PDGF Family Expression in Glioblastoma Multiforme: Data Compilation from Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project Database

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent and lethal primary brain cancer. Due to its therapeutic resistance and aggressiveness, its clinical management is challenging. Platelet-derived Growth Factor (PDGF) genes have been enrolled as drivers of this tumour progression as well as potential therapeutic targets. As detailed understanding of the expression pattern of PDGF system in the context of GBM intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity is lacking in the literature, this study aims at characterising PDGF expression in different histologically-defined GBM regions as well as investigating correlation of these genes expression with parameters related to poor prognosis. Z-score normalised expression values of PDGF subunits from multiple slices of 36 GBMs, alongside with clinical and genomic data on those GBMs patients, were compiled from Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project – Allen Institute for Brain Science data sets. PDGF subunits show differential expression over distinct regions of GBM and PDGF family is heterogeneously expressed among different brain lobes affected by GBM. Further, PDGF family expression correlates with bad prognosis factors: age at GBM diagnosis, Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog deletion and Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 mutation. These findings may aid on clinical management of GBM and development of targeted curative therapies against this devastating tumour.