Molecular changes during AT/RT progression associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix changes - Summary - MDSpire

Molecular changes during AT/RT progression associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix changes

  • By

  • Lea Altendorf

  • Anton Althammer

  • Rajanya Roy

  • Karoline Hack

  • Flavia W. de Faria

  • Arend Koch

  • Vanessa Thaden

  • Melanie Schoof

  • Martin U. Schuhmann

  • Peter Hauser

  • Pascal D. Johann

  • Martin Hasselblatt

  • Michael C. Frühwald

  • Kornelius Kerl

  • Ulrich Schüller

  • July 1, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To characterize transcriptomic differences between primary and recurrent AT/RT tumors and identify therapy-resistant tumor cells.

Approach:
  • Data Collection: Patient data were obtained from the EU-RHAB registry, with ethical approval for the study.
  • Cell Isolation and Sequencing: snRNAseq was performed on FFPE tissue using the Chromium Single Cell Flex Gene Expression Assay.
  • Data Processing: Data were processed using 10× Genomics Cell Ranger and analyzed in R Studio with Seurat for normalization, clustering, and integration.
Key Findings:
  • Increased ECM remodeling and pEMT were associated with therapy resistance in AT/RT.
  • Distinct transcriptomic profiles were observed between primary and recurrent AT/RT tumors.
Interpretation:

The study highlights the need for thorough characterization of therapy-resistant tumor cells to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Limitations:
  • The study is limited to a small sample size of eight paired tumors.
  • Findings may not be generalizable to all AT/RT patients due to the specific cohort studied.
Conclusion:

Characterization of therapy-resistant tumor cells may lead to the identification of new treatment targets for AT/RT.

Original Source(s)

Molecular changes during AT/RT progression associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix changes

  • by Lea Altendorf, Anton Althammer, Rajanya Roy, Karoline Hack, Flavia W. de Faria, Arend Koch, Vanessa Thaden, Melanie Schoof, Martin U. Schuhmann, Peter Hauser, Pascal D. Johann, Martin Hasselblatt, Michael C. Frühwald, Kornelius Kerl, Ulrich Schüller

  • July 1, 2026

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