Molecular analysis of thymoma

PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042669. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

Abstract

Histologic classification of thymomas has significant limitations with respect to both subtype definitions and consistency. In order to better understand the biology of the disease processes, we performed whole genome gene expression analysis. RNA was extracted from fresh frozen tumors from 34 patients with thymomas and followup data was available. Using the Illumina BeadStudio® platform and Human Ref-8 Beadchip, gene expression data was analyzed with Partek Genomics Suite®, and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA). Unsupervised clustering of gene expression data, representing one of the largest series in literature, resulted in identification of four molecular clusters of tumors (C1-C4), which correlated with histology (P = 0.002). However, neither histology nor clusters correlated with clinical outcomes. Correlation of gene expression data with clinical data showed that a number of genes were associated with either advanced stage at diagnosis or development of recurrence or metastases. The top pathways associated with metastases were amino acid metabolisms, biosynthesis of steroids and glycosphingolipids, cell cycle checkpoint proteins and Notch signaling. The differential expression of some of the top genes related to both metastases and stage was confirmed by RT-PCR in all cases of metastases and matched nonmetastatic cases. A number of potential candidates for therapeutics were also identified.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Genes, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Thymoma / genetics*
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by the Barbara P. Hochberg Foundation and William P. Loehrer Family Research Fund. The funders had no role in study design data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.