Identification of novel chromosomal abnormalities and prognostic cytogenetics markers in intracranial pediatric ependymoma.

Aim of this study was to search for novel chromosomal imbalances and potential prognostic markers in pediatric ependymoma. Tumor DNA, obtained from 20 children with intracranial ependymoma (World Health Organization WHO grades II and III), was analyzed using metaphase-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The novel copy number aberrations (CNAs) here identified are (i) 4q33-qter loss, (ii) 10q25.2-q26.3 gain, (iii) 3q23-qter losses, (iv) 18q22.2 loss, and (v) 19p13.1-p13.3 gain. The combined presence of 6p22-pter and 13q14.3-qter losses predicted significantly reduced survival. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.