Katherine Karakoula

Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of pediatric ependymomas identifies novel candidate genes including TPR at 1q25 and CHIBBY at 22q12-q13

Loss of chromosome 22 and gain of 1q are the most frequent genomic aberrations in ependymomas, indicating that genes mapping to these regions are critical in their pathogenesis. Using real‐time quantitative PCR, we measured relative copy numbers of 10 genes mapping to 22q12.3‐q13.33 and 10 genes at 1q21‐32 in a series of 47 pediatric intracranial ependymomas. Loss of one or more of the genes on 22 was detected in 81% of cases, with RAC2 and C22ORF2 at 22q12‐q13.1 being deleted most frequently in 38% and 32% of ependymoma samples, respectively. Combined analysis of quantitative‐PCR with methylation‐specific PCR and bisulphite sequencing revealed a high rate (>60% ependymoma) of transcriptional inactivation of C22ORF2, indicating its potential importance in the development of pediatric ependymomas. Increase of relative copy numbers of at least one gene on 1q were detected in 61% of cases, with TPR at 1q25 displaying relative copy number gains in 38% of cases. Patient age was identified as a significant adverse prognostic factor, as a significantly shorter overall survival time (P = 0.0056) was observed in patients <2 years of age compared with patients who were >2 years of age. Loss of RAC2 at 22q13 or amplification of TPR at 1q25 was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in these younger patients (P = 0.0492 and P = < 0.0001, respectively). This study identifies candidate target genes within 1q and 22q that are potentially important in the pathogenesis of intracranial pediatric ependymomas.

Exploiting conformationally restricted N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diarylureas as biologically active CC double bond analogues: synthesis and biological evaluation of combretastatin A-4 analogues

The biological efficacy of a number of suitably functionalised conformationally restricted N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diarylureas, which occupy a similar 3-dimensional space to combretastatin A-4 (CA4), has been evaluated for their ability to inhibit tubulin polymerisation and inhibit the growth of short term glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell cultures and an established GBM cell line (U251MG). The results show that the ureas most like CA4, with regards to benzene ring oxygenation and overall shape, are the most active.

Preliminary biological evaluation and mechanism of action studies of selected 2-arylindoles against glioblastoma.

A series of related 2-arylindoles have been evaluated for their anticancer activity against a range of glioblastoma cell lines using a number of different cell-based assays to determine cell viability after treatment with the compounds. The best indoles, which showed comparable activity to cisplatin against a U87MG cell line in the MTS assay, were taken forward and initial studies suggest that their mechanism of action is consistent with the generation of reactive oxygen species followed by autophagic cell death. Furthermore, activity was also observed in glioblastoma short-term cell cultures for the best lead compound and in some cases gave low micromolar IC50s.