Hedgehog signalling network gene status analysis in paediatric intracranial germ cell tumours

Dominika Kuleszo; Beata Lipska-Ziętkiewicz; Magdalena Koczkowska; Krzysztof Zakrzewski; Wiesława Grajkowska; Marcin Roszkowski; Bożenna Dembowska-Bagińska; Katarzyna Czarnota; Elżbieta Adamkiewicz-Drożyńska; Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska

doi:10.5114/fn.2019.88451

eISSN: 1509-572x
ISSN: 1641-4640

Folia Neuropathologica

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3/2019
vol. 57

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abstract:

Original paper

Hedgehog signalling network gene status analysis in paediatric intracranial germ cell tumours

Dominika Kuleszo

¹

,

Beata Lipska-Ziętkiewicz

¹

,

Magdalena Koczkowska

²

,

Krzysztof Zakrzewski

³

,

Wiesława Grajkowska

⁴

,

Marcin Roszkowski

⁵

,

Bożenna Dembowska-Bagińska

⁶

,

Katarzyna Czarnota

⁷

,

Elżbieta Adamkiewicz-Drożyńska

⁸

,

Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska

⁹

Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland
Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland
Department of Neurosurgery, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Łódź, Poland
Department of Pathology, Children’s Health Memorial Institute, Warsaw, Poland
Department of Neurosurgery, Children’s Health Memorial Institute, Warsaw, Poland
Department of Oncology, Children’s Health Memorial Institute, Warsaw, Poland
Department of Pathomorphology, Copernicus Hospitals, Gdańsk, Poland
Department of Paediatrics, Oncology and Haematology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland
Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland

Folia Neuropathol 2019; 57 (3): 227-238

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/fn.2019.88451

Online publish date: 2019/09/30

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Introduction
Germ cell tumours (GCTs) in the children comprise a group of tumours that originate from primordial germ cells but their pathogenesis is not clear. Intracranial GCTs represent a special subset of these paediatric neoplasms. Hedgehog (Hh) pathway gene status in GCTs is generally unexplored, while Hh signalling is involved in germ cell biology.

Material and methods
Comparative genomic profiling analysis with a microarray-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) + single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) technique in a group of intracranial paediatric GCTs was performed. The analysis included evaluation of genes being ligands, receptors, regulators, effectors, and targets of Hh signalling.

Results
Chromosomal aberrations were found in 62% of examined tumours, showing their heterogeneity. A number of private genomic imbalances were observed, but only a few recurrent ones. The most common numerical changes were trisomies 19, 21 and monosomies 13, 18 while the most frequent structural aberration was gain/amplification of the chromosome 12p. The analysis of the gene status of Hh network elements showed imbalances in a proportion of tumours. PTCH1, GLI2, IHH and ZIC2 gene aberrations occurred most frequently. Moreover, six tumours had various copy gains or losses of several other genes involved in the pathway, including HHIP, GLI1, GLI3, DHH, SHH, SMO, PTCH2, and several genes from the WNT group. Interestingly, four cases showed losses of pathway repressors, with parallel gains of activators in two of them. Correlations with patho-clinical tumour features were not found, most probably due to the heterogeneity of the examined limited group.

Conclusions
Our results show few genomic alterations related to the Hh signalling pathway genes in paediatric intracranial GCTs. Further analysis of Hedgehog pathway alterations can potentially disclose its biological significance and define new prognostic factors and/or therapeutic targets for high-risk patients.

keywords:

Hedgehog signalling network gene status analysis in paediatric intracranial germ cell tumours

Dominika Kuleszo 1 , Beata Lipska-Ziętkiewicz 1 , Magdalena Koczkowska 2 , Krzysztof Zakrzewski 3 , Wiesława Grajkowska 4 , Marcin Roszkowski 5 , Bożenna Dembowska-Bagińska 6 , Katarzyna Czarnota 7 , Elżbieta Adamkiewicz-Drożyńska 8 , Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska 9

genomic imbalances, intracranial germ-cell tumours, PTCH1, Hedgehog signalling, ZIC2