Project description:Pineoblastoma is a rare and aggressive embryonal tumor of childhood. The molecular heterogeneity within has not been systematically evaluated. In this study, we used methylation profiling to compare the signatures of pineoblastoma and other pineal parenchymal tumors to a reference cohort of brain tumor entities (GSE90496) , clinically relevant epigenomic subgroups with characteristics genomic/transcriptomic features are described.
Project description:Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in childhood. There is the need for biomarkers of residual disease, response to therapies and recurrence. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a source of brain tumor biomarkers. We analyzed the proteome of waste CSF from extraventricular drainage (EVD) from 30 children bearing different brain tumors and 16 controls needing EVD insertion for unrelated causes. 1598 and 1526 proteins were identified in CSF control and brain tumor patients, respectively, 263 and 191 proteins being exclusive of either condition. Bioinformatic analysis revealed promising biomarkers for the discrimination between control and tumor (TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 and S100 protein B). Morever, Thymosin beta-4 (TMSB4X) and CD109, and 14.3.3 and HSP90 alpha could discriminate among other brain tumors and low-grade glyomas plus glyoneuronal tumors/pilocytic astrocytoma, or embryonal tumors/medulloblastoma. Biomarkers were validated by ELISA assay. Our method appears to be able to distinguish among two groups of tumors and each of these from a cohort of both normal and hemorrhagic patients. Further prospective studies may assess whether the biomarkers proposed by our discovery approach can be identified in other bodily fluids, therefore less invasively, and are useful to guide therapy and predict recurrences.
Project description:Embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) are rare malignant embryonal brain tumors. The prognosis of ETMR is poor and novel therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. Comprehension of ETMR tumor biology is based on only few previous molecular studies, which mainly relied on the analyses of nucleic acids. In this study, we explored integrated ETMR proteomics with the aim to identify novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in these deadly tumors. Using mass spectrometry, proteome data were acquired from FFPE tissue of 40 embryonal brain tumors (16 ETMR, 9 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT), 15 medulloblastomas (MB)) and integrated with case-matched global DNA methylation data, publicly available transcriptome data, and proteome data of further pediatric brain tumors. Proteome-based cluster analyses grouped ETMR samples according to histomorphology, separating neuropil-rich tumors with neuronal signatures from primitive tumors with signatures relating to stemness and chromosome organization. Microdissection analyses highlighted the close relationship of ETMR histomorphology and proteome profiles, regardless of intra- or intertumoral comparisons. Integrated proteomics showcased that ETMR harbor proteasome regulatory proteins in abundancy, implicating their strong dependency on the proteasome machinery to safeguard proteostasis. Respectively, in vitro cell culture viability assays using embryonal brain tumor cell lines BT183 (ETMR), BT16 (AT/RT), and D283 (MB) highlighted that ETMR cells were highly vulnerable towards treatment with the CNS penetrant proteasome inhibitor Marizomib. In summary, histomorphology stipulates the proteome signatures of ETMR. Pervasive and histomorphology-independent abundancy of proteasome regulatory proteins in ETMR indicates a strong proteasome dependency throughout these tumors. As validated in cell culture experiments, proteasome inhibition poses a promising therapeutic option in ETMR.
Project description:The RNA binding protein LIN28A is a stem- and progenitor marker and one of the factors necessary to induce pluripotent stem cells in vitro. LIN28A has been shown to promote the proliferative capacity of neural progenitor cells but its specific role during embryonal and postnatal brain development still remains widely unknown. A high and characteristic overexpression of LIN28A has been identified in malignant brain tumors called embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes (ETMR). Radial glia cells of the ventricular zone are proposed as a cell of origin for those tumors.
Project description:Medulloblastoma (MB) is an embryonal tumor of the cerebellum and a highly malignant childhood brain tumor. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with brain tumors faithfully represent genomic alterations of brain tumors. Distinct epigenetic signatures among subgroups of MB allow us to detect epigenetic alterations in CSF to aid classify and guide therapy of MB tumors. Here, we evaluate DNA methylation of ctDNA derived from small amount of CSF (200 µL) and matched tumor DNA from four subtypes of MB patients. We find highly concordance of DNA methylation between CSF ctDNA and tumor DNA in a subtype manner. Our results show that CSF ctNDA methylation can be a minimal invasive precisely method to assess epigenetic alterations of MB in a subtype manner, which is complementary to current diagnoses of MB tumors.
Project description:Medulloblastoma (MB) is an embryonal tumor of the cerebellum and a highly malignant childhood brain tumor. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with brain tumors faithfully represent genomic alterations of brain tumors. Distinct epigenetic signatures among subgroups of MB allow us to detect epigenetic alterations in CSF to aid classify and guide therapy of MB tumors. Here, we evaluate DNA methylation of ctDNA derived from small amount of CSF (200 µL) and matched tumor DNA from four subtypes of MB patients. We find highly concordance of DNA methylation between CSF ctDNA and tumor DNA in a subtype manner. Our results show that CSF ctNDA methylation can be a minimal invasive precisely method to assess epigenetic alterations of MB in a subtype manner, which is complementary to current diagnoses of MB tumors.
Project description:Molecular characteristics of pediatric brain tumors have not only allowed for tumor subgrouping but have introduced novel treatment options for patients with specific tumor alterations. Therefore, an accurate histologic and molecular diagnosis is critical for optimized management of all pediatric patients with brain tumors, including central nervous system embryonal tumors. We present a case where optical genome mapping identified a ZNF532-NUTM1 fusion in a patient with a unique tumor best characterized histologically as a central nervous system embryonal tumor with rhabdoid features. Additional analyses including immunohistochemistry for NUT protein, methylation array, whole genome, and RNA-sequencing was done to confirm the presence of the fusion in the tumor. This is the first description of a pediatric patient with a ZNF532-NUTM1 fusion, yet the histology of this tumor is similar to that of adult cancers with ZNF-NUTM1 fusions and other NUTM1-fusion positive brain tumors reported in literature. Although rare, the distinct pathology and underlying molecular characteristics of these tumors separate them from other embryonal tumors. Therefore, the NUTM-rearrangement appears to define a novel subgroup of pediatric central nervous system embryonal tumors with rhabdoid/epithelioid features that may have a unique response to treatment. Screening for a NUTM1-rearrangement should be considered for all patients with unclassified central nervous system tumors with rhabdoid features to ensure accurate diagnosis so this can ultimately inform therapeutic management for these patients.
Project description:Molecular characteristics of pediatric brain tumors have not only allowed for tumor subgrouping but have introduced novel treatment options for patients with specific tumor alterations. Therefore, an accurate histologic and molecular diagnosis is critical for optimized management of all pediatric patients with brain tumors, including central nervous system embryonal tumors. We present a case where optical genome mapping identified a ZNF532-NUTM1 fusion in a patient with a unique tumor best characterized histologically as a central nervous system embryonal tumor with rhabdoid features. Additional analyses including immunohistochemistry for NUT protein, methylation array, whole genome, and RNA-sequencing was done to confirm the presence of the fusion in the tumor. This is the first description of a pediatric patient with a ZNF532-NUTM1 fusion, yet the histology of this tumor is similar to that of adult cancers with ZNF-NUTM1 fusions and other NUTM1-fusion positive brain tumors reported in literature. Although rare, the distinct pathology and underlying molecular characteristics of these tumors separate them from other embryonal tumors. Therefore, the NUTM-rearrangement appears to define a novel subgroup of pediatric central nervous system embryonal tumors with rhabdoid/epithelioid features that may have a unique response to treatment. Screening for a NUTM1-rearrangement should be considered for all patients with unclassified central nervous system tumors with rhabdoid features to ensure accurate diagnosis so this can ultimately inform therapeutic management for these patients.