Identification of Genes Implicated in Low-Grade Gliomas and the Progression into Higher Grade Gliomas Through Aberrant DNA Methylation
Abstract
DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification involving the addition of methyl groups to DNA as a regulatory mechanism; aberrant patterns contribute to various diseases. Low-grade gliomas (LGG) arise from aberrant cellular differentiation through altered gene expression of various genes, of which DNA methylation plays a crucial role. LGG’s are characterized as slow growing tumors from glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Grade IV gliomas or glioblastomas (GBM) are one of the most aggressive brain tumor types with a poor clinical prognosis and median survival of only 15 months. The purpose of this investigation is to analyze the DNA methylation patterns in LGG, and reference them with GBM using the 450K DNA methylation datasets from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA). We intend to screen genes that have either gained methylation or have lost DNA methylation in GBM compared to LGG. The genes that have gained or lost DNA methylation will be further correlated to their expression level using multiple datasets such as GEPIA2 in a large cohort of tumors. In addition, we plan to interrogate if the genes we identified are correlated to the patients’ clinical prognosis (i.e. patients’ survival) using prognostic datasets such as PrognoScan and GEPIA2. The long-term goal of this study is to identify the novel genes dysregulated in LGG and investigate their roles in patients’ prognosis, and their progression into higher grade gliomas. Additionally, these genes may help predict tumor behavior and the development of therapeutic strategies.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Rajendra Pangeni
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Identification of Genes Implicated in Low-Grade Gliomas and the Progression into Higher Grade Gliomas Through Aberrant DNA Methylation
Alvin Sherman Library
DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification involving the addition of methyl groups to DNA as a regulatory mechanism; aberrant patterns contribute to various diseases. Low-grade gliomas (LGG) arise from aberrant cellular differentiation through altered gene expression of various genes, of which DNA methylation plays a crucial role. LGG’s are characterized as slow growing tumors from glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Grade IV gliomas or glioblastomas (GBM) are one of the most aggressive brain tumor types with a poor clinical prognosis and median survival of only 15 months. The purpose of this investigation is to analyze the DNA methylation patterns in LGG, and reference them with GBM using the 450K DNA methylation datasets from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA). We intend to screen genes that have either gained methylation or have lost DNA methylation in GBM compared to LGG. The genes that have gained or lost DNA methylation will be further correlated to their expression level using multiple datasets such as GEPIA2 in a large cohort of tumors. In addition, we plan to interrogate if the genes we identified are correlated to the patients’ clinical prognosis (i.e. patients’ survival) using prognostic datasets such as PrognoScan and GEPIA2. The long-term goal of this study is to identify the novel genes dysregulated in LGG and investigate their roles in patients’ prognosis, and their progression into higher grade gliomas. Additionally, these genes may help predict tumor behavior and the development of therapeutic strategies.
