Project description:We have used Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array profiling to profile paediatric high grade gliomas and diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. The 450K methylation array is being used to separate brain tumour samples on the basis of their methylation profiles which represent the cell of origin the time and place in which tumours arise. Methylation arrays provide data for an integrated molecular diagnosis of brain tumours and define specific molecular subgroups and subtypes of high grade gliomas carrying distinct driver mutations and patterns of somatic alterations. These data form part of an integrated meta-analysis of high grade gliomas in children combining DNA copy number, methylation and high throughput sequencing datasets.
Project description:Paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas (PDHGG) are aggressive tumors affecting children and young adults, with no effective treatment. These highly heterogeneous malignancies arise in different sites of the Central Nervous System (CNS), carrying distinctive molecular alterations and clinical outcomes (inter-tumor heterogeneity). Moreover, deep cellular and molecular profiling studies highlighted the coexistence of genetically and phenotypically different subpopulations within the same tumor mass (intra-tumor heterogeneity). Despite the recent advances made in the field, the marked heterogeneity of PDHGGs still impedes the development of effective targeted therapies and the identification of suitable biomarkers. In order to fill the existing gap, we used mass cytometry to dissect PDHGG inter- and intra-heterogeneity. This is one of the most advanced technologies of the "-omics" era that, using antibodies conjugated to heavy metals, allows the simultaneous measurement of more than 40 markers at single-cell level. To this end, we analyzed eight PDHGG patient-derived cell lines from different locational and molecular subgroups. By using a panel of 15 antibodies, directly conjugated to metals or specifically customized to detect important histone variants, significant differences were highlighted in the expression of the considered antigens. The single-cell multiparametric approach realized has deepened our understanding of PDHGG, confirming a high degree of intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity and identifying some antigens that could represent useful biomarkers for the specific PDHGG locational or molecular subgroups.
Project description:Over the past decade, remarkable progress has been made towards elucidating the origin and genomic landscape of childhood high-grade brain tumours. It has become evident that paediatric high-grade gliomas differ from those in adults with respect to multiple defining aspects including: DNA copy number, gene expression profiles, tumour locations within the CNS and genetic alterations such as somatic histone mutations. Despite these advances, clinical trials for children with gliomas have historically been based on ineffective adult regimens that fail to take into consideration the fundamental biological differences between the two. Additionally, although our knowledge of the intrinsic cellular mechanisms driving tumour progression has considerably expanded, little is known about the dynamic tumour immune microenvironment in paediatric high-grade gliomas. In this review, we explore the genetic and epigenetic landscape of these gliomas and how this drives the creation of specific tumour subgroups with meaningful survival outcomes. Further, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the paediatric high-grade glioma tumour immune microenvironment and discuss emerging therapeutic efforts aimed at exploiting the immune functions of these tumours.
Project description:Extracellular vesicles (EV) secreted by pathogens function in a variety of biological processes. Here, we demonstrate that in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, exosome secretion is induced by stress that affects trans-splicing. Following perturbations in biogenesis of spliced leader RNA, which donates its spliced leader (SL) exon to all mRNAs, or after heat-shock, the SL RNA is exported to the cytoplasm and forms distinct granules, which are then secreted by exosomes. The exosomes are formed in multivesicular bodies (MVB) utilizing the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT), through a mechanism similar to microRNA secretion in mammalian cells. Silencing of the ESCRT factor, Vps36, compromised exosome secretion but not the secretion of vesicles derived from nanotubes. The exosomes enter recipient trypanosome cells. Time-lapse microscopy demonstrated that cells secreting exosomes or purified intact exosomes affect social motility (SoMo). This study demonstrates that exosomes are delivered to trypanosome cells and can change their migration. Exosomes are used to transmit stress signals for communication between parasites.
Project description:Oligodendrocyte precursor markers have become of great interest to identify new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for diffuse gliomas, since state-of-the-art studies point towards immature oligodendrocytes as a possible source of gliomagenesis. Brain enriched myelin associated protein 1 (BCAS1) is a novel marker of immature oligodendrocytes and was proposed to contribute to tumorigenesis in non-central nervous system tumors. However, BCAS1 role in diffuse glioma is still underexplored. This study analyzes the expression of BCAS1 in different tumor samples from patients with diffuse gliomas (17 oligodendrogliomas; 8 astrocytomas; 60 glioblastomas) and uncovers the molecular and ultrastructural features of BCAS1+ cells by immunostaining and electron microscopy. Our results show that BCAS1+ cells exhibit stellate or spherical morphology with similar ultrastructural features. Stellate and spherical cells were detected as isolated cells in all studied gliomas. Nevertheless, only stellate cells were found to be proliferative and formed tightly packed nodules with a highly proliferative rate in oligodendrogliomas. Our findings provide a comprehensive characterization of the BCAS1+ cell population within diffuse gliomas. The observed proliferative capacity and distribution of BCAS1+ stellate cells, particularly in oligodendrogliomas, highlight BCAS1 as an interesting marker, warranting further investigation into its role in tumor malignancy.
Project description:BackgroundDiffuse low-grade and intermediate-grade gliomas (which together make up the lower-grade gliomas, World Health Organization grades II and III) have highly variable clinical behavior that is not adequately predicted on the basis of histologic class. Some are indolent; others quickly progress to glioblastoma. The uncertainty is compounded by interobserver variability in histologic diagnosis. Mutations in IDH, TP53, and ATRX and codeletion of chromosome arms 1p and 19q (1p/19q codeletion) have been implicated as clinically relevant markers of lower-grade gliomas.MethodsWe performed genomewide analyses of 293 lower-grade gliomas from adults, incorporating exome sequence, DNA copy number, DNA methylation, messenger RNA expression, microRNA expression, and targeted protein expression. These data were integrated and tested for correlation with clinical outcomes.ResultsUnsupervised clustering of mutations and data from RNA, DNA-copy-number, and DNA-methylation platforms uncovered concordant classification of three robust, nonoverlapping, prognostically significant subtypes of lower-grade glioma that were captured more accurately by IDH, 1p/19q, and TP53 status than by histologic class. Patients who had lower-grade gliomas with an IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion had the most favorable clinical outcomes. Their gliomas harbored mutations in CIC, FUBP1, NOTCH1, and the TERT promoter. Nearly all lower-grade gliomas with IDH mutations and no 1p/19q codeletion had mutations in TP53 (94%) and ATRX inactivation (86%). The large majority of lower-grade gliomas without an IDH mutation had genomic aberrations and clinical behavior strikingly similar to those found in primary glioblastoma.ConclusionsThe integration of genomewide data from multiple platforms delineated three molecular classes of lower-grade gliomas that were more concordant with IDH, 1p/19q, and TP53 status than with histologic class. Lower-grade gliomas with an IDH mutation either had 1p/19q codeletion or carried a TP53 mutation. Most lower-grade gliomas without an IDH mutation were molecularly and clinically similar to glioblastoma. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.).
Project description:Alkylating agents are a frontline therapy for the treatment of several cancers including pediatric glioblastoma, a devastating lethal tumor in children. Unfortunately, many tumors are resistant to this therapy. We sought to identify ways of sensitizing tumor cells to alkylating agents while leaving normal cells unharmed; increasing therapeutic response while minimizing toxicity. Here we report using a siRNA screen targeting over 240 DNA damage response genes identified novel sensitizers to alkylating agents. In particular the base excision repair (BER) pathway, including 3-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG), as well as ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) were identified in our screen. Interestingly, we identified MPG as a direct novel substrate of ATM. ATM-mediated phosphorylation of MPG was required for enhanced MPG function. Importantly, combined inhibition or loss of MPG and ATM resulted in increased alkylating agent-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prolonged survival in vivo. The discovery of the ATM-MPG axis will lead to improved treatment of alkylating agent-resistant tumors.
Project description:BackgroundWhile molecular insights to diffuse lower-grade glioma (dLGG) have improved the basis for prognostication, most established clinical prognostic factors come from the pre-molecular era. For instance, WHO grade as a predictor for survival in dLGG with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation has recently been questioned. We studied the prognostic role of WHO grade in molecularly defined subgroups and evaluated earlier used prognostic factors in the current molecular setting.Material and methodsA total of 253 adults with morphological dLGG, consecutively included between 2007 and 2018, were assessed. IDH mutations, codeletion of chromosomal arms 1p/19q, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B) deletions were analyzed.ResultsThere was no survival benefit for patients with WHO grade 2 over grade 3 IDH-mut dLGG after exclusion of tumors with known CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion (n=157) (log-rank p=0.97). This was true also after stratification for oncological postoperative treatment and when astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas were analyzed separately. In IDH-mut astrocytomas, residual tumor volume after surgery was an independent prognostic factor for survival (HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.03; p=0.003), but not in oligodendrogliomas (HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.03; p=0.15). Preoperative tumor size was an independent predictor in both astrocytomas (HR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.05; p=0.02) and oligodendrogliomas (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09; p=0.01). Age was not a significant prognostic factor in multivariable analyses (astrocytomas p=0.64, oligodendrogliomas p=0.08).ConclusionOur findings suggest that WHO grade is not a robust prognostic factor in molecularly well-defined dLGG. Preoperative tumor size remained a prognostic factor in both IDH-mut astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas in our cohort, whereas residual tumor volume predicted prognosis in IDH-mut astrocytomas only. The age cutoffs for determining high risk in patients with IDH-mut dLGG from the pre-molecular era are not supported by our results.
Project description:BackgroundDiffuse lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) are genetically classified into 3 distinct subtypes based on isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status and codeletion of chromosome 1p and 19q (1p/19q). However, the subtype-specific effects of additional genetic lesions on survival are largely unknown.MethodsUsing Cox proportional hazards regression modeling, we investigated the subtype-specific effects of genetic alterations and clinicopathological factors on survival in each LGG subtype, in a Japanese cohort of LGG cases fully genotyped for driver mutations and copy number variations associated with LGGs (n = 308). The results were validated using a dataset from 414 LGG cases available from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).ResultsIn Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q codeleted, NOTCH1 mutations (P = 0.0041) and incomplete resection (P = 0.0019) were significantly associated with shorter survival. In Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant, PIK3R1 mutations (P = 0.0014) and altered retinoblastoma pathway genes (RB1, CDKN2A, and CDK4) (P = 0.013) were independent predictors of poor survival. In IDH-wildtype LGGs, co-occurrence of 7p gain, 10q loss, mutation in the TERT promoter (P = 0.024), and grade III histology (P < 0.0001) independently predicted poor survival. IDH-wildtype LGGs without any of these factors were diagnosed at a younger age (P = 0.042), and were less likely to have genetic lesions characteristic of glioblastoma, in comparison with other IDH-wildtype LGGs, suggesting that they likely represented biologically different subtypes. These results were largely confirmed in the cohort of TCGA.ConclusionsSubtype-specific genetic lesions can be used to stratify patients within each LGG subtype. enabling better prognostication and management.
Project description:The 2016 WHO classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System brought major conceptual and practical changes in the classification of diffuse gliomas, by combining molecular features and histology into 'integrated' diagnoses. In diffuse gliomas, molecular profiling has thus become essential for nosological purposes, as well as to plan adequate treatment strategies and identify patients susceptible of target therapy. WHO grade II (low grade) and grade III (anaplastic) diffuse gliomas form a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, also known as 'lower-grade gliomas', characterized by a wide range of malignant potential. Molecular profile accounts for this biological diversity, and provides an accurate prognostic stratification of tumors in this group. Treatment strategies in lower-grade gliomas are ultimately based on molecular profile and WHO grade, as well as on patient characteristics such as age and Karnofsky performance status. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances in the classification of grade II and III gliomas, synthesize current treatment schemes according to molecular profile and describe ongoing research and future perspectives for the use of target therapies.