Gamma Knife Radiosurgery does not alter the copy number aberration profile in sporadic vestibular schwannoma

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology Vol. 149; no. 3; pp. 373 - 381
• Main Authors: Håvik, Aril Løge, Bruland, Ove, Dhayalan, Dhanushan, Lund-Johansen, Morten, Knappskog, Per-Morten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chromosome 22; Cloning; Copy number; DNA microarrays; DNA sequencing; Genomes; Ionizing radiation; Laboratory Investigation; Malignancy; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurology; Oncology; Radiosurgery; Schwann cells; Statistical analysis; Tumorigenesis; Vestibular system; Intratumor genetic heterogeneity; Genetics; Neurosurgery; Whole genome microarray; Gamma Knife Radiosurgery; Vestibular schwannoma
• DOI: 10.1007/s11060-020-03631-4
• ISSN: 0167-594X

Introduction Ionizing radiation is a known etiologic factor in tumorigenesis and its role in inducing malignancy in the treatment of vestibular schwannoma has been debated. The purpose of this study was to identify a copy number aberration (CNA) profile or specific CNAs associated with radiation exposure which could either implicate an increased risk of malignancy or elucidate a mechanism of treatment resistance. Methods 55 sporadic VS, including 18 treated with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (GKRS), were subjected to DNA whole-genome microarray and/or whole-exome sequencing. CNAs were called and statistical tests were performed to identify any association with radiation exposure. Hierarchical clustering was used to identify CNA profiles associated with radiation exposure. Results A median of 7 (0–58) CNAs were identified across the 55 VS. Chromosome 22 aberration was the only recurrent event. A median aberrant cell fraction of 0.59 (0.25–0.94) was observed, indicating several genetic clones in VS. No CNA or CNA profile was associated with GKRS. Conclusion GKRS is not associated with an increase in CNAs or alteration of the CNA profile in VS, lending support to its low risk. This also implies that there is no major issue with GKRS treatment failure being due to CNAs. In agreement with previous studies, chromosome 22 aberration is the only recurrent CNA. VS consist of several genetic clones, addressing the need for further studies on the composition of cells in this tumor.