TB-09: CORRELATION BETWEEN LEVEL OF Shc PROTEINS AND PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR MALIGNANCY

BACKGROUND: p66Shc protein involved in the cellular response to oxidative stress is also considered to be involved in many other biological and pathological processes including cancer proliferation, tumor progression, metastasis and metabolic reprogramming. Interestingly, in contrast to other ShcA isoforms (p46Shc and p52Shc, positive regulators of Ras), only p66Shc was found to be upregulated in highly metastatic variants of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231. Hence, the main goal of our project is focused on the elucidation if any correlation exists between the level of Shc proteins and tumor malignancy in pediatric brain tumors representing different malignancy grades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Elucidation of the correlation between p66Shc, Ser36 phosphorylation status and tumor malignancy grade in 52 samples of pediatric neuroepithelial tumors with defined I, II, III and IV malignancy grades based on the WHO classification has been performed with the use of specific antibodies. RESULTS: Investigations of neuroepithelial tumors samples indicate the existence of a slight unique pattern of ShcA members (p46Shc, p52Shc and p66Shc) characteristic for each type of brain tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Our data may indicate existence of possible correlation between the level of Shc proteins and the grade of pediatric brain tumor malignancy. This work was supported by the Internal Project of The Children's Memorial Health Institute No S141/2014 and by the Statutory Founding from Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.