Mitogenic and progenitor gene programmes in single pilocytic astrocytoma cells.
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), the most common childhood brain tumor, is a low-grade glioma with a single driver BRAF rearrangement. Here, we perform scRNAseq in six PAs using methods that enabled detection of the rearrangement. When compared to higher-grade gliomas, a strikingly higher proportion of the PA cancer cells exhibit a differentiated, astrocyte-like phenotype. A smaller proportion of cells exhibit a progenitor-like phenotype with evidence of proliferation. These express a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) programme that was absent from higher-grade gliomas. Immune cells, especially microglia, comprise 40% of all cells in the PAs and account for differences in bulk expression profiles between tumor locations and subtypes. These data indicate that MAPK signaling is restricted to relatively undifferentiated cancer cells in PA, with implications for investigational therapies directed at this pathway.
Duke Scholars
Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
- Oligodendroglia
- Neural Stem Cells
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
- Microglia
- Mice
- MAP Kinase Signaling System
- Humans
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
- Oligodendroglia
- Neural Stem Cells
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
- Microglia
- Mice
- MAP Kinase Signaling System
- Humans