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01-05-2019 | Glioma | Laboratory Investigation

Telomere elongation via alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) and telomerase activation in primary metastatic medulloblastoma of childhood

Authors: Simone Minasi, Caterina Baldi, Torsten Pietsch, Vittoria Donofrio, Bianca Pollo, Manila Antonelli, Maura Massimino, Felice Giangaspero, Francesca Romana Buttarelli

Published in: Journal of Neuro-Oncology | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Elongation of telomeres is necessary for tumor cell immortalization and senescence escape; neoplastic cells use to alternative pathways to elongate telomeres: telomerase reactivation or a telomerase-independent mechanism termed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Telomerase and ALT pathway has been explored in adult and pediatric gliomas and medulloblastomas (MDBs); however, these mechanisms were not previously investigated in MDBs metastatic at the onset. Therefore, we analyzed the activation of telomerase and ALT pathway in a homogenous cohort of 43 pediatric metastatic medulloblastomas, to investigate whether telomere elongation could play a role in the biology of metastatic MDB.

Methods

We evaluated telomeres length via telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (Telo-FISH); we assessed nuclear expression of ATRX by immunohistochemistry (IHC). H3F3A and TERT promoter mutations were analyzed by pyrosequencing, while UTSS methylation status was analyzed via methylation-specific-PCR (MS-PCR).

Results

H3F3A mutations were absent in all MDBs, 30% of samples showed ATRX nuclear loss, 18.2% of cases were characterized by TERT promoter mutations, while 60.9% harboured TERT promoter hyper-methylation in the UTSS region. Elongation of telomeres was found in 42.8% of cases. Metastatic MDBs control telomere elongation via telomerase activation (10.7%), induced by TERT promoter mutations in association with UTSS hyper-methylation, and ALT mechanism (32.1%), triggered by ATRX inactivation. Among non-metastatic MDBs, only 5.9% (1/17) showed ATRX nuclear loss with activation of ALT.

Conclusions

Our metastatic cases frequently activate ALT pathway, suggesting that it is a common process for senescence escape in primary metastatic medulloblastomas. Furthermore, the activation of mechanisms for telomere elongation is not restricted to certain molecular subgroups in this high-risk group of MDBs.

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Title: Telomere elongation via alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) and telomerase activation in primary metastatic medulloblastoma of childhood
Authors: Simone Minasi
Caterina Baldi
Torsten Pietsch
Vittoria Donofrio
Bianca Pollo
Manila Antonelli
Maura Massimino
Felice Giangaspero
Francesca Romana Buttarelli
Publication date: 01-05-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Glioma
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma
Glioma
Medulloblastoma
Glioma
Published in: Journal of Neuro-Oncology / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0167-594X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7373
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-019-03127-w

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Telomere elongation via alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) and telomerase activation in primary metastatic medulloblastoma of childhood

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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