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Molecular Profiling of Spitz Nevi (SN) in Relation to Nevocellular Nevi (NCN)

ABSTRACT: The molecular properties of benign melanocytic lesions are poorly understood. Only few studies have been performed on specific nevi subtypes, including common nevocellular nevi (NCN) or Spitz nevi (SN). Genomic alterations in melanoma-associated oncogenes are typically absent in SN. In the present study, mRNA expression of 25 SN and 15 NCN were analyzed. Molecular profiling was done using the RNA NanoString nCounter Gene Expression Platform (No. of genes = 770). Marker discovery was performed with a training set consisting of 7 SN and 7 NCN samples from the same patients, and validation was performed using a second set consisting of 18 SN and 8 NCN samples. Using the training set, 197 differentially expressed genes were identified in SN versus NCN. Of these, 74 genes validated in the validation set (FDR Q value ≤ 0.13). In addition, using Random Forest and LASSO feature selection a molecular signature of SN versus NCN was identified including 15 top-ranked genes. Gene set analysis showed upregulation of gene pathways with increased expression of transcripts related to immunomodulatory, inflammatory and extracellular matrix interactions as well as angiogenesis associated processes in SN. Although the molecular characteristics of malignant melanoma have been studied in detail, the molecular properties of benign melanocytic lesions such as common nevocellular nevi (NCN) and Spitz nevi (SN) remain poorly understood. This limited knowledge hinders a better understanding of atypical and malignant transformation of melanocytes. The present study identified a distinct molecular expression profile in SN compared to NCN, even when lesions were obtained from the same patients. These findings strongly indicate that SN represent a distinct group of melanocytic neoplasms and evolve differentially and not sequentially from NCN.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE110589 | GEO | 2018/02/15

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Spitzoid neoplasms are a challenging group of cutaneous melanocytic proliferations that occur in children or adolescents but can also arise in the elderly. They are characterized by epithelioid and/ or spindle-shaped melanocytes with a stromal background of variable amounts of lymphocytes, blood vessels and sclerosis. According to the WHO 2018 classification, Spitzoid melanocytic lesions are classified as benign Spitz nevi (SN), atypical Spitz tumors (AST) or malignant Spitz tumors (MST). The intermediate AST category represents a diagnostically challenging group since on purely histopathological grounds, their benign or malignant character remains unpredictable. This results in uncertainties in patient management and prognosis. The molecular properties of Spitzoid lesions, especially their transcriptomic landscape, remain poorly understood and genomic alterations in melanoma-associated oncogenes are typically absent. The aim of this study was to characterize the transcriptome of Spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms with digital mRNA expression profiling. Formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded samples (including 27 SN, 10 AST and 14 MST) were analyzed using the RNA NanoString nCounter PanCancer Pathways Gene Expression panel. The number of significantly differentially expressed genes in SN vs. MST, SN vs. AST and AST vs. MST was 68, 167 and 18, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed an upregulation of pathways related to epithelial mesenchymal transition, immunomodulatory-, angiogenesis- as well as myogenesis associated processes in AST and MST. In addition, a specific gene expression signature of SN vs. MST was discovered based on the top-ranked six most informative gene expression markers: NRAS, NF1, BMP2, EIF2B4, IFNA17 and FZD9. The AST samples showed intermediate levels of the identified signature. This implies that the identified gene expression signature can potentially be used to distinguish high-grade from low-grade AST. This combined histopathological and transcriptomic methodology is promising for diagnostics of Spitzoid neoplasms and patient management in dermatological oncology in the future.

Project description:The oncogenic mutation BRAFV600E is a common event in nevi and melanomas, which are aggressive skin tumors characterized by MAPK signaling pathway activation. It has been observed that mutated benign melanocytic lesions can remain unchanged for decades, but also proliferate or undergo oncogene-induced senescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of a gene expression signature in BRAFV600E mutated nevi compared to wild-type ones, all derived from sun exposed sites. Microdissected tissues from excisional biopsies of acquired nevi were analyzed to detect the presence of BRAF and NRAS mutations and to profile whole genome expression by means of oligonucleotide microarrays. BRAFV600E mutation was evidenced in 64% of nevi, while no NRAS mutations were detected. Functional analysis of genes differentially expressed between wild-type and mutated lesions pointed out the role of oxidative stress in causing the oncogenic BRAF mutation and that the direct consequence of constitutive activation of BRAF-MEK-ERK pathway, in a benign contest, is the activation of apoptosis, autophagy and senescence. Our data also indicate that in mutated lesions, p53 plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the benign status. In our study, in order to understand the role of BRAF mutation in acquired nevi, we performed gene expression profiling analysis on fourteen lesions derived from intermittently exposed sites, using whole genome oligonucleotide microarrays. Expression data were coupled with sequencing results on BRAF and NRAS genes and class comparison algorithms were applied to detect sequences differentially expressed between BRAFV600E and BRAFwt-NRASwt lesions. Some of the obtained results were further validated by Real-Time RT-PCR on an independent cohort of samples. Mutation analysis evidenced BRAF mutations in 64% of the common acquired nevi. All the mutations consisted in the substitution V600E (T1799A). No alteration was found on exon 11 of the BRAF gene nor on exons 1 and 2 of the NRAS gene, as expected since no lesion came from chronically exposed sites. Transcriptome analysis was carried out using oligo-microarrays and differential expression was tested applying the Linear Models package LIMMA available at www.bioconductor.org that uses Bayesian statistics to compute the probability of a gene being differentially expressed. Only 25 transcripts had B value greater then 2. We then performed a one-way ANOVA, dividing samples into three classes according to their BRAF mutational status (wt, ++, +++) as assessed by pyrosequencing. We found 2882 known transcripts by selecting those with ANOVA p-value<0.01 and increasing or decreasing expression trends along the three classes. Functional analysis was performed using the MetaCoreTM software package to identify overrepresented functional processes. BRAF signature, acquired nevi, gene expression profiling "++ and +++" refer to the percentage of alleles carrying the mutation in the *BRAF*V600E lesions. This has been assessed by pyrosequencing analysis (Venesio et al, 2008. PMID= 18408659).

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Molecular Profiling of Spitz Nevi (SN) in Relation to Nevocellular Nevi (NCN)

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