Search

Ependymoma is the third most common pediatric brain tumor and remains incurable in 45% of patients. It arises in the spinal cord, supratentorial brain, and most commonly in children, the posterior fossa (PF). We recently reported the identification of two molecularly and clinically distinct subgroups of PF ependymoma, which we named Group A and B. While patients with Group B tumors harbor a large number of gross chromosomal gains and losses (approx. 17 arm events per tumor) and have favorable prognoses (5 year PFS = 92%), patients with Group A tumors have balanced genomic profiles (approx. 1 arm event per tumor) with poor clinical outcomes (5 year PFS = 24%). We hypothesized that aberrant DNA methylation could be a mechanism driving the tumorigenesis of Group A PF ependymoma. To this end, we isolated methylated DNA in 92 ependymomas by Methyl Binding Domain 2 protein assisted recovery, and hybridized enriched DNA to promoter tiling arrays (Nimblegen). Using unsupervised hierarchical clustering we determined that the DNA methylation profiles of ependymoma were regionally specified, dividing tumors into subgroups according to their anatomical origin. Using both gene expression and DNA methylation platforms, we identified a subset of PF ependymoma, which clustered with spinal tumors, supporting the vast molecular differences between Group A and B PF ependymoma. We next compared the number of methylated genes identified in Group A versus B, and observed that Group A tumors exhibited a greater number of methylated genes at specific CpG islands, a feature described as a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in glioma, colon cancer, and breast cancer. We validated these findings in a non-overlapping cohort of 48 PF ependymomas, analyzed using a different array technology (Illumina Infinium 450K). Using various unsupervised clustering methods (HCL, K-MEANS, NMF, and SOM), we verified that Group A and B exhibited highly distinct DNA methylation profiles. Further, we confirmed that Group A tumours were defined by a greater overall number of methylated genes (A: 855, B: 233; Wilcoxon-Rank Sum Test), and a greater number of methylated genes per tumour (A: 511, B: 425; Wilcoxon-Rank Sum Test). We performed Gene Set Enrichment analysis and observed that many genes methylated in Group A exhibited a significant overlap with genes marked by the polycomb repressor (PRC2) complex in embryonic stem cells (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1428. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1428

Neuroblastoma is a malignancy of early childhood that derives from the developing neural crest and accounts for 15% of all paediatric oncology deaths. The vitamin A derivative retinoic acid (RA) controls neural development and promotes differentiation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of neuronal and neuroblastoma cells. These diverse effects of RA are exerted primarily through the ability to differentially regulate gene expression mediated by the retinoic acid receptors (RARs). RA is used in the clinic to treat high-risk neuroblastoma patients, however with variable success. This variability in clinical response to RA is enigmatic as no mutations in components of the RA signaling cascade have been found. By using large-scale RNAi-based genetic screens, we aimed to identify predictive biomarkers for RA sensitivity in neuroblastoma. We found an unexpected crosstalk between the tumor suppressor neurofibromin (NF1) and RA signaling. NF1 is a negative regulator of RAS signaling that promotes conversion of the active GTP bound form into the inactive GDP bound form of RAS. Activation of RAS-MEK signaling by loss of NF1 repressed ZNF423, a critical transcriptional co-activator of the retinoic acid receptors, and blocked RA induced differentiation and target gene activation. Restoration of ZNF423 levels resensitized NF1 knockdown cells to the inhibitory effect of RA. Moreover, ZNF423 and NF1 expression predicted sensitivity to RA in a large panel of neuroblastoma cell lines. Neuroblastomas with low levels of both NF1 and ZNF423 have extremely poor outcome. We found NF1 mutations in neuroblastoma cell lines and also in primary tumors. Inhibition of MEK signaling downstream of NF1 restored responsiveness to RA, suggesting a therapeutic strategy to overcome RA resistance in NF1 deficient neuroblastomas. Citation Information: Clin Cancer Res 2010;16(7 Suppl):A30

The Hox clusters play a crucial role in body patterning during animal development. They encode both Hox transcription factor and micro-RNA genes that are activated in a precise temporal and spatial sequence that follows their chromosomal order. These remarkable collinear properties confer functional unit status for Hox clusters. We developed the TranscriptView platform to establish high resolution transcriptional profiling and report here that transcription in the Hox clusters is far more complex than previously described in both human and mouse. Unannotated transcripts can represent up to 60% of the total transcriptional output of a cluster. In particular, we identified 14 non-coding Transcriptional Units antisense to Hox genes, 10 of which (70%) have a detectable mouse homolog. Most of these Transcriptional Units in both human and mouse present conserved sizeable sequences (>40 bp) overlapping Hox transcripts, suggesting that these Hox antisense transcripts are functional. Hox clusters also display at least seven polycistronic clusters, i.e., different genes being co-transcribed on long isoforms (up to 30 kb). This work provides a reevaluated framework for understanding Hox gene function and dys-function. Such extensive transcriptions may provide a structural explanation for Hox clustering.

The BIRC5 (Survivin) gene is located at chromosome 17q in the region that is frequently gained in high risk neuroblastoma. BIRC5 is strongly over expressed in neuroblastoma tumour samples, which correlates to a poor prognosis. We recently validated BIRC5 as a potential therapeutic target by showing that targeted knock down with shRNA's triggers an apoptotic response through mitotic catastrophe. We now tested YM155, a novel small molecule selective BIRC5 suppressant that is currently in phase I/II clinical trials. Drug response curves showed IC50 values in the low nM range (median: 35 nM, range: 0.5->10,000 nM) in a panel of 23 neuroblastoma cell lines and four TIC-lines, which resulted from an apoptotic response. Nine out of 23 cell lines were relatively resistant to YM155 with IC50 values >200 nM, although in the same cells shRNA mediated knock down of BIRC5 caused massive apoptosis. Analysis of differentially expressed genes between five most sensitive and five most resistant cell lines using Affymetrix mRNA expression data revealed ABCB1 (MDR1) as the most predictive gene for resistance to YM155. Inhibition of the multidrug resistance pump ABCB1 with cyclosporine or knockdown with shRNA prior to treatment with YM155 demonstrated that cell lines with ABCB1 expression became 27-695 times more sensitive to YM155 treatment. We conclude that most neuroblastoma cell lines are sensitive to YM155 in the low nM range and that resistant cells can be sensitised by ABCB1 inhibitors. Therefore YM155 is a promising novel compound for treatment of neuroblastoma with low ABCB1 expression. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Summary Mutation is a fundamental process in tumorigenesis. However, the degree to which the rate of somatic mutation varies across the human genome and the mechanistic basis underlying this variation remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we performed a cross-cancer comparison of 402 whole genomes comprising a diverse set of childhood and adult tumors, including both solid and hematopoietic malignancies. Surprisingly, we found that the inactive X chromosome of many female cancer genomes accumulates on average twice and up to four times as many somatic mutations per megabase, as compared to the individual autosomes. Whole-genome sequencing of clonally expanded hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) from healthy individuals and a premalignant myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) sample revealed no X chromosome hypermutation. Our data suggest that hypermutation of the inactive X chromosome is an early and frequent feature of tumorigenesis resulting from DNA replication stress in aberrantly proliferating cells., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • X chromosome has up to 4× more mutations than the autosomes in female cancer genomes • Hypermutations only affect the inactive X chromosome • X hypermutation involves somatic point mutations and indels, but not germline mutations • No X hypermutation is found in clonal expansions of normal or premalignant cells, A comparison of 402 cancer genomes identifies a surprisingly high level of somatic mutations in the inactive X chromosome of female cancer genomes. As hypermutability of the inactive X was not observed in clonal hematopoietic progenitor or preleukemic samples, it is likely that it may be a contributing factor to tumorigenesis.

SummaryRetinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation of neuroblastoma cells in vitro and is used with variable success to treat aggressive forms of this disease. This variability in clinical response to RA is enigmatic, as no mutations in components of the RA signaling cascade have been found. Using a large-scale RNAi genetic screen, we identify crosstalk between the tumor suppressor NF1 and retinoic acid-induced differentiation in neuroblastoma. Loss of NF1 activates RAS-MEK signaling, which in turn represses ZNF423, a critical transcriptional coactivator of the retinoic acid receptors. Neuroblastomas with low levels of both NF1 and ZNF423 have extremely poor outcome. We find NF1 mutations in neuroblastoma cell lines and in primary tumors. Inhibition of MEK signaling downstream of NF1 restores responsiveness to RA, suggesting a therapeutic strategy to overcome RA resistance in NF1-deficient neuroblastomas.PaperClip

SummarySmoothened (SMO) inhibitors recently entered clinical trials for sonic-hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma (SHH-MB). Clinical response is highly variable. To understand the mechanism(s) of primary resistance and identify pathways cooperating with aberrant SHH signaling, we sequenced and profiled a large cohort of SHH-MBs (n = 133). SHH pathway mutations involved PTCH1 (across all age groups), SUFU (infants, including germline), and SMO (adults). Children >3 years old harbored an excess of downstream MYCN and GLI2 amplifications and frequent TP53 mutations, often in the germline, all of which were rare in infants and adults. Functional assays in different SHH-MB xenograft models demonstrated that SHH-MBs harboring a PTCH1 mutation were responsive to SMO inhibition, whereas tumors harboring an SUFU mutation or MYCN amplification were primarily resistant.

Neuroblastoma is a pediatric embryonal malignancy characterized by impaired neuronal differentiation. A better understanding of neuroblastoma differentiation is essential for developing new therapeutic approaches. GDE2 (encoded by GDPD5) is a six-transmembrane-domain glycerophosphodiesterase that promotes embryonic neurogenesis. We find that high GDPD5 expression is strongly associated with favorable outcome in neuroblastoma. GDE2 induces differentiation of neuroblastoma cells, suppresses cell motility, and opposes RhoA-driven neurite retraction. GDE2 alters the Rac-RhoA activity balance and the expression of multiple differentiation-associated genes. Mechanistically, GDE2 acts by cleaving (in cis) and releasing glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glypican-6, a putative co-receptor. A single point mutation in the ectodomain abolishes GDE2 function. Our results reveal GDE2 as a cell-autonomous inducer of neuroblastoma differentiation with prognostic significance and potential therapeutic value.

3. According to Sneed, a theory consists of a number of empirically inter? preted models for a set-theoretical predicate. These models contain a domain of individuals and certain functions defined on this domain. In its primary application each domain will be a set of verse-commu? nities. The members of these communities can be conceived as 'poets readers'. The notion 'verse-community' thus is a primitive term in our theory, by which the concept 'poet-reader' is defined. An intuitive informal example of a verse-community is the group of poets-readers who master the canonical principles of versification of their verse-system. The problem how to decide whether a person can be assigned to a certain verse-com? munity will be discussed later on. It must be emphasized that a poet-reader should not be confused with an actually operating poet-reader. The theory is concerned with an 'abstract' person whose knowledge of versification, that provides the basis for the actual use of a system of versification by a poet-reader, is characterized in the most neutral terms.

Publisher Summary This chapter examines whether human language is natural or conventional. According to the modular view of mind, the mind is not one integrated whole, but a structure composed of various more or less autonomous components. Almost all systems of a certain degree of complexity are modular in this sense. Likewise, the language faculty is not a unitary system, but something composed of relatively independent subsystems. One of the most fascinating aspects of our language system is that it has the property of discrete infinity. Other systems of animal communication of infinite range lack this property of discrete infinity. The capacity to handle discrete infinities in connection with conceptual content is unique to humans. The chapter illustrates that the link between the computational structures found in human language and the conceptual systems is not intrinsic, but accidental. This means that the crucial link that makes human language so powerful is not a matter of biological necessity, but of human culture.

Inversion of seismic reflection data is normally done by iterative forward model-ling. There are three problems with this approach. First, the choice of initial model and the number of parameters required to specify it are usually uncon-strained. Secondly, because of the lack of constraints, it becomes extremely difficult to find the optimum model. The optimum model is usually found by minimizing the error between the wavefield calculated from the model and the measured wavefield. The minimum reached is usually a local, rather than a global, minimum. Thirdly, the data are used only to calculate the error.

One of the basic problems of the theory of core grammar is the determination of the levels of representation for the sentences of a language, and the characterization of the mappings that interconnect these levels of representation. Traditionally, a distinction was made between deep structure and surface structure, which were thought to be connected by transformational derivations.

Sur des enfants neerlandais de six a dix ans, les AA. montrent une acquisition plus rapide des anaphoriques reflechis que des non reflechis, ce qui suggererait une explication en termes configurationnels

Background Neuroblastoma are pediatric tumors of the sympathetic nervous system with a poor prognosis. Apoptosis is often deregulated in cancer cells, but only a few defects in apoptotic routes have been identified in neuroblastoma. Methods Here we investigated genomic aberrations affecting genes of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in neuroblastoma. We analyzed DNA profiling data (CGH and SNP arrays) and mRNA expression data of 31 genes of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in a dataset of 88 neuroblastoma tumors using the R2 bioinformatic platform (http://r2.amc.nl). BIRC6 was selected for further analysis as a tumor driving gene. Knockdown experiments were performed using BIRC6 lentiviral shRNA and phenotype responses were analyzed by Western blot and MTT-assays. In addition, DIABLO levels and interactions were investigated with immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation. Results We observed frequent gain of the BIRC6 gene on chromosome 2, which resulted in increased mRNA expression. BIRC6 is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP), that can bind and degrade the cytoplasmic fraction of the pro-apoptotic protein DIABLO. DIABLO mRNA expression was exceptionally high in neuroblastoma but the protein was only detected in the mitochondria. Upon silencing of BIRC6 by shRNA, DIABLO protein levels increased and cells went into apoptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed direct interaction between DIABLO and BIRC6 in neuroblastoma cell lines. Conclusion Our findings indicate that BIRC6 may have a potential oncogenic role in neuroblastoma by inactivating cytoplasmic DIABLO. BIRC6 inhibition may therefore provide a means for therapeutic intervention in neuroblastoma.

Plectin is a major component of the cytoskeleton and is expressed in a wide variety of cell types. It plays an important role in the integrity of the cytoskeleton by cross-linking the three filamentous networks and stabilizing cell-matrix and cell-cell contacts. Sequence analysis showed that plectin contains a highly conserved actin-binding domain, consisting of a pair of calponin-like subdomains. Using yeast two-hybrid assays in combination with in vitro binding experiments, we demonstrate that the actin-binding domain of plectin is fully functional and preferentially binds to polymeric actin. The sequences required for actin binding were identified at the C-terminal end of the first calponin homology domain within the actin-binding domain of plectin. We found that the actin-binding domain of plectin is able to bundle actin filaments and we present evidence that this is mediated by the dimerization of this domain. In addition we also show that plectin and another member of the plakin family, dystonin, can heterodimerize by their actin-binding domains. We propose a new mechanism by which plectin and possibly also other actin-binding proteins can regulate the organization of the F-actin network in the cell.