title: Novel age-dependent targets in vestibular schwannomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schwannomas are the most common neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-associated tumors with significant phenotypic heterogeneity in patients. The most severe subtype has an early and rapid progression and the mild type has a later onset and a less aggressive course. The aim of this study was to elucidate the underlying molecular differences between these groups. We compared the gene expression pattern between patients with early to late age of onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A gene signature of 21 genes was constructed to differentiate between early-onset and late-onset patients. We confirmed these results by real-time PCR for SNF1LK2, NGFRAP1L1 (BEX 5), GMNN, and EPHA2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genes identified here may be additional aberrations in merlin-depleted cells that govern the disease onset. A significant number of these genes have been suggested as having a role in carcinogenesis and are used as biomarkers for prognosis in several other cancers. The role of these genes in NF2 carcinogenesis and their potential as biomarkers or drug target are worthwhile exploring.
authors: Amos
authors: A
authors: Toren
authors: Juergen K
authors: JK
authors: Reichardt
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Andalibi
authors: Nancy Ya-Hsuan
authors: NY
authors: Hsu
authors: Joni
authors: J
authors: Doherty
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Slattery
authors: Institute for Genetic Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. mehrian@usc.edu.
authors: Ruty
authors: R
authors: Mehrian-Shai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor