Project description:Pediatric embryonal brain tumor (PEBT), which includes medulloblastoma (MB), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), is the second most prevalent pediatric tumor type among brain tumors of childhood. AT/RT is highly malignant and is often misdiagnosed as MB and PNET. Distinguishing AT/RT from PNET/MB is of clinical significance since the survival rate of AT/RT patients is much lower. The diagnosis of AT/RT relies primarily on the morphologic assessment and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining on a few known markers such as the lack of INI1 protein expression. However, in our clinical practice we observed several AT/RT-like tumors, which fulfilled histopathologic and all other biomarker criteria for AT/RT diagnosis, still showed retained INI1 immunoreactivity. Recent studies also reported retained INI1 immunoreactivity among certain diagnosed AT/RTs. It is therefore necessary to re-evaluate INI1(+), AT/RT-like cases. Sanger sequencing, array CGH and mRNA microarray analyses were performed on PEBT samples for studying their genomics landscapes. AT/RT and INI(+) AT/RT-like patients had similar survival rate, and global array CGH analysis and INI1 gene sequencing showed there is no differential chromosomal aberration marker between INI1(-) AT/RT and INI(+) AT/RT-like cases. We did not misdiagnose MB or PNET as AT/RT-like cases since transcriptome profiling revealed that not only AT/RT and INI(+) AT/RT-like cases expressed distinct mRNA and microRNA profiles, and their gene expression patterns were different from those of MBs and PNETs. AT/RTs shared the closest transcriptome profile to embryonic stem cells, INI1(+) AT/RT-like tumors were more similar to somatic neural stem cell, while MBs were closer to fetal brain. Novel biomarkers were identified to distinguish INI1(-) AT/RTs, INI1(+) AT/RT-like cases and MBs. Our studies disclosed a novel INI1(+) ATRT-like subtype among Taiwanese pediatric cases. New diagnostic biomarkers, as well as new therapeutic tactics, can be developed according to the transcriptome information unveiled in this work. 2 AT/RT-like cases and 7 AT/RT cases are subjected to transcriptome analysis.
Project description:Pediatric embryonal brain tumor (PEBT), which includes medulloblastoma (MB), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), is the second most prevalent pediatric tumor type among brain tumors of childhood. AT/RT is highly malignant and is often misdiagnosed as MB and PNET. Distinguishing AT/RT from PNET/MB is of clinical significance since the survival rate of AT/RT patients is much lower. The diagnosis of AT/RT relies primarily on the morphologic assessment and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining on a few known markers such as the lack of INI1 protein expression. However, in our clinical practice we observed several AT/RT-like tumors, which fulfilled histopathologic and all other biomarker criteria for AT/RT diagnosis, still showed retained INI1 immunoreactivity. Recent studies also reported retained INI1 immunoreactivity among certain diagnosed AT/RTs. It is therefore necessary to re-evaluate INI1(+), AT/RT-like cases. Sanger sequencing, array CGH and mRNA microarray analyses were performed on PEBT samples for studying their genomics landscapes. AT/RT and INI(+) AT/RT-like patients had similar survival rate, and global array CGH analysis and INI1 gene sequencing showed there is no differential chromosomal aberration marker between INI1(-) AT/RT and INI(+) AT/RT-like cases. We did not misdiagnose MB or PNET as AT/RT-like cases since transcriptome profiling revealed that not only AT/RT and INI(+) AT/RT-like cases expressed distinct mRNA and microRNA profiles, and their gene expression patterns were different from those of MBs and PNETs. AT/RTs shared the closest transcriptome profile to embryonic stem cells, INI1(+) AT/RT-like tumors were more similar to somatic neural stem cell, while MBs were closer to fetal brain. Novel biomarkers were identified to distinguish INI1(-) AT/RTs, INI1(+) AT/RT-like cases and MBs. Our studies disclosed a novel INI1(+) ATRT-like subtype among Taiwanese pediatric cases. New diagnostic biomarkers, as well as new therapeutic tactics, can be developed according to the transcriptome information unveiled in this work.
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:Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), which harbors INI1 mutation and exhibits a characteristic histology of rhabdoid cells, has a poor prognosis because of the lack of effective treatments. Here we established human INI1-deficient pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which developed AT/RT formation in vivo. However, INI1-deficient hPSC-derived neural progenitor cell (NPC) gave rise to mostly medulloblastoma-like tumors when transplanted into the mouse brain.
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.
Project description:SMARCB1 (Snf5/Ini1/Baf47) is a potent tumor suppressor, the loss of which serves as the diagnostic feature in Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) and Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT), two highly aggressive forms of pediatric neoplasms. Here, we restore Smarcb1 expression in cells derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice. Profiling Smarcb1 dependent gene expression we find genes which are dependent on Smarcb1 expression to be enriched for ECM and cell adhesion functions. We identify Igfbp7, which is related to the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins family, as a downstream target of Smarcb1 transcriptional activity, and show that re-introduction of Igfbp7 alone can hinder tumor development.
2013-12-31 | GSE46017 | GEO
Project description:Optical Genome Mapping Identifies a Novel Pediatric Embryonal Tumor Subtype with a ZNF532-NUTM1 Fusion
Project description:Human medulloblastoma (MB) can be segregated into four major categories based on gene expression patterns: Hedgehog (HH) subtype, Wnt subtype, Group 3, and Group 4. However, they all exhibit strikingly different gene expression profiles from Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT). We re-analyzed published gene expression microarray dataset of pediatric brain tumors to identify a gene expression profile that clearly distinguished human AT/RT from human MB. We used this profile, choosing only genes that have clear murine orthologs, to compare tumors from Snf5F/Fp53L/LGFAP-Cre mice (in C57Bl/6 strain background) with MB from Ptc1+/- mice (in mixed C57Bl/6 and 129Sv strain background). Snf5F/Fp53L/LGFAP-Cre tumors are clearly very different from mouse MB and the markers that distinguish human AT/RT from human MB also distinguish the mouse tumors.
Project description:SMARCB1 (Snf5/Ini1/Baf47) is a potent tumor suppressor, the loss of which serves as the diagnostic feature in Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) and Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT), two highly aggressive forms of pediatric neoplasms. Here, we restore Smarcb1 expression in cells derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice. Profiling Smarcb1 dependent gene expression we find genes which are dependent on Smarcb1 expression to be enriched for ECM and cell adhesion functions. We identify Igfbp7, which is related to the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins family, as a downstream target of Smarcb1 transcriptional activity, and show that re-introduction of Igfbp7 alone can hinder tumor development. Two cancer cell lines, 167 and 365, derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice were re-infected with a retro-viral vector for Smarcb1 re-expression or an empty retro-viral vector as control. Total-RNA was collected 3 days post infection so as to enrich for direct targets of Smarcb1 transcriptionaly regulated genes