TERT rearrangements are frequent in neuroblastoma and identify aggressive tumors

Nat Genet. 2015 Dec;47(12):1411-4. doi: 10.1038/ng.3438. Epub 2015 Nov 2.

Abstract

Whole-genome sequencing detected structural rearrangements of TERT in 17 of 75 high-stage neuroblastomas, with five cases resulting from chromothripsis. Rearrangements were associated with increased TERT expression and targeted regions immediately up- and downstream of TERT, positioning a super-enhancer close to the breakpoints in seven cases. TERT rearrangements (23%), ATRX deletions (11%) and MYCN amplifications (37%) identify three almost non-overlapping groups of high-stage neuroblastoma, each associated with very poor prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Helicases / genetics
  • Gene Amplification
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Rearrangement*
  • Genome, Human
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods
  • Humans
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Neuroblastoma / genetics*
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Telomerase / genetics*
  • Telomere / genetics*
  • X-linked Nuclear Protein

Substances

  • MYCN protein, human
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase
  • DNA Helicases
  • ATRX protein, human
  • X-linked Nuclear Protein

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE73537