Biopsy specimens of 19 human gliomas (10 glioblastomas, 2 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 astrocytomas, one mixed glioma, one oligodendroglioma and one ependymoma) were examined for amplification of tumour-related genes located on chromosome 7: the proto-oncogene c-erb-B1 (encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR], the proto-oncogene c-met, the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene, and the plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene.
Biopsy specimens of 19 human gliomas (10 glioblastomas, 2 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 astrocytomas, one mixed glioma, one oligodendroglioma and one ependymoma) were examined for amplification of tumour-related genes located on chromosome 7: the proto-oncogene c-erb-B1 (encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR], the proto-oncogene c-met, the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene, and the plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene.
Biopsy specimens of 19 human gliomas (10 glioblastomas, 2 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 astrocytomas, one mixed glioma, one oligodendroglioma and one ependymoma) were examined for amplification of tumour-related genes located on chromosome 7: the proto-oncogene c-erb-B1 (encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR], the proto-oncogene c-met, the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene, and the plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene.
Chromosomal DNA corresponding to the p53 tumor suppressor gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from 31 archival ependymoma specimens.
High frequency of allelic deletions was detected at marker D10S215 (80%) at the proximal 10q23 region in both oligodendroglial and ependymal tumours and between markers D10S216 (42%) and D10S169 (67%) at distal 10q25-26 region in oligodendroglial tumours.No mutations of PTEN/MMAC1 were found. p53 mutations were detected in three oligoastrocytomas and one ependymoma; three out of five mutations were found in exon 4.
From an earlier study in a family in which four cousins developed an ependymoma, we concluded that an ependymoma-susceptibility gene, which is not the NF2 gene in 22q12, might be located on chromosome 22.
TCR sequence analysis of the oligodendroglioma showed a JCV rearranged structure not related to a known viral strain, while the astrocytoma and the ependymoma disclosed a JCV Mad-4 strain that is known to induce brain tumors in animals.
Finally, ligand blotting and chemical-linking experiments revealed the presence of a approximately 100 kDa putative TTR receptor on the ependymoma cell membrane.
In addition, in 8 cases, protein expression was studied in vitro, using immunohistochemistry, and in vivo, by somatostatin scintigraphy. mRNAs for all 5 subtypes were variably expressed in each ependymoma.
Sixteen cases of ependymoma were studied for CDKN2A/p16 inactivation by immunohistochemistry using a p16 monoclonal antibody, by homozygous deletion (HD) assay and 5'CpG promoter methylation assay (methylation-specific PCR).
DAL-1, a related tumor suppressor and protein 4.1 family member on 18p11.3, has also been recently implicated in meningioma pathogenesis, though its role in ependymoma remains unknown.
We found erythropoietin receptor and erythropoietin expression in common pediatric tumor cells: neuroblastomas, Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors, pediatric brain tumors (medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, and ependymoma), Wilms tumors, rhabdomyosarcomas, and hepatoblastomas (n = 24), and in cell lines derived from some of these tumors (n = 25).
To investigate the role of aberrant epigenetic events in ependymoma and identify critical genes in its pathogenesis, the methylation status of nine tumour suppressor genes (TSGs: p14(ARF), p15(INK4B), p16(INK4A), CASP8, MGMT, TIMP3, TP73, RB1 and RASSF1A) was assessed.
To investigate the role of aberrant epigenetic events in ependymoma and identify critical genes in its pathogenesis, the methylation status of nine tumour suppressor genes (TSGs: p14(ARF), p15(INK4B), p16(INK4A), CASP8, MGMT, TIMP3, TP73, RB1 and RASSF1A) was assessed.
To investigate the role of aberrant epigenetic events in ependymoma and identify critical genes in its pathogenesis, the methylation status of nine tumour suppressor genes (TSGs: p14(ARF), p15(INK4B), p16(INK4A), CASP8, MGMT, TIMP3, TP73, RB1 and RASSF1A) was assessed.
RASSF1A hypermethylation represents the most common gene-specific defect identified in ependymoma highlighting the importance of its further investigation in this disease.
Primary ependymomas at diagnosis or relapse from 24 children were analyzed for p53 pathway, using a functional assay in yeast, RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and/or immunohistochemistry for TP53 mutation, p14(ARF) deletion and promoter hypermethylation, MDM2 and PAX5 expression, respectively. p53-mediated response to radiation-induced DNA damage was evaluated using Western blot and flow cytometry analysis in two ependymoma xenograft models, IGREP37 and IGREP83, derived from primary anaplastic childhood ependymomas.
Primary ependymomas at diagnosis or relapse from 24 children were analyzed for p53 pathway, using a functional assay in yeast, RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and/or immunohistochemistry for TP53 mutation, p14(ARF) deletion and promoter hypermethylation, MDM2 and PAX5 expression, respectively. p53-mediated response to radiation-induced DNA damage was evaluated using Western blot and flow cytometry analysis in two ependymoma xenograft models, IGREP37 and IGREP83, derived from primary anaplastic childhood ependymomas.
Primary ependymomas at diagnosis or relapse from 24 children were analyzed for p53 pathway, using a functional assay in yeast, RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and/or immunohistochemistry for TP53 mutation, p14(ARF) deletion and promoter hypermethylation, MDM2 and PAX5 expression, respectively. p53-mediated response to radiation-induced DNA damage was evaluated using Western blot and flow cytometry analysis in two ependymoma xenograft models, IGREP37 and IGREP83, derived from primary anaplastic childhood ependymomas.
However, DCX was less intensely expressed in the circumscribed group of tumors (pilocytic astrocytoma, n=6; ependymoma/subependymoma, n=7; dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, n=4; ganglioglioma, n=2; meningioma, n=9; and schwannoma, n=9).