title: Merlin expression in pediatric anaplastic ependymomas real time PCR study.
abstract: The most common genetic abnormalities of ependymomas involve the chromosome 22 where there is the oncosuppressor gene neurofibromin 2 (NF2). NF2 mutations are primarily encountered in spinal lesions. In contrast, NF2 alterations do not seem related to tumor grade. We studied the NF2 expression through a real-time polymerase chain reaction in 25 pediatric anaplastic ependymomas. We compared the NF2 expression in neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues, in supratentorial and infratentorial ependymomas and in primitive and non-primitive tumors (recurrences and metastases). Statistical analysis did not prove significant differences. Our results suggest that NF2 alterations are not typical of intracranial anaplastic ependymomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Morgagni 85, Florence, Italy. ambuccoliero@unifi.it
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buccoliero
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: Duccio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi Degl'Innocenti
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sardi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genitori
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Taddei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D025581:Neurofibromin 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D025581:Neurofibromin 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger