Project description:Meningiomas are frequent central nervous system tumors. Although most meningiomas are benign (WHO grade I) and curable by surgery, WHO grade II and III tumors remain therapeutically challenging due to frequent recurrence. Interestingly, relapse also occurs in some WHO grade I meningiomas. Hence, we investigated the transcriptional features defining aggressive (recurrent, malignantly progressing or WHO grade III) meningiomas in 144 cases. Meningiomas were categorized into non-recurrent (NR), recurrent (R), and tumors undergoing malignant progression (M) in addition to their WHO grade. Unsupervised transcriptomic analysis in 62 meningiomas revealed transcriptional profiles lining up according to WHO grade and clinical subgroup. Notably aggressive subgroups (R+M tumors and WHO grade III) shared a large set of differentially expressed genes (n=332; p<0.01, FC>1.25). In an independent multicenter validation set (n=82), differential expression of 10 genes between WHO grades was confirmed. Additionally, among WHO grade I tumors differential expression between NR and aggressive R+M tumors was af rmed for PTTG1, AURKB, ECT2, UBE2C and PRC1, while MN1 and LEPR discriminated between NR and R+M WHO grade II tumors. Univariate survival analysis revealed a significant association with progression-free survival for PTTG1, LEPR, MN1, ECT2, PRC1, COX10, UBE2C expression, while multivariate analysis identified a prediction for PTTG1 and LEPR mRNA expression independent of gender, WHO grade and extent of resection. Finally, stainings of PTTG1 and LEPR confirmed malignancy-associated protein expression changes. In conclusion, based on the so far largest study sample of WHO grade III and recurrent meningiomas we report a comprehensive transcriptional landscape and two prognostic markers. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of 62 low- and high-grade meningiomas
Project description:Meningiomas are frequent central nervous system tumors. Although most meningiomas are benign (WHO grade I) and curable by surgery, WHO grade II and III tumors remain therapeutically challenging due to frequent recurrence. Interestingly, relapse also occurs in some WHO grade I meningiomas. Hence, we investigated the transcriptional features defining aggressive (recurrent, malignantly progressing or WHO grade III) meningiomas in 144 cases. Meningiomas were categorized into non-recurrent (NR), recurrent (R), and tumors undergoing malignant progression (M) in addition to their WHO grade. Unsupervised transcriptomic analysis in 62 meningiomas revealed transcriptional profiles lining up according to WHO grade and clinical subgroup. Notably aggressive subgroups (R+M tumors and WHO grade III) shared a large set of differentially expressed genes (n=332; p<0.01, FC>1.25). In an independent multicenter validation set (n=82), differential expression of 10 genes between WHO grades was confirmed. Additionally, among WHO grade I tumors differential expression between NR and aggressive R+M tumors was af rmed for PTTG1, AURKB, ECT2, UBE2C and PRC1, while MN1 and LEPR discriminated between NR and R+M WHO grade II tumors. Univariate survival analysis revealed a significant association with progression-free survival for PTTG1, LEPR, MN1, ECT2, PRC1, COX10, UBE2C expression, while multivariate analysis identified a prediction for PTTG1 and LEPR mRNA expression independent of gender, WHO grade and extent of resection. Finally, stainings of PTTG1 and LEPR confirmed malignancy-associated protein expression changes. In conclusion, based on the so far largest study sample of WHO grade III and recurrent meningiomas we report a comprehensive transcriptional landscape and two prognostic markers.
Project description:Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, but molecular drivers of progression occurring in a subset of meningiomas are poorly understood. We hypothesized that epigenomic variations are causal for the clinical heterogeneity of meningiomas and may be functionally relevant for disease progression. To test this hypothesis, we performed global DNA methylation profiling of a large cross-sectional cohort and a longitudinal cohort of human meningiomas. Our analysis identifies a DNA hypermethylation signature that is correlated with clinical outcomes and enables more accurate prognostication in intermediate-risk meningiomas than previous classification systems. Analyses of longitudinal high-grade meningioma samples in comparison to clinically benign meningiomas and normal meningeal tissue show convergent contributions, but differing plasticity of copy number variations and DNA hypermethylation along the trajectory of meningioma progression. Systematic analysis of DNA hypermethylation in high-grade meningiomas unravel a tumor suppressive role of clustered protocadherins by regulating b-catenin signaling. Together, our study provides fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of clinically benign and aggressive meningiomas and the microevolutionary adaptation during disease progression.
Project description:Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, but molecular drivers of progression occurring in a subset of meningiomas are poorly understood. We hypothesized that epigenomic variations are causal for the clinical heterogeneity of meningiomas and may be functionally relevant for disease progression. To test this hypothesis, we performed global DNA methylation profiling of a large cross-sectional cohort and a longitudinal cohort of human meningiomas. Our analysis identifies a DNA hypermethylation signature that is correlated with clinical outcomes and enables more accurate prognostication in intermediate-risk meningiomas than previous classification systems. Analyses of longitudinal high-grade meningioma samples in comparison to clinically benign meningiomas and normal meningeal tissue show convergent contributions, but differing plasticity of copy number variations and DNA hypermethylation along the trajectory of meningioma progression. Systematic analysis of DNA hypermethylation in high-grade meningiomas unravel a tumor suppressive role of clustered protocadherins by regulating b-catenin signaling. Together, our study provides fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of clinically benign and aggressive meningiomas and the microevolutionary adaptation during disease progression.
Project description:Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, but molecular drivers of progression occurring in a subset of meningiomas are poorly understood. We hypothesized that epigenomic variations are causal for the clinical heterogeneity of meningiomas and may be functionally relevant for disease progression. To test this hypothesis, we performed global DNA methylation profiling of a large cross-sectional cohort and a longitudinal cohort of human meningiomas. Our analysis identifies a DNA hypermethylation signature that is correlated with clinical outcomes and enables more accurate prognostication in intermediate-risk meningiomas than previous classification systems. Analyses of longitudinal high-grade meningioma samples in comparison to clinically benign meningiomas and normal meningeal tissue show convergent contributions, but differing plasticity of copy number variations and DNA hypermethylation along the trajectory of meningioma progression. Systematic analysis of DNA hypermethylation in high-grade meningiomas unravel a tumor suppressive role of clustered protocadherins by regulating b-catenin signaling. Together, our study provides fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of clinically benign and aggressive meningiomas and the microevolutionary adaptation during disease progression.
Project description:Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, but molecular drivers of progression occurring in a subset of meningiomas are poorly understood. We hypothesized that epigenomic variations are causal for the clinical heterogeneity of meningiomas and may be functionally relevant for disease progression. To test this hypothesis, we performed global DNA methylation profiling of a large cross-sectional cohort and a longitudinal cohort of human meningiomas. Our analysis identifies a DNA hypermethylation signature that is correlated with clinical outcomes and enables more accurate prognostication in intermediate-risk meningiomas than previous classification systems. Analyses of longitudinal high-grade meningioma samples in comparison to clinically benign meningiomas and normal meningeal tissue show convergent contributions, but differing plasticity of copy number variations and DNA hypermethylation along the trajectory of meningioma progression. Systematic analysis of DNA hypermethylation in high-grade meningiomas unravel a tumor suppressive role of clustered protocadherins by regulating b-catenin signaling. Together, our study provides fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of clinically benign and aggressive meningiomas and the microevolutionary adaptation during disease progression.
Project description:Meningiomas represent one of the most common and clinically heterogeneous brain tumor types that only modestly correlate with histopathologic features. While emerging molecular profiling efforts have linked specific genomic drivers to distinct clinical patterns, the proteomic landscape of meningiomas remains largely unexplored. We utilize mass spectrometry to profile a clinically well-annotated cohort (n=69) of meningiomas stratified to span all three World Health Organization (WHO) grades and various degrees of clinical aggressiveness. In total, we quantify 3042 unique proteins and compare the patterns across different clinical parameters. Unsupervised clustering analysis highlighted distinct proteomic (n=106 proteins, Welch’s t-test, P<0.01) and pathway-level (e.g. Notch and PI3K/AKT/mTOR) differences between convexity and skull base meningiomas. Supervised comparative analyses of different pathological grades revealed distinct patterns between benign (WHO Grade I) and atypical/malignant (WHO Grade II and III) meningiomas with classic oncogenes often enriched in higher grade lesions. Independent of WHO grade, clinically aggressive meningiomas, that rapidly recurred, also had distinctive protein patterns that converged on mRNA processing and impaired activation of the extracellular matrix naba matrisome complex. Larger sized meningiomas, and those with previous radiation exposure, also had distinct protein profiles. Collectively, we highlight distinct clinically-dependent proteomic patterns of meningiomas that may help better predict outcome and guide the development of more personalized and directed therapies.
Project description:Meningiomas are the most common primary CNS tumors, often managed conservatively due to their benign histology. Molecular phenotyping is considered the current frontier in meningioma classification to predict progression and guide clinical management of adjuvant therapies. While several biomarkers have been studied, a definitive molecular prognostic panel has yet to be established—a gap this study seeks to address. Using patient-resected meningioma tumor tissues paired with normal meninges, transcriptomic analysis identified a subset of significantly differentially-expressed-genes(DEG) linked to cellular proliferation and immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Graph-theory analysis revealed a rich-club organization in the gene networks, with highly connected core nodes. Core gene expression levels significantly correlated with tumor WHO grading, achieving an ROC-AUC of 0.8 for distinguishing low-grade(grade-1) from high-grade(grades-2&3) tumors(P < 0.001). For clinical outcomes, core gene expression achieved an AUC of 0.96 for predicting tumor recurrence(P < 0.001) and 0.74 for patient survival(P = 0.018). This study employs an analytical pipeline integrating transcriptomic analysis of meningiomas with a graph-theory approach to identify core regulators within pathological tumor networks. This refined method facilitated the discovery of phenotype-encoding biomarkers, which accurately predicted histological grade and clinical outcomes. The identified core markers provide insights into meningioma-specific pathophysiological pathways and offer potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Project description:Aims: Whereas recent molecular analysis has revealed that sporadic meningioma has various genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic profiles, those of meningioma in NF2 patients are not fully elucidated. This study probed meningiomas' clinical, histological, and molecular characteristics in NF2 patients. Methods: A long-term retrospective follow-up (13.5 ± 5.5 years) study involving 159 meningiomas in NF2 patients was performed. We assessed their characteristics by performing immunohistochemistry (IHC), bulk-RNA sequencing, and copy number analysis. All variables of meningiomas in NF2 patients were compared with those of 189 sporadic NF2-altered meningiomas. Results: Most meningiomas in NF2 patients were stable, and the mean annual growth rate was 1.0 ± 1.8 cm3/yr. Twenty-eight meningiomas (17.6%) in 25 patients (43.1%) were resected during the follow-up period. WHO grade 1 meningiomas in NF2 patients` were more frequent than in sporadic NF2-altered meningiomas (92.9% vs 80.9%). Transcriptomic analysis for NF2 patients`/sporadic NF2-altered WHO grade 1 meningiomas (n = 14 versus 15, respectively) showed that tumours in NF2 patients had still higher immune response and immune cell infiltration than sporadic NF2-altered meningiomas. Furthermore, RNA-seq/IHC-derived immunophenotyping corroborated this higher immune response by identifying myeloid cell infiltration, especially macrophages. Conclusions: Clinical, histological, and transcriptomic analyses for meningiomas in NF2 patients demonstrated that meningiomas in NF2 patients showed less aggressive behaviour than sporadic NF2-altered meningiomas and elicited marked immune response by identifying myeloid cell infiltration, especially macrophages.
Project description:Genomic profiling of anaplastic meningioma can inform prognostic gene level alterations in lower-grade meningiomas, potentially reflecting evolution of anaplastic meningioma from lowergrade precursor tumours. Larger scale studies in paired primary and recurrent meningiomas are warranted to unravel the evolutionary path to anaplastic meningiomas and prognostic genomic alterations in detail