Human medulloblastomas lack point mutations and homozygous deletions of the hSNF5/INI1 tumour suppressor gene

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2002 Apr;28(2):136-41. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2990.2002.00388.x.

Abstract

Medulloblastomas (MBs) are malignant primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) of the cerebellum occurring predominantly in childhood. The association of monosomy of chromosome 22 with MB is controversial. Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (AT/RTs) of the brain share clinical and histological features with MBs and supratentorial PNETs (sPNETs). In particular, AT/RTs can be misdiagnosed as MBs and sPNETs because AT/RTs frequently contain areas of primitive neuroepithelial cells similar to PNETs. Recently, mutations of the tumour suppressor gene hSNF5/INI1, located on 22q11.23, have been described in AT/RTs, MBs and sPNETs, with conflicting data on the prevalence of hSNF5/INI1 mutations in the latter entities. Therefore, we screened MBs for point mutations and homozygous deletions of the hSNF5/INI1 tumour suppressor gene. In 90 MBs, no mutations of the hSNF5/INI1 gene were identified. Thus, our study virtually rules out hSNF5/INI1 as a tumour suppressor gene involved in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Base Sequence / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Gene Dosage
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor / physiology*
  • Homozygote*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics*
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Point Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
  • SMARCB1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • SMARCB1 Protein
  • SMARCB1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors