| 1. |
- Karlsson, Christine, et al.
(author)
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Genetic intratumour heterogeneity in high-grade brain tumours is associated with telomere-dependent mitotic instability.
- 2007
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In: Neuropathology & Applied Neurobiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2990 .- 0305-1846. ; 33:4, s. 440-454
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other high-grade brain tumours are typically characterized by complex chromosome abnormalities and extensive intratumour cytogenetic heterogeneity. The mechanisms behind this diversity have been little explored. In this study, we analysed the pattern of chromosome segregation at mitosis in 20 brain tumours. We found an abnormal segregation of chromatids at mitosis through anaphase bridging (10-25% of anaphase cells) in all 10 GBMs. Anaphase bridging was also found in two medulloblastomas (7-15%), one anaplastic astrocytoma (17%) and one oligodendroglioma (6%). These tumours showed a relatively high degree of cytogenetic complexity and heterogeneity. In contrast, cell division abnormalities were not found in low-grade brain tumours with less complex karyotypes, including two pilocytic astrocytomas and two ependymomas. Further analysis of two GBMs by fluorescence in situ hybridization with telomeric repeat probes revealed excessive shortening of TTAGGG repeats, indicating dysfunctional protection of chromosome ends. In xenografts established from these GBMs, there was a gradual reduction in cytogenetic heterogeneity through successive passages as the proportion of abnormally short telomeres was reduced and the frequency of anaphase bridges decreased from >25% to 0. However, bridging could be reintroduced in late-passage xenograft cells by pharmacological induction of telomere shortening, using a small-molecule telomerase inhibitor. Telomere-dependent abnormal segregation of chromosomes at mitosis is thus a common phenomenon in high-grade brain tumours and may be one important factor behind cytogenetic intratumour diversity in GBM.
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| 2. |
- Lindberg, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Concurrent gain of 17q and the MYC oncogene in a medullomyoblastoma
- 2007
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In: Neuropathology. - : Wiley. - 0919-6544 .- 1440-1789. ; 27:6, s. 556-560
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Medullomyoblastoma (MMB) is a rare cerebellar childhood tumor containing both myoblastic and primitive neuroectodermal components. Similar to the scenario in classical medulloblastoma, which contains the primitive neuroectodermal component only, gain of sequences from the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q) and gain of the MYC gene in 8q have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MMB. Because karyotypic analysis has not previously been performed for MMB, the mechanisms behind genomic imbalances in this tumor have remained unknown. Several other central aspects of this tumor, such as histocytogenetic origin, clinical characteristics, tumor behavior and prognosis, also remain unknown. We here report neuropathological and cytogenetic features of an MMB in a 3-year-old boy. Chromosome banding analysis and multicolor karyotyping revealed a hyperdiploid karyotype including an unbalanced 1; 17 translocation and isochromosome 17q formation, both leading to gain of 17q. There were also two extra copies of chromosome 8, leading to gain of the MYC oncogene, trisomies 5 and 13, and monosomy 9. Clonal chromosome changes were present in both the myoblastic and neuroectodermal components. Our findings support the notion that MMB and classical medulloblastoma arise through similar genetic mechanisms and that the two main tissue components in MMB are clonally related.
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