Projects

Systematic review and meta-analysis of genomic profiling of paediatric high grade glioma

As well as our own ongoing molecular profiling programme, there have recently emerged several valuable smaller studies analysing the genomics and expression patterns of paediatric high grade glioma. Despite this increased interest, the number of cases analysed by any one group is still relatively small compared with equivalent projects in some of the more common adult cancers. We believe that to make the greatest progress in these rare tumours, it would be beneficial to pool as much data as possible, in order to better define the molecular alterations driving this disease.

To this end, we are performing, in collaboration with Andre von Beuren (Hamburg) and Michael Baudis (Zurich), an international systematic review and meta-analysis of the genomics of high grade glioma in children.  Our primary aim is to collate all published genome-wide DNA copy number data, across any platform, on these tumours and carry out the following analyses:

• create a low-resolution fully integrated dataset to define the frequencies of chromosomal alterations.
• retain the original platform-specific data to perform smallest region of overlap analyses to accurately map amplification/deletion breakpoints.
• compare the data with publicly available adult high-grade glioma datasets.
• investigate any retrospective clinicopathological correlations of the genetic aberrations identified.

As a secondary objective, we wish to also collate any mRNA expression data performed on these tumours, mindful of the technical limitations inherent with cross-platform analyses of this type. We hope to be able to integrate this data with the copy number studies, above, as well as attempt to better define the intrinsic subgroups of the disease based upon gene expression signatures.

Although we are carrying this out as part of a literature mining exercise, we would be very happy to hear from any groups who may have such data who may be interested in taking part. All participants will of course be offered a co-authorship on any subsequent publication arising from this work, and will have full access to the analyses and integrated datasets that we produce. Independent of inclusion into our data review and analysis project, all authorised data will also be entered into the Progenetix database for eventual public dissemination.

If you should have any further questions, concerns or suggestions regarding this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact us.