Project description:Whole transcriptome (n=4) and targetted RNA sequencing (n=15) .bam files of infantile glioma samples reported on at the Hospital for Sick Children
Project description:Glioma study (gene expression and CGH): Brain tumours are the most common solid tumors in children and have the highest mortality rate of all solid pediatric tumours. Despite advances in multimodality therapy, children with high-grade gliomas invariably have an Overall Survival (OS) around 20% at 5 years. There is growing evidence that the biological knowledge and the histo-prognostic classifications used for the management of adult HGG may not fully apply to children. Interobserver variability and specificity of pediatric tumors with respect to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification have lead to a high rate of misclassification in multi-institutional studies. From 90 biopsies of children with HGG (High Grade Glioma), comprising 37 DIPG (Diffuse Infiltrating Pontine Glioma), 73 extracted RNA have been hybrized on Agilent 4x44K GE arrays and 71 extracted DNA have been hybrized on Agilent 44K and 4x44K CGH arrays. The dataset contains raw data files from Feature Extraction. Genomic data were jointly analysed with clinical and histological data comprising: date_of_diagnosis, date_of_last_news, WHO_grade, deceased_at_median_survival_time, deceased_at_2years, localization of the tumour in brain, gadolinium_T1_inf_T2. A specific analysis was performed on DIPG.
Project description:Purpose: More than 90% of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) die within 2 years of diagnosis. There is a dire need to identify therapeutic targets, however lack of patient material for research has limited progress. We evaluated a large cohort of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) to identify recurrent genomic abnormalities and gene expression signatures underlying DIPG. Patients and Methods: We used single nucleotide polymorphism arrays to evaluate genomic copy number imbalances in 43 DIPGs from 40 patients and in 8 low-grade exophytic brainstem gliomas. Gene expression arrays were used to evaluate expression signatures from 27 DIPGs, 6 low-grade exophytic brainstem gliomas and 66 low-grade gliomas arising outside the brainstem. Results: Frequencies of specific large-scale and focal imbalances varied significantly between DIPGs and pediatric glioblastomas outside the brainstem. Focal amplifications of genes within the receptor tyrosine kinase-Ras-PI3-kinase signaling pathway were found in 47% of DIPG, with PDGFRA and MET showing the highest frequency. 30% of DIPG contained focal amplifications of cell-cycle regulatory genes controlling RB phosphorylation, and 21% had concurrent amplification of genes from both pathways. Some tumors showed heterogeneity in amplification patterns. DIPGs showed distinct gene expression signatures relating to developmental processes compared to pediatric glioblastomas arising outside the brainstem, while expression signatures of low-grade exophytic brainstem gliomas were similar to low-grade gliomas outside the brainstem. Copy number analaysis: 43 DIPG samples, 8 Low Grade Gliomas using SNP6.0. Available matched normals are also profiled with SNP6.0. Expression analysis: 29 DIPG samples, 6 Low grade samples Please contact Suzanne Baker at Suzanne.Baker@stjude.org for CEL files and genotype calls.
Project description:Pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs) are among the most common solid tumors in children but apart from BRAF mutations or duplications in specific subclasses, few genetic driver events are known. Diffuse PLGGs comprise a set of uncommon subtypes that exhibit invasive growth and are therefore especially challenging clinically. These tumors are particularly poorly understood. We performed high-resolution copy-number analysis of 44 diffuse PLGGs to identify recurrent alterations. Diffuse PLGGs exhibited fewer such alterations than adult low-grade gliomas, but we identified several significantly recurrent events. The most significant event, 8q13.1 gains, were observed in 28% of diffuse astrocytomas grade II (DA2s) and resulted in partial duplication of the transcription factor MYBL1 with truncation of its C-terminal negative-regulatory domain. A similar recurrent deletion-truncation breakpoint was identified in two angiocentric gliomas in the related gene MYB on 6q23.3. Whole-genome sequencing of a MYBL1-rearranged DA2 demonstrated MYBL1 tandem duplication, and few other events. Two novel, truncated MYBL1 transcripts identified in this tumor induced anchorage-independent growth when expressed in 3T3 cells and tumor formation in nude mice. Truncated transcripts were also expressed in two additional tumors with MYBL1 partial duplication. Our results define clinically relevant molecular subclasses of diffuse PLGGs and highlight a potential role for the MYB family in the biology of low-grade gliomas. IRB approval from all institutions was obtained, and all samples were from patients who provided informed consent or were studied with waiver of the requirement for informed consent by the appropriate IRB. Samples of various histologic subtypes were identified and collected at multiple institutions (Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, The University of Texas School of Medicine Southwestern, Dallas, TX, Children’s Cancer Hospital, Egypt, Cairo, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN). Central histopathologic review was performed by at least three board-certified neuropathologists using WHO criteria. DNA extraction from archival FFPE samples and Array CGH were performed as previously described (Craig, et al., 2012 PLoS One). GC-normalized copy-number data for the samples were then cleaned of known germline CNVs. Circular Binary Segmentation was used to segment the copy-number data, using parameters [alpha=0.001, undo.splits=sdundo, undo.SD=1.5, min.width=5]. Forty-four samples passed QC metrics (based on aCGH quality metrics for DNA integrity) for inclusion in the GISTIC analysis. Segmented data were analyzed with GISTIC 2.0 to determine statistically significant recurrent broad and focal CNAs. The following parameters were used: minimum segment size = 8, lesion amplitude threshold = 0.2, focal/broad cutoff = 0.9x chromosome arm length, q-value threshold 0.10, and gene confidence level 0.95.
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:HSV G207 and polio:rhinovirus PVSRIPO are two different viral immunotherapies used to treat malignant brain tumors in children. While some patients experience durable survival with these viral immunotherapies, many children have no response. The purpose of this work is to explore these viral immunotherapies in pediatric high grade glioma (pHGG) and medulloblastoma in order to elucidate how tumor response to treatment and to identify putative biomarkers of response and therapeutic targets.
Project description:Purpose: More than 90% of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) die within 2 years of diagnosis. There is a dire need to identify therapeutic targets, however lack of patient material for research has limited progress. We evaluated a large cohort of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) to identify recurrent genomic abnormalities and gene expression signatures underlying DIPG. Patients and Methods: We used single nucleotide polymorphism arrays to evaluate genomic copy number imbalances in 43 DIPGs from 40 patients and in 8 low-grade exophytic brainstem gliomas. Gene expression arrays were used to evaluate expression signatures from 27 DIPGs, 6 low-grade exophytic brainstem gliomas and 66 low-grade gliomas arising outside the brainstem. Results: Frequencies of specific large-scale and focal imbalances varied significantly between DIPGs and pediatric glioblastomas outside the brainstem. Focal amplifications of genes within the receptor tyrosine kinase-Ras-PI3-kinase signaling pathway were found in 47% of DIPG, with PDGFRA and MET showing the highest frequency. 30% of DIPG contained focal amplifications of cell-cycle regulatory genes controlling RB phosphorylation, and 21% had concurrent amplification of genes from both pathways. Some tumors showed heterogeneity in amplification patterns. DIPGs showed distinct gene expression signatures relating to developmental processes compared to pediatric glioblastomas arising outside the brainstem, while expression signatures of low-grade exophytic brainstem gliomas were similar to low-grade gliomas outside the brainstem.
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 childrenâs 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. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to the manufacturer's directions on DNA extracted from snap frozen biopsy and autopsy brain tissue from DIPG patients. Copy number analysis of Affymetrix 250K and 6.0 SNP arrays was performed for 11 paediatric DIPG samples, 7 matched normal brain samples, and HapMap samples.
Project description:Purpose: To define copy number alterations and gene expression signatures underlying pediatric high-grade glioma (HGG). Patients and Methods: We conducted a high-resolution analysis of genomic imbalances in 78 de novo pediatric HGG, including 7 diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, and 10 HGG cases arising in children who received cranial irradiation for a previous cancer, using Affymetrix 500K GeneChips. Gene expression signatures for 53 tumors were analyzed with Affymetrix U133v2 arrays. Results were compared with publicly available data from adult tumors. Results: Pediatric and adult glioblastoma were clearly distinguished by frequent gain of chromosome 1q (30% vs 9%) and lower frequency of chromosome 7 gain (13% vs 74%), respectively. The most common focal amplifications also differed, with PDGFRA and EGFR predominant in childhood and adult populations respectively. These common alterations in pediatric HGG were detected at higher frequency in irradiation-induced tumors, suggesting that these are initiating events in childhood gliomagenesis. CDKN2A was the most common tumor suppressor gene targeted by homozygous deletion in pediatric HGG. No IDH1 hotspot mutations were found in pediatric tumors, highlighting molecular differences in pathogenesis between childhood HGG and adult secondary glioblastoma. Integrated copy number and gene expression data indicated that deregulated PDGFRA signaling plays a major role in pediatric HGG. Conclusions: Integrated molecular profiling showed substantial differences in the molecular features underlying pediatric and adult HGG, indicating that findings in adult tumors cannot be simply extrapolated to younger patients. PDGFRA may be a useful target for pediatric HGG including diffuse pontine gliomas. Keywords: disease state analysis 78 samples for SNP analysis, including 10 samples arising in children who received cranial irradiation for a previous cancer and 7 diffuse pontine gliomas; 53 of them with gene expression analysis; 2 tumor grades To have access to SNP CEL files, please contact Dr. Suzanne Baker (suzzane.baker@stjude.org).