Molecular studies in pediatric medulloblastomas.
Ten pediatric medulloblastoma patients were analyzed for DNA content, cell cycle, expression of drug resistance, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and N-myc genes to determine their prognostic significance. Medulloblastoma patients with progressive disease had fourth ventricle foraminal extension and larger tumors in the imaging studies. Patients with aneuploid tumors responded well to treatment regimens as compared with those with diploid tumors. Cell cycle analysis showed that the patients with progressive disease had a high S-phase fraction in the tumor cell population as compared with patients with favorable response to treatment. The correlation coefficients between Bcl-2 and MRP, Bcl-2 and Bax, p53 and p21, as well as Ki67 and PCNA were positive and significant, indicating their possible coregulated expression. The relationship between these markers indicates their relative and cumulative effect on cellular drug resistance, apoptosis, and/or cell proliferation in pediatric medulloblastomas.
Ramachandran
Cheppail
C
Miami Children's Hospital, Research Institute, 3100 SW 62nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155, USA. cheppail.ramachandran@mch.com
Khatib
Ziad
Z
Escalon
Enrique
E
Fonseca
Hugo B
HB
Jhabvala
Perseus
P
Medina
L Santiago
LS
D'Souza
Belinda
B
Ragheb
John
J
Morrison
Glenn
G
Melnick
Steven J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor