Survey of MicroRNA expression in pediatric brain tumors.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A better understanding of pediatric brain tumor biology is needed to assist in the development of less toxic therapies and to provide better markers for disease stratification. MicroRNAs (miRNA) may play a significant role in brain tumor biology. The present study provides an initial survey of miRNA expression in pediatric central nervous system (CNS) malignancies including atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, ependymoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, and pilocytic astrocytoma.

PROCEDURE:

MicroRNA expression in pediatric brain tumors and normal tissue controls was examined by microarray. Three aberrantly expressed miRNAs were further studied in a larger cohort by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS:

MicroRNA-129, miR-142-5p, and miR-25 were differentially expressed in every pediatric brain tumor type compared to normal tissue controls as measured by microarray. When further examined by qRT-PCR, these miRNAs demonstrated differential expression that significantly correlated with the microarray findings. Distinctive miRNA expression profiles were also observed in the different pediatric brain tumor types.

CONCLUSIONS:

MicroRNAs are differentially expressed between pediatric CNS neoplasms and normal tissue suggesting that they may play a significant role in oncogenesis. A greater understanding of aberrant miRNA expression in pediatric brain tumors may aid in the development of novel therapies. The characterization of tumor-specific miRNA signatures may aid in the discovery of biomarkers with diagnostic or prognostic utility.

• Authors: Diane K Birks, Valerie N Barton, Andrew M Donson, Michael H Handler, Rajeev Vibhakar, Nicholas K Foreman
• Journal: Pediatric blood & cancer (Pediatr Blood Cancer) Vol. 56 Issue 2 Pg. 211-6 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 1545-5017 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21157891 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs

Topics

• Brain Neoplasms (genetics)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cluster Analysis
• Gene Expression
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• MicroRNAs (biosynthesis)
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction