A Gene Network Related to Epileptogenesis in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Poster #: 011
Session/Time: B
Author:
Andrei Sanda, BA
Mentor:
Alberto E. Musto, MD, PhD
Research Type: Data Exploration
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Glioblastoma Multiforme(GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. Previous research has shown that GBM cells have the ability to form synapses with healthy neurons. Additionally, there is evidence that gene expression in the GBM peritumoral area is variable based on the presence of epilepsy in patients. Previous studies have identified multiple genes in the peritumoral region, but there is limited research that directly links specific genes to epileptogenesis in GBM. In this project, we sought to determine if there are genes in the peritumoral area of GBM that correlate with epilepsy.
METHODS:
481 genes across 19 patients were analyzed using in-situ hybridization data on the publicly available Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project(GAP) database. The genes were surveyed for their presence or absence at different distances away from the tumor boundary. Using de-identified clinical data provided from Ivy GAP, the patients were also divided based on whether or not they exhibited epilepsy during clinical presentation. Using a phi coefficient and Fisher's exact test analysis, a network of genes was created to elicit relationships between individual genes, genes and epilepsy, or genes and distance.
RESULTS:
The gene network identified 21 genes that have positive associations with other individual genes, 4 genes that are inversely correlated with the presence of epilepsy, and 3 genes that were inversely related with distance from the tumor at a significance level of p<0.05. The four genes that were negatively associated with epilepsy were integrin subunit alpha 6(ITGA6), nitric oxide synthase(NOS2), periostin(POSTN), and peptidase inhibitor 3(PI3).
CONCLUSION:
The gene network highlights several potential genes that are present together in the peritumoral region, which can indicate a role in tumor invasion. It is suspected that given the proximity of these genes to the tumor boundary, they may be involved in tumor synaptogenesis, but further research is needed to reach this conclusion. The 4 genes negatively related to epilepsy were more likely to be present in patients without a history of epilepsy, and we hypothesize that there is an underlying mechanism contributing to this inhibition. Further exploration is also required to determine if these genes are directly related to epileptogenesis.
Glioblastoma Multiforme(GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. Previous research has shown that GBM cells have the ability to form synapses with healthy neurons. Additionally, there is evidence that gene expression in the GBM peritumoral area is variable based on the presence of epilepsy in patients. Previous studies have identified multiple genes in the peritumoral region, but there is limited research that directly links specific genes to epileptogenesis in GBM. In this project, we sought to determine if there are genes in the peritumoral area of GBM that correlate with epilepsy.
METHODS:
481 genes across 19 patients were analyzed using in-situ hybridization data on the publicly available Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project(GAP) database. The genes were surveyed for their presence or absence at different distances away from the tumor boundary. Using de-identified clinical data provided from Ivy GAP, the patients were also divided based on whether or not they exhibited epilepsy during clinical presentation. Using a phi coefficient and Fisher's exact test analysis, a network of genes was created to elicit relationships between individual genes, genes and epilepsy, or genes and distance.
RESULTS:
The gene network identified 21 genes that have positive associations with other individual genes, 4 genes that are inversely correlated with the presence of epilepsy, and 3 genes that were inversely related with distance from the tumor at a significance level of p<0.05. The four genes that were negatively associated with epilepsy were integrin subunit alpha 6(ITGA6), nitric oxide synthase(NOS2), periostin(POSTN), and peptidase inhibitor 3(PI3).
CONCLUSION:
The gene network highlights several potential genes that are present together in the peritumoral region, which can indicate a role in tumor invasion. It is suspected that given the proximity of these genes to the tumor boundary, they may be involved in tumor synaptogenesis, but further research is needed to reach this conclusion. The 4 genes negatively related to epilepsy were more likely to be present in patients without a history of epilepsy, and we hypothesize that there is an underlying mechanism contributing to this inhibition. Further exploration is also required to determine if these genes are directly related to epileptogenesis.