Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive Schwann cell neoplasms that occur in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), the most common genetic disease affecting the nervous system. Nf1 and p53 tumor suppressor gene mutations occur commonly in MPNSTs and epigenetic factors such as stimulation by growth factors likely cooperate with these mutations to promote MPNST tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that proteins in the neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) family of growth and differentiation factors promote MPNST tumorigenesis. To test this hypothesis, we generated transgenic mice expressing the NRG-1 isoform glial growth factor-(3 (GGF133) in Schwann cells (P0-GGF(3 mice). P0-GGF(3 mice demonstrate prominent Schwann cell hyperplasia, preneoplastic lesions in peripheral ganglia and MPNST-like Schwann cell neoplasms. Our preliminary studies of MPNSTs arising in P0-GGF(3 mice indicate that neurofibromin, the product of the Nf1 gene, is not expressed in these neoplasms and that their p53 expression is also altered. Human MPNSTs likewise co express multiple NRG-1 isoforms and erbB receptors and we have found that the proliferation of 2 human MPNST cell lines is dependent on erbB signaling. As MPNST formation in P0-GGF(3 mice results from altered growth factor expression, these mice represent a transgenic model distinct from all others previously described and provide a unique opportunity to examine interactions between epigenetic factors and tumor suppressors during in vivo MPNST formation. In this proposal, we will partner the P0-GGF(3 mouse model with mouse and human MPNST cell lines to critically test the hypothesis that constitutive activation of the NRG-1/erbB signaling pathway and mutations of the Nf1 and p53 tumor suppressor genes cooperate to promote MPNST pathogenesis. Specifically, we will test the hypotheses that: 1) Specific NRG-1 isoforms and erbB membrane tyrosine kinases are individually necessary for MPNST proliferation, survival and/or migration in vitro and that constitutive activation of the NRG-1/erbB signaling pathway is necessary for MPNST tumorigenesis in vivo; 2) loss of NJ7 and p53 tumor suppressor gene function is associated with MPNST tumorigenesis in P0-GGF(3 mice and 3) constitutive activation of the NRG-1/erbB signaling pathway and null mutations of the Nf1 and/or p53 tumor suppressor genes cooperate to accelerate MPNST tumorigenesis in vivo. These studies will provide important insights into the mechanisms promoting MPNST formation and establish the NRG-1/erbB signaling pathway as a novel therapeutic target in MPNSTs. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS048353-01A1
Application #
6871935
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CNBT (01))
Program Officer
Finkelstein, Robert
Project Start
2004-09-15
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2004-09-15
Budget End
2005-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$268,250
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Carroll, Steven L (2016) The Challenge of Cancer Genomics in Rare Nervous System Neoplasms: Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors as a Paradigm for Cross-Species Comparative Oncogenomics. Am J Pathol 186:464-77
Brossier, Nicole M; Prechtl, Amanda M; Longo, Jody Fromm et al. (2015) Classic Ras Proteins Promote Proliferation and Survival via Distinct Phosphoproteome Alterations in Neurofibromin-Null Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 74:568-86
Brosius, Stephanie N; Turk, Amy N; Byer, Stephanie J et al. (2014) Combinatorial therapy with tamoxifen and trifluoperazine effectively inhibits malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor growth by targeting complementary signaling cascades. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 73:1078-90
Brosius, Stephanie N; Turk, Amy N; Byer, Stephanie J et al. (2014) Neuregulin-1 overexpression and Trp53 haploinsufficiency cooperatively promote de novo malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor pathogenesis. Acta Neuropathol 127:573-91
Byer, Stephanie J; Brossier, Nicole M; Peavler, Lafe T et al. (2013) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor invasion requires aberrantly expressed EGF receptors and is variably enhanced by multiple EGF family ligands. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 72:219-33
Kazmi, Syed J; Byer, Stephanie J; Eckert, Jenell M et al. (2013) Transgenic mice overexpressing neuregulin-1 model neurofibroma-malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor progression and implicate specific chromosomal copy number variations in tumorigenesis. Am J Pathol 182:646-67
Carroll, Steven L (2012) Molecular mechanisms promoting the pathogenesis of Schwann cell neoplasms. Acta Neuropathol 123:321-48
Brossier, Nicole M; Carroll, Steven L (2012) Genetically engineered mouse models shed new light on the pathogenesis of neurofibromatosis type I-related neoplasms of the peripheral nervous system. Brain Res Bull 88:58-71
Kaza, Niroop; Kohli, Latika; Roth, Kevin A (2012) Autophagy in brain tumors: a new target for therapeutic intervention. Brain Pathol 22:89-98
Byer, Stephanie J; Eckert, Jenell M; Brossier, Nicole M et al. (2011) Tamoxifen inhibits malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor growth in an estrogen receptor-independent manner. Neuro Oncol 13:28-41

Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications