Spatial transcriptomics reveals segregation of tumor cell states in glioblastoma and marked immunosuppression within the perinecrotic niche.

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains an untreatable malignant tumor with poor patient outcomes, characterized by palisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation. While single-cell technology made it possible to characterize different lineage of glioma cells into neural progenitor-like (NPC-like), oligodendrocyte-progenitor-like (OPC-like), astrocyte-like (AC-like) and mesenchymal like (MES-like) states, it does not capture the spatial localization of these tumor cell states. Spatial transcriptomics empowers the study of the spatial organization of different cell types and tumor cell states and allows for the selection of regions of interest to investigate region-specific and cell-type-specific pathways. Here, we obtained paired 10x Chromium single-nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) and 10x Visium spatial transcriptomics data from three GBM patients to interrogate the GBM microenvironment. Integration of the snRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics data reveals patterns of segregation of tumor cell states. For instance, OPC-like tumor and NPC-like tumor significantly segregate in two of the three samples. Our differentially expressed gene and pathway analyses uncovered significant pathways in functionally relevant niches. Specifically, perinecrotic regions were more immunosuppressive than the endogenous GBM microenvironment, and perivascular regions were more pro-inflammatory. Our gradient analysis suggests that OPC-like tumor cells tend to reside in areas closer to the tumor vasculature compared to tumor necrosis, which may reflect increased oxygen requirements for OPC-like cells. In summary, we characterized the localization of cell types and tumor cell states, the gene expression patterns, and pathways in different niches within the GBM microenvironment. Our results provide further evidence of the segregation of tumor cell states and highlight the immunosuppressive nature of the necrotic and perinecrotic niches in GBM.

Repurposing Clemastine to Target Glioblastoma Cell Stemness.

Brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs) and tumor cell plasticity promote glioblastoma (GBM) progression. Here, we demonstrate that clemastine, an over-the-counter drug for treating hay fever and allergy symptoms, effectively attenuated the stemness and suppressed the propagation of primary BTIC cultures bearing PDGFRA amplification. These effects on BTICs were accompanied by altered gene expression profiling indicative of their more differentiated states, resonating with the activity of clemastine in promoting the differentiation of normal oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into mature oligodendrocytes. Functional assays for pharmacological targets of clemastine revealed that the Emopamil Binding Protein (EBP), an enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, is essential for BTIC propagation and a target that mediates the suppressive effects of clemastine. Finally, we showed that a neural stem cell-derived mouse glioma model displaying predominantly proneural features was similarly susceptible to clemastine treatment. Collectively, these results identify pathways essential for maintaining the stemness and progenitor features of GBMs, uncover BTIC dependency on EBP, and suggest that non-oncology, low-toxicity drugs with OPC differentiation-promoting activity can be repurposed to target GBM stemness and aid in their treatment.

Immunotoxin-αCD40 therapy activates innate and adaptive immunity and generates a durable antitumor response in glioblastoma models.

D2C7-immunotoxin (IT), a dual-specific IT targeting wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mutant EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) proteins, demonstrates encouraging survival outcomes in a subset of patients with glioblastoma. We hypothesized that immunosuppression in glioblastoma limits D2C7-IT efficacy. To improve the response rate and reverse immunosuppression, we combined D2C7-IT tumor cell killing with αCD40 costimulation of antigen-presenting cells. In murine glioma models, a single intratumoral injection of D2C7-IT+αCD40 treatment activated a proinflammatory phenotype in microglia and macrophages, promoted long-term tumor-specific CD8+ T cell immunity, and generated cures. D2C7-IT+αCD40 treatment increased intratumoral Slamf6+CD8+ T cells with a progenitor phenotype and decreased terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells. D2C7-IT+αCD40 treatment stimulated intratumoral CD8+ T cell proliferation and generated cures in glioma-bearing mice despite FTY720-induced peripheral T cell sequestration. Tumor transcriptome profiling established CD40 up-regulation, pattern recognition receptor, cell senescence, and immune response pathway activation as the drivers of D2C7-IT+αCD40 antitumor responses. To determine potential translation, immunohistochemistry staining confirmed CD40 expression in human GBM tissue sections. These promising preclinical data allowed us to initiate a phase 1 study with D2C7-IT+αhCD40 in patients with malignant glioma (NCT04547777) to further evaluate this treatment in humans.

Cancer-associated SMARCAL1 loss-of-function mutations promote alternative lengthening of telomeres and tumorigenesis in telomerase-negative glioblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Telomere maintenance mechanisms are required to enable the replicative immortality of malignant cells. While most cancers activate the enzyme telomerase, a subset of cancers uses telomerase-independent mechanisms termed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). ALT occurs via homology-directed-repair mechanisms and is frequently associated with ATRX mutations. We previously showed that a subset of adult glioblastoma (GBM) patients with ATRX-expressing ALT-positive tumors harbored loss-of-function mutations in the SMARCAL1 gene, which encodes an annealing helicase involved in replication fork remodeling and the resolution of replication stress. However, the causative relationship between SMARCAL1 deficiency, tumorigenesis, and de novo telomere synthesis is not understood. METHODS: We used a patient-derived ALT-positive GBM cell line with native SMARCAL1 deficiency to investigate the role of SMARCAL1 in ALT-mediated de novo telomere synthesis, replication stress, and gliomagenesis in vivo. RESULTS: Inducible rescue of SMARCAL1 expression suppresses ALT indicators and inhibits de novo telomere synthesis in GBM and osteosarcoma cells, suggesting that SMARCAL1 deficiency plays a functional role in ALT induction in cancers that natively lack SMARCAL1 function. SMARCAL1-deficient ALT-positive cells can be serially propagated in vivo in the absence of detectable telomerase activity, demonstrating that the SMARCAL1-deficient ALT phenotype maintains telomeres in a manner that promotes tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS: SMARCAL1 deficiency is permissive to ALT and promotes gliomagenesis. Inducible rescue of SMARCAL1 in ALT-positive cell lines permits the dynamic modulation of ALT activity, which will be valuable for future studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms of ALT and identifying novel anticancer therapeutics that target the ALT phenotype.

Aligning the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) histology groupings with current definitions.

Background: The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) uses a histology grouping model based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications to group records for clinically relevant statistical reporting. Newly identified genetic markers more accurately stratify patients than histology alone and were incorporated into the 2016 update to the WHO Classification. Methods: CBTRUS and consulting neuropathologists reviewed and aligned histology groupings with the 2016 WHO update. "Obsolete" (terms not currently in use) histology nomenclature along with their International Classification of Disease, Oncology 3rd edition (ICD-O-3) codes were identified, some histologies were reclassified to 2016 WHO, and new codes found in 2016 WHO were incorporated. An evaluation of the frequency of histology codes affected in the realignment process, and incidence and survival pre- and post-realignment was conducted. Results: After review, 67 codes were noted as obsolete, 51 codes were reclassified, and 12 new codes were incorporated. Histology groups most affected were mesenchymal tumors and neuronal/mixed neuronal-glial tumors. Reorganization resulted in 2588 (0.65%) cases with grouping reassignment or reporting change, indicating that the 2016 WHO Classification revision has impacted the collection and reporting of primary brain and other CNS tumors. Conclusion: This work demonstrates the need to be responsive to changes in classification and coding in order to ensure the most up-to-date and accurate statistics for brain and CNS tumors. This will require collaboration from all stakeholders within the brain tumor community, so to have the ability to reconcile clinical practices and surveillance requirements.

Central Nervous System Tumor Classification: An Update on the Integration of Tumor Genetics.

In 2016, the World Health Organization Classification of CNS Tumors introduced molecular abnormalities that refined tumor diagnoses. Around this time, the introduction of large scale genetic mutational analyses quickly advanced our knowledge of recurrent abnormalities in disease. In 2017, the C-IMPACT group was established to render expert consensus opinions regarding the application of molecular findings into central nervous system tumor diagnoses. C-IMPACT have presented their recommendations in 7 peer-reviewed publications; this article details those recommendations that are expected to be incorporated into the upcoming fifth edition of the World Health Organization classification.

A Modified Nucleoside 6-Thio-2'-Deoxyguanosine Exhibits Antitumor Activity in Gliomas.

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic role of a novel telomere-directed inhibitor, 6-thio-2'-deoxyguanosine (THIO) in gliomas both in vitro and in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A panel of human and mouse glioma cell lines was used to test therapeutic efficacy of THIO using cell viability assays, flow cytometric analyses, and immunofluorescence. Integrated analyses of RNA sequencing and reverse-phase protein array data revealed the potential antitumor mechanisms of THIO. Four patient-derived xenografts (PDX), two patient-derived organoids (PDO), and two xenografts of human glioma cell lines were used to further investigate the therapeutic efficacy of THIO. RESULTS: THIO was effective in the majority of human and mouse glioma cell lines with no obvious toxicity against normal astrocytes. THIO as a monotherapy demonstrated efficacy in three glioma cell lines that had acquired resistance to temozolomide. In addition, THIO showed efficacy in four human glioma cell lines grown as neurospheres by inducing apoptotic cell death. Mechanistically, THIO induced telomeric DNA damage not only in glioma cell lines but also in PDX tumor specimens. Integrated computational analyses of transcriptomic and proteomic data indicated that THIO significantly inhibited cell invasion, stem cell, and proliferation pathways while triggering DNA damage and apoptosis. Importantly, THIO significantly decreased tumor proliferation in two PDO models and reduced the tumor size of a glioblastoma xenograft and a PDX model. CONCLUSIONS: The current study established the therapeutic role of THIO in primary and recurrent gliomas and revealed the acute induction of telomeric DNA damage as a primary antitumor mechanism of THIO in gliomas.

Subgroup and subtype-specific outcomes in adult medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma, a common pediatric malignant central nervous system tumour, represent a small proportion of brain tumours in adults. Previously it has been shown that in adults, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)-activated tumours predominate, with Wingless-type (WNT) and Group 4 being less common, but molecular risk stratification remains a challenge. We performed an integrated analysis consisting of genome-wide methylation profiling, copy number profiling, somatic nucleotide variants and correlation of clinical variables across a cohort of 191 adult medulloblastoma cases identified through the Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics International Consortium. We identified 30 WNT, 112 SHH, 6 Group 3, and 41 Group 4 tumours. Patients with SHH tumours were significantly older at diagnosis compared to other subgroups (p < 0.0001). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) for WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4 tumours was 64.4 (48.0-86.5), 61.9% (51.6-74.2), 80.0% (95% CI 51.6-100.0), and 44.9% (95% CI 28.6-70.7), respectively (p = 0.06). None of the clinical variables (age, sex, metastatic status, extent of resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) were associated with subgroup-specific PFS. Survival among patients with SHH tumours was significantly worse for cases with chromosome 3p loss (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-7.6; p = 0.02), chromosome 10q loss (HR 4.6, 95% CI 2.3-9.4; p < 0.0001), chromosome 17p loss (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.8; p = 0.02), and PTCH1 mutations (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.2; p = 0.04). The prognostic significance of 3p loss and 10q loss persisted in multivariable regression models. For Group 4 tumours, chromosome 8 loss was strongly associated with improved survival, which was validated in a non-overlapping cohort (combined cohort HR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.7; p = 0.007). Unlike in pediatric medulloblastoma, whole chromosome 11 loss in Group 4 and chromosome 14q loss in SHH was not associated with improved survival, where MYCN, GLI2 and MYC amplification were rare. In sum, we report unique subgroup-specific cytogenetic features of adult medulloblastoma, which are distinct from those in younger patients, and correlate with survival disparities. Our findings suggest that clinical trials that incorporate new strategies tailored to high-risk adult medulloblastoma patients are urgently needed.

Very low mutation burden is a feature of inflamed recurrent glioblastomas responsive to cancer immunotherapy.

Several immunotherapy clinical trials in recurrent glioblastoma have reported long-term survival benefits in 10-20% of patients. Here we perform genomic analysis of tumor tissue from recurrent WHO grade IV glioblastoma patients acquired prior to immunotherapy intervention. We report that very low tumor mutation burden is associated with longer survival after recombinant polio virotherapy or after immune checkpoint blockade in recurrent glioblastoma patients. A relationship between tumor mutation burden and survival is not observed in cohorts of immunotherapy naïve newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma patients. Transcriptomic analyses reveal an inverse relationship between tumor mutation burden and enrichment of inflammatory gene signatures in cohorts of recurrent, but not newly diagnosed glioblastoma tumors, implying that a relationship between tumor mutation burden and tumor-intrinsic inflammation evolves upon recurrence.

Clinical Outcomes and Patient-Matched Molecular Composition of Relapsed Medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: We sought to investigate clinical outcomes of relapsed medulloblastoma and to compare molecular features between patient-matched diagnostic and relapsed tumors. METHODS: Children and infants enrolled on either SJMB03 (NCT00085202) or SJYC07 (NCT00602667) trials who experienced medulloblastoma relapse were analyzed for clinical outcomes, including anatomic and temporal patterns of relapse and postrelapse survival. A largely independent, paired molecular cohort was analyzed by DNA methylation array and next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 72 of 329 (22%) SJMB03 and 52 of 79 (66%) SJYC07 patients experienced relapse with significant representation of Group 3 and wingless tumors. Although most patients exhibited some distal disease (79%), 38% of patients with sonic hedgehog tumors experienced isolated local relapse. Time to relapse and postrelapse survival varied by molecular subgroup with longer latencies for patients with Group 4 tumors. Postrelapse radiation therapy among previously nonirradiated SJYC07 patients was associated with long-term survival. Reirradiation was only temporizing for SJMB03 patients. Among 127 patients with patient-matched tumor pairs, 9 (7%) experienced subsequent nonmedulloblastoma CNS malignancies. Subgroup (96%) and subtype (80%) stabilities were largely maintained among the remainder. Rare subgroup divergence was observed from Group 4 to Group 3 tumors, which is coincident with genetic alterations involving MYC, MYCN, and FBXW7. Subgroup-specific patterns of alteration were identified for driver genes and chromosome arms. CONCLUSION: Clinical behavior of relapsed medulloblastoma must be contextualized in terms of up-front therapies and molecular classifications. Group 4 tumors exhibit slower biological progression. Utility of radiation at relapse is dependent on patient age and prior treatments. Degree and patterns of molecular conservation at relapse vary by subgroup. Relapse tissue enables verification of molecular targets and identification of occult secondary malignancies.

Pattern of Relapse and Treatment Response in WNT-Activated Medulloblastoma.

Over the past decade, wingless-activated (WNT) medulloblastoma has been identified as a candidate for therapy de-escalation based on excellent survival; however, a paucity of relapses has precluded additional analyses of markers of relapse. To address this gap in knowledge, an international cohort of 93 molecularly confirmed WNT MB was assembled, where 5-year progression-free survival is 0.84 (95%, 0.763-0.925) with 15 relapsed individuals identified. Maintenance chemotherapy is identified as a strong predictor of relapse, with individuals receiving high doses of cyclophosphamide or ifosphamide having only one very late molecularly confirmed relapse (p = 0.032). The anatomical location of recurrence is metastatic in 12 of 15 relapses, with 8 of 12 metastatic relapses in the lateral ventricles. Maintenance chemotherapy, specifically cumulative cyclophosphamide doses, is a significant predictor of relapse across WNT MB. Future efforts to de-escalate therapy need to carefully consider not only the radiation dose but also the chemotherapy regimen and the propensity for metastatic relapses.

The integrated genomic and epigenomic landscape of brainstem glioma.

Brainstem gliomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors that encompass both benign tumors cured with surgical resection and highly lethal cancers with no efficacious therapies. We perform a comprehensive study incorporating epigenetic and genomic analyses on a large cohort of brainstem gliomas, including Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas. Here we report, from DNA methylation data, distinct clusters termed H3-Pons, H3-Medulla, IDH, and PA-like, each associated with unique genomic and clinical profiles. The majority of tumors within H3-Pons and-H3-Medulla harbors H3F3A mutations but shows distinct methylation patterns that correlate with anatomical localization within the pons or medulla, respectively. Clinical data show significantly different overall survival between these clusters, and pathway analysis demonstrates different oncogenic mechanisms in these samples. Our findings indicate that the integration of genetic and epigenetic data can facilitate better understanding of brainstem gliomagenesis and classification, and guide future studies for the development of novel treatments for this disease.

Targeting PD-L1 Initiates Effective Antitumor Immunity in a Murine Model of Cushing Disease.

PURPOSE: Although pituitary adenoma is classified as benign, Cushing disease is associated with significant morbidity due to the numerous sequelae of elevated cortisol levels. Successful therapy for Cushing disease remains elusive due to high rates of treatment-refractory recurrence. The frequent emergence of lymphocytic hypophysitis following checkpoint blockade for other cancers, as well as the expression of PD-L1 on pituitary adenomas, suggest a role for immunotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This study confirms PD-L1 expression on functioning pituitary adenomas and is the first to evaluate the efficacy of checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-L1) therapy in a preclinical model of Cushing disease. RESULTS: Herein, treatment with anti-PD-L1 was successful in reducing adrenocorticotropic hormone plasma levels, decreasing tumor growth, and increasing survival in our model. Furthermore, tumor-infiltrating T cells demonstrated a pattern of checkpoint expression similar to other checkpoint blockade-susceptible tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that immunotherapy, particularly blockade of the PD1/PD-L1 axis, may be a novel therapeutic option for refractory Cushing disease. Clinical investigation is encouraged.

Recurrent Extradural Myxopapillary Ependymoma With Oligometastatic Spread.

Myxopapillary ependymomas are a slow-growing, grade I type glial tumor in the lumbosacral region. More rarely, they can present as extradural, subcutaneous sacrococcygeal, or perisacral masses, and it is under these circumstances that they are more likely to spread. Here, we report the presentation of a sacrococcygeal mass in patient that was initially resected confirming extradural myxopapillary ependymoma. At initial resection, multiple small pulmonary nodules were detected. This mass recurred 2 years later at the resection site with an interval increase in the previously imaged pulmonary nodules. Resection of both the post-sacral mass and largest lung metastasis confirmed recurrent myxopapillary ependymoma with oligometastatic spread. Because these tumors are rare, with extradural presentation being even more infrequent, to this date there are no definitive therapeutic guidelines for initial treatment and continued surveillance. For myxopapillary ependymoma, current standard of care is first-line maximal surgical resection with or without postoperative radiotherapy depending on the extent of disease and extent of resection. However, there remains insufficient evidence on the role of radiotherapy to oligometastatic foci in providing any further survival benefit or extending time to recurrence. Thus, prospective studies assessing the role of upfront treatment of oligometastases with local resection and adjuvant radiotherapy are needed for improved understanding of extradural myxopapillary ependymoma.

Glioneuronal Tumor With Features of Ganglioglioma and Neurocytoma Arising in the Fourth Ventricle: A Report of 2 Unusual Cases and a Review of Infratentorial Gangliogliomas.

Infratentorial glioneuronal neoplasms are overall quite rare and are more commonly low-grade with surgical excision usually being curative. Multiple distinct histologic entities have been described including rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor, papillary glioneuronal tumor, neurocytoma, dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum (Lhermitte-Duclos disease), cerebellar liponeurocytoma, and ganglioglioma. While each of these entities has distinct findings, in some instances a tumor may demonstrate overlapping histologic features with mixed components. Herein, we report 2 unusual adult cases of a fourth ventricular glioneuronal tumor with features of ganglioglioma and neurocytoma, with one coming from a surgical resection and one found incidentally at autopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this specific histologic combination has not previously been described. As such, the clinical significance is unknown although in both cases the neoplasms were circumscribed and appeared to be low grade. The presence of the gangliogliomatous component was of particular interest since these are extremely rare occurrences in the fourth ventricle and we provide a comprehensive review of infratentorial gangliogliomas.

MTAP Loss Promotes Stemness in Glioblastoma and Confers Unique Susceptibility to Purine Starvation.

Homozygous deletion of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is one of the most frequent genetic alterations in glioblastoma (GBM), but its pathologic consequences remain unclear. In this study, we report that loss of MTAP results in profound epigenetic reprogramming characterized by hypomethylation of PROM1/CD133-associated stem cell regulatory pathways. MTAP deficiency promotes glioma stem-like cell (GSC) formation with increased expression of PROM1/CD133 and enhanced tumorigenicity of GBM cells and is associated with poor prognosis in patients with GBM. As a combined consequence of purine production deficiency in MTAP-null GBM and the critical dependence of GSCs on purines, the enriched subset of CD133+ cells in MTAP-null GBM can be effectively depleted by inhibition of de novo purine synthesis. These findings suggest that MTAP loss promotes the pathogenesis of GBM by shaping the epigenetic landscape and stemness of GBM cells while simultaneously providing a unique opportunity for GBM therapeutics. SIGNIFICANCE: This study links the frequently mutated metabolic enzyme MTAP to dysregulated epigenetics and cancer cell stemness and establishes MTAP status as a factor for consideration in characterizing GBM and developing therapeutic strategies.

Genomic analysis demonstrates that histologically-defined astroblastomas are molecularly heterogeneous and that tumors with MN1 rearrangement exhibit the most favorable prognosis.

Astroblastoma (AB) is a rare CNS tumor demonstrating abundant astroblastomatous pseudorosettes. Its molecular features have not been comprehensively studied and its status as a tumor entity is controversial. We analyzed a cohort of 27 histologically-defined ABs using DNA methylation profiling, copy number analysis, FISH and site-directed sequencing. Most cases demonstrated mutually exclusive MN1 rearrangements (n = 10) or BRAFV600E mutations (n = 7). Two additional cases harbored RELA rearrangements. Other cases lacked these specific genetic alterations (n = 8). By DNA methylation profiling, tumors with MN1 or RELA rearrangement clustered with high-grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration (HGNET-MN1) and RELA-fusion ependymoma, respectively. In contrast, BRAFV600E-mutant tumors grouped with pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA). Six additional tumors clustered with either supratentorial pilocytic astrocytoma and ganglioglioma (LGG-PA/GG-ST), normal or reactive cerebrum, or with no defined DNA methylation class. While certain histologic features favored one genetic group over another, no group could be reliably distinguished by histopathology alone. Survival analysis between genetic AB subtypes was limited by sample size, but showed that MN1-rearranged AB tumors were characterized by better overall survival compared to other genetic subtypes, in fact, significantly better than BRAFV600E-mutant tumors (P = 0.013). Our data confirm that histologically-defined ABs are molecularly heterogeneous and do not represent a single entity. They rather encompass several low- to higher-grade glial tumors including neuroepithelial tumors with MN1 rearrangement, PXA-like tumors, RELA ependymomas, and possibly yet uncharacterized lesions. Genetic subtyping of tumors exhibiting AB histology, particularly determination of MN1 and BRAFV600E status, is necessary for important prognostic and possible treatment implications.