Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Integrative molecular characterization of pediatric spinal ependymoma: the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group study

Ahmad, Omar; Chapman, Rebecca; Storer, Lisa C; Luo, Li; Heath, Paul R; Resar, Linda; Cohen, Kenneth J; Grundy, Richard G; Lourdusamy, Anbarasu

Integrative molecular characterization of pediatric spinal ependymoma: the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group study Thumbnail


Authors

Omar Ahmad

Rebecca Chapman

Lisa C Storer

Li Luo

Paul R Heath

Linda Resar

Kenneth J Cohen

Richard G Grundy



Abstract

Background
Pediatric spinal ependymomas (SP-EPNs) are rare primary central nervous system tumors with heterogeneous clinical course. Considering that ependymomas in children are biologically distinct from their adult counterparts, this study aimed to define the molecular landscape of SP-EPNs in children.

Methods
In this retrospective study, we have collected tumor samples from 27 SP-EPN patients younger than 18 years and carried out the histological review, DNA methylation, and gene expression profiling.

Results
Unsupervised analyses with methylation profiles revealed 2 subgroups where all grade I tumors (n = 11) were in Group 1, but the grade II/III tumors split into 2 groups (n = 7 in Group 1 and n = 9 in Group 2). The Heidelberg classifier assigned Group 1 tumors as spinal myxopapillary ependymomas (SP-MPEs), 5 Group 2 tumors as SP-EPNs, and failed to classify 4 Group 2 tumors. Copy numbers derived from DNA methylation arrays revealed subgroup-specific genetic alterations and showed that SP-EPN tumors lack MYCN amplification. Gene expression profiling revealed distinct transcriptomic signatures, including overexpression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation in SP-MPEs that were validated by Western blot analysis. We discovered widespread decreases in DNA methylation at enhancer regions that are associated with the expression of oncogenic signaling pathways in SP-MPEs. Furthermore, transcription factor motifs for master regulators, including HNF1B, PAX3, and ZIC3, were significantly overrepresented in probes specific to distal regulatory regions in SP MPEs.

Conclusion
Our findings show substantial heterogeneity in pediatric SP-EPN and uncover novel enhancers and transcriptional pathways specific to the SP-MPE subgroup, providing a foundation for future therapeutic strategies.

Citation

Ahmad, O., Chapman, R., Storer, L. C., Luo, L., Heath, P. R., Resar, L., …Lourdusamy, A. (2021). Integrative molecular characterization of pediatric spinal ependymoma: the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group study. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 3(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdab043

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 1, 2021
Online Publication Date Mar 8, 2021
Publication Date 2021
Deposit Date Jun 2, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Electronic ISSN 2632-2498
Publisher Oxford University Press (OUP)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Issue 1
Article Number vdab043
Pages 1-13
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdab043
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5382897
Publisher URL https://academic.oup.com/noa/article/3/1/vdab043/6162496

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations