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Published on: March 7, 2017
Epigenomic alterations define lethal CIMP-positive ependymomas of infancy
11] Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada [2] Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada [3] Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada [4].
Hindbrain ependymomas, a common childhood brain tumor, show few genetic mutations but exhibit epigenetic changes. Targeting these epigenetic alterations offers a promising new therapeutic strategy for this malignancy.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Epigenetics
- Pediatric oncology
Background:
- Ependymomas are frequent pediatric brain tumors, primarily affecting the hindbrain.
- Current treatments (surgery, radiation) lack efficacy from chemotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the genetic and epigenetic landscape of hindbrain ependymomas.
- Identify potential therapeutic targets for poor-prognosis cases.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of 47 hindbrain ependymomas.
- Analysis of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP).
- Assessment of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) targets and H3K27 trimethylation.
Main Results:
- Hindbrain ependymomas display an exceptionally low mutation rate with no significant recurrent somatic single nucleotide variants.
- Poor-prognosis tumors exhibit a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP).
- Epigenetic silencing targets Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) targets, affecting differentiation genes via H3K27 trimethylation.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic dysregulation, specifically CIMP and PRC2 pathway alterations, is a key driver in hindbrain ependymomas.
- CIMP-positive tumors are sensitive to drugs targeting DNA or H3K27 methylation.
- Epigenetic modifiers represent rational therapeutic candidates for this deadly pediatric brain malignancy.
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