Research Offers Hope For NF2 Neuro-Tumor Patients

Summary: Researchers from the University of Plymouth have discovered the tole PrPC plays in the development of neurofibromatosis 2 tumors. According to the study, the prion protein is overproduced in schwannomas, compared with healthy Schwann cells. This overproduction is a result of Merlin deficiency and contributed to tumor growth in NF2 patients.

Source: University of Plymouth.

Scientists reveal, for the first time, the role of the cellular prion protein in the development of neurofibromatosis 2 tumors — with potential impact on other cancers, too.

New research published today, 10th July 2017, online in the journal Oncogene could offer hope to the thousands of, mainly young, people affected by the hereditary condition Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2). This condition is characterised by the development of multiple tumours of the nervous system such as schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas, each associated with mutations in a gene coding for a tumour suppressor called Merlin.

In addition to NF2 disease there could be potential benefit for other cancers with the same mutations, including mesothelioma (usually linked to exposure to asbestos), breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, melanoma, glioblastoma and spontaneous schwannomas and meningiomas occurring independently of NF2.

Scientists from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, supported by The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust and Brain Tumour Research, have revealed the role of the normal, cellular form of prion protein (PrPC) in the development of NF2-related tumours.

PrPC is normally present in the nervous system of healthy individuals and is absent in Creutzfeldt-Jakob prion disease patients who have a pathological form of prion protein called scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). While physiological levels of PrPC are important during embryogenesis (the process by which the embryo develops and forms), and are neuro-protective in adults, highly increased concentrations were found in several cancers such as glioblastoma, breast cancer, prostate and gastric cancer.

Since all NF2 patients develop multiple schwannomas, the scientists have developed a human cell culture model for schwannoma, comprising of human schwannoma cells isolated from both patients and control normal healthy Schwann cells (which form the sheath that protects nerves). Using this model, the research team found for the first time that PrPC is over-produced in schwannoma compared with healthy Schwann cells. This overproduction is due to Merlin deficiency and strongly contributes to tumour growth and patient prognosis.

The research team have already identified a range of existing drugs which could manage this protein overproduction and that are used currently for other non-NF2-related conditions, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer) and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). By repurposing existing drugs, an effective therapy could be made available to NF2 patients, based on the failure of Merlin tumour suppressor expression, relatively quickly. The safety testing process for human use has already taken place for the original purpose of these drugs, which means they could be fast-tracked into clinical studies for NF2.

Director of the study was Dr Sylwia Ammoun, Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Neurobiology, who had crucial support from PhD student Lucy Provenzano. Both are members of Professor Oliver Hanemann’s internationally-recognised brain and nervous system cancer research team at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

Dr Ammoun commented: “By understanding the relationship between overproduction of PrPC and Merlin deficiency in the development of schwannoma and meningioma, we have made a significant stride forward in the search for a drug treatment for NF2. This is a life-changing condition usually striking the young. That our discovery could also lead to hope for thousands of patients affected by other Merlin-deficient tumours, adds yet more to the significance and excitement of our findings.”

Pam Thornes, Trust Manager at The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, said: “We are extremely proud to have funded such pioneering cancer research as carried out by Dr Ammoun and PhD student Lucy Provenzano and collaborators in the Professor Hanemann laboratory. Their fantastic work is going to make a life-changing difference to the lives of so many young cancer patients and that their discovery could also lead to hope for thousands of patients affected by other Merlin-deficient tumours adds yet more to the significance and excitement of their finding. The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust is delighted to have been able to play a part in making this research a reality.”

Image shows a schwannoma tumor cell.
This is a schwannoma tumor cell. NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to University of Plymouth.

Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research at Brain Tumour Research said: “Identifying a range of existing drugs which could be repurposed is an exciting approach by which we can speed up the progress of scientific discovery from the lab to the clinic, without compromising safety. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, but lack of research funding over decades has meant that current treatments lag well behind those of leukaemia and many other cancers. We are having to play catch up to improve outcomes for patients and this study will bring us closer to identifying new and effective therapies”.

About NF2

NF2 affects one in 33,000 people. Symptoms (including hearing loss, tinnitus, problems with balance, facial paralysis, paralysis due to spinal tumours and life-threatening complications due to tumour locations adjacent to vital parts of the nervous system) typically appear in the late teens and early 20s, although they can occur at any age. NF2 tumours are generally benign yet they develop in large numbers and it is often their mass which causes potentially debilitating symptoms.

Currently treatment is limited to surgery and/or radiotherapy, both of which carry risks and are only partially effective. This new research may well be the first to bring a drug therapy to the range of treatments available.

About this neuroscience research article

Source: Andrew Gould – University of Plymouth
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to University of Plymouth.
Original Research: Abstract for “Cellular prion protein (PrPC) in the development of Merlin-deficient tumours” by L Provenzano, Y Ryan, D A Hilton, J Lyons-Rimmer, F Dave, E A Maze, C L Adams, R Rigby-Jones, S Ammoun and C O Hanemann in Oncogene. Published online July 10 2017 doi:10.1038/onc.2017.200

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]University of Plymouth “Research Offers Hope For NF2 Neuro-Tumor Patients.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 10 July 2017.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/nf2-tumor-merlin-7051/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]University of Plymouth (2017, July 10). Research Offers Hope For NF2 Neuro-Tumor Patients. NeuroscienceNew. Retrieved July 10, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/nf2-tumor-merlin-7051/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]University of Plymouth “Research Offers Hope For NF2 Neuro-Tumor Patients.” https://neurosciencenews.com/nf2-tumor-merlin-7051/ (accessed July 10, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]


Abstract

Cellular prion protein (PrPC) in the development of Merlin-deficient tumours

Loss of function mutations in the neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) gene, coding for a tumour suppressor, Merlin, cause multiple tumours of the nervous system such as schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas. These tumours may occur sporadically or as part of the hereditary condition neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). Current treatment is confined to (radio) surgery and no targeted drug therapies exist. NF2 mutations and/or Merlin inactivation are also seen in other cancers including some mesothelioma, breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, melanoma and glioblastoma. To study the relationship between Merlin deficiency and tumourigenesis, we have developed an in vitro model comprising human primary schwannoma cells, the most common Merlin-deficient tumour and the hallmark for NF2. Using this model, we show increased expression of cellular prion protein (PrPC) in schwannoma cells and tissues. In addition, a strong overexpression of PrPC is observed in human Merlin-deficient mesothelioma cell line TRA and in human Merlin-deficient meningiomas. PrPC contributes to increased proliferation, cell-matrix adhesion and survival in schwannoma cells acting via 37/67 kDa non-integrin laminin receptor (LR/37/67 kDa) and downstream ERK1/2, PI3K/AKT and FAK signalling pathways. PrPC protein is also strongly released from schwannoma cells via exosomes and as a free peptide suggesting that it may act in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. We suggest that PrPC and its interactor, LR/37/67 kDa, could be potential therapeutic targets for schwannomas and other Merlin-deficient tumours.

“Cellular prion protein (PrPC) in the development of Merlin-deficient tumours” by L Provenzano, Y Ryan, D A Hilton, J Lyons-Rimmer, F Dave, E A Maze, C L Adams, R Rigby-Jones, S Ammoun and C O Hanemann in Oncogene. Published online July 10 2017 doi:10.1038/onc.2017.200

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