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Integrative genomic analyses of neurofibromatosis tumors identify SOX9 as biomarker and survival gene

ABSTRACT: Understanding biological pathways critical for common neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) peripheral nerve tumors is essential, as tumor biomarkers, prognostic factors and therapeutics are all lacking. We used gene expression profiling to define transcriptional changes between primary normal Schwann cells (n = 10), NF1-derived primary benign neurofibroma Schwann cells (n = 22), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cell lines (n = 13), benign neurofibromas (n = 26) and MPNST (n = 6). Dermal and plexiform neurofibromas were indistinguishable. A prominent theme in the analysis was aberrant differentiation. Neurofibromas repressed gene programs normally active in Schwann cell precursors and immature Schwann cells. MPNST signatures strongly differed; genes upregulated in the sarcomas were significantly enriched for genes activated in neural crest cells. We validated differential expression of 82 genes including the neural crest transcription factor SOX9 and SOX9 predicted targets. SOX9 immunoreactivity was robust in neurofibroma and MPSNT tissue sections and targeting SOX9 - strongly expressed in NF1-related tumors - caused MPNST cell death. SOX9 is a biomarker of neurofibroma and MPNST, and possibly a therapeutic target in NF1. Keywords: tumor stage

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE14038 | GEO | 2009/07/15

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA112397

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) patients develop benign neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). These incurable peripheral nerve tumors result from loss of NF1 tumor suppressor gene function, causing hyperactive Ras signaling. Activated Ras controls numerous downstream effectors, but specific pathways mediating effects of hyperactive Ras in NF1 tumors are unknown. Cross-species transcriptome analyses of mouse and human neurofibromas and MPNSTs identified global negative feedback of genes that regulate Ras-Raf- MEK- extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling in both species. Nonetheless, activation of ERK was sustained in mouse and human neurofibromas and MPNST. PD0325901, a highly selective pharmacological inhibitor of MEK, was used to test whether sustained Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling contributes to neurofibroma growth in the Nf1fl/fl;Dhh-cre mouse model or in NF1 patient MPNST cell xenografts. PD0325901 treatment reduced aberrantly proliferating cells in neurofibroma and MPNST, prolonged survival of mice implanted with human MPNST cells, and shrank neurofibromas in >80% of mice tested. PD0325901 also caused effects on tumor vasculature. Our data demonstrate that deregulated Ras/ERK signaling is critical for the growth of NF1 peripheral nerve tumors and provide strong rationale for testing MEK inhibitors in NF1 clinical trials. 83 microarrays: Mouse control (15), Mouse neurofibroma (15), Mouse MPNST (18); Human nerve (3), Human neurofibroma (26), Human MPNST (6) We used the same human tumor samples as in series GSE14038 (dNF, pNF and MPNST). However, instead of referencing gene expression changes to the normal human Schwann cell samples (NHSC) as we did in series GSE14038, we generated three (new) normal nerve samples (samples jan-N1-3) and referenced gene expression changes to those samples. Moreover, the analysis of series GSE14038 evaluated changes in expression between NHSC, benign tumor subtypes (dNF and pNF), and malignant tumors (MPNST), while our present submission evaluated changes between normal nerve, benign tumors (combined dNF and pNF),and malignant tumors (MPNST). The Series supplementary 'merged_data.txt' file contains the data for 9,891 transcripts that were statistically different in at least one of the two species and present in both mouse and human data sets.

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Integrative genomic analyses of neurofibromatosis tumors identify SOX9 as biomarker and survival gene

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