title: Shared molecular targets in pediatric gliomas and ependymomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent advances in multidisciplinary treatment approaches have improved the overall prognosis of pediatric brain tumors, but some patients remain refractory to treatment and do poorly. Several molecularly targeted therapies are under development for the treatment of brain tumors, and high-grade gliomas in adults are a particular area of study.
  
  
  METHODS
  To better understand if these new therapies can be used in pediatric populations, we examined the expression of the following seven marker genes involved in signaling pathways targeted by new therapies: β-catenin, suppressor of fused (SUFU), erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog (ERBB) 2, platelet-derived growth factor receptorα (PDGFRα), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), secreted protein acid and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR). Samples from 27 patients with the primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)/medulloblastomas (MBs) (n = 8), ependymomas (n = 5), or gliomas (n = 14) were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. [Correction made here after initial online publication]. We assigned an EXP score to compare across samples and determined the levels of gene expression among tumor cell types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gene expression varied among the different tumors, but, within a tumor type, clear expression patterns were seen. The expression of SUFU, ERBB2, and PCNA in metastatic MBs were greater than that seen in non-metastatic MBs. Most glioma cases highly expressed PDGFRα and G-CSFR. Additionally, the expression patterns of gliomas and ependymomas were similar (r = 0.77, P = 0.04), but PNET/MBs substantially differed from gliomas (r = -0.37, P = 0.41) or ependymomas (r = 0.23, P = 0.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of new drugs targeting up-regulated pathways may be useful for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. As new drugs are developed, gliomas and ependymomas may be treated with similar compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Examination, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Medical Center, Kumamoto, Japan. ttsuruta@kumamoto2.hosp.go.jp
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funase
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Hisaichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Osami
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor