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01-01-2021 | Ependymoma | Original Article

Abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated (ASPM) gene expression in posterior fossa brain tumors of childhood and adolescence

Authors: Débora Cabral de Carvalho Corrêa, Indhira Dias Oliveira, Bruna Mascaro Cordeiro, Frederico Adolfo Silva, Maria Teresa de Seixas Alves, Nasjla Saba-Silva, Andrea Maria Capellano, Patrícia Dastoli, Sergio Cavalheiro, Silvia Regina Caminada de Toledo

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Purpose

In neurogenesis, ASPM (abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated) gene is expressed mainly in the ventricular zone of posterior fossa and is the major determinant in the cerebral cortex. Besides its role in embryonic development, ASPM overexpression promotes tumor growth, including central nervous system (CNS) tumors. This study aims to investigate ASPM expression levels in most frequent posterior fossa brain tumors of childhood and adolescence: medulloblastoma (MB), ependymoma (EPN), and astrocytoma (AS), correlating them with clinicopathological characteristics and tumor solid portion size.

Methods

Quantitative reverse transcription (qRT-PCR) is used to quantify ASPM mRNA levels in 80 pre-treatment tumor samples: 28 MB, 22 EPN, and 30 AS. The tumor solid portion size was determined by IOP-GRAACC Diagnostic Imaging Center. We correlated these findings with clinicopathological characteristics and tumor solid portion size.

Results

Our results demonstrated that ASPM gene was overexpressed in MB (p = 0.007) and EPN (p = 0.0260) samples. ASPM high expression was significantly associated to MB samples from patients with worse overall survival (p = 0.0123) and death due to disease progression (p = 0.0039). Interestingly, two patients with AS progressed toward higher grade showed ASPM overexpression (p = 0.0046). No correlation was found between the tumor solid portion size and ASPM expression levels in MB (p = 0.1154 and r = − 0.4825) and EPN (p = 0.1108 and r = − 0.3495) samples.

Conclusion

Taking in account that ASPM gene has several functions to support cell proliferation, as mitotic defects and premature differentiation, we suggest that its overexpression, presumably, plays a critical role in disease progression of posterior fossa brain tumors of childhood and adolescence.

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Title: Abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated (ASPM) gene expression in posterior fossa brain tumors of childhood and adolescence
Authors: Débora Cabral de Carvalho Corrêa
Indhira Dias Oliveira
Bruna Mascaro Cordeiro
Frederico Adolfo Silva
Maria Teresa de Seixas Alves
Nasjla Saba-Silva
Andrea Maria Capellano
Patrícia Dastoli
Sergio Cavalheiro
Silvia Regina Caminada de Toledo
Publication date: 01-01-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Ependymoma
Astrocytoma
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma
Astrocytoma
Ependymoma
Medulloblastoma
Brain Tumor
Ependymoma
Astrocytoma
Published in: Child's Nervous System / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-020-04740-1

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Abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated (ASPM) gene expression in posterior fossa brain tumors of childhood and adolescence

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

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Conclusion

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