Novel paediatric case of a spinal high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features in a patient with Noonan Syndrome

Abstract Noonan Syndrome (NS) is associated with an increased risk of low-grade central nervous system tumours in children but only very rarely associated with high-grade gliomas. Here we describe the first reported case of a spinal high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features (HGAP) in a child with...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jordan Staunton, Pamela Ajuyah, Angela Harris, Chelsea Mayoh, Marie Wong, Megan Rumford, Patricia J. Sullivan, Paul G. Ekert, Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos, Mark J. Cowley, Loretta M. S. Lau, David S. Ziegler, Paulette Barahona, Neevika Manoharan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:npj Precision Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-024-00734-3
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Summary:Abstract Noonan Syndrome (NS) is associated with an increased risk of low-grade central nervous system tumours in children but only very rarely associated with high-grade gliomas. Here we describe the first reported case of a spinal high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features (HGAP) in a child with NS. This case was a diagnostic and treatment dilemma, prior to whole-genome germline and tumour sequencing, tumour transcriptome sequencing and DNA methylation analysis. The methylation profile matched strongly with HGAP and sequencing identified somatic FGFR1 and NF1 variants and a PTPN11 germline pathogenic variant. Therapeutic targets were identified but also alterations novel to HGAP such as differential expression of VEGFA and PD-L1. The germline PTPN11 finding has not been previously described in individuals with HGAP. This case underscores the power of precision medicine from a diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical management perspective, and describes an association between HGAP and NS which has not previously been reported.
ISSN:2397-768X