New Brain Tumor Entities Emerge from Molecular Classification of CNS-PNETs

Authors

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-25-2016

Publication Title

Cell

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Central Nervous System Neoplasms, Child, DNA Methylation, Forkhead Transcription Factors, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Neuroectodermal Tumors, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Repressor Proteins, Signal Transduction, Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Abstract

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS-PNETs) are highly aggressive, poorly differentiated embryonal tumors occurring predominantly in young children but also affecting adolescents and adults. Herein, we demonstrate that a significant proportion of institutionally diagnosed CNS-PNETs display molecular profiles indistinguishable from those of various other well-defined CNS tumor entities, facilitating diagnosis and appropriate therapy for patients with these tumors. From the remaining fraction of CNS-PNETs, we identify four new CNS tumor entities, each associated with a recurrent genetic alteration and distinct histopathological and clinical features. These new molecular entities, designated "CNS neuroblastoma with FOXR2 activation (CNS NB-FOXR2)," "CNS Ewing sarcoma family tumor with CIC alteration (CNS EFT-CIC)," "CNS high-grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration (CNS HGNET-MN1)," and "CNS high-grade neuroepithelial tumor with BCOR alteration (CNS HGNET-BCOR)," will enable meaningful clinical trials and the development of therapeutic strategies for patients affected by poorly differentiated CNS tumors.

Medical Subject Headings

Amino Acid Sequence; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; DNA Methylation; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Repressor Proteins; Signal Transduction; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

PubMed ID

26919435

Volume

164

Issue

5

First Page

1060

Last Page

1072

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