Publication
Title
PDX1DNA methylation distinguishes two subtypes of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms with a different prognosis
Author
Abstract
DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic mechanism for gene expression regulation and cell differentiation. Furthermore, it was found to play a major role in multiple pathological processes, including cancer. In pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs), epigenetic deregulation is also considered to be of significance, as the most frequently mutated genes have an important function in epigenetic regulation. However, the exact changes in DNA methylation between PNENs and the endocrine cells of the pancreas, their likely cell-of-origin, remain largely unknown. Recently, two subtypes of PNENs have been described which were linked to cell-of-origin and have a different prognosis. A difference in the expression of the transcription factor PDX1 was one of the key molecular differences. In this study, we performed an exploratory genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using Infinium Methylation EPIC arrays (Illumina) on 26 PNENs and pancreatic islets of five healthy donors. In addition, the methylation profile of thePDX1region was used to perform subtyping in a global cohort of 83 PNEN, 2 healthy alpha cell and 3 healthy beta cell samples. In our exploratory analysis, we identified 26,759 differentially methylated CpGs and 79 differentially methylated regions. The gene set enrichment analysis highlighted several interesting pathways targeted by altered DNA methylation, including MAPK, platelet-related and immune system-related pathways. Using thePDX1methylation in 83 PNEN, 2 healthy alpha cell and 3 healthy beta cell samples, two subtypes were identified, subtypes A and B, which were similar to alpha and beta cells, respectively. These subtypes had different clinicopathological characteristics, a different pattern of chromosomal alterations and a different prognosis, with subtype A having a significantly worse prognosis compared with subtype B (HR 0.22 [95% CI: 0.051-0.95],p= 0.043). Hence, this study demonstrates that several cancer-related pathways are differently methylated between PNENs and normal islet cells. In addition, we validated the use of thePDX1methylation status for the subtyping of PNENs and its prognostic importance.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Cancers
Publication
Basel : 2020
ISSN
2072-6694
DOI
10.3390/CANCERS12061461
Volume/pages
12 :6 (2020) , 20 p.
Article Reference
1461
ISI
000549231200001
Pubmed ID
32512761
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Identification of genetic markers for everolimus-resistance in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 20.08.2020
Last edited 20.02.2025
To cite this reference