Project description:Cell state evolution underlies tumor development and response to therapy, but mechanisms specifying cancer cell states and intratumor heterogeneity are incompletely understood. Schwannomas are the most common tumors of the peripheral nervous system and are treated with surgery and ionizing radiation. Schwannomas can oscillate in size for many years after radiotherapy, suggesting treatment may reprogram schwannoma cells or the tumor microenvironment. Here we show epigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannomas. We find schwannomas are comprised of 2 methylation based molecular groups distinguished by reactivation of neural crest development pathways or misactivation of nerve injury mechanisms that specify cancer cell states and the architecture of the tumor immune microenvironment. Schwannoma molecular groups can arise independently, but ionizing radiation is sufficient for epigenetic reprogramming of neural crest to immune-enriched schwannoma by remodeling chromatin accessibility, gene expression, and metabolism to drive schwannoma cell state evolution and immune cell infiltration. To define functional genomic mechanisms underlying epigenetic reprograming of schwannomas, we develop a technique for simultaneous interrogation of chromatin accessibility and gene expression coupled with genetic and therapeutic perturbations in single-nuclei. Our results elucidate a framework for understanding epigenetic drivers of cancer evolution and establish a paradigm of epigenetic reprograming of cancer in response to radiotherapy.
Project description:Cell state evolution underlies tumor development and response to therapy1, but mechanisms specifying cancer cell states and intratumor heterogeneity are incompletely understood. Schwannomas are the most common tumors of the peripheral nervous system and are treated with surgery and ionizing radiation2–5. Schwannomas can oscillate in size for many years after radiotherapy6,7, suggesting treatment may reprogram schwannoma cells or the tumor microenvironment. Here we show epigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannomas. We find schwannomas are comprised of 2 molecular groups distinguished by reactivation of neural crest development pathways or misactivation of nerve injury mechanisms that specify cancer cell states and the architecture of the tumor immune microenvironment. Schwannoma molecular groups can arise independently, but ionizing radiation is sufficient for epigenetic reprogramming of neural crest to immune-enriched schwannoma by remodeling chromatin accessibility, gene expression, and metabolism to drive schwannoma cell state evolution and immune cell infiltration. To define functional genomic mechanisms underlying epigenetic reprograming of schwannomas, we develop a technique for simultaneous interrogation of chromatin accessibility and gene expression coupled with genetic and therapeutic perturbations in single-nuclei. Our results elucidate a framework for understanding epigenetic drivers of cancer evolution and establish a paradigm of epigenetic reprograming of cancer in response to radiotherapy.
Project description:Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the most common benign tumor in the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal. Illustrating the heterogeneous cellular components of VS could provide insights into its various growth patterns. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to profile transcriptomes from 7 VS samples and 2 great auricular nerves as normal control.
Project description:Cerebrospinal fluid (liquor) samples (N = 44) have been derived from patients with vestibular schwannoma that comprises about 10% of all intracranial tumors. Applying high resolution tandem mass-spectrometry 525 proteins were identified with high confidence (at least 2 peptides per protein, FDR <1%) in the liquor samples. This dataset provides unique information on proteomic composition of vestibular schwannoma liquor samples.
Project description:Tumor miRNA expression is related to the growth rate of sporadic vestibular schwannomas. Rapid tumor growth is associated with deregulation of several miRNAs, including up-regulation of miR-29abc, miR-19, miR-340-5p, miR-21 and miR-221 and down-regulation of miR-744 and let-7b. Gene ontologies affected by the deregulated miRNAs included neuron development and differentiation, gene silencing and negative regulation of various biological processes, including cellular and intracellular signalling and metabolism. We used microarray to determine the miRNA expresison in vestibular schwannoma their relation to the growth rate.
Project description:Loss of NF2 (merlin) has been suggested as a genetic cause of neurofibromatosis type 2 and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Previously, we demonstrated that NF2 sustained TGF- receptor 2 (TR2) expression and reduction or loss of NF2 activated non-canonical TGF- signaling, which reduced RKIP expression via TR1 kinase activity. Here, we show that a selective RKIP inducer (novel chemical, Nf18001) inhibits tumor growth and promotes schwannoma cell differentiation into mature Schwann cells under NF2-deficient conditions. In addition, Nf18001 is not cytotoxic to cells expressing NF2 and is not disturb canonical TGF- signaling. Moreover, the novel chemical induces expression of SOX10, a marker of differentiated Schwann cells, and promotes nuclear export and degradation of SOX2, a stem cell factor. Treatment with Nf18001 inhibited tumor growth in an allograft model with mouse schwannoma cells. These results strongly suggest that selective RKIP inducers could be useful for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 2 as well as NF2-deficient MPNST. To know the global effect of Nf18001, we performed the microarray with HEI-193.
Project description:Background: Schwannomas are nerve sheath tumors arising at cranial and peripheral nerves, either sporadically or in patients with a schwannomatosis-predisposition syndrome. There is limited understanding of the transcriptional heterogeneity of schwannomas across genetic backgrounds and anatomic locations. Methods: Here, we prospectively profile by single-cell full-length transcriptomics tumors from 22 patients with NF2-related schwannomatosis, non-NF2-related schwannomatosis, and sporadic schwannomas, resected from cranial and peripheral nerves. We profiled 11,373 cells, including neoplastic cells, fibroblasts, T cells, endothelial cells, myeloid cells and pericytes. Results: We characterize the intra-tumoral genetic and transcriptional heterogeneity of schwannoma, identifying six distinct transcriptional metaprograms, with gene signatures related to stress, myelin production, antigen presentation, interferon signaling, glycolysis and extracellular matrix. We demonstrate the robustness of our findings with analysis of an independent cohort. Conclusion: Overall, our atlas describes the spectrum of gene expression across schwannoma entities at the single-cell level and will serve as important resource for the community.