A Clinical Rule for Preoperative Prediction of BRAF Mutation Status in Craniopharyngiomas

Papillary craniopharyngiomas are characterized by BRAFV600E mutations. Targeted therapy can elicit a dramatic radiographic regression of these tumors. Therefore, prediction of BRAF mutation status before definitive surgery could enable neoadjuvant treatment strategies. To establish preoperative prediction criteria to identify patients with a BRAF mutant craniopharyngioma. Sixty-four patients with craniopharyngioma were included in this study. We determined BRAF mutation status by targeted sequencing. After scoring interobserver variability between presurgical clinical data and radiographic features, we established a diagnostic rule for BRAF mutation in our discovery cohort. We then validated the rule in an independent cohort. The BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 12 of 42 patients in the discovery cohort. There were no patients under age 18 with BRAF mutation. Calcification was rare in tumors with BRAF mutation (P < .001), and 92% of them were supradiaphragmatic in location. Combining these 3 features-older than 18 years, absence of calcification, and supradiaphragmatic tumor location-we established a rule for predicting BRAF mutation. In cases where all 3 criteria were fulfilled, the sensitivity and specificity for the presence of BRAF mutation were 83% and 93%, respectively. In the validation cohort (n = 22), the sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 89%. We propose predictive criteria for a BRAF mutation in craniopharyngioma using preoperative clinical and radiographic data. This rule may be useful in identifying patients who could potentially benefit from neoadjuvant BRAFV600E-targeted systemic therapies

A Hyperactive RelA/p65-Hexokinase 2 Signaling Axis Drives Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an isolated type of lymphoma of the central nervous system and has a dismal prognosis despite intensive chemotherapy. Recent genomic analyses have identified highly recurrent mutations of MYD88 and CD79B in immunocompetent PCNSL, whereas LMP1 activation is commonly observed in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive PCNSL. However, a lack of clinically representative preclinical models has hampered our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms by which genetic aberrations drive PCNSL disease phenotypes. Here, we establish a panel of 12 orthotopic, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from both immunocompetent and EBV-positive PCNSL and secondary CNSL biopsy specimens. PDXs faithfully retained their phenotypic, metabolic, and genetic features, with 100% concordance of MYD88 and CD79B mutations present in PCNSL in immunocompetent patients. These models revealed a convergent functional dependency upon a deregulated RelA/p65-hexokinase 2 signaling axis, codriven by either mutated MYD88/CD79B or LMP1 with Pin1 overactivation in immunocompetent PCNSL and EBV-positive PCNSL, respectively. Notably, distinct molecular alterations used by immunocompetent and EBV-positive PCNSL converged to deregulate RelA/p65 expression and to drive glycolysis, which is critical for intracerebral tumor progression and FDG-PET imaging characteristics. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of this key signaling axis potently suppressed PCNSL growth in vitro and in vivo. These patient-derived models offer a platform for predicting clinical chemotherapeutics efficacy and provide critical insights into PCNSL pathogenic mechanisms, accelerating therapeutic discovery for this aggressive disease. SIGNIFICANCE: A set of clinically relevant CNSL xenografts identifies a hyperactive RelA/p65-hexokinase 2 signaling axis as a driver of progression and potential therapeutic target for treatment and provides a foundational preclinical platform. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/23/5330/F1.large.jpg

Genotype-targeted local therapy of glioma

Aggressive neurosurgical resection to achieve sustained local control is essential for prolonging survival in patients with lower-grade glioma. However, progression in many of these patients is characterized by local regrowth. Most lower-grade gliomas harbor isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) or IDH2 mutations, which sensitize to metabolism-altering agents. To improve local control of IDH mutant gliomas while avoiding systemic toxicity associated with metabolic therapies, we developed a precision intraoperative treatment that couples a rapid multiplexed genotyping tool with a sustained release microparticle (MP) drug delivery system containing an IDH-directed nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitor (GMX-1778). We validated our genetic diagnostic tool on clinically annotated tumor specimens. GMX-1778 MPs showed mutant IDH genotype-specific toxicity in vitro and in vivo, inducing regression of orthotopic IDH mutant glioma murine models. Our strategy enables immediate intraoperative genotyping and local application of a genotype-specific treatment in surgical scenarios where local tumor control is paramount and systemic toxicity is therapeutically limiting

A Hyperactive RelA/p65-Hexokinase 2 Signaling Axis Drives Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an isolated type of lymphoma of the central nervous system and has a dismal prognosis despite intensive chemotherapy. Recent genomic analyses have identified highly recurrent mutations of MYD88 and CD79B in immunocompetent PCNSL, whereas LMP1 activation is commonly observed in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive PCNSL. However, a lack of clinically representative preclinical models has hampered our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms by which genetic aberrations drive PCNSL disease phenotypes. Here, we establish a panel of 12 orthotopic, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from both immunocompetent and EBV-positive PCNSL and secondary CNSL biopsy specimens. PDXs faithfully retained their phenotypic, metabolic, and genetic features, with 100% concordance of MYD88 and CD79B mutations present in PCNSL in immunocompetent patients. These models revealed a convergent functional dependency upon a deregulated RelA/p65-hexokinase 2 signaling axis, codriven by either mutated MYD88/ CD79B or LMP1 with Pin1 overactivation in immunocompetent PCNSL and EBV-positive PCNSL, respectively. Notably, distinct molecular alterations used by immunocompetent and EBV-positive PCNSL converged to deregulate RelA/p65 expression and to drive glycolysis, which is critical for intracerebral tumor progression and FDG-PET imaging characteristics. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of this key signaling axis potently suppressed PCNSL growth in vitro and in vivo. These patient-derived models offer a platform for predicting clinical chemotherapeutics efficacy and provide critical insights into PCNSL pathogenic mechanisms, accelerating therapeutic discovery for this aggressive disease. Significance: A set of clinically relevant CNSL xenografts identifies a hyperactive RelA/p65-hexokinase 2 signaling axis as a driver of progression and potential therapeutic target for treatment and provides a foundational preclinical platform

PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway Alterations Promote Malignant Progression and Xenograft Formation in Oligodendroglial Tumors

Oligodendroglioma has a relatively favorable prognosis, however, often undergoes malignant progression. We hypothesized that preclinical models of oligodendroglioma could facilitate identification of therapeutic targets in progressive oligodendroglioma. We established multiple oligodendroglioma xenografts to determine if the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway drives tumor progression. Two anatomically distinct tumor samples from a patient who developed progressive anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AOD) were collected for orthotopic transplantation in mice. We additionally implanted 13 tumors to investigate the relationship between PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway alterations and oligodendroglioma xenograft formation. Pharmacologic vulnerabilities were tested in newly developed AOD models and . A specimen from the tumor site that subsequently manifested rapid clinical progression contained a mutation E542K, and yielded propagating xenografts that retained the OD/AOD-defining genomic alterations ( and 1p/19q codeletion) and , and displayed characteristic sensitivity to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents. In contrast, a xenograft did not engraft from the region that was clinically stable and had wild-type . In our panel of OD/AOD xenografts, the presence of activating mutations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was consistently associated with xenograft establishment (6/6, 100%). OD/AOD that failed to generate xenografts did not have activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR alterations (0/9, < 0.0001). Importantly, mutant oligodendroglioma xenografts were vulnerable to PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors and -evidence that mutant is a tumorigenic driver in oligodendroglioma. Activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an oncogenic driver and is associated with xenograft formation in oligodendrogliomas. These findings have implications for therapeutic targeting of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation in progressive oligodendrogliomas

DMD genomic deletions characterize a subset of progressive/higher-grade meningiomas with poor outcome

Progressive meningiomas that have failed surgery and radiation have a poor prognosis and no standard therapy. While meningiomas are more common in females overall, progressive meningiomas are enriched in males. We performed a comprehensive molecular characterization of 169 meningiomas from 53 patients with progressive/high-grade tumors, including matched primary and recurrent samples. Exome sequencing in an initial cohort (n = 24) detected frequent alterations in genes residing on the X chromosome, with somatic intragenic deletions of the dystrophin-encoding and muscular dystrophy-associated DMD gene as the most common alteration (n = 5, 20.8%), along with alterations of other known X-linked cancer-related genes KDM6A (n = 2, 8.3%), DDX3X, RBM10 and STAG2 (n = 1, 4.1% each). DMD inactivation (by genomic deletion or loss of protein expression) was ultimately detected in 17/53 progressive meningioma patients (32%). Importantly, patients with tumors harboring DMD inactivation had a shorter overall survival (OS) than their wild-type counterparts [5.1years (95% CI 1.3-9.0) vs. median not reached (95% CI 2.9-not reached, p = 0.006)]. Given the known poor prognostic association of TERT alterations in these tumors, we also assessed for these events, and found seven patients with TERT promoter mutations and three with TERT rearrangements in this cohort (n = 10, 18.8%), including a recurrent novel RETREG1-TERT rearrangement that was present in two patients. In a multivariate model, DMD inactivation (p = 0.033, HR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.6) and TERT alterations (p = 0.005, HR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.5-9.9) were mutually independent in predicting unfavorable outcomes. Thus, DMD alterations identify a subset of progressive/high-grade meningiomas with worse outcomes