12504 results for ""non-traditional+communal+storytelling+approach"+novel+segment+noted+in+critical+commentary"

in 25.30 milliseconds.

• Genetic Control of Expression and Splicing in Developing Human Brain

  Most genetic risk for human diseases lies within non-coding regions of the genome that are predicted to regulate gene expression in a tissue- and stage-specific manner. Given the importance of regulatory pathways during brain development, we characterized the genetic control of the transcriptome in 201 mid-gestational human brains, identifying 7962 eQTL and 4635 sQTL. By integration with GWAS, we characterized the genes and isoforms contributing to specific neuropsychiatric disorders, including SCZ and ASD, as well as other cognition or behavioral-related phenotypes. SCZ and ASD impact distinct developmental gene co-expression modules, yet in both disorders, common and rare genetic variation converge. These analyses demonstrate the highly distinctive effects of transcriptional control, as well as divergent age-related contributions to disease. More broadly, these findings demonstrate the genetic mechanisms by which early developmental events have a striking and widespread influence on adult anatomical and behavioral phenotypes.

  Study phs001900

• Immune Response to Life-Threatening Respiratory Infections in Children and Young Adults

  This is a cross sectional study describing age-related differences in the nasal mucosal immune response to SARS-CoV-2. We collected nasal mucosal samples from six groups: healthy children, children infected with SARS-CoV-2, children infected with respiratory syncytial virus, children infected with influenza virus, healthy adults, and adults infected with SARS-CoV-2. Samples were obtained by mucosal scrape biopsy of the inferior turbinate using a sterile plastic curette. We performed bulk RNA-sequencing to obtain gene expression data. Clinical data was extracted from the electronic health record including: demographics, medical history, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, intensive care unit admission, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, type and duration of respiratory support at sample collection and peak illness. Our analysis described the host response to SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal mucosa in children and adults and compared it to the host response to respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus.

  Study phs002579

• Unraveling the Genetic Architecture of Diabetic Retinopathy in South India

  This study aims to understand the genetic architecture of diabetic retinopathy in the South Indian population by examining participants with South Indian ancestry and type 2 diabetes (T2D) from two sources: the Sankara Nethralaya-Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetic Study (SN-DREAMS) and prospective recruitment at Sankara Nethralaya affiliates. A total of 2393 patients were recruited and included in the genetic analysis, with 1588 patients having no diabetic retinopathy (DR) serving as the controls and 805 patients with any level of DR serving as the cases. Enrolled individuals had genome-wide genotyping from DNA extracted from blood samples. In addition, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 31 members from 2 families. Clinical data, such as age, duration of diabetes, and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) were recorded for study participants. Diabetic retinopathy was assessed by clinical exam and/or fundus photography. The grading of diabetic retinopathy followed the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale.

  Study phs002116

• Spatial atlas of human atherosclerosis highlights role of the microvasculature in disease

  Atherosclerosis is a pervasive contributor to ischemic heart disease and stroke. Despite the advance of lipid lowering-therapies and antihypertensive agents, the residual risk of an atherosclerotic event remains high and developing therapeutic strategies has proven challenging. This is due to the complexity of atherosclerosis with a spatial interplay of multiple cell types within the vascular wall. Here we generate an integrative high-resolution map of human atherosclerotic plaques combining single-cell RNA-seq from multiple studies and spatial transcriptomics data from 12 human specimens, with different stages of atherosclerosis. We show cell-type and atherosclerosis-specific expression changes and spatially constrained alterations in cell-cell communication. We highlight the possible recruitment of lymphocytes via ACKR1 endothelial cells of the vasa vasorum, the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells towards the lumen by transforming into fibromyocytes, and cell-cell communication in the plaque region, indicating an intricate cellular interplay within the adventitia and the subendothelial space in human atherosclerosis.

  Study EGAS50000000660

• Single-cell transcriptional mapping reveals genetic and hierarchy-based determinants of aberrant differentiation in AML

  Therapeutic targeting of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has in part been hampered by profound cell state heterogeneity among leukemia cells. To develop a more precise understanding of leukemia cell states in AML, we constructed a reference atlas of human hematopoiesis from 263,519 single cell transcriptomes spanning 55 cellular states. Using this atlas, we mapped over 1.2 million single-cell transcriptomes spanning 318 myeloid leukemia samples. This uncovered twelve recurrent patterns of aberrant differentiation in AML and additional leukemia cell states involving lymphoid and erythroid progenitors. Systematic mapping of genotype-to-phenotype associations revealed specific differentiation landscapes associated with >45 genetic drivers. Importantly, AML samples sharing common genetic driver alterations can have distinct cellular origins which inform the cellular identity of their disease-sustaining leukemia stem cell (LSC). Further, distinct LSC-driven hierarchies can co-exist within individual patients. Thus, precise mapping of malignant cell states provides insights into leukemogenesis, refines disease classification, and informs therapy development.

  Study EGAS50000000918

• Spatial Transcriptomics Uncovers Tumor Microenvironment-Based Subtypes in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

  Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histological subtype of breast cancer (BC); however, little is known about its tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we investigated the spatial architecture of 43 hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) primary ILC samples, using spatial transcriptomics and detailed morphological annotation. By integrating morphology, spatial, and single-cell data, we mapped TME-related cell types, exploring their proximity to tumor cells and their enrichment in specific compartments. Clustering of spatial transcriptomics spots revealed significant inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, identifying pathways and cell types linked with disease outcomes. Morphological and gene expression data were finally integrated with a multimodal approach, leading to the identification of 4 new ILC subtypes based on TME heterogeneity. By using derived, specific gene expression signatures, these subtypes were identified and validated in external bulk RNA-seq/microarray datasets (SCAN-B and METABRIC), where differences in prognosis emerged.

  Study EGAS50000001001

• Lenalidomide Resistance in del(5q) Myelodysplastic Syndrome Follows Loss of RUNX1/TP53-mediated Megakaryocytic Differentiation

  Interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5 (del(5q)) is the commonest structural genomic variant in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Lenalidomide (LEN) is the treatment of choice for patients with del(5q) MDS, but half of the responding patients become resistant within two years. TP53 mutations are detected in ~20% of patients who become resistant to LEN. Our data show that patients who become resistant to LEN harbor either TP53 or RUNX1 mutations or loss of RUNX1 expression. Here we show that LEN-induced degradation of IKZF1 permits a RUNX1/GATA2 complex to drive megakaryocytic differentiation and consequent del(5q) MDS progenitor cell death via CRBN-mediated CSNK1A1 degradation. Overexpression of GATA2 is able to restore LEN sensitivity in the context of RUNX1 or TP53 mutations by enhancing LEN-induced megakaryocytic differentiation. Screening for TP53 and RUNX1 mutations or downregulation should identify patients resistant to LEN, and strategies to activate GATA2 may resensitize del(5q) MDS cells to LEN

  Study EGAS00001004113

• Whole exome sequencing for gallbladder cancer in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine

  Patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), the most aggressive malignancy of the biliary tract, have a poor prognosis. Here, we report our identification of somatic mutations of GBCs in 57 tumor-normal pairs by use of a combination of exome sequencing and ultra-deep sequencing of cancer-related genes. The mutation pattern is defined by a dominative prevalence of C>T mutations at TCN sites. Genes with a significant frequency of non-silent mutations include TP53 (47.1%), KRAS (7.8%), and ERBB3 (11.8%). Moreover, ErbB signaling (including EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3, ERBB4 and their downstream genes) is the most extensively mutated pathway, affecting 36.8% (21 of 57) of the GBC samples. Multivariate analyses further reveal that patients with ErbB pathway mutations have a worse outcome (P = 0.001). These findings provide insight into the somatic mutational landscape in GBC and highlight the key role of the ErbB signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of GBCs.

  Study EGAS00001000853

• Transcriptome analysis in very preterm infants with chronic lung disease after birth

  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of prematurity and is characterized by impaired alveolar and vascular development. The aim of the study was to identify early BPD-relevant pathways by applying whole genome transcriptional profiling combined with protein measurements from umbilical arterial blood samples of preterm infants with and without BPD. Only newborn infants <32 weeks gestational age (GA) were prospectively included in this study. Blood was obtained from an indwelling umbilical artery catheter at birth and after 72 hours after birth and subjected to gene expression analysis using the Codelink Human I 10k Bioarray and the the Codelink Human Whole Genome Bioarray. The study reveals a monocyte-centered immune response at birth characterizing preterm infants later developing BPD. The findings provide potential markers for early risk stratification in the preterm infant with respect to the development of chronic pulmonary disease and may subsequently enable the development of new treatment strategies in this high risk patient cohort.

  Study EGAS00001002586

• Tracking the origins and drivers of subclonal metastatic expansion in prostate cancer

  Tumour heterogeneity in primary prostate cancer is a well-established phenomenon. However, how the subclonal diversity of tumours changes during metastasis and progression to lethality is poorly understood. Here we reveal the precise direction of metastatic spread across four lethal prostate cancer patients using whole-genome and ultra-deep targeted sequencing of longitudinally collected primary and metastatic tumours. We find one case of metastatic spread to the surgical bed causing local recurrence, and another case of cross-metastatic site seeding combining with dynamic remoulding of subclonal mixtures in response to therapy. By ultra-deep sequencing end-stage blood, we detect both metastatic and primary tumour clones, even years after removal of the prostate. Analysis of mutations associated with metastasis reveals an enrichment of TP53 mutations, and additional sequencing of metastases from 19 patients demonstrates that acquisition of TP53 mutations is linked with the expansion of subclones with metastatic potential which we can detect in the blood.

  Study EGAS00001000942

• Translation of non-canonical open reading frames as a cancer cell survival mechanism in childhood medulloblastoma

  A hallmark of high-risk childhood medulloblastoma is the dysregulation of RNA translation. Currently, it is unknown whether medulloblastoma dysregulates the translation of putatively oncogenic non-canonical open reading frames. To address this question, we performed ribosome profiling of 32 medulloblastoma tissues and cell lines and observed widespread non-canonical ORF translation. We then developed a step-wise approach to employ multiple CRISPR-Cas9 screens to elucidate functional non-canonical ORFs implicated in medulloblastoma cell survival. We determined that multiple lncRNA-ORFs and upstream open reading frames (uORFs) exhibited selective functionality independent of the main coding sequence. One of these, ASNSD1-uORF or ASDURF, was upregulated, associated with the MYC family oncogenes, and was required for medulloblastoma cell survival through engagement with the prefoldin-like chaperone complex. Our findings underscore the fundamental importance of non-canonical ORF translation in medulloblastoma and provide a rationale to include these ORFs in future cancer genomics studies seeking to define new cancer targets.

  Study EGAS00001007426

• Single-cell chromatin accessibility landscape identifies tissue repair program in human regulatory T cells

  Studies over the past decade characterized murine regulatory T cells (Tregs) with the capacity to promote tissue regeneration. In humans, such a population of tissue-repair Treg cells has not been discovered yet. Using single-cell chromatin accessibility profiles of murine and human tissue Treg cells, we defined a species-conserved and microbiota-independent repair Treg signature, with a prevailing footprint of the transcription factor BATF. Combining this signature with gene expression profiling and TCR fate mapping, we identified a population of tissue-like Treg cells in peripheral blood, characterized by the expression of BATF, CCR8 and HLA-DR. Human BATF+CCR8+ Treg cells from normal skin and adipose tissue shared features with tumor-resident Treg and tissue T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Inducing a Tfh-like differentiation program in naive Treg cells partially recapitulated human tissue Treg characteristics, including enhanced wound healing potential

  Study EGAS00001004900

• Data from the paper Context-specific Effects of TGFβ/SMAD3 in Cancer Are Modulated by the Epigenome. Tufegdzic et al, Cell Reports 2015

  The transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signalling pathway exerts opposing effects on cancer cells, acting either as a tumor-promoter or as a tumor-suppressor. Here we show these opposing effects are a result of the synergy between SMAD3, a downstream effector of TGFβ signalling, and the distinct epigenomes of breast tumor initiating cells (BTICs). These effects of TGFβ are associated with distinct gene expression programs, but genomic SMAD3 binding patterns are highly similar in the BTIC-promoting and BTIC- suppressing contexts. Our data show cell type-specific epigenetic configurations provide a modulatory layer by determining accessibility of genes to regulation by TGFβ/SMAD3. LBH, one such context-specific target gene, is regulated according to its DNA methylation status, and is crucial for TGFβ-dependent promotion of BTICs. Overall, these results reveal that the epigenome plays a central and previously overlooked role in shaping the context-specific effects of TGFβ in cancer.

  Study EGAS00001001570

• Systematic kinase inhibitor profiling identifies CDK9 as a synthetic lethal target in NUT midline carcinoma

  Kinase inhibitors represent the backbone of targeted cancer therapy, yet only a limited number of oncogenic drivers are directly druggable. By interrogating the activity of 1,505 kinase inhibitors we found that BRD4-NUT-rearranged NUT midline carcinoma (NMC) cells are specifically killed by CDK9 inhibition (CDK9i) and exhibit a unique dependency on CDK9 and Cyclin-T1 expression. We show that CDK9i leads to robust induction of apoptosis and of markers of DNA damage response in NMC cells. While both CDK9i and bromodomain inhibition over time result in reduced Myc protein expression, only bromodomain inhibition induces cell differentiation and a p21-induced cell cycle arrest in these cells. Finally, RNA-Seq and ChIP-based analyses reveal a BRD4-NUT specific CDK9i-induced perturbation of transcriptional elongation. Thus, our data provide a mechanistic basis for the genotype-dependent vulnerability of NUT midline carcinoma cells to CDK9i that may be of relevance for the development of targeted therapies for NMC patients.

  Study EGAS00001002588

• The interface of malignant and immunologic clonal dynamics in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

  High-grade serous ovarian cancer exhibits extensive intratumoral heterogeneity coupled with widespread intraperitoneal disease. Despite this, metastatic spread of tumor clones is non-random, implying the existence of local microenvironmental factors that shape tumor progression. We interrogated the molecular interface between tumorinfiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and cancer cells in 143 samples from 21 patients using whole-genome sequencing, immunohistochemistry, histologic image analysis, gene expression profiling, and T- and B-cell receptor sequencing. We identify 3 immunologic response categories, which frequently co-exist within individual patients. Furthermore, epithelial CD8+ TIL were inversely associated with malignant cell diversity, evidenced by subclonal neoepitope elimination and spatial tracking between tumor and T-cell clones. Intersecting mutational signatures and immune analysis showed that foldback inversion genomic aberrations lead to worse outcomes even in the presence of cytotoxic TIL (n=433). Thus, regional variation in immune contexture mirrors the pattern of intraperitoneal malignant spread, provoking new perspectives for treatment of this challenging disease.

  Study EGAS00001002839

• High number of somatic mutations found in the healthy blood compartment of a 115-year-old woman reveals oligoclonal hematopoiesis

  The somatic mutation burden in healthy white blood cells (WBCs) is not well known. Based on deep whole genome sequencing, we estimate that ~450 somatic mutations accumulated in the non-repetitive genome within the healthy blood compartment of a 115-year old woman. The detected mutations appear to have been harmless passenger mutations: they were enriched in non-coding, AT-rich regions that are not evolutionarily conserved, and they were depleted for genomic elements where mutations might have favorable or adverse effects on cellular fitness, such as regions with actively transcribed genes.The distribution of variant allele frequencies of these mutations suggests that the majority of the peripheral white blood cells were offspring of two related hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) clones. Moreover, telomere lengths of the WBCs were significantly shorter than telomere lengths from other tissues. Together, this suggests that the finite lifespan of HSCs, rather than somatic mutation effects, may lead to hematopoietic clonal evolution at extreme ages.

  Study EGAS00001000660

• Hi-C dataset for testicular germ cell tumour GWAS risk loci, as described in the Oncoarray Litchfield et al. 2016 paper.

  Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have transformed our understanding of testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) susceptibility but much of the heritability remains unexplained. Here we report a new GWAS, a meta-analysis with previous GWAS and a replication series, totalling 7,319 TGCT cases and 23,082 controls. We identify 19 new TGCT risk loci, approximately doubling the number of known TGCT risk loci to 44. By performing in-situ Hi-C in TGCT cells, we establish a network of physical interactions between all 44 TGCT risk SNPs and candidate causal genes. Our findings reveal widespread disruption of developmental transcriptional regulators as a basis of disease susceptibility, consistent with failed primordial germ cell differentiation as an initiating step in TGCT oncogenesis1. Defective microtubule assembly and dysregulation of KIT-MAPK signalling also feature as recurrently disrupted pathways. Our findings support a polygenic model of disease risk and provide insight into the biological basis of TGCT.

  Study EGAS00001001930

• The Acquisition of Molecular Drivers in Pediatric Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms

  Pediatric therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (tMN) occur in children after exposure to cytotoxic therapy and have a dismal prognosis1-4. The somatic and germline genomic alterations that drive these myeloid neoplasms in children and how they arise have yet to be comprehensively described. We use whole exome, whole genome, and/or RNA sequencing to characterize the genomic profile of 85 pediatric tMN cases (tMDS: n=29, tAML: n=56). Our data show that Ras/MAPK pathway mutations, alterations in RUNX1 or TP53, and KMT2A rearrangements are frequent somatic drivers, and we identify cases with aberrant MECOM expression secondary to enhancer hijacking. Unlike adults with tMN5-7, we find no evidence of pre-existing minor tMN clones (including those with TP53 mutations), but rather the majority of cases were unrelated clones arising as a consequence of cytotoxic therapy. These studies also uncover rare cases of lineage switch disease rather than true secondary neoplasms.

  Study EGAS00001004850

• Interethnic comparability in blood pressure GWAS

  We carried out a genome-wide association and replication study for blood pressure in a two-stage approach (max N = 289,038) with a discovery stage sample of 130,777 East Asian individuals, identifying 19 new genetic loci. We found a significant genetic heterogeneity between East Asian and European-descent populations at several blood pressure loci, conforming to “a common ancestry-specific variant association model”. At 6 unique loci, distinct non-rare (or common) ancestry-specific variants co-localized within the same linkage disequilibrium block despite the significantly discordant direction of effects for the proxy shared variants between the ethnic groups. The genome-wide transethnic correlation of causal-variant effect sizes is 0.898 and 0.851 for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. Some of the ancestry-specific association signals were also influenced by a selective sweep. Our results provide new evidence for the role of common ancestry-specific variants and natural selection in the occurrence of ethnic differences in complex traits such as blood pressure.

  Study EGAS00001002991

• The immunopeptidome landscape associated with T cell infiltration, inflammation and immune-editing in lung cancer

  One key barrier for improving efficacy of cancer immunotherapy remains patient stratification. While patients with CD3+CD8+ T cell inflamed ‘hot’ tumors typically show better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, it is still unknown if the repertoire of HLA bound peptides (HLAp) presented in ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ tumors is substantially different. We surveyed 61 tumor regions and adjacent non-malignant lung tissues from eight lung cancer patients and performed deep antigen discovery combining immunopeptidomics, genomics, bulk and spatial transcriptomics and explored the heterogenic expression and presentation of tumor (neo)antigens. We associated diverse immune cell populations with the immunopeptidome in CD3+CD8+ T cell excluded, infiltrated, hot and cold tumors and found evidence for lack of immune-editing and higher presentation efficiency of tumor antigens in cold and CD3+CD8+ T cell excluded tumors. This could have implications for the choice of combination therapies tailored to the patient’s mutanome and microenvironment.

  Study EGAS00001006298

• Combined gene expression and digital pathology identifies molecular mediators of T cell exclusion and immune suppression in ovarian cancer

  Close proximity between cytotoxic T lymphocytes and tumour cells is required for effective immunotherapy. However, what determines the spatial distribution of T cells in the tumour microenvironment is not well understood. Coupling digital pathology and transcriptome analysis on a large ovarian tumour cohort, we develop a machine learning approach to molecularly classify and characterize tumour-immune phenotypes. Our study identifies two important hallmarks characterizing T cell excluded tumours: 1) loss of antigen presentation on tumour cells and 2) upregulation of TGFb and activated stroma. Furthermore, we identify TGFb as a key mediator of T cell exclusion. TGFb reduces MHC-I expression in ovarian cancer cells in vitro; TGFb also activates fibroblasts and induced extracellular matrix (ECM) production as a potential physical barrier to hinder T cell infiltration. Our findings indicate that targeting TGFb may represent a promising strategy to overcome T cell exclusion and improve clinical benefits of cancer immunotherapy.

  Study EGAS00001003487

• Malignant progression of an ancestral bone marrow clone harboring a CIC-NUTM2A fusion in isolated myeloid sarcoma

  Myeloid sarcoma is a rare condition consisting of extramedullary myeloid blasts found in association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or, in the absence of bone marrow involvement. We identified an infant with isolated myeloid sarcoma whose bone marrow was negative for involvement by flow cytometry. Sequencing revealed the fusion oncogene CIC-NUTM2A and identified the sarcoma to be clonally evolved from the bone marrow which carried the fusion despite the absence of pathology. Murine modeling confirmed the ability of the fusion to transform hematopoietic cells and identified receptor tyrosine kinase signaling activation consistent with disruption of the CIC transcriptional repressor. These findings extend the definition of CIC-rearranged malignancies to include hematologic disease, provide insight into the mechanism of oncogenesis, and demonstrate the importance of molecular analysis and tracking of bone marrow involvement over the course of treatment in myeloid sarcoma, including patients that lack flow cytometric evidence of leukemia at diagnosis.

  Study EGAS00001006833

• Study of complex rearrangements and mutational signatures in neuroblastoma heterogeneous risk groups.

  Neuroblastoma is a pediatric solid tumor characterized by strong clinical heterogeneity. Although certain complex genomic alterations, such as extrachromosomal DNA amplifications (ecDNA), are associated with adverse outcome and have been recurrently detected in neuroblastomas, the mutational processes involved in their generation remain largely unclear. By examining the topography of complex rearrangements along with mutational signatures derived from all variant classes, we identify previously unrecognized co-occurring mutational footprints, which we termed mutational scenarios. We demonstrate that clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity is linked to differences in the processes driving these mutational scenarios. Whereas high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma genomes were characterized by signs of replication slippage and stress, homologous recombination-associated signatures defined high-risk non-MYCN-amplified patients. Non-high-risk neuroblastomas, on the other hand, were marked by footprints of chromosome missegregation and TOP1 mutational activity. This analysis provides a systematic perspective on the repertoire of mutational patterns that contribute to clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001006983

• Natural history of clonal haematopoiesis (2017-09-04)

  The incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) increases with age and mortality exceeds 90% when diagnosed after age 60. Only 10-15% of cases evolve from a pre-existing myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic disorder; the remaining cases arise de novo without a detectable prodrome and are diagnosed upon development of bone marrow failure. Analysis of diagnostic blood samples has demonstrated that de novo AML is preceded by the accumulation of somatic mutations in pre-leukemic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (preL-HSPCs) that subsequently undergo clonal expansion. If individuals in this pre-leukemic phase could be identified, methods for determination of risk and monitoring for progression to overt AML could be developed. However recurrent AML mutations also accumulate during aging in healthy individuals who never develop AML, referred to as age related clonal hematopoiesis (ARCH). To distinguish individuals with preL-HSPCs at high risk of developing AML from those with ARCH, we undertook deep targeted sequencing of genes recurrently mutated in AML in blood samples from 133 individuals in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study taken on average 6 years before they developed AML (pre-AML group), together with 683 matched healthy individuals (Control group). Pre-AML cases displayed accelerated age-correlated accumulation of somatic mutations.The identity, number and variant allele frequency (VAF) of mutations differed between the two groups, and were incorporated into a computational model of AML risk prediction that accurately distinguished pre-AML cases from controls on average 7 years prior to AML development. Our findings provide proof of concept that early prediction of AML development is feasible in high-risk populations, paving the way for early disease detection, monitoring, and potentially prevention.

  Dataset EGAD00001003703

• Sensitive and Frequent Identification of High Avidity Neo-epitope Specific CD8 + T-cells in Immunotherapy-naïve Ovarian Cancer

  Immunotherapy directed against private tumor neo-antigens derived from non-synonymous somatic mutations is a promising strategy of personalized cancer immunotherapy. However, feasibility in low mutational load tumor types remains unknown. Comprehensive and deep analysis of circulating and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for neo-epitope specific CD8 + T cells allowed prompt identification of oligoclonal and polyfunctional such cells from most immunotherapy-naïve patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer studied. Neo-epitope recognition was discordant between circulating T cells and TILs, and was more likely to be found among TILs, which displayed higher functionalavidity and unique TCRs with higher predicted affinity than their blood counterparts. Our results imply that identification of neo-epitope specific CD8 + T cells is achievable even in tumors with relatively low number of somatic mutations, and neo-epitope validation in TILs extends opportunities for mutanome-based personalized immunotherapies to such tumors.

  Study EGAS00001002803