymomas: molecular pathways, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic targets. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2013; 115:388-99. [PMID: 23374238 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Revised: 11/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ependymomas are tumors that can present within either the intracranial or spinal regions. While 90% of all pediatric ependymomas are intracranial, spinal cord ependymomas are more commonly found in patients 20-40 years old. Treatment for spinal lesions has achieved local control rates up to 100% following gross total resection, while pediatric intracranial tumors have 40-60% mortality. Given the inability to effectively treat ependymomas with current standard practices, researchers have focused their efforts on evaluating chromosomal alterations, genetic expression profiles, epigenetic events, and molecular pathways. While these studies have provided critical insight into the potential mechanisms underlying ependymoma pathogenesis, understanding of the intricate interplay between the various pathways involved in tumor initiation, development, and progression will require deeper investigation. However, several potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets have been identified, providing key areas of focus for future research. The utilization of unique genetic expression profiles based upon patient age, tumor location, tumor grade, and subtype has revealed a multitude of findings warranting further study. Inspection of various molecular pathways associated with ependymomas may establish the foundation for developing novel therapies capable of achieving significant clinical improvements with individualized regimens specifically designed for personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Nagasawa
- UCLA Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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19
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Safaee M, Oh MC, Bloch O, Sun MZ, Kaur G, Auguste KI, Tihan T, Parsa AT. Choroid plexus papillomas: advances in molecular biology and understanding of tumorigenesis. Neuro Oncol 2012; 15:255-67. [PMID: 23172371 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nos289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Choroid plexus papillomas are rare, benign tumors originating from the choroid plexus. Although generally found within the ventricular system, they can arise ectopically in the brain parenchyma or disseminate throughout the neuraxis. We sought to review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology and oncogenic pathways associated with this disease. A comprehensive PubMed literature review was conducted to identify manuscripts discussing the clinical, molecular, and genetic features of choroid plexus papillomas. Articles concerning diagnosis, treatment, and long-term patient outcomes were also reviewed. The introduction of atypical choroid plexus papilloma as a distinct entity has increased the need for accurate histopathologic diagnosis. Advances in immunohistochemical staining have improved our ability to differentiate choroid plexus papillomas from other intracranial tumors or metastatic lesions using combinations of key markers and mitotic indices. Recent findings have implicated Notch3 signaling, the transcription factor TWIST1, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand pathway in choroid plexus papilloma tumorigenesis. A combination of commonly occurring chromosomal duplications and deletions has also been identified. Surgical resection remains the standard of care, although chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be considered for recurrent or metastatic lesions. While generally considered benign, these tumors possess a complex biology that sheds insight into other choroid plexus tumors, particularly malignant choroid plexus carcinomas. Improving our understanding of the molecular biology, genetics, and oncogenic pathways associated with this tumor will allow for the development of targeted therapies and improved outcomes for patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Safaee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
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20
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Genome-scale DNA methylation analyses of cancer in children. Epigenomics 2012. [DOI: 10.1017/cbo9780511777271.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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21
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Yang I, Nagasawa DT, Kim W, Spasic M, Trang A, Lu DC, Martin NA. Chromosomal anomalies and prognostic markers for intracranial and spinal ependymomas. J Clin Neurosci 2012; 19:779-85. [PMID: 22516549 PMCID: PMC3615711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2011.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Ependymomas are neoplasms that can occur anywhere along the craniospinal axis. They are the third most common brain tumor in children, representing 10% of pediatric intracranial tumors, 4% of adult brain tumors, and 15% of all spinal cord tumors. As the heterogeneity of ependymomas has severely limited the prognostic value of the World Health Organization grading system, numerous studies have focused on genetic alterations as a potential basis for classification and prognosis. However, this endeavor has proven difficult due to variations of findings depending on tumor location, tumor grade, and patient age. While many have evaluated chromosomal abnormalities for ependymomas as a whole group, others have concentrated their efforts on specific subsets of populations. Here, we review modern findings of chromosomal analyses, their relationships with various genes, and their prognostic implications for intracranial and spinal cord ependymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles, UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Rogers HA, Kilday JP, Mayne C, Ward J, Adamowicz-Brice M, Schwalbe EC, Clifford SC, Coyle B, Grundy RG. Supratentorial and spinal pediatric ependymomas display a hypermethylated phenotype which includes the loss of tumor suppressor genes involved in the control of cell growth and death. Acta Neuropathol 2012; 123:711-25. [PMID: 22109108 PMCID: PMC3316934 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-011-0904-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2011] [Revised: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations, including methylation, have been shown to be an important mechanism of gene silencing in cancer. Ependymoma has been well characterized at the DNA copy number and mRNA expression levels. However little is known about DNA methylation changes. To gain a more global view of the methylation profile of ependymoma we conducted an array-based analysis. Our data demonstrated tumors to segregate according to their location in the CNS, which was associated with a difference in the global level of methylation. Supratentorial and spinal tumors displayed significantly more hypermethylated genes than posterior fossa tumors, similar to the ‘CpG island methylator phenotype’ (CIMP) identified in glioma and colon carcinoma. This hypermethylated profile was associated with an increase in expression of genes encoding for proteins involved in methylating DNA, suggesting an underlying mechanism. An integrated analysis of methylation and mRNA expression array data allowed us to identify methylation-induced expression changes. Most notably genes involved in the control of cell growth and death and the immune system were identified, including members of the JNK pathway and PPARG. In conclusion, we have generated a global view of the methylation profile of ependymoma. The data suggests epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of supratentorial and spinal, but not posterior fossa ependymomas. Hypermethylation correlated with a decrease in expression of a number of tumor suppressor genes and pathways that could be playing an important role in tumor pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel A. Rogers
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - John-Paul Kilday
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - Cerys Mayne
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - Jennifer Ward
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - Martyna Adamowicz-Brice
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - Ed C. Schwalbe
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Steven C. Clifford
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Beth Coyle
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - Richard G. Grundy
- Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, D Floor Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
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Patibandla MR, Kumar A, Bhattacharjee S, Sahu BP, Uppin M, Challa S. Dual gliomas with syringomyelia in a child: case report and literature review. Pediatr Neurosurg 2012; 48:168-73. [PMID: 23406771 DOI: 10.1159/000346258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE The occurrence of multiple tumors of different histopathologies in the central nervous -system is rare. Here, we report a case of a child with dual neuroepithelial tumors of different histological cell types and -review the available literature for analyzing the causal hypo-thesis. CASE REPORT A 7-year-old girl presented with history of headaches associated with multiple episodes of early morning projectile vomiting and visual blurring. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a well-defined lesion in the hypothalamic region. The patient underwent resection of the tumor by the transcallosal transfornicial approach. Histopathology was suggestive of pilocytic astrocytoma. After 3 years, the patient presented with low back pain radiating to the right lower limb followed by sudden onset of weakness in both lower limbs. Recent MRI brain and spine scans showed a small residual lesion at the hypothalamus with D1 to D10 syrinx. A T1 hypointense and T2 hyperintense cystic lesion from D10 to S2 with intensely enhancing solid component at the S1, S2 region was also detected. The patient underwent L4 to S2 laminectomy and the histopathological examination revealed myxopapillary ependymoma. CONCLUSION The presence of multiple neuroepithelial tumors of different histopathology in the same patient is extremely rare, and we report one such case of dual gliomas with hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma and cauda equina myxopapillary ependymoma in a 10-year-old patient. During the course of development, displacement and dedifferentiation of primitive totipotent neuroepithelial germ cells may be a causal factor for the appearance of the different neuroepithelial tumors in neuraxis concomitantly or subsequently, which might be substantiated by common cytogenetic abnormalities in different neuroepithelial tumor histogenesis.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Ependymomas remain a therapeutic challenge in pediatric neuro-oncology. These tumors are chemoresistant and rather radioresistant and until recently little was known about their biology. RECENT FINDINGS Histopathological grading of ependymomas according to the WHO classification is neither reproducible, nor correlated with outcome, especially in young children. Characterization of molecular abnormalities in ependymomas offers now a better understanding of their initiation and progression; different biological subtypes of tumors have been described and would need further validation. The identification of new prognostic biomarkers, such as tenascin-C overexpression or chromosome 1q gain, will considerably help patient stratification in future trials. Finally, the recent discovery of specific pathways involved in ependymomas oncogenesis, such as Notch-1or EPHB2 offers new perspectives for the development of targeted therapies. SUMMARY A comprehensive biological work-out including CGHarray and immunohistochemistry for specific biomarkers should now be recommended for the current management of pediatric ependymoma, especially in young children if radiotherapy has to be omitted in the first line of treatment.
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25
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Cecener G, Tunca B, Egeli U, Bekar A, Tezcan G, Erturk E, Bayram N, Tolunay S. The Promoter Hypermethylation Status of GATA6, MGMT, and FHIT in Glioblastoma. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2011; 32:237-44. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-011-9753-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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26
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Qureshi IA, Mehler MF. Epigenetics, nervous system tumors, and cancer stem cells. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:3525-56. [PMID: 24212967 PMCID: PMC3759209 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3033525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2011] [Revised: 08/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances have begun to elucidate how epigenetic regulatory mechanisms are responsible for establishing and maintaining cell identity during development and adult life and how the disruption of these processes is, not surprisingly, one of the hallmarks of cancer. In this review, we describe the major epigenetic mechanisms (i.e., DNA methylation, histone and chromatin modification, non-coding RNA deployment, RNA editing, and nuclear reorganization) and discuss the broad spectrum of epigenetic alterations that have been uncovered in pediatric and adult nervous system tumors. We also highlight emerging evidence that suggests epigenetic deregulation is a characteristic feature of so-called cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are thought to be present in a range of nervous system tumors and responsible for tumor maintenance, progression, treatment resistance, and recurrence. We believe that better understanding how epigenetic mechanisms operate in neural cells and identifying the etiologies and consequences of epigenetic deregulation in tumor cells and CSCs, in particular, are likely to promote the development of enhanced molecular diagnostics and more targeted and effective therapeutic agents for treating recalcitrant nervous system tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irfan A. Qureshi
- Rosyln and Leslie Goldstein Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; E-Mail:
- Institute for Brain Disorders and Neural Regeneration, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Rose F. Kennedy Center for Research on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Mark F. Mehler
- Rosyln and Leslie Goldstein Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; E-Mail:
- Institute for Brain Disorders and Neural Regeneration, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Rose F. Kennedy Center for Research on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-718-430-3543; Fax: +1-718-918-7505
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Faria CMC, Rutka JT, Smith C, Kongkham P. Epigenetic mechanisms regulating neural development and pediatric brain tumor formation. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2011; 8:119-32. [PMID: 21806352 DOI: 10.3171/2011.5.peds1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children, and among them, embryonal tumors represent the largest group with an associated poor prognosis and long-term morbidity for survivors. The field of cancer epigenetics has emerged recently as an important area of investigation and causation of a variety of neoplasms, and is defined as alterations in gene expression without changes in DNA sequence. The best studied epigenetic modifications are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-based mechanisms. These modifications play an important role in normal development and differentiation but their dysregulation can lead to altered gene function and cancer. In this review the authors describe the mechanisms of normal epigenetic regulation, how they interplay in neuroembryogenesis, and how these can cause brain tumors in children when dysregulated. The potential use of epigenetic markers to design more effective treatment strategies for children with malignant brain tumors is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M C Faria
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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28
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Zheng S, Houseman EA, Morrison Z, Wrensch MR, Patoka JS, Ramos C, Haas-Kogan DA, McBride S, Marsit CJ, Christensen BC, Nelson HH, Stokoe D, Wiemels JL, Chang SM, Prados MD, Tihan T, Vandenberg SR, Kelsey KT, Berger MS, Wiencke JK. DNA hypermethylation profiles associated with glioma subtypes and EZH2 and IGFBP2 mRNA expression. Neuro Oncol 2011; 13:280-9. [PMID: 21339190 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noq190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored the associations of aberrant DNA methylation patterns in 12 candidate genes with adult glioma subtype, patient survival, and gene expression of enhancer of zeste human homolog 2 (EZH2) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2). We analyzed 154 primary glioma tumors (37 astrocytoma II and III, 52 primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), 11 secondary GBM, 54 oligodendroglioma/oligoastrocytoma II and III) and 13 nonmalignant brain tissues for aberrant methylation with quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMS-PCR) and for EZH2 and IGFBP2 expression with quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Global methylation was assessed by measuring long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE1) methylation. Unsupervised clustering analyses yielded 3 methylation patterns (classes). Class 1 (MGMT, PTEN, RASSF1A, TMS1, ZNF342, EMP3, SOCS1, RFX1) was highly methylated in 82% (75/91) of lower-grade astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors, 73% (8/11) of secondary GBMs, and 12% (6/52) of primary GBMs. The primary GBMs in this class were early onset (median age 37 years). Class 2 (HOXA9 and SLIT2) was highly methylated in 37% (19/52) of primary GBMs. None of the 10 genes for class 3 that were differentially methylated in classes 1 and 2 were hypermethylated in 92% (12/13) of nonmalignant brain tissues and 52% (27/52) of primary GBMs. Class 1 tumors had elevated EZH2 expression but not elevated IGFBP2; class 2 tumors had both high IGFBP2 and high EZH2 expressions. The gene-specific hypermethylation class correlated with higher levels of global LINE1 methylation and longer patient survival times. These findings indicate a generalized hypermethylation phenotype in glioma linked to improved survival and low IGFBP2. DNA methylation markers are useful in characterizing distinct glioma subtypes and may hold promise for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichun Zheng
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Cancer Center, 1450 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Buckley PG, Das S, Bryan K, Watters KM, Alcock L, Koster J, Versteeg R, Stallings RL. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of neuroblastic tumors reveals clinically relevant epigenetic events and large-scale epigenomic alterations localized to telomeric regions. Int J Cancer 2011; 128:2296-305. [PMID: 20669225 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The downregulation of specific genes through DNA hypermethylation is a major hallmark of cancer, although the extent and genomic distribution of hypermethylation occurring within cancer genomes is poorly understood. We report on the first genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation alterations in different neuroblastic tumor subtypes and cell lines, revealing higher order organization and clinically relevant alterations of the epigenome. The methylation status of 33,485 discrete loci representing all annotated CpG islands and RefSeq gene promoters was assessed in primary neuroblastic tumors and cell lines. A comparison of genes that were hypermethylated exclusively in the clinically favorable ganglioneuroma/ganglioneuroblastoma tumors revealed that nine genes were associated with poor clinical outcome when overexpressed in the unfavorable neuroblastoma (NB) tumors. Moreover, an integrated DNA methylation and copy number analysis identified 80 genes that were recurrently concomitantly deleted and hypermethylated in NB, with 37 reactivated by 5-aza-deoxycytidine. Lower expression of four of these genes was correlated with poor clinical outcome, further implicating their inactivation in aggressive disease pathogenesis. Analysis of genome-wide hypermethylation patterns revealed 70 recurrent large-scale blocks of contiguously hypermethylated promoters/CpG islands, up to 590 kb in length, with a distribution bias toward telomeric regions. Genome-wide hypermethylation events in neuroblastic tumors are extensive and frequently occur in large-scale blocks with a significant bias toward telomeric regions, indicating that some methylation alterations have occurred in a coordinated manner. Our results indicate that methylation contributes toward the clinicopathological features of neuroblastic tumors, revealing numerous genes associated with poor patient survival in NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick G Buckley
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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Cai HH, Sun YM, Miao Y, Gao WT, Peng Q, Yao J, Zhao HL. Aberrant methylation frequency of TNFRSF10C promoter in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2011; 10:95-100. [PMID: 21269942 DOI: 10.1016/s1499-3872(11)60014-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence suggests that many tumors are initiated by both epigenetic abnormalities and gene mutations, which promote tumor progression. Epigenetic abnormalities include changes in DNA methylation and in the modification of histones. This study aimed to assess the status of methylation in the CpG island (CGI) of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 10c (TNFRSF10C) with combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) and to evaluate its role in the progression of pancreatic cancer (PC). METHODS The methylation status of four PC cell lines was assessed using COBRA and/or bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS). Changes in methylation and TNFRSF10C expression in PC cell lines before and after treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and/or trichostatin A (TSA) were assessed by BGS and real-time RT-PCR. Apoptosis in the four cell lines was tested by flow cytometry (FCM) and TUNEL assay. RESULTS The methylation status of the TNFRSF10C promoter was assessed in PC cells (BxPC-3: 68.84+/-8.71%; CFPAC-1: 0; PANC-1: 96.77+/-4.57%; SW1990: 54.97+/-7.33%) with the COBRA assay, which was confirmed by the results of BGS. After treatment with 5-aza-dC and/or TSA, apoptosis was induced in PC cells to different degrees, and the levels of TNFRSF10C transcriptional expression in the PC cell lines (except CFPAC-1) increased markedly after 5-aza-dC treatment. CONCLUSIONS A high frequency of CGI methylation in the TNFRSF10C promoter results in inactivation of the gene and enhancement of tumor growth in most PC cell lines (except CFPAC-1). Inactivation of TNFRSF10C by CGI hypermethylation can play an important role in PC progression and be potentially useful as a diagnostic marker and a new therapeutic approach for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hua Cai
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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Hayashi Y, Mohri M, Nakada M, Hamada JI. Ependymoma and choroid plexus papilloma as synchronous multiple neuroepithelial tumors in the same patient: a case report and review of literature. Neurosurgery 2011; 68:E1144-7; discussion E1147. [PMID: 21242834 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0b013e31820a16d4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE We report the case of a patient with multiple neuroepithelial tumors of different histological cell types. In this patient, synchronous appearance of tumors of the central nervous system, ie, cervical ependymoma and a fourth ventricle choroid plexus papilloma, was noted. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 36-year-old man presented with sensory disturbance of the bilateral upper extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhanced mass with syringomyelia in the upper cervical cord and a well-enhanced mass in the fourth ventricle. The patient underwent bilateral suboccipital craniotomy and laminectomy from the level of C1 to C3 for both lesions. The lesions were grossly resected. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that the cervical tumor was an ependymoma, and the fourth ventricle tumor was a choroid plexus papilloma. CONCLUSION The appearance of synchronous multiple neuroepithelial tumors of different histological cell types is extremely rare, and this is the first known case of ependymoma occurring synchronously with choroid plexus papilloma, both tumors having different histological cell types. Displacement and maldifferentiation of primitive, multipotent neuroepithelial cells may be a causative factor for this unique presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Hayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
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Abstract
Ependymomas are rare primary central nervous system tumors in adults. They occur most commonly in the spinal cord, where histopathologic evaluation is critical to differentiate the grade I myxopapillary ependymoma from the grade II ependymoma or grade III anaplastic ependymoma. Brain ependymomas are either grade II or III. Treatment for all grades and types includes maximum surgical resection. For myxopapillary ependymoma, complete removal while maintaining capsule integrity may be curative. Some grade II ependymomas may be observed carefully after imaging confirms complete resection, but grade III tumors require adjuvant radiation treatment. Radiation commonly is given to the region of tumor, except in cases in which there is imaging or cerebrospinal fluid evidence of tumor dissemination. Chemotherapy has not been studied extensively, although most reports suggest only modest benefit. Ongoing laboratory studies have uncovered important signal transduction pathways that may be better therapeutic targets, leading to the development of clinical trials using targeted agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Gilbert
- Department of Neuro-oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77025, USA.
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Abstract
Global loss of DNA methylation has been known for decades as an epigenomic aberration associated with carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Loss of DNA methylation affects predominantly repetitive elements, which encompass >50% of the CpG dinucleotides present in the human genome. Because of the lack of an effective approach, no studies have been conducted to reveal such genome-wide methylation changes at a single-base resolution. To precisely determine the CpG sites with methylation loss during progression of pediatric intracranial ependymomas, we exploited a high-throughput bisulfite sequencing approach that simultaneously generates methylation profiles for thousands of Alu elements and their flanking sequences. Comparison of the methylation profiles of normal and tumor tissues revealed that the methylation status of the majority of CpG sites adjacent to or within Alu repeats remain unaltered, while a small set of CpG sites gain or lose methylation in ependymomas. Compared to the CpG sites with stable methylation level between normal control and ependymomas, the differentially methylated CpG sites are enriched in the sequences with low CpG density in the flanking regions of Alu repeats, rather than within the Alu sequences themselves. In addition, the CpG sites that are hypermethylated in ependymomas are proximal to CpG islands, whereas those that are hypomethylated are overrepresented in intergenic regions. Lastly, aberrant methylation of several genomic loci was confirmed to be associated with the aggressive primary tumors and the relapsed ependymomas.
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Koos B, Peetz-Dienhart S, Riesmeier B, Frühwald MC, Hasselblatt M. O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is significantly less frequent in ependymal tumours as compared to malignant astrocytic gliomas. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2010; 36:356-8. [PMID: 20202118 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2010.01077.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Piperi C, Themistocleous MS, Papavassiliou GA, Farmaki E, Levidou G, Korkolopoulou P, Adamopoulos C, Papavassiliou AG. High incidence of MGMT and RARbeta promoter methylation in primary glioblastomas: association with histopathological characteristics, inflammatory mediators and clinical outcome. Mol Med 2009; 16:1-9. [PMID: 19809523 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2009.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2009] [Accepted: 09/29/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas, the most frequent primary brain tumors in adults, are characterized by a highly aggressive, inflammatory and angiogenic phenotype. Methylation of CpG islands in cancer-related genes may serve as an epigenetic biomarker for glioblastoma diagnosis and prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the methylation status of four critical tumor-associated genes (MGMT, RARbeta, RASSF1A, CDH13), and investigate possible links with inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8) and angiogenic mediators (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], cyclooxygenase [COX]-2) and clinical outcome in 23 glioma samples (6 grade II astrocytomas, 17 grade IV glioblastomas). RARbeta and MGMT genes were more frequently methylated in 70.58% and 58.8% of glioblastomas, respectively. RASSF1A and CDH13 displayed a similar methylation frequency (23.52%) in glioblastomas. No gene methylation was observed in grade II astrocytomas. Tumor grade correlated positively with MGMT and RARbeta methylation (P = 0.005 and P = 0.019, respectively) and the extent of necrosis (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003). Interestingly, the marker of chronic inflammation, IL-6, was positively associated with methylation of MGMT (P = 0.004), RARbeta (P = 0.002), and RASSF1A (P = 0.0081) as well as the total number of methylated genes (P < 0.0001), indicating the important role of IL-6 in maintaining promoter methylation of these genes. VEGF expression correlated positively with MGMT and RARbeta methylation although these relationships were of marginal significance (P = 0.0679 and P = 0.0757). Kaplan-Meier univariate survival analysis indicated an unfavorable survival period in patients with MGMT methylation compared with those without methylation (P = 0.0474). Our study highlights the implication of MGMT and RARbeta methylation in the aggressive phenotype of primary glioblastomas. The association of MGMT methylation with clinical outcome indicates its potential prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Tamburrini G, D'Ercole M, Pettorini BL, Caldarelli M, Massimi L, Di Rocco C. Survival following treatment for intracranial ependymoma: a review. Childs Nerv Syst 2009; 25:1303-12. [PMID: 19387655 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-009-0874-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The actual definition of survival rates following treatment for intracranial ependymomas is substantially influenced by the strict interaction among different factors. Age, location, and grading, for example, act together, negatively influencing the prognosis of younger children also invariably influenced by the more demanding role of surgery and the still limited use, up to recently, of radiotherapy under 3 years of age. In the same direction, the worse prognosis in most series of infratentorial ependymomas if compared with their supratentorial counterpart should be cautiously considered, midline posterior fossa tumors having completely different implications from those originating or predominantly extending to the cerebellopontine angle, where the extent of surgery has more invariably to compare with patients' quality of life. New radiotherapic regimens and their applications in infancy are promisingly demonstrating an improvement of present prognostic criteria, with the limit of still insufficient information on their long-term secondary effects. Similarly, molecular biology research studies, though still in their preclinical stage, are prompting to change the concept of a substantially chemoresistant tumor helping to stratify these lesions with the final aim of targeted pharmacological therapies. In the present review paper, we investigated singularly the role that the more commonly considered prognostic factors have had in the literature on survival of children affected by intracranial ependymomas, trying to elucidate their cumulative effect on the actual knowledge of this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Tamburrini
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University Medical School, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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Palm T, Figarella-Branger D, Chapon F, Lacroix C, Gray F, Scaravilli F, Ellison DW, Salmon I, Vikkula M, Godfraind C. Expression profiling of ependymomas unravels localization and tumor grade-specific tumorigenesis. Cancer 2009; 115:3955-68. [PMID: 19536879 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.24476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ependymomas derive from ependymal cells that cover the cerebral ventricles and the central canal of the spinal cord. The molecular alterations leading to ependymomal oncogenesis are not completely understood. METHODS The authors performed array-based expression profiling on a series of 34 frozen ependymal tumors with different localizations and histologic grades. Data were analyzed by nonsupervised and supervised clustering methods along with Gene Ontology and Pathway Analyzer tools. RESULTS Class discovery experiments indicated a strong correlation between profiles and tumor localization as well as World Health Organization (WHO) tumor grades. On the basis of supervised clustering, intracranial ependymomas were associated with high expression levels of Notch, Hedgehog, and bone morphogenetic protein pathway members. In contrast, most of the homeobox-containing genes manifested high expression in extracranial ependymomas. The results also revealed that WHO grade 2 ependymomas differed from WHO grade 3 ependymomas by genes implicated in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, cell cycle, E2F transcription factor 1 destruction, angiogenesis, apoptosis, remodeling of adherens junctions, and mitotic spindle formation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the tumor localization-related gene sets mainly implicated in stem cell maintenance, renewal, and differentiation suggest the dysregulation of localized cancer stem cells during ependymoma development. The WHO grade differentiating pathways suggested that alteration of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is a key event in the tumorigenesis of WHO grade 3 ependymomas. On the basis of the current data, the authors suggest a developmental scheme of ependymomas that integrates tumor localization and tumor grades, and that pinpoints new targets for the development of future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Palm
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Duve Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although ependymoma is the third most common pediatric brain tumor, we know little about the genetic/epigenetic basis of its initiation, maintenance, or progression. This is due in part to the heterogeneity of the disease, as well as the small sample size of the cohorts analyzed in most studies. METHODS Many of the genetic aberrations identified to date are large genomic regions, making the differentiation between passenger and driver genes difficult. The finding of a balanced karyotype in a significant subset of pediatric posterior fossa ependymomas increases the difficulty of identifying targets for rationale therapy. CONCLUSION The paucity of in vitro and in vivo model systems for ependymoma compound the difficulties outlined above. In this review, we discuss the published literature on ependymoma genetics and epigenetics and discuss possible future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Mack
- Division of Neurosurgery, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Lehman NL. The ubiquitin proteasome system in neuropathology. Acta Neuropathol 2009; 118:329-47. [PMID: 19597829 PMCID: PMC2716447 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-009-0560-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2009] [Revised: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 06/11/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) orchestrates the turnover of innumerable cellular proteins. In the process of ubiquitination the small protein ubiquitin is attached to a target protein by a peptide bond. The ubiquitinated target protein is subsequently shuttled to a protease complex known as the 26S proteasome and subjected to degradative proteolysis. The UPS facilitates the turnover of proteins in several settings. It targets oxidized, mutant or misfolded proteins for general proteolytic destruction, and allows for the tightly controlled and specific destruction of proteins involved in development and differentiation, cell cycle progression, circadian rhythms, apoptosis, and other biological processes. In neuropathology, alteration of the UPS, or mutations in UPS target proteins may result in signaling abnormalities leading to the initiation or progression of tumors such as astrocytomas, hemangioblastomas, craniopharyngiomas, pituitary adenomas, and medulloblastomas. Dysregulation of the UPS may also contribute to tumor progression by perturbation of DNA replication and mitotic control mechanisms, leading to genomic instability. In neurodegenerative diseases caused by the expression of mutant proteins, the cellular accumulation of these proteins may overload the UPS, indirectly contributing to the disease process, e.g., sporadic Parkinsonism and prion diseases. In other cases, mutation of UPS components may directly cause pathological accumulation of proteins, e.g., autosomal recessive Parkinsonism and spinocerebellar ataxias. Defects or dysfunction of the UPS may also underlie cognitive disorders such as Angelman syndrome, Rett syndrome and autism, and muscle and nerve diseases, e.g., inclusion body myopathy and giant axon neuropathy. This paper describes the basic biochemical mechanisms comprising the UPS and reviews both its theoretical and proven involvement in neuropathological diseases. The potential for the UPS as a target of pharmacological therapy is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Lehman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
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Kilday JP, Rahman R, Dyer S, Ridley L, Lowe J, Coyle B, Grundy R. Pediatric ependymoma: biological perspectives. Mol Cancer Res 2009; 7:765-86. [PMID: 19531565 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-08-0584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric ependymomas are enigmatic tumors that continue to present a clinical management challenge despite advances in neurosurgery, neuroimaging techniques, and radiation therapy. Difficulty in predicting tumor behavior from clinical and histological factors has shifted the focus to the molecular and cellular biology of ependymoma in order to identify new correlates of disease outcome and novel therapeutic targets. This article reviews our current understanding of pediatric ependymoma biology and includes a meta-analysis of all comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) studies done on primary ependymomas to date, examining more than 300 tumors. From this meta-analysis and a review of the literature, we show that ependymomas in children exhibit a different genomic profile to those in adults and reinforce the evidence that ependymomas from different locations within the central nervous system (CNS) are distinguishable at a genomic level. Potential biological markers of prognosis in pediatric ependymoma are assessed and the ependymoma cancer stem cell hypothesis is highlighted with respect to tumor resistance and recurrence. We also discuss the shifting paradigm for treatment modalities in ependymoma that target molecular alterations in tumor-initiating cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John-Paul Kilday
- The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Kuo LT, Kuo KT, Lee MJ, Wei CC, Scaravilli F, Tsai JC, Tseng HM, Kuo MF, Tu YK. Correlation among pathology, genetic and epigenetic profiles, and clinical outcome in oligodendroglial tumors. Int J Cancer 2009; 124:2872-9. [PMID: 19330828 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed a correlation between specific genetic changes, such as loss of chromosome 1p and 19q, and sensitivity of oligodendroglial neoplasm to radiotherapy and chemotherapy; epigenetic changes also play an important role in some tumors. In this retrospective study, we analyzed chromosomal alterations in 17 loci and promoter methylation status of 8 tumor-related genes in 49 oligodendroglial tumors (29 WHO grade II and 11 WHO grade III oligodendrogliomas; 7 WHO grade II and 2 WHO grade III oligoastrocytomas) using quantitative microsatellite analysis and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and correlated this information with clinical data. We also performed immunohistochemical stains for Ki-67 and O (6)-methyl guanine-DNA methyl transferase. Our results showed that the frequency of deletions in regions on 1p, 9p, 10q, 17p and 19q were 71.4%, 26.5%, 6.1%, 69.4% and 89.8%, respectively. Promoter methylation was detected in p14, p15, p16, p53, p73, PTEN, MGMT and RASSF1A genes in 24.5%, 6.1%, 46.9%, 0%, 6.1%, 42.9%, 53.1% and 77.6% of tumors, respectively. Statistical analysis identified that 9p22 loss, p73 methylation and p15 methylation were independently associated with reduced overall survival, and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) > or = 5%, 9p22 loss, no loss of 19q, p73 methylation, p14 methylation and unmethylated MGMT predicted shorter progression-free survival. Our findings suggest that the frequent deletion and hypermethylation of tumor-related genes may represent a mechanism of tumor development and progression and emphasize the importance of defining new molecular markers for predicting prognosis, tumor recurrence and therapeutic response in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Ting Kuo
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin County, [corrected] Taiwan
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review state of art and relevant advances in the molecular biology and management of ependymomas of the adult. RECENT FINDINGS Ependymomas of the adult are uncommon neoplasms of the central nervous system, and may occur either in the brain or the spinal cord. Compared with intracranial ependymomas, spinal ependymomas are less frequent and exhibit a better prognosis. Studies performed on genetic changes in ependymoma provide some insight into the pathogenesis and prognostic markers and yield new therapeutic targets, particularly focused on signal transduction modulators. The majority of studies have shown a major impact of extent of resection; thus, a complete resection must be performed, whenever possible, at first surgery or at reoperation. Involved field radiotherapy is recommended for anaplastic or incompletely resected grade II tumors. Craniospinal irradiation is reserved for metastatic disease. Chemotherapy is not advocated as primary treatment, and is best utilized as salvage treatment for patients failing surgery and radiotherapy. SUMMARY Owing to the rarity of the disease, the literature regarding ependymomas in adults is scarce and limited to retrospective series. Thus, the level of evidence regarding therapeutic strategies is low and universally accepted guidelines are lacking. Molecular biology studies suggest some potential new therapeutic targets.
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Cheng Y, Kim JW, Liu W, Dunn TA, Luo J, Loza MJ, Kim ST, Zheng SL, Xu J, Isaacs WB, Chang BL. Genetic and epigenetic inactivation of TNFRSF10C in human prostate cancer. Prostate 2009; 69:327-35. [PMID: 19035483 PMCID: PMC2795318 DOI: 10.1002/pros.20882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TNFRSF10C, is located on 8p21.3, one of the most frequently deleted loci in the genome of prostate cancer (PCa). Hypermethylation of TNFRSF10C promoter CpG island (CGI) had been reported in many tumors including PCa. However, the interplay between somatic deletion and promoter hypermethylation of TNFRSF10C on PCa development has not been investigated. METHODS Methylation status of promoter CGI and deletion status of the TNFRSF10C locus was investigated by bisulfite sequencing and Affymetrix SNP array, respectively, in 59 pairs of PCa tumor and matched normal samples with three PCa cell lines. TNFRSF10C gene expression changes in relation to cancer-associated genetic/epigenetic changes in clinical specimens, and change of TNFRSF10C expression before and after 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment in the PC3 PCa cell line was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS We found that TNFRSF10C promoter CGI was differentially methylated in 46 of 59 primary cancers (78.0%). Hemizygous deletion at TNFRSF10C was found in 44 of the 59 prostate tumors (74.5%). Interestingly, in 94.9% of the tumors (56 out of 59), TNFRSF10C was either hemizygously deleted or its promoter CGI hypermethylated. Deletion and/or methylation of the TNFRSF10C gene were correlated with decreased mRNA expression of the gene in clinical specimens. Demethylation of the TNFRSF10C promoter CGI was accompanied by transcriptional re-activation of TNFRSF10C in the PCa cell line PC3. CONCLUSION We found a notably high frequency of promoter CGI methylation and deletion of TNFRSF10C in PCa tissues. Our results indicated that inactivation of TNFRSF10C by chromosomal deletion and promoter methylation may play an important role in PCa development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Cheng
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Jin Woo Kim
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Wennuan Liu
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Thomas A Dunn
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jun Luo
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Matthew J Loza
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Seong-Tae Kim
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Siqun Lilly Zheng
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Jianfeng Xu
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Center for Human Genomics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - William B. Isaacs
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Address for correspondence: Dr. Bao-Li Chang, Ph.D., Center for Human Genomics, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157, Phone: (336)713-7148, Fax: (336)713-7566, , or Dr. William B. Isaacs, Ph.D., Marburg 115, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, Phone: (410)955-2518, Fax: (410)955-0833,
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Hesson LB, Krex D, Latif F. Epigenetic markers in human gliomas: prospects for therapeutic intervention. Expert Rev Neurother 2008; 8:1475-96. [PMID: 18928342 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.8.10.1475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Gliomas represent the most common CNS cancers in adults. Prognosis for patients harboring malignant gliomas is particularly dismal and, despite current treatment strategies comprising surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the median survival time after diagnosis is still in the range of just 12 months. In recent years, there has been an increased effort to identify tumor biomarkers that can be used as diagnostic tools, or markers for predicting therapeutic response and prognosis. Investigation of genetic changes has identified several such markers that have shown some success in predicting the most effective therapy. In recent years, however, it has become apparent that the biology of many cancers of the CNS is determined not only by their genetic profile but also their epigenetic profile. Epigenetic biomarkers show great potential in effectively predicting patient prognosis and response to therapy. The eventual application of epigenetic profiling of tumors may help to indicate the most effective tailored therapy for individual patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke B Hesson
- Department of Reproductive and Child Health, Institute of Biomedical Research, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK.
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Karakoula K, Suarez-Merino B, Ward S, Phipps KP, Harkness W, Hayward R, Thompson D, Jacques TS, Harding B, Beck J, Thomas DGT, Warr TJ. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of pediatric ependymomas identifies novel candidate genes including TPR at 1q25 and CHIBBY at 22q12-q13. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2008; 47:1005-22. [PMID: 18663750 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.20607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of chromosome 22 and gain of 1q are the most frequent genomic aberrations in ependymomas, indicating that genes mapping to these regions are critical in their pathogenesis. Using real-time quantitative PCR, we measured relative copy numbers of 10 genes mapping to 22q12.3-q13.33 and 10 genes at 1q21-32 in a series of 47 pediatric intracranial ependymomas. Loss of one or more of the genes on 22 was detected in 81% of cases, with RAC2 and C22ORF2 at 22q12-q13.1 being deleted most frequently in 38% and 32% of ependymoma samples, respectively. Combined analysis of quantitative-PCR with methylation-specific PCR and bisulphite sequencing revealed a high rate (>60% ependymoma) of transcriptional inactivation of C22ORF2, indicating its potential importance in the development of pediatric ependymomas. Increase of relative copy numbers of at least one gene on 1q were detected in 61% of cases, with TPR at 1q25 displaying relative copy number gains in 38% of cases. Patient age was identified as a significant adverse prognostic factor, as a significantly shorter overall survival time (P = 0.0056) was observed in patients <2 years of age compared with patients who were >2 years of age. Loss of RAC2 at 22q13 or amplification of TPR at 1q25 was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in these younger patients (P = 0.0492 and P = < 0.0001, respectively). This study identifies candidate target genes within 1q and 22q that are potentially important in the pathogenesis of intracranial pediatric ependymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Karakoula
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
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Aberrant MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) promoter methylation in choroid plexus tumors. J Neurooncol 2008; 91:151-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-008-9694-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2008] [Accepted: 09/01/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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de Bont JM, Packer RJ, Michiels EM, den Boer ML, Pieters R. Biological background of pediatric medulloblastoma and ependymoma: a review from a translational research perspective. Neuro Oncol 2008; 10:1040-60. [PMID: 18676356 DOI: 10.1215/15228517-2008-059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival rates of pediatric brain tumor patients have significantly improved over the years due to developments in diagnostic techniques, neurosurgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and supportive care. However, brain tumors are still an important cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Prognosis is still highly dependent on clinical characteristics, such as the age of the patient, tumor type, stage, and localization, but increased knowledge about the genetic and biological features of these tumors is being obtained and might be useful to further improve outcome for these patients. It has become clear that the deregulation of signaling pathways essential in brain development, for example, sonic hedgehog (SHH), Wnt, and Notch pathways, plays an important role in pathogenesis and biological behavior, especially for medulloblastomas. More recently, data have become available about the cells of origin of brain tumors and the possible existence of brain tumor stem cells. Newly developed array-based techniques for studying gene expression, protein expression, copy number aberrations, and epigenetic events have led to the identification of other potentially important biological abnormalities in pediatric medulloblastomas and ependymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith M de Bont
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Buccoliero AM, Castiglione F, Rossi Degl'Innocenti D, Paglierani M, Maio V, Gheri CF, Garbini F, Moncini D, Taddei A, Sardi I, Sanzo M, Giordano F, Mussa F, Genitori L, Taddei GL. O6-Methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase in recurring anaplastic ependymomas: PCR and immunohistochemistry. J Chemother 2008; 20:263-8. [PMID: 18467255 DOI: 10.1179/joc.2008.20.2.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Ependymomas are the third most common brain tumor in children. The post surgical management is controversial. There are no convincing data on an effective role for chemotherapy. O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA-Methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair protein considered to be a chemosensitivity predictor. Hypermethylation of the MGMT gene promoter is an important cause of MGMT inactivation. We evaluated the MGMT gene promoter methylation and the immunohistochemical MGMT protein expression in 12 recurrent anaplastic ependymomas affecting children. Our purpose was to investigate the molecular rationale of the administration of alkylating agents to children affected by recurrent anaplastic ependymomas. All ependymomas lacked MGMT promoter hypermethylation and 9 (75%) showed high MGMT protein expression (>50% tumoral cells). Differences between different recurrences in the same patient were not observed. These results may indicate MGMT as a factor of chemoresistance to alkylating drugs in anaplastic ependymomas and support the uncertainties regarding the actual benefit of chemotherapy for patients with anaplastic ependymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Buccoliero
- Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Eastwood S, Bisson JI. Management of factitious disorders: a systematic review. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2008; 77:209-18. [PMID: 18418027 DOI: 10.1159/000126072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The literature regarding the management of factitious disorder (FD) is diverse and generally of case reports or case series. To date there has been no systematic review of the effectiveness of management techniques. METHODS Systematic review of all evidence reporting the management and subsequent outcome in FD. Data were extracted and outcomes were assessed using an adaptation of the Global Improvement Scale. Results were analysed by parametric statistical tests; a meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS Thirty-two case reports and 13 case series were eligible for inclusion. Analysis of the case reports found no significant difference in outcomes between confrontational and non-confrontational approaches [t(29) = 0.72, p = 0.48], between treatment with psychotherapy compared to no psychotherapy [t(30) = 0.69, p = 0.48], and when psychiatric medication had been prescribed compared with not [t(30) = 0.35, p = 0.73]. A trend was observed that a longer length of treatment lead to better outcomes, but this was not significant [F(5, 26) = 1.17, p = 0.35]. The consecutive case series demonstrated that many FD sufferers were not engaged in treatment and were lost to follow-up but did not provide any strong evidence regarding the effectiveness of different management approaches. CONCLUSIONS There is an absence of sufficient robust research to determine the effectiveness of any management technique for FD. The establishment of a central reporting register to facilitate the development of evidence-based guidelines is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Eastwood
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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50
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Losi-Guembarovski R, Kuasne H, Guembarovski AL, Rainho CA, Cólus IMS. DNA methylation patterns of the CDH1, RARB, and SFN genes in choroid plexus tumors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 179:140-5. [PMID: 18036402 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2007.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2007] [Accepted: 05/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and epigenetic alterations in choroid plexus tumors, a rare neuroepithelial neoplasm most frequently detected in children, are poorly characterized. Epigenetic silencing associated with aberrant CpG island methylation is one mechanism leading to the loss of tumor suppressor functions in cancer cells. Using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, the methylation patterns of the genes CDH1 (E-cadherin), RARB (retinoic acid receptor, beta), and SFN (stratifin; 14-3-3sigma) were retrospectively investigated in eight choroid plexus tumors (five papillomas, two atypical papillomas, and one carcinoma), as well as in two normal cortexes obtained after autopsy from male individuals aged 6 months and 64 years. Among the six pediatric tumors, the mean age at diagnosis was 1.8 years old (range, 0.2-6) and the two adult tumors were detected in a 66-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman. A high frequency of hypermethylation was detected in CDH1 and SFN genes in tumoral and normal cortex tissues. Tumor-specific RARB hypermethylation was observed in four papillomas. Further studies are required to evaluate the role of aberrant methylation in choroid plexus tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Losi-Guembarovski
- Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina-UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil
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