Characterizing the expression of individual immune cell types within pediatric central nervous system cancers
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Date
2021-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
This project defines the utility of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing in characterizing the tumor microenvironment of pediatric medulloblastomas. Comparisons between the two methods can identify how they can be used to further define the understudied medulloblastoma. These comparisons were achieved through subtyping based on gene expression data and evaluating the immune expression of primary versus recurrent tumors. Our cohort consists of five medulloblastoma patients that underwent bulk RNA and scRNA sequencing. Bulk RNA sequencing was utilized to accurately subtype medulloblastomas using gene expression data. It was found that scRNA sequencing can further characterize medulloblastomas subtypes through the classification of distinct cell populations between group 3 and group 4 medulloblastomas. Not only is robust subtyping possible, but scRNA sequencing can be used to identify cell types and their differential expression across several samples. Immune expression can also be analyzed through gene expression analysis and scRNA sequencing and is represented in this paper through the longitudinal study of a primary medulloblastoma versus a recurrent medulloblastoma in the same patient. Gene expression analysis using the PanCancer Immune Panel exhibited expression of immune genes as compared to other tumor types and identified under and overexpressed genes. Through scRNA sequencing, it was identified that in one case of a recurrent medulloblastoma, immune cell infiltration increased. These data and futures studies that utilize bulk and scRNA sequencing to characterize tumors can aide in designing immune therapies that give medulloblastoma patients the best possible outcomes.
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Keywords
genetics, pediatrics, cancer, immunotherapy, single cell RNA sequencing, RNA sequencing