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  • Title: High Skp2 expression characterizes high-risk neuroblastomas independent of MYCN status.
    Author: Westermann F, Henrich KO, Wei JS, Lutz W, Fischer M, König R, Wiedemeyer R, Ehemann V, Brors B, Ernestus K, Leuschner I, Benner A, Khan J, Schwab M.
    Journal: Clin Cancer Res; 2007 Aug 15; 13(16):4695-703. PubMed ID: 17652624.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: Amplified MYCN oncogene defines a subgroup of neuroblastomas with poor outcome. However, a substantial number of MYCN single-copy neuroblastomas exhibits an aggressive phenotype similar to that of MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas even in the absence of high MYCN mRNA and/or protein levels. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To identify shared molecular mechanisms that mediate the aggressive phenotype in MYCN-amplified and single-copy high-risk neuroblastomas, we defined genetic programs evoked by ectopically expressed MYCN in vitro and analyzed them in high-risk versus low-risk neuroblastoma tumors (n = 49) using cDNA microarrays. Candidate gene expression was validated in a separate cohort of 117 patients using quantitative PCR, and protein expression was analyzed in neuroblastoma tumors by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We identified a genetic signature characterized by a subset of MYCN/MYC and E2F targets, including Skp2, encoding the F-box protein of the SCF(Skp2) E3-ligase, to be highly expressed in high-risk neuroblastomas independent of amplified MYCN. We validated the findings for Skp2 and analyzed its expression in relation to MYCN and E2F-1 expression in a separate cohort (n = 117) using quantitative PCR. High Skp2 expression proved to be a highly significant marker of dire prognosis independent of both MYCN status and disease stage, on the basis of multivariate analysis of event-free survival (hazard ratio, 3.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-8.00; P = 0.002). Skp2 protein expression was inversely correlated with expression of p27, the primary target of the SCF(Skp2) E3-ligase, in neuroblastoma tumors. CONCLUSION: Skp2 may have a key role in the progression of neuroblastomas and should make an attractive target for therapeutic approaches.
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