[PDF][PDF] Single-cell transcriptomics in medulloblastoma reveals tumor-initiating progenitors and oncogenic cascades during tumorigenesis and relapse

L Zhang, X He, X Liu, F Zhang, LF Huang, AS Potter… - Cancer Cell, 2019 - cell.com
L Zhang, X He, X Liu, F Zhang, LF Huang, AS Potter, L Xu, W Zhou, T Zheng, Z Luo
Cancer Cell, 2019cell.com
Progenitor heterogeneity and identities underlying tumor initiation and relapse in
medulloblastomas remain elusive. Utilizing single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we
demonstrated a developmental hierarchy of progenitor pools in Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)
medulloblastomas, and identified OLIG2-expressing glial progenitors as transit-amplifying
cells at the tumorigenic onset. Although OLIG2+ progenitors become quiescent stem-like
cells in full-blown tumors, they are highly enriched in therapy-resistant and recurrent …
Summary
Progenitor heterogeneity and identities underlying tumor initiation and relapse in medulloblastomas remain elusive. Utilizing single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we demonstrated a developmental hierarchy of progenitor pools in Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastomas, and identified OLIG2-expressing glial progenitors as transit-amplifying cells at the tumorigenic onset. Although OLIG2+ progenitors become quiescent stem-like cells in full-blown tumors, they are highly enriched in therapy-resistant and recurrent medulloblastomas. Depletion of mitotic Olig2+ progenitors or Olig2 ablation impeded tumor initiation. Genomic profiling revealed that OLIG2 modulates chromatin landscapes and activates oncogenic networks including HIPPO-YAP/TAZ and AURORA-A/MYCN pathways. Co-targeting these oncogenic pathways induced tumor growth arrest. Together, our results indicate that glial lineage-associated OLIG2+ progenitors are tumor-initiating cells during medulloblastoma tumorigenesis and relapse, suggesting OLIG2-driven oncogenic networks as potential therapeutic targets.
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