MAPT (Tau) expression is a biomarker for an increased rate of survival in pediatric neuroblastoma

Figures & data

Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curves representing distinct MAPT gene expression levels. (A) Kaplan-Meier (KM) overall survival (OS) curve representing pediatric neuroblastoma barcode microarray values in the top quintile of MAPT expressers (n = 48, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom quintile of MAPT expressers (n = 49, black). Mean OS for the top quintile of MAPT expressers, undefined months; mean OS for bottom quintile of MAPT expressers, 37 months. Log rank comparison p-value = 0.0023. (B) KM OS curve for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OV) barcode microarray values in the top quintile of MAPT expressers (n = 103, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom quintile of MAPT expressers (n = 102, black). Mean OS for the top quintile of MAPT expressers, 38.40 months; mean OS for bottom quintile of MAPT expressers, 47.57 months. Log rank comparison p-value = 0.3471 (not significant). (C) KM OS curve for pediatric neuroblastoma barcode microarray values in the top quintile of SNCA expressers (n = 48, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom quintile of SNCA expressers (n = 49, black). Mean OS for the top quintile of SNCA expressers, undefined months; mean OS for bottom quintile of SNCA expressers, 52 months. Log rank comparison p-value = 0.1370 (not significant). (D) KM OS curve for pediatric neuroblastoma barcode RNAseq values in the top half of MAPT expressers (n = 68, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom half of MAPT expressers (n = 66, black). Mean OS for the top half of MAPT expressers, 125 months; mean OS for bottom half of MAPT expressers, 44 months. Log rank comparison p-value = 0.0074. (E) KM OS curve for pediatric neuroblastoma barcode RNAseq values in the top quintile of MAPT expressers (n = 27, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom quintile of MAPT expressers (n = 28, black). Mean OS for the top quintile of MAPT expressers, 80 months; mean OS for bottom quintile of MAPT expressers, 34 months. Log rank comparison p-value = 0.2205.

Table 1. Average microarray values for pediatric neuroblastoma barcodes representing high and low expression of MAPT.

Apoptosis Effector Gene	Bottom 20% MAPT Microarray Values	Top 20% MAPT Microarray Values	p-value
AIFM2	6.06	6.32	<0.0001
BAD	7.46	7.65	0.0004
CASP3	7.61	7.86	0.0101
CASP9	6.63	7.12	<0.0001
COX6A1	9.24	9.54	0.0023
CRADD	6.58	6.78	0.0018
GZMB	5.86	6.37	0.006

Figure 2. Correlation of MAPT and apoptosis-effector gene expression levels. MAPT microarray expression vs. apoptosis-effector gene microarray expression. The p-values for the Pearson Correlation Coefficients are presented after each relationship, respectively. (A) MAPT vs. AIFM2; p = 0.0008; (B) MAPT vs. BAD; p = 0.0051; (C) MAPT vs. CASP3; p = 0.0050; (D) MAPT vs. CASP9; p < 0.0001; (E) MAPT vs. COX6A1; p = 0.0005; (F) MAPT vs. CRADD; p < 0.0001; (G) MAPT vs. GZMB; p = 0.0205.

Figure 3. Kaplan-Meier curves representing distinct apoptosis-effector gene expression levels. (A) KM OS curve for pediatric neuroblastoma barcode microarray values in the top quintile of CASP3 expressers (n = 49, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom quintile of CASP3 expressers (n = 49, black). Mean OS for the top quintile of CASP3 expressers, undefined months; mean OS for bottom quintile of CASP3 expressers, 37 months. Log rank comparison p-value, p = 0.0052. (B) KM OS curve for pediatric neuroblastoma barcode microarray values in the top quintile of CASP9 expressers (n = 49, gray, arrow), compared to the OS for the bottom quintile of CASP9 expressers (n = 49, black). Mean OS for the top quintile of CASP9 expressers, undefined months; mean OS for bottom quintile of CASP9 expressers, 38.5 months. Log rank comparison p-value, p = 0.0353.

Table 2. Average microarray values for pediatric neuroblastoma barcodes representing high and low expression of MAPT.

Histone Proliferation Effector Gene	Bottom 20% MAPT Microarray Values	Top 20% MAPT Microarray Values	p-value
H1FX	8.37	8.18	0.0147
H2AFX	7.75	7.48	0.0002
H3F3B	10.19	10.45	0.01
HIST1H2AL	7.59	6.86	<0.0001
HIST1H2BK	6.12	5.57	<0.0001
HIST1H3J	7.71	6.83	<0.0001
HIST1H4B	10.38	9.74	0.0001
HIST1H4J	8.10	7.89	0.0214
HIST2H2BE	9.00	8.69	0.0204
HIST2H3D	10.09	8.96	<0.0001
HIST3H2A	8.75	8.46	0.0479

Table 3. Identifying MYCN copy number variation associations with MAPT expression (For details, see Table S13).

	Bottom Quintile MAPT Expressers	Top Quintile MAPT Expressers	p-value
Percent of barcodes with MYCN amplification	0.53	0.00	< 0.0001