THE ANALYSING ROLE OF NPM1 IN HISTONE 3 MUTATED PAEDIATRIC HIGH- GRADE GLIOMAS

Abstract AIMS Paediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) are tumours derived from glial cells causing the most deaths relating to cancer in children. Lack of effective treatment options means pHGGs have a dismal prognosis. Previous studies have found nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) to have a role in certain cancers such as Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Our previous research has found NPM1 as a Histone 3 interacting protein. This study aims to explore NPM1’s role in histone 3(H3) mutated pHGGs and its potential as a therapeutic target. METHODS The localisation and expression of NPM1 was investigated in H3.3 mutated glioma cell line (KNS42), compared to H3 Wildtype glioma (SF188) and control cell lines (HeLa and astrocytes) using immunofluorescence and Western Blot and techniques. Co-localisation of NPM1 and alpha tubulin, actin and GFAP was explored by immunofluo- rescence experiments. RESULTS Immunofluorescence experiments revealed increased cytoskeletal localization in H3G34V cell line than H3-WT and control astrocytes and HeLa. NPM1 expression was significantly higher in pHGG cell lines than astrocytes. Results of the above experiments will be presented. CONCLUSION The study provides insight into the potential role of NPM1 in H3 mutated pHGG and highlights areas for further research. Aberrant cytoskeletal NPM1 localisation and increased NPM1 expression found in glioma cells should be researched further and could be targets for future therapeutics.