20.500.12556/DiRROS-28869 Comprehensive molecular characterization of craniopharyngiomas using whole transcriptome and spatial transcriptomics approaches Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are rare benign brain tumors that are classified as WHO grade I, with two subtypes: adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) and papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP). ACP is caused by somatic mutations in exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene activating the Wnt signaling pathway. PCP is associated with somatic BRAF p.V600E mutations activating the MAPK signaling pathway. Understanding their molecular differences is crucial for diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to analyze common somatic alterations in ACP and PCP using bulk transcriptome sequencing and in situ spatial transcriptomics. RNA sequencing and high-resolution spatial profiling were used to detect mutations and examine gene expression differences among ACP, PCP, and healthy pituitary tissue. Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed on 24 tumor samples, with healthy pituitary data from the GTEx portal. Bioinformatics analysis utilized the CTAT mutation pipeline, with Sanger sequencing for validation. Results confirmed BRAF p.V600E mutations in all PCP samples and CTNNB1 mutations in all ACP samples. Differential gene expression analysis highlighted distinct molecular profiles and reinforced the involvement of Wnt and MAPK signaling. Spatial profiling identified 41 differentially expressed genes between ACP and PCP. This study provides critical insights into CP biology, supporting improved diagnostics and potential therapeutic strategies. craniopharyngioma differential gene expression in situ spatial profiling somatic mutation detection transcriptional analysis kraniofaringiom diferencialna genska ekspresija prostorsko profiliranje in situ odkrivanje somatskih mutacij transkripcijska analiza true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2026-04-10 10:11:11 2026-04-10 10:11:11 2026-04-11 03:54:48 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 str. 130–142 issue 4 Vol. 42 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 61 1433-7398 10.1007/s10014-025-00509-z 243867907 RAZ_Kert_Spela_2025.pdf RAZ_Kert_Spela_2025.pdf 1 1FB57E981DF59B6F3761B7A1F5A8A18E 2444a948ce4e93b8519fd048830beec2a1fd41571e8eb470cf54f8e4d79fb68c 16336270-34b5-11f1-b941-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=43033 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10014-025-00509-z 1 d8e0c464-34b4-11f1-b941-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=43031 Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana 0 0 0