14308 results for ""Pennsylvania+German"+ACS+study+'Socius'+open+access"

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• Massively parallel nanowell-based single-cell gene expression profiling

  Technological advances have enabled transcriptome characterization of cell types at the single-cell level providing new biological insights. New methods that enable simple yet high-throughput single-cell expression profiling are highly desirable. Here we report a novel nanowell-based single-cell RNA sequencing system, ICELL8, which enables processing of thousands of cells per sample. The system employs a 5184-nanowell-containing microchip to capture ~1300 single cells and process them. Each nanowell contains preprinted oligonucleotides encoding poly-d(T), a unique well barcode, and a unique molecular identifier. The ICELL8 system uses imaging software to identify nanowells containing viable single cells and only wells with single cells are processed into sequencing libraries. Here, we report the performance and utility of ICELL8 using samples of increasing complexity from cultured cells to mouse solid tissue samples. Our assessment of the system to discriminate between mixed human and mouse cells showed that ICELL8 has a low cell multiplet rate (< 3%) and low cross-cell contamination. We characterized single-cell transcriptomes of more than a thousand cultured human and mouse cells as well as 468 mouse pancreatic islets cells. We were able to identify distinct cell types in pancreatic islets, including alpha, beta, delta and gamma cells. Overall, ICELL8 provides efficient and cost-effective single-cell expression profiling of thousands of cells, allowing researchers to decipher single-cell transcriptomes within complex biological samples.

  Study EGAS00001002320

• Cisplatin increases sensitivity to FGFR inhibition in patient-derived xenograft models of lung squamous cell carcinoma

  Lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) is a molecularly complex and genomically unstable disease. No targeted therapy is currently approved for lung SqCC, although potential oncogenic drivers of SqCC have been identified, including amplification of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1). Reports from a recently completed clinical trial indicate low response rates in patients treated with FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, suggesting inadequacy of FGFR1 amplification as a biomarker of response, or the need for combination treatment. We aimed to develop accurate models of lung SqCC and determine improved targeted therapies for these tumors. We show that detection of FGFR1 mRNA by RNA in situ hybridisation is a better predictor of response to FGFR inhibition than FGFR1 gene amplification using clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of lung SqCC. FGFR1-overexpressing tumors were observed in all histological subtypes of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) as assessed on a tissue microarray, indicating a broader range of tumors that may respond to FGFR inhibitors. In FGFR1-overexpressing PDX tumors, we observed increased differentiation and reduced proliferation following FGFR inhibition. Combination therapy with cisplatin was able to increase tumor cell death, and dramatically prolonged animal survival compared to single agent treatment. Our data suggest that FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors can benefit NSCLC patients with FGFR1-overexpressing tumors and provides a rationale for clinical trials combining cisplatin with FGFR inhibitors.

  Study EGAS00001002423

• Small variants in mtDNA Canary Islands - WGS Illumina (ITER)

  The mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is of interest for a range of fields including evolutionary, forensic, and medical genetics. Human mitogenomes can be classified into evolutionary related haplogroups that provide ancestral information and pedigree relationships. Because of this and the advent of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology, there is a diversity of bioinformatic tools for haplogroup classification. We present a benchmarking of the 11 most salient tools for human mtDNA classification using empirical whole-genome (WGS) and whole-exome (WES) short-read sequencing data from 36 unrelated donors. Besides, because of its relevance, we also assess the best performing tool in third-generation long noisy read WGS data obtained with nanopore technology for a subset of the donors. We found that, for short-read WGS, most of the tools exhibit high accuracy for haplogroup classification irrespective of the input file used for the analysis. However, for short- read WES, Haplocheck and MixEmt were the most accurate tools. Based on the performance shown for WGS and WES, and the accompanying qualitative assessment, Haplocheck stands out as the most complete tool. For third-generation HTS data, we also showed that Haplocheck was able to accurately retrieve mtDNA haplogroups for all samples assessed, although only after following assembly-based approaches (either based on a referenced-based assembly or a hybrid de novo assembly). Taken together, our results provide guidance for researchers to select the most suitable tool to conduct the mtDNA analyses from HTS data.

  Study EGAS00001005679

• Targeted sequencing of candidate regions on chromosome 22q predisposing to multiple schwannomas

  Constitutional LZTR1 or SMARCB1 pathogenic variants have been found in ~86% of familial and ~40% of sporadic schwannomatosis cases. Hence, we performed massively parallel sequencing of the entire LZTR1, SMARCB1 and NF2 genomic loci in 35 individuals with schwannomas negative for constitutional first-hit pathogenic variants in the LZTR1/SMARCB1/NF2 coding sequences, however with 22q deletion and/or a different NF2 pathogenic variant in each tumor, including six cases with only one tumor available. Furthermore, we verified whether any other LZTR1/SMARCB1/NF2 (likely) pathogenic variant(s) could be found in 16 cases carrying a SMARCB1 constitutional variant in the 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR) c.*17C>T, c.*70C>T or c.*82C>T. As no additional variants were found, functional studies were performed to clarify the effect of these 3’-UTR variants on the transcript. The 3’-UTR variants c.*17C>T and c.*82C>T showed pathogenicity by negatively affecting SMARCB1 transcript level. Two novel deep intronic SMARCB1 variants, c.500+883T>G and c.500+887G>A, resulting in out-of-frame missplicing of intron 4, were identified in two unrelated individuals. Further resequencing of the entire repeat - masked genomics sequences of chromosome 22q in individuals negative for pathogenic variants in the SMARCB1/LZTR1/NF2 coding- and non-coding regions revealed five potential schwannomatosis-predisposing candidate genes, i.e. MYO18B, NEFH, SGSM1, SGSM3 and SBF1, pending further verification.

  Study EGAS00001005680

• The evolutionary history of human colitis-associated colorectal cancer

  Inflammatory bowel disease confers an increased lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), and colitis-associated CRC (CA-CRC) is molecularly distinct from sporadic CRC (S-CRC). Here we have dissected the evolutionary history of CA-CRC using multi-region sequencing. Exome sequencing was performed on fresh-frozen multiple regions of carcinoma, adjacent non-cancerous mucosa and blood from 12 CA-CRC patients (n=55 exomes), and key variants were validated with orthogonal methods. Genome-wide copy number profiling was performed using SNP arrays and low-pass whole genome sequencing on archival non-dysplastic mucosa (n=9), low-grade dysplasia (LGD, n=30), high-grade dysplasia (HGD, n=13), mixed LGD/HGD (n=7) and CA-CRC (n=19). Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed, and evolutionary analysis used to reveal the temporal sequence of events leading to CA-CRC. 10/12 tumors were microsatellite stable with a median mutation burden of 3.0 single nucleotide alterations (SNAs) per Mb, around 20% higher than S-CRC (2.5 SNAs/Mb), and consistent with elevated aging-associated mutational processes. Non-dysplastic mucosa had considerable mutation burden (median 47 SNAs), including mutations shared with the neighboring CA-CRC, indicating a pre-cancer mutational field. CA-CRCs were often near-triploid (42%) or near-tetraploid (21%) and phylogenetic analysis revealed that copy number alterations (CNAs) began to accrue in non-dysplastic bowel, but the LGD/HGD transition often involved a punctuated catastrophic CNA increase.

  Study EGAS00001003028

• Whole genome sequencing with linked reads of pediatric glioblastoma samples

  Pediatric glioblastoma (pGBM) is a lethal cancer with no effective therapies. To understand mechanisms of tumor evolution in this cancer, we performed whole genome sequencing with linked reads on longitudinally resected pGBM samples. Our analyses showed that all diagnostic and recurrent samples were collections of genetically diverse subclones. Clonal composition rapidly evolved at recurrence, with less than 8% of non-synonymous single nucleotide variants being shared in diagnostic-recurrent pairs. In order to track the origins of the mutational events we observed in pGBM, we generated whole genome datasets for two patients and their parents. These trios showed that genetic variants could be (i) somatic, (ii) inherited from a healthy parent, or (iii) arose de novo in the germlines of pGBM patients. Analysis of variant allele frequencies supported a model of tumor growth involving slow-cycling cancer stem cells that give rise to fast-proliferating progenitor-like cells and to non-dividing cells. Interestingly, radiation and anti-mitotic chemotherapeutics did not increase overall tumor burden upon recurrence. These findings support an important role for slow-cycling stem cell populations in contributing to recurrences, since slow-cycling cell populations are expected to be less prone to genotoxic stress induced by these treatments and to accumulate few mutations. Our results highlight the need for new targeted treatments that account for the complex functional hierarchies and genomic heterogeneity of pGBM.

  Study EGAS00001003432

• Probabilistic cell type assignment of single-cell transcriptomic data reveals spatiotemporal microenvironment dynamics in human cancers

  Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has transformed biomedical research, enabling decomposition of complex tissues into disaggregated, functionally distinct cell types. For many applications, investigators wish to identify cell types with known marker genes. Typically, such cell type assignments are performed through unsupervised clustering followed by manual annotation based on these marker genes, or via "mapping" procedures to existing data. However, the manual interpretation required in the former case scales poorly to large datasets, which are also often prone to batch effects, while existing data for purified cell types must be available for the latter. Furthermore, unsupervised clustering can be error-prone, leading to under- and over- clustering of the cell types of interest. To overcome these issues we present CellAssign, a probabilistic model that leverages prior knowledge of cell type marker genes to annotate scRNA-seq data into pre-defined and de novo cell types. CellAssign automates the process of assigning cells in a highly scalable manner across large datasets while simultaneously controlling for batch and patient effects. We demonstrate the analytical advantages of CellAssign through extensive simulations and exemplify real-world utility to profile the spatial dynamics of high-grade serous ovarian cancer and the temporal dynamics of follicular lymphoma. Our analysis reveals subclonal malignant phenotypes and points towards an evolutionary interplay between immune and cancer cell populations with cancer cells escaping immune recognition.

  Study EGAS00001003452

• Bioinformatic Methods and Bridging of Assay Results for Reliable Tumor Mutational Burden Assessment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  Tumor mutational burden (TMB) has emerged as a predictive biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Standardization of TMB measurement is essential for implementing diagnostic tools to guide treatment. Here we evaluate bioinformatic TMB analysis by whole exome sequencing (WES) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. In CheckMate 026, TMB was retrospectively assessed in 312 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (58% of the intent-to-treat population) who received first-line nivolumab treatment or chemotherapy. We examined the sensitivity of TMB assessment to bioinformatic filtering methods and assessed concordance between TMB data derived by WES and the FoundationOne CDx™ assay. TMB scores comprising synonymous, indel, frameshift, and nonsense mutations (all mutations) were 3.1-fold higher than data including missense mutations only, but values were highly correlated (Spearman’s r = 0.99). Scores from CheckMate 026 samples including missense mutations only were similar to those generated from data in The Cancer Genome Atlas, but those including all mutations were generally higher. Using databases for germline subtraction (instead of matched controls) showed a trend for race-dependent increases in TMB scores. Parameter variation can therefore impact TMB calculations, highlighting the need for standardization. Encouragingly, WES and FoundationOne CDx outputs were highly correlated (Spearman’s r = 0.90) and differences could be accounted for by empirical calibration, suggesting that reliable TMB assessment across assays, platforms and centers is achievable.

  Study EGAS00001003661

• Whole exome sequencing of an invasive diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma sampled from different sites

  The lateral ventricle subventricular zone (SVZ) is a frequent site of high-grade glioma (HGG) spread and tumor invasion of the SVZ is a predictor of a worse clinical prognosis. A range of HGG types invade the stem cell niche of the SVZ, including both adult glioblastoma and pediatric high-grade gliomas such as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). The cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating this frequent invasion of the SVZ are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that neural precursor cell (NPC):glioma cell communication underpins the propensity of glioma to colonize the SVZ. SVZ NPCs secrete chemoattractant signals toward which glioma cells home. Biochemical and proteomic analyses of factors secreted by SVZ NPCs revealed a discrete list of candidate proteins. Necessity and sufficiency testing implicated the neurite outgrowth-promoting factor pleiotrophin, along with three required binding partners (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), SPARC-like protein 1, and heat shock protein 90B), as key mediators of this chemoattractant effect. Pleiotrophin protein expression is strongly enriched in the SVZ, and knockdown of pleiotrophin expression starkly reduced glioma invasion of the SVZ in the adult murine brain. Pleiotrophin, in complex with the three binding partners, activated the Rho/ROCK pathway in DIPG cells, and inhibition of ROCK resulted in decreased DIPG invasion toward SVZ neural precursor cell-secreted factors. These findings demonstrate a pathogenic role for neural precursor cell – glioma interactions and potential therapeutic targets to limit glioma invasion.

  Study EGAS00001002326

• Identification of a Fumarate-Hydratase Deficient-like RCC Subtype with Convergent Pathway Alterations

  The development of molecularly targeted therapies builds upon the identification of tumor clades with shared molecular abnormalities. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is a familial syndrome resulting from germline mutation of the two-hit tumor suppressor gene, Fumarate Hydratase (FH). HLRCC renal tumors present often in young adults, exhibit unique histological features and are particularly aggressive. HLRCC is uncommon and poorly understood, and whether there are sporadic renal tumors with similar characteristics, is unclear. Notably, FH can also be inactivated somatically in RCC, and should be included among FH-deficient (FHD) kidney tumors. We identified a tumor clade without FH mutations but with similar morphological and molecular characteristics as well as aggressive clinical behavior, which we name FHDL (FHD-like). We show that FHD/FHDL tumors represent a unique subtype of CIMP (CpG Island Methylator Phenotype) with the highest levels of overall genome methylation and CDKN2A silencing. FHD/FHDL tumors are characterized by convergent activation of the Hippo pathway as determined by frequent and mutually exclusive mutations in NF2 and PTPN14. AKR1B10, an NRF2 target, was upregulated in FHD/FHDL tumors as well as GATA3, which suggests a shared origin in the renal medulla and is consistent with topological studies. There is loss of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in both FHD and FHDL tumors. These data define a group of particularly aggressive renal cancers with shared molecular features and potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

  Study EGAS00001002646

• Successful BRAF/MEK-inhibition in a young patient with BRAF V600E-mutated extrapancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (HIPO-021)

  Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PAC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Treatment options for metastatic PAC are limited and often follow chemotherapeutic regimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although recurrent genomic alterations, such as BRAF fusions and defects in genes involved in homologous recombination DNA repair, have been described in PAC, data on the clinical efficacy of molecularly guided, targeted treatment are scarce. Here we describe the case of a 27-yr-old patient with BRAF V600E-mutated PAC who was successfully treated with a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. The patient presented to our clinic with abdominal pain and weight loss. Imaging showed extensive retroperitoneal disease as well as mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Because of elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and inconclusive histologic findings, a germ cell tumor was suspected; however, PEI chemotherapy was unsuccessful. A repeat biopsy yielded the diagnosis of PAC and treatment with FOLFIRINOX was initiated. Comprehensive molecular profiling within the MASTER (Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor Eradication Research) precision oncology program revealed a somatic BRAF V600E mutation and a germline PALB2 stop-gain mutation. Therapy was therefore switched to BRAF/MEK inhibition, resulting in almost complete remission and disease control for 12 mo and a remarkable improvement in the patient's general condition. These results indicate that BRAF alterations are a valid therapeutic target in PAC that should be routinely assessed in this patient population.

  Study EGAS00001004282

• H3.3G34R/V-transformed interneuron progenitors co-opt PDGFRA for gliomagenesis

  Histone H3.3 glycine 34 to arginine/valine (H3.3G34R/V) mutations occur in deadly hemispheric high-grade gliomas. These tumors show exquisite regional and temporal specificity, suggesting a developmental context permissive to the effects of G34R/V mutations. Here we present the molecular landscape of G34R/V gliomas (n=85) and show that 50% bear activating mutations in PDGFRA, with strong selection pressure for PDGFRAMUT clones at recurrence. We show that G34R/V tumors arise in interneuron progenitors of the foetal ventral forebrain expressing GSX2 and the DLX family of homeobox transcription factors, where terminal neuronal differentiation is impaired through aberrant G34R/V-mediated H3K27me3. Frequent co-occurrence of G34R/V & PDGFRAMUT is facilitated in this interneuron lineage-of-origin as PDGFRA forms an aberrant chromatin loop with the adjacent GSX2, hijacking its active chromatin conformation. At the single-cell level, G34R/V tumours entirely lack oligodendroglial transcriptional programs prominent in other glioma entities, and instead harbour dual neuronal and astroglial compartments. CRISPR-removal of H3.3G34R/V does not impact tumorigenicity suggesting this mutation becomes dispensable, while PDGFRAMUT are potently oncogenic regardless of G34 mutation. Collectively, our results suggest that G34R/V gliomas arise in foetal interneuron progenitors unable to undergo terminal differentiation, enabling co-option of PDGFRA through inappropriate expression and activating mutations to promote gliogenesis and oncogenicity. Reliance on PDGFRA for oncogenesis may be of therapeutic opportunity in G34R/V glioma.

  Study EGAS00001004301

• Small variants in mtDNA Canary Islands - WES Illumina (ITER)

  The mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is of interest for a range of fields including evolutionary, forensic, and medical genetics. Human mitogenomes can be classified into evolutionary related haplogroups that provide ancestral information and pedigree relationships. Because of this and the advent of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology, there is a diversity of bioinformatic tools for haplogroup classification. We present a benchmarking of the 11 most salient tools for human mtDNA classification using empirical whole-genome (WGS) and whole-exome (WES) short-read sequencing data from 36 unrelated donors. Besides, because of its relevance, we also assess the best performing tool in third-generation long noisy read WGS data obtained with nanopore technology for a subset of the donors. We found that, for short-read WGS, most of the tools exhibit high accuracy for haplogroup classification irrespective of the input file used for the analysis. However, for short- read WES, Haplocheck and MixEmt were the most accurate tools. Based on the performance shown for WGS and WES, and the accompanying qualitative assessment, Haplocheck stands out as the most complete tool. For third-generation HTS data, we also showed that Haplocheck was able to accurately retrieve mtDNA haplogroups for all samples assessed, although only after following assembly-based approaches (either based on a referenced-based assembly or a hybrid de novo assembly). Taken together, our results provide guidance for researchers to select the most suitable tool to conduct the mtDNA analyses from HTS data.

  Study EGAS00001005678

• Genome-wide analysis of genetic risk factors for rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal Australians provides support for pathogenic molecular mimicry

  Background. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) following Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections is heritable and prevalent in Indigenous populations. Molecular mimicry between human and GAS proteins triggers pro-inflammatory cardiac valve-reactive T-cells. Methods. Genome-wide genetic analysis was undertaken in 1263 Aboriginal Australians (398 RHD cases; 865 controls). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using Illumina HumanCoreExome BeadChips. Direct typing and imputation was used to fine-map the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region. Epitope binding affinities were mapped for human cross-reactive GAS proteins, including M5 and M6. Results. The strongest genetic association was intronic to HLA-DQA1 (rs9272622; P=1.86x10-7). Conditional analyses showed rs9272622 and/or DQA1*AA16 account for the HLA signal. HLA-DQA1*0101_DQB1*0503 (OR 1.44, 95%CI 1.09-1.90, P=9.56x10-3) and HLA-DQA1*0103_DQB1*0601 (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.07-1.52, P=7.15x10-3) were risk haplotypes; HLA_DQA1*0301-DQB1*0402 (OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.14-0.65, P=2.36x10-3) was protective. Human myosin cross-reactive N-terminal and B repeat epitopes of GAS M5/M6 bind with higher affinity to DQA1/DQB1 alpha/beta dimers for the two risk haplotypes than the protective haplotype. Conclusions. Variation at HLA_DQA1-DQB1 is the major genetic risk factor for RHD in Aboriginal Australians studied here. Cross-reactive epitopes bind with higher affinity to alpha/beta dimers formed by risk haplotypes, supporting molecular mimicry as the key mechanism of RHD pathogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001002678

• Germline variants collaborate with somatic mutations and initiate and/or drive disease in primary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN)

  Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (T-MN) are poorly characterized secondary hematological malignancies following chemotherapy/radiotherapy exposure. We compared the clinical and mutational characteristics of T-MN (n=129) and primary myelodysplastic syndrome (P-MDS, n=108) patients. Although the somatic mutation frequency was similar between T-MN and P-MDS patients (93% in both groups), the pattern was distinct. TP53 mutations were more frequent in T-MN (29.5% versus 7%), while spliceosomal complex mutations were more common in P-MDS (56.5% versus 25.6%).In contrast to P-MDS, the ring sideroblasts (RS) phenotype was not associated with better survival in T-MN, most probably due to genetic association with TP53 mutations. SF3B1 was mutated in 96% of P-MDS with ≥15% RS, but in only 32% T-MN. TP53 mutations were detected in 92% T-MN with ≥15% RS and SF3B1 wild-type cases. Interestingly, T-MN and P-MDS patients with “Very low” or “Low” Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) showed similar biological and clinical characteristics. In a Cox-regression analysis, TP53 mutation was a poor prognostic factor in T-MN, independent of IPSS-R cytogenetic, disease-modifying therapy and NRAS mutation.Our data have direct implications for T-MN management and provide evidence that, in addition to conventional disease parameters, mutational analysis should be incorporated in T-MN risk stratification.

  Study EGAS00001003547

• Whole Tumor spatial heterogeneity in metastatic melanoma

  Heterogeneous inter-tumoral responses, sustained periods of apparent clinical benefit despite lack of objective response to various therapies, and even spontaneous remission are well known within a subpopulation of advanced melanoma patients. The molecular and cellular dynamics facilitating long-term survival remain poorly defined, particularly in the current era ofexposure to multiple potentially active therapies. We studied an exceptional case of long-term survival in a patient with non-responding metastatic melanoma in order to characterize the clonal and microenvironmental factors.We performed immunogenomic analysis of 3 metachronous tumors, and of 67 intratumor sub-regions of one metastatic lesion, usingwhole exome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and T cell receptor sequencing. Longitudinal analysesidentified mutations in severalknownresistance genes affecting distinctmetastases. Intra-tumoral immune signatures revealed spatially-distinct pockets of immune activation and suppression throughout the metastasis. A specific T cell VBeta CDR3 rearrangement was identified as both dominant and recurrent not only across multiple spatial points within a single tumor mass, but also across metachronous tumors spanning the patient’s disease course. Immunophenotyping of this T cell population with single-cell sequencingsuggestedrepeatedT-cell priming events leading to the persistence of both activated and exhausted T cells bearing this same TCR-Beta at any given time.Our findings highlight genomic and immune heterogeneityin metastatic disease, extending to the intra-tumoral leveland provide a rationale for integrative spatiotemporal analysis of metastatic lesions in the context of immune checkpoint blockade.

  Study EGAS00001003292

• Open_Targets_020_Epigenomes_of_Cell_Lines

  There is currently a drive to establish cell based assay systems of greater human biological and disease relevance through the use of well characterised transformed cell lines, primary cells and complex cellular models (e.g. co-culture, 3D models). However, although the field is gaining valuable experience in running more non-standard & complex cell assays for target validation and compound pharmacology studies, there is the lack of a systematic approach to determine if this expansion in cell assay models is reflected in increased human biological and disease relevance. The increasing wealth of publically available transcriptomic, and epigenome (ENCODE and Epigenome Roadmap) data represents an ideal reference mechanism for determining the relationship between cell types used for target & compound studies to primary human cells and tissues from both healthy volunteers & patients. The CTTV020 epigenomes of cell line project aims to generate epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles of cell lines and compare these with existing and newly generated reference data sets from human tissue and cell types. The aim is to identify assay systems which will provide greater confidence in translating target biology and compound pharmacology to patients. Multiple cell types commonly used within research have been grouped according to biology. Examples include erythroid, lung epithelial, hepatocyte cell types and immortalised models of monocyte / macrophage biology. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/

  Study EGAS00001003138

• Cistrome-partitioning reveals convergence of somatic mutations and risk-variants on master transcription regulators in primary prostate tumors

  Thousands of noncoding somatic Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) of unknown function are reported in tumors. Partitioning the genome according to cistromes, reveals the enrichment of somatic SNVs in prostate tumors as opposed to adjacent normal tissue cistromes of master transcription regulators, including AR, FOXA1 and HOXB13. This parallels enrichment of prostate cancer genetic predispositions over these transcription regulators’ tumor cistromes, exemplified at the 8q24 locus harboring both risk-variants and somatic SNVs in cis-regulatory elements, upregulating MYC expression and altering the binding of transcription regulators to DNA. However, Massively-Parallel Reporter Assays reveal that few SNVs can alter the transactivation potential of individual CREs. Instead, SNVs accumulate, similarly to inherited riskvariants, in cistromes of master transcription regulators required for prostate cancer development. Difficulties in inferring the biological significance of noncoding mutations have limited their inclusion in precision genomics medicine pipelines. Most attempts to delineate a role for noncoding mutations relied on detecting evidence for positive selection within individual CREs, such as reported for the TERT gene promoter. By considering the enrichment of noncoding mutations in cistromes as opposed to individual CREs, we reveal their specificity towards master transcription regulators that promote prostate cancer development, a feature shared with inherited risk-variants. Overall, our work provides a blueprint for the functional interpretation of noncoding mutations in genomic tests relying on defining cis-regulatory units according to cistrome-partitioning to identify cancer driver transcription regulators.

  Study EGAS00001003928

• Exploiting evolutionary steering in cancer therapy

  Drug resistance, mediated by intra-tumour heterogeneity and clonal evolution, is arguably the biggest problem in cancer therapy today. However, evolving resistance to one drug may come at the cost of increased sensitivity to another due to so-called evolutionary trade-offs. This weakness can be exploited in the clinic using an approach called ‘evolutionary herding’ that aims at controlling the tumour cell population to delay or prevent resistance. However, model systems able to recapitulate cancer evolution experimentally are lacking and current in vitro techniques based on small populations, re-plating and escalating dose, are unsuitable to develop evolutionary herding strategies. We present a novel methodology for evolutionary herding in vitro and ex vivo using patient-derived organoids. Our approach is based on a combination of single-cell barcoding, very large populations of 108-109 cells grown without re-plating, realistic high drug doses, time-course monitoring of cancer clones, and mathematical modelling of tumour evolutionary dynamics. We demonstrate evolutionary herding in non-small cell lung cancer in vitro and in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids (PDO). We show that herding causes controlled evolutionary bottlenecks that lead to collateral sensitivity. Through genomic analysis, we were also able to determine the mechanisms that drive such sensitivity. Our approach allows modelling evolutionary trade-offs experimentally to test patient-specific evolutionary herding strategies that can be translated into the clinic to control treatment resistance.

  Study EGAS00001003200

• Long-read trio sequencing of unsolved patients with intellectual disability

  Long-read sequencing (LRS) has the potential to comprehensively identify all medically-relevant genome variation, including variation commonly missed by short read sequencing (SRS) approaches. To determine this potential, we performed LRS up to 40x coverage using the Pacific Biosciences Sequel instrument for 5 patient-parent trios with intellectual disability, whose aetiology remained unresolved after SRS exomes and genomes. A first systematic assessment of LRS coverage showed that ~35Mb of the genome was only accessible by LRS and not SRS. Structural variant (SV) calling yielded on average 28,292 SV calls per individual, totalling 12.9 MB of sequence. Trio-based analyses showed concordance for up to 95% of these SV calls across the genome, and 80% of the LRS SV calls were not identified by SRS. De novo mutation analysis did not identify any de novo SVs, confirming these are rare events. Because of high sequence coverage, we were also able to call single nucleotide substitutions. On average, we identified 3 million substitutions per genome, with a Mendelian inheritance concordance of up to 97%. Of these, approximately 100,000 were located in the ~35Mb of the genome that was only captured by LRS. Moreover, these variants affected the coding sequence of 64 genes, including 32 known to cause Mendelian disorders. Although no clinical diagnoses were made in these 5 patients, our data show the potential added value of LRS compared to SRS for identifying medically relevant genome variation.

  Study EGAS00001004319

• Persistent STAG2 mutation in recurrent pediatric glioblastoma

  Similar to their adult counterparts, the prognosis for pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas remains poor. At time of recurrence, treatment options are limited and remain without consensus. This report describes the genetic findings, obtained from whole exome sequencing of a pediatric patient with glioblastoma who underwent multiple surgical resections and treatment with standard chemoradiation, as well as a novel recombinant poliovirus vaccine therapy. Strikingly, despite the variety of treatments, there was persistence of a tumor clone, characterized by a deleterious STAG2 mutation, whose deficiency in pre-clinical studies can cause aneuploidy and aberrant mitotic progression, but remains understudied in the clinical setting. There was near elimination of an EGFR mutated and amplified tumor clone after gross total resection, standard chemoradiation, and poliovirus therapy, followed by the emergence of a persistently STAG2 mutated clone, with rare mutations in PTPN11 and BRAF, the latter composed of a novel deleterious mutation previously not reported in pediatric glioblastoma (p.D594G). This was accompanied by a mutation signature shift towards one characterized by increased DNA damage repair defects, consistent with the known underlying STAG2 deficiency. As such, this case represents a novel report following the clinical and genetic progression of a STAG2 mutated glioblastoma, including treatment with a novel and emerging immunotherapy. Although STAG2 deficiency comprises only a small subset of gliomas, this case adds clinical evidence to existing pre-clinical data supporting a role for STAG2 mutations in tumor formation and resistance to standard therapies.

  Study EGAS00001004340

• The Medical Genome Reference Bank: a whole genome data resource of 4,000 healthy elderly individuals.

  Allele frequency data from human reference populations is of increasing value for filtering and assignment of pathogenicity to genetic variants. Aged and healthy populations are more likely to be selectively depleted of pathogenic alleles, and therefore particularly suitable as a reference populations for the major diseases of clinical and public health importance. However, reference studies of the healthy elderly have remained under represented in human genetics. We have developed the Medical Genome Reference Bank (MGRB), a large scale comprehensive whole genome dataset of confirmed healthy elderly individuals, to provide a publicly accessible resource for health related research, and for clinical genetics. It also represents a useful resource for studying the genetics of healthy aging. The MGRB comprises 4,000 healthy, older individuals with no reported history of cancer, cardiovascular disease or dementia, recruited from two Australian community based cohorts. DNA derived from blood samples will be subject to whole genome sequencing. The MGRB will measure genome wide genetic variation in 4,000 individuals, mostly of European decent, aged 60 to 95 years (mean age 75 years). The MGRB has committed to a policy of data sharing, employing a hierarchical data management system to maintain participant privacy and confidentiality, whilst maximizing research and clinical usage of the database. The MGRB will represent a dataset of international significance, broadly accessible to the clinical and genetic research community.

  Study EGAS00001003511

• Initial whole genome sequencing of plasma cell neoplasms in First Responders exposed to the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001

  The World Trade Center (WTC) attack of September 11, 2001 created an unprecedented environmental exposure to known and suspected carcinogens. High incidence of multiple myeloma (MM) and precursor conditions has been reported among first responders to the WTC disaster. To expand on our prior screening studies, and to characterize the genomic impact of the exposure to known and potential carcinogens in the WTC debris, we were motivated to perform whole genome sequencing (WGS) of WTC first responders and recovery workers who developed a plasma cell disorder after the attack. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed WGS of 9 CD138-positive bone marrow mononuclear samples from patients who were diagnosed with plasma cell disorders after the WTC disaster. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in comparing the post-WTC driver and mutational signatures landscape with 110 previously published WGS from 56 patients with MM and the CoMMpass WGS cohort (n=752). Leveraging constant activity of the single base substitution mutational signatures 1 and 5 over time, we estimated that tumor-initiating chromosomal gains were windowed to both pre- and post-WTC exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Although limitations in sample size preclude any definitive conclusions, our findings suggest that the observed increased incidence of plasma cell neoplasms in this population is due to complex and heterogeneous effects of the WTC exposure that may have initiated or contributed to progression of malignancy.

  Study EGAS00001004467

• Targets of MEK inhibition in DIPG

  The survival of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) remains dismal, with new treatments desperately needed. In the era of precision medicine, targeted therapies represent an exciting treatment opportunity, yet resistance can rapidly emerge, playing an important role in treatment failure. In a prospective biopsy-stratified clinical trial, we combined detailed molecular profiling (methylation BeadArray, exome, RNAseq, phospho-proteomics) linked to drug screening in newly-established patient-derived models of DIPG in vitro and in vivo. We identified a high degree of in vitro sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor trametinib in samples which harboured genetic alterations targeting the MAPK pathway, including the non-canonical BRAF_G469V mutation, and those affecting PIK3R1 and NF1. However, treatment of PDX models and of a patient with trametinib at relapse failed to elicit a significant response. We generated trametinib-resistant clones in the BRAF_G469V model through continuous drug exposure, and identified acquired mutations in MEK1/2 (MEK1_K57N, MEK1_I141S and MEK2_I115N) with sustained pathway up-regulation. These cells showed the hallmarks of mesenchymal transition, and expression signatures overlapping with inherently trametinib-insensitive primary patient-derived cells that predicted an observed sensitivity to dasatinib. Combinations of trametinib with dasatinib and the downstream ERK inhibitor ulixertinib showed highly synergistic effects in vitro. These data highlight the MAPK pathway as a therapeutic target in DIPG, and show the importance of parallel resistance modelling and rational combinatorial treatments likely to be required for meaningful clinical translation.

  Study EGAS00001004495

• Renal_habitat_WXS

  This project aims at correlating genetic diversity (as well as transcriptomic, metabolic and immune diversity) observed in multiple targeted tumour biopsies and circulating tumour DNA with heterogeneity on multiparametric MRI. To this end, 20 patients with RCC (15 patients with localised/locally advanced disease and 5 with mRCC) will undergo multiparametric MRI including metabolic assessment by 13C-MRSI as well as measurements of tumour perfusion, oxygenation and water diffusion. Based on unique combinations of these imaging parameters, tumour habitats will be defined through cluster mapping. Intra-operative biopsy and immediate freezing of tumour cores from different imaging habitats will be performed. Multiregional ex-vivo tumour biopsies will be spatially registered to the MR data by using 3D printed tumour moulds generated from high-resolution volumetric sequences. These moulds allow slicing tumour specimens in identical planes to the MR acquisition and increase the accuracy of tissue sampling. The biopsies will then undergo molecular profiling such as metabolomic and RNA sequencing (including mRNA immune profiling), as well as DNA sequencing to assess driver and clonal mutations in different tumour habitats and guide design of appropriate cfDNA probes. The targeted cfDNA capture panel will be employed to determine the ability of cfDNA to capture the full genetic diversity observed in the primary tumour and to relate cfDNA to various imaging habitats in both renal and pancreatic cancer. Data integration will be undertaken between imaging habitats and molecular profiles for each region.

  Study EGAS00001003703