The cellular origin of Ewing tumor (ET), a tumor of bone or soft tissues characterized by specific fusions between EWS and ETS genes, is highly debated. Through gene expression analysis comparing ETs with a variety of normal tissues, we show that the profiles of different EWS-FLI1-silenced Ewing cell lines converge toward that of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Moreover, upon EWS-FLI1 silencing, two different Ewing cell lines can differentiate along the adipogenic lineage when incubated in appropriate differentiation cocktails. In addition, Ewing cells can also differentiate along the osteogenic lineage upon long-term inhibition of EWS-FLI1. These in silico and experimental data strongly suggest that the inhibition of EWS-FLI1 may allow Ewing cells to recover the phenotype of their MSC progenitor.
Mesenchymal stem cell features of Ewing tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe identification of subtype-specific translocations has revolutionized diagnostics of sarcoma and provided new insight into oncogenesis. We used RNA-Seq to investigate samples diagnosed as small round cell tumors of bone, possibly Ewing sarcoma, but lacking the canonical EWSR1-ETS translocation. A new fusion was observed between the BCL6 co-repressor (BCOR) and the testis specific cyclin B3 (CCNB3) genes on chromosome X. RNA-Seq results were confirmed by RT-PCR and cloning the tumor-specific genomic translocation breakpoints. 24 BCOR-CCNB3-positive tumors were identified among a series of 594 sarcomas. Gene profiling experiments indicate that BCOR-CCNB3-positive cases are biologically distinct from other sarcomas, particularly Ewings sarcoma. Finally, we show that CCNB3 immunohistochemistry is a powerful diagnostic marker for this group of sarcoma and that over-expression of BCOR-CCNB3 or of a truncated CCNB3 activates S-phase in NIH3T3 cells. Thus the intrachromosomal X fusion described here represents a new subtype of bone sarcoma caused by a novel gene fusion mechanism.
A new subtype of bone sarcoma defined by BCOR-CCNB3 gene fusion.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesPolarity defects are a hallmark of most carcinomas. Cells from invasive micropapillary carcinomas (IMPCs) of the breast are characterized by a striking cell polarity inversion and represent a good model for the analysis of polarity abnormalities. We have performed an in-depth investigation of polarity alterations in 24 IMPCs, compared with invasive carcinomas of no special type (ICNST).
LIN7A is a major determinant of cell-polarity defects in breast carcinomas.
Specimen part
View SamplesIdentification of druggable targets is a prerequisite for developing targeted therapies against Ewing sarcoma. We report the identification of Protein Kinase C Beta (PRKCB) as a protein specifically and highly expressed in Ewing sarcoma as compared to other pediatric cancers. Its transcriptional activation is directly regulated by the EWSR1-FLI1 oncogene. Getting insights in PRKCB activity we show that, together with PRKCA, it is responsible for the phosphorylation of histone H3T6, allowing global maintenance of H3K4 trimethylation on a variety of gene promoters. In the long term, PRKCB RNA interference induces apoptosis in vitro. More importantly, in xenograft mice models, complete impairment of tumor engraftment and even tumor regression were observed upon PRKCB inhibition, highlighting PRKCB as a most valuable therapeutic target. Deciphering PRKCB roles in Ewing sarcoma using expression profiling, we found a strong overlap with genes modulated by EWSR1-FLI1 and an involvement of RPKCB in regulating crucial signaling pathways. Altogether, we show that PRKCB may have two important independent functions and should be considered as highly valuable for understanding Ewing sarcoma biology and as a promising target for new therapeutic approaches in Ewing sarcoma.
Targeting the EWSR1-FLI1 oncogene-induced protein kinase PKC-β abolishes ewing sarcoma growth.
Cell line
View SamplesThe expression profiles of 64 neuroblastic tumors (mainly neuroblastoma) were determined on Affymetrix chips HG U133 Plus 2.0.
Somatic and germline activating mutations of the ALK kinase receptor in neuroblastoma.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMedulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant pediatric brain tumor. Considerable efforts are dedicated to identify markers that help to refine treatment strategies. The activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway occurs in 10-15% of medulloblastomas and has been recently described as a marker for favorable patient outcome. We report a series of 72 pediatric medulloblastomas evaluated for beta-catenin immunostaining, CTNNB1 mutations, and studied by comparative genomic hybridization. Gene expression profiles were also available in a subset of 40 cases. Immunostaining of beta-catenin showed extensive nuclear staining (>50% of the tumor cells) in 6 cases and focal nuclear staining (<10% of cells) in 3 cases. The other cases exhibited either a signal strictly limited to the cytoplasm (58 cases) or were negative (5 cases). CTNNB1 mutations were detected in all beta-catenin extensively nucleopositive cases. The expression profiles of these cases documented a strong activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Remarkably, 5 out of these 6 tumors showed a complete loss of chromosome 6. In contrast, cases with focal nuclear beta-catenin staining, as well as tumors with negative or cytoplasmic staining, never demonstrated CTNNB1 mutation, Wnt/beta-catenin pathway activation or chromosome 6 loss. Patients with extensive nuclear staining were significantly older at diagnosis and were in continuous complete remission after a mean follow-up of 75.7 months (range 27.5-121.2) from diagnosis. All three patients with a focal nuclear staining of beta-catenin died within 36 months from diagnosis. Altogether, these data confirm and extend previous observations that CTNNB1-mutated tumors represent a distinct molecular subgroup of medulloblastomas with favorable outcome, indicating that therapy de-escalation should be considered. Yet, international consensus on the definition criteria of this distinct medulloblastoma subgroup should be achieved.
Beta-catenin status in paediatric medulloblastomas: correlation of immunohistochemical expression with mutational status, genetic profiles, and clinical characteristics.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe purpose of this study was to define biomarkers of sensitivty and mechanisms of resistance to the KDM1A/LSD1 inhibtor SP-2509 (HCI-2509) in Ewing sarcoma cell lines. We report that regardless of drug sensitivity all cell lines engage the UPR and ER-stress response following treatment with SP-2509 resulting in apoptotic cytotoxicity. In addition hypersentsitive cell lines shared a common basal transcriptnomic profile, with hypersensitive cell lines signficantly inducing ETS1 which was not observed in sensitive cell lines. Overall design: 6 Ewing sarcoma cell lines were treated with either vehicle control (DMSO) or the reversible LSD1/KDM1A inhibitor SP-2509 (2uM) for 48hrs. Three SP-2509 hypersensitive (IC50< 300nM)(A673, TC32, TC252) and three SP-2509 sensitive (IC50>900nM) (EWS-502, ES-2 and TC71) cell lines were investigated. Paired RNA from three indpendent experiments per cell line was analyzed.
Therapeutic Targeting of KDM1A/LSD1 in Ewing Sarcoma with SP-2509 Engages the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response.
Treatment, Subject
View SamplesPediatric medulloblastoma is considered a highly heterogeneous disease, and a new strategy of risk stratification to optimize therapeutic outcomes is required. We aimed to investigate a new risk-stratification approach based on expression profiles of medulloblastoma cohorts. We analyzed gene expression profiles of 30 primary medulloblastomas and detected strong evidence that poor survival outcome was significantly associated with mRNA expression profiles of 17p loss. However, it was not supported in independent cohorts from previously published data (n=100). We speculated that this controversy might come from complex conditions of two important prognostic determinants, loss of tumor suppressors (chromosome 17p) and high expression of oncogenes, c-myc (MYC) or N-myc (MYCN). Simultaneous consideration of these two factors led to a new subgrouping of patients, exhibiting obviously different survival expectancies between the subgroups. Patients with up-regulated WNT signalings were always pre-defined as an independent subgroup, which ultimately removed confounding effect arising from contradictory outcome, favorable prognosis of WNT medulloblastomas despite their high MYC/MYCN expression level. We also found that age is a significant prognostic marker after adjusting for 17p and MYC/MYCN status. Diminished survival in age <3 years was more substantial in groups with high expression of MYC/MYCN or 17p loss, indicating survival outcome might be coordinately affected by these three factors. We suggest a more tailored and easily applicable subgrouping system based on expression profiles of chromosome 17p and MYC/MYCN, while separating WNT medulloblastoma as an independent subgroup, which could provide the basis for a novel risk-stratification strategy in pediatric medulloblastoma.
Prognostic classification of pediatric medulloblastoma based on chromosome 17p loss, expression of MYCC and MYCN, and Wnt pathway activation.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesWe used microarrays to compared gene re-expression of SMARCB1 in I2A SMARCB1-deficient rhabdoid tumor cell line.
High-Throughput Drug Screening Identifies Pazopanib and Clofilium Tosylate as Promising Treatments for Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesNeuroblastoma is an embryonal neoplasm that remains of dramatic prognosis in its aggressive forms. Activating mutations of the ALK tyrosine kinase receptor have been identified in sporadic and familial cases of this cancer. We generated knock-in mice carrying the two most frequent Alk mutations observed in neuroblastoma patients. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying the impact of ALK mutations on neuroblastoma formation in a MYCN amplified background.
Activated Alk triggers prolonged neurogenesis and Ret upregulation providing a therapeutic target in ALK-mutated neuroblastoma.
Specimen part
View Samples