Merlin expression in pediatric anaplastic ependymomas real time PCR study.
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.
Buccoliero
Anna Maria
AM
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Morgagni 85, Florence, Italy. ambuccoliero@unifi.it
Castiglione
Francesca
F
Rossi Degl'Innocenti
Duccio
D
Sardi
Iacopo
I
Genitori
Lorenzo
L
Taddei
Gian Luigi
GL
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
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D025581:Neurofibromin 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger