Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

In Vivo Model for Testing Effect of Hypoxia on Tumor Metastasis
12:03

In Vivo Model for Testing Effect of Hypoxia on Tumor Metastasis

Published on: December 9, 2016

Targeted therapy for Ewing's sarcoma: significance of heterogeneity

A C M Van De Luijtgaarden1, W T A Van Der Graaf, I Otte-Höller

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Anticancer Research
|October 15, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Tumor DNA content in Ewing sarcoma (ES) can change over time and between lesions. Non-diploid DNA content indicates a poorer prognosis, highlighting the need for comprehensive molecular profiling in ES treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Pathology
  • Cancer Genomics

Background:

  • Ewing sarcoma (ES) has limited survival rates, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeted therapies for ES, such as insulin-like growth factor inhibitors, require precise identification of molecular tumor alterations.
  • Tumor heterogeneity presents a challenge in selecting effective treatments for ES.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate tumor heterogeneity in Ewing sarcoma by assessing DNA content and ploidy.
  • To evaluate the stability of ploidy over time and across different tumor lesions within individual patients.
  • To determine the prognostic value of DNA ploidy in Ewing sarcoma.

Main Methods:

  • DNA image cytometry (IC) was utilized on 41 samples from 21 ES patients.
  • Ploidy status was analyzed for temporal and interlesional consistency.
  • The association between ploidy and patient survival was statistically assessed.

Main Results:

  • Significant variations in DNA content were observed over time and between different tumor sites within the same patient.
  • Coexistence of multiple ploidy states was detected at single time points.
  • Non-diploid DNA content correlated with significantly shorter overall survival (median 19 months vs. 84 months, p=0.047).

Conclusions:

  • Ewing sarcoma exhibits dynamic changes and heterogeneity in DNA ploidy state.
  • Relying on a single tumor sample for molecular screening may lead to inadequate or excessive treatment.
  • Non-diploid DNA content serves as a marker for biologically distinct tumor clones and predicts an adverse outcome in ES.

More Related Videos

Heterogeneity Mapping of Protein Expression in Tumors using Quantitative Immunofluorescence07:54

Heterogeneity Mapping of Protein Expression in Tumors using Quantitative Immunofluorescence

Published on: October 25, 2011

Profiling Sensitivity to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Patient-Derived Organoids08:52

Profiling Sensitivity to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Patient-Derived Organoids

Published on: November 22, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...