Chromosomal and MicroRNA Expression Patterns Reveal Biologically Distinct Subgroups of 11q-Neuroblastoma

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to further define the biology of the 11q- neuroblastoma tumor subgroup by the integration of array-based comparative genomic hybridization with microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling data to determine if improved patient stratification is possible. Experimental Design: A set of primary neuroblastoma (n = 160), which was broadly representative of all genetic subtypes, was analyzed by array-based comparative genomic hybridization and for the expression of 430 miRNAs. A 15-miRNA expression signature previously shown to be predictive of clinical outcome was used to analyze an independent cohort of 11q- tumors (n = 37). Results: Loss of 4p and gain of 7q occurred at a significantly higher frequency in the 11q- tumors, further defining the genetic characteristics of this subtype. The 11q- tumors could be split into two subgroups using a miRNA expression survival signature that differed significantly in clinical outcome and the overall frequency of large-scale genomic imbalances, with the poor survival subgroup having significantly more imbalances. miRNAs from the expression signature, which were upregulated in unfavorable tumors, were predicted to target downregulated genes from a published mRNA expression classifier of clinical outcome at a higher-than-expected frequency, indicating the miRNAs might contribute to the regulation of genes within the signature. Conclusion: We show that two distinct biological subtypes of neuroblastoma with loss of 11q occur, which differ in their miRNA expression profiles, frequency of segmental imbalances, and clinical outcome. A miRNA expression signature, combined with an analysis of segmental imbalances, provides greater prediction of event-free survival and overall survival outcomes than 11q status by itself, improving patient stratification. Clin Cancer Res; 16(11); 2971-8. (C) 2010 AACR.