Gene expression profiling of childhood adrenocortical tumors.
West AN, Neale GA, Pounds S, Figueredo BC, Rodriguez Galindo C, Pianovski MA,
Oliveira Filho AG, Malkin D, Lalli E, Ribeiro R, Zambetti GP.

Interdisciplinary Science Program, University of Tennessee Health Science
Center, Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,
Memphis 38105, USA.

Summary

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACT) are rare and often fatal malignancies;
little is known regarding their etiology and biology. To provide additional
insight into the nature of ACT, we determined the gene expression profiles of 24
pediatric tumors (five adenomas, 18 carcinomas, and one undetermined) and seven
normal adrenal glands. Distinct patterns of gene expression, validated by
quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, were identified that
distinguish normal adrenal cortex from tumor. Differences in gene expression
were also identified between adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas. In
addition, pediatric adrenocortical carcinomas were found to share similar
patterns of gene expression when compared with those published for adult ACT.
This study represents the first microarray analysis of childhood ACT. Our
findings lay the groundwork for establishing gene expression profiles that may
aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of pediatric ACT, and in the identification
of signaling pathways that contribute to this disease.

PMID: 17234769 [PubMed - in process]

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