PDGFRα was strongly expressed on the tumor cells in all three malignancies, while PDGFRβ tumor cell expression was present in the majority of medulloblastoma cases.
A synonymous sequence variation in PDGFRA (CCG to CCA; PRO 567 PRO) was detected in two cases (approximately 7%), but not in 150 normal chromosomes assessed, suggesting that the PDGFRA locus may be associated with medulloblastoma development in certain cases.
Here, we report the subgroup specific expression of PDGFRα and PDGFRβ and their associated biological pathways in MB tumors. c-MYC, a downstream target of PDGFRβ but not PDGFRα, is involved in PDGFRβ signaling associated with cell proliferation, cell death, and invasion.
Inhibitors of PDGFRA and RAS proteins should therefore be considered for investigation as possible novel therapeutic strategies against medulloblastoma.