Project description:Methylation profiling of SF188 paediatric high grade glioma cell line isogenic clones carrying CRISR/Cas9 frameshift deletions in ATRX
Project description:Although paediatric high grade gliomas resemble their adult counterparts in many ways, there appear to be distinct clinical and biological differences. One important factor hampering the development of new targeted therapies is the relative lack of cell lines derived from childhood glioma patients, as it is unclear whether the well-established adult lines commonly used are representative of the underlying molecular genetics of childhood tumours. We have carried out a detailed molecular and phenotypic characterisation of a series of paediatric high grade glioma cell lines in comparison to routinely used adult lines.
Project description:Copy number analysis of 21 paediatric low-grade astrocytomas identified a discrete copy number gain of 1.9Mb in chromosome band 7q34. The gain was present in 12/14 cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas. Subsequent analysis of tumour cDNA indentified a novel gene fusion between KIAA1549 and BRAF in these tumours. Copy number analysis of 21 paediatric low-grade astrocytomas using the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Mapping 250K Nsp Array. This study comprised 14 pilocytic astrocytomas, 4 diffuse astrocytomas, one pilomyxoid astrocytoma, one pilomyxoid glioma and one pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. Tumours were compared to the mean of two normal male DNA controls.
Project description:As genome-scale technologies begin to unravel the complexity of the equivalent tumours in adults, detailed characterisation of high grade gliomas in children have until recently been lacking. In order to validate and extend investigations of the differences between paediatric and adult tumours, we carried out copy number profiling by array CGH using a 32K BAC platform on 63 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cases of high grade glioma arising in children and young people (<23 yrs).
Project description:In this study, we characterize the fusion protein produced by the EPC1-PHF1 translocation in Low Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS) and Ossifying FibroMyxoid Tumors (OFMT). We express the fusion protein and necessary controls in K562 Cells. The fusion protein assembles a mega-complex harboring both NuA4/TIP60 and PRC2 subunits and enzymatic activities and leads to mislocalization of chromatin marks in the genome, linked to aberrant gene expression.
Project description:Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most devastating of paediatric malignancies and one for which no effective therapy exists. A major contributor to the failure of therapeutic trials is the assumption that biologic properties of brainstem tumours in children are identical to cerebral high-grade gliomas of adults. A better understanding of the biology of DIPG itself is needed in order to develop agents targeted more specifically to these children’s disease. Here we address this lack of knowledge by performing the first high-resolution SNP-based DNA microarray analysis of a series of DIPGs. Eleven samples (nine post-mortem and two pre-treatment surgical samples), the largest series thus far examined, were hybridized to Affymetrix SNP arrays (250k or 6.0). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Board at our institution (Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). All Array findings were validated using quantitative-PCR, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and/or microsatellite analysis. Analysis of DIPG copy number alterations showed recurrent changes distinct from those of paediatric supratentorial high-grade astrocytomas. 36% of DIPGs had gains in PDGFRA and all showed PDGF-R-α expression. Gains in PARP-1 were identified in 3 cases. Pathway analysis revealed genes with loss of heterozygosity were enriched for DNA repair pathways. Our data provides the first, comprehensive high-resolution genomic analysis of paediatric DIPG. Our findings of recurrent involvement of the PDGFR pathway as well as defects in DNA repair pathways coupled with gain of PARP-1 highlight two potential, biologically-based, therapeutic targets directed specifically at this devastating disease.
Project description:In this study, we characterize the fusion protein produced by the EPC1-PHF1 translocation in Low Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS) and Ossifying FibroMyxoid Tumors (OFMT). We express the fusion protein and necessary controls in K562 Cells. The fusion protein assembles a mega-complex harboring both NuA4/TIP60 and PRC2 subunits and enzymatic activities and leads to mislocalization of chromatin marks in the genome, linked to aberrant gene expression.