Role of Btg2 in the Progression of a PDGF-Induced Oligodendroglioma Model

Tumor progression is a key aspect in oncology. Not even the overexpression of a powerful oncogenic stimulus such as platelet derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) is sufficient per se to confer full malignancy to cells. In previous studies we showed that neural progenitors overexpressing PDGF-B need to undergo progression to acquire the capability to give rise to secondary tumor following transplant. By comparing the expression profile of PDGF-expressing cells before and after progression, we found that progressed tumors consistently downregulate the expression of the antiproliferative gene Btg2. We therefore tested whether the downregulation of Btg2 is sufficient and necessary for glioma progression with loss and gain of function experiments. Our results show that downregulation of Btg2 is not sufficient but is necessary for tumor progression since the re-introduction of Btg2 in fully progressed tumors dramatically impairs their gliomagenic potential. These results suggest an important role of Btg2 in glioma progression. Accordingly with this view, the analysis of public datasets of human gliomas showed that reduced level of Btg2 expression correlates with a significantly worse prognosis.     

术中双功超声在7例脑少突胶质细胞瘤的应用

研究目的：探讨术中双功超声在脑少突胶质细胞瘤的应用价值。方法：回顾分析7例经病理证实的少突胶质细胞瘤的术中双功超声图像。术中超声（Intraoperative Ultrasound,IOUS）由同一检查者按照统一图像质量标准存储、分析。B模式评估病灶位置、大小、回声、边界、形态、其他征象,D模式评估病灶多普勒血流信号。结果：7例少突胶质瘤的最大径线平均值为5.2 cm,病灶边缘距脑膜<1 cm者占71.4%。85.7%为稍强回声团块,85.7%边界清晰,57.1%形态不规则,71.4%伴有不同形状的高回声,71.4% Adler血流分级为3级。结论：IOUS的B模式可用于脑少突胶质细胞瘤的实时定位及术中监测,D模式血流信息有助于定位脑部重要血管,进行术中预警。声像图中出现不同形状的高回声,后方不伴声影,提示钙化可能性大,对胶质瘤的影像学分级有一定帮助。     

Three-Dimensional Nuclear Telomere Profiling as a Biomarker for Recurrence in Oligodendrogliomas: A Pilot Study

Mechanisms of recurrence in oligodendrogliomas are poorly understood. Recurrence might be driven by telomere dysfunction-mediated genomic instability. In a pilot study, we investigated ten patients with oligodendrogliomas at the time of diagnosis (first surgery) and after recurrence (second surgery) using three-dimensional nuclear telomere analysis performed with quantitative software TeloView^® (Telo Genomics Corp, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). 1p/19q deletion status of each patient was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization on touch preparation slides. We found that a very specific 3D telomeric profile was associated with two pathways of recurrence in oligodendrogliomas independent of their 1p/19q status: a first group of 8 patients displayed significantly different 3D telomere profiles between both surgeries (p < 0.0001). Their recurrence happened at a mean of 231.375 ± 117.42 days and a median time to progression (TTP) of 239 days, a period defined as short-term recurrence; and a second group of three patients displayed identical 3D telomere profiles between both surgery samples (p > 0.05). Their recurrence happened at a mean of 960.666 ± 86.19 days and a median TTP of 930 days, a period defined as long-term recurrence. Our results suggest a potential link between nuclear telomere architecture and telomere dysfunction with time to recurrence in oligodendrogliomas, independently of the 1p/19q status.