12511 results for ""non-traditional+communal+storytelling+approach"+novel+segment+noted+in+critical+commentary"

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• Probabilistic modeling of personalized drug combinations from integrated chemical screen and molecular data in sarcoma

  Background: Cancer patients with advanced disease exhaust available clinical regimens and lack actionable genomic medicine results, leaving a large patient population without effective treatments options when their disease inevitably progresses. To address the unmet clinical need for evidence-based therapy assignment when standard clinical approaches have failed, we have developed a probabilistic computational modeling approach which integrates sequencing data with functional assay data to develop patient-specific combination cancer treatments. Methods: Tissue taken from a murine model of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma was used to perform single agent drug screening and DNA/RNA sequencing experiments; results integrated via our computational modeling approach identified a synergistic personalized two-drug combination. Cells derived from the tumor were allografted into mouse models and used to validate the personalized two-drug combination. Computational modeling of single agent drug screening and RNA sequencing of multiple heterogenous sites from a single patient’s epithelioid sarcoma identified a personalized two-drug combination effective across all tumor regions. The heterogeneity-consensus combination was validated in a xenograft model derived from the patient’s primary tumor. Cell cultures derived from human and canine undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma were assayed by drug screen; computational modeling identified a resistance-abrogating two-drug combination common to both cell cultures. This combination was validated in vitro via a cell regrowth assay. Results Our computational modeling approach addresses three major challenges in personalized cancer therapy: synergistic drug combination predictions (validated in vitro and in vivo in a genetically engineered murine cancer model), identification of unifying therapeutic targets to overcome intra-tumor heterogeneity (validated in vivo in a human cancer xenograft), and mitigation of cancer cell resistance and rewiring mechanisms (validated in vitro in a human and canine cancer model). Conclusions These proof-of-concept studies support the use of an integrative functional approach to personalized combination therapy prediction for the population of high-risk cancer patients lacking viable clinical options and without actionable DNA sequencing-based therapy.

  Study EGAS00001003564

• One-step generation of tumor models by base editor multiplexing in adult stem cell-derived organoids

  Recent optimization of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering has resulted in the development of base editors that can efficiently mediate C>T and A>G transitions. Combining these genome engineering tools with human adult stem cell (ASC)-derived organoid technology holds promise for disease modeling. Here, we demonstrate the application of base editors for the generation of complex tumor models in human ASC-derived hepatocyte, endometrial and intestinal organoids. First, using conventional and evolved Cas9-variants, we show efficacy of both cytosine and adenine base editors and use them to model four hot-spot point mutations in CTNNB1 in hepatocyte organoids. Next, we apply C>T base editors in endometrial organoids to insert nonsense mutations in PTEN and demonstrate tumorigenicity even in the heterozygous state. Furthermore, we use cytosine base editors for simultaneous oncogene activation (PIK3CA) and tumor-suppressor inactivation (APC and TP53). To increase the flexibility of base editor multiplexing, we then combine SpCas9 and SaCas9 base editors for simultaneous C>T and A>G editing at individual target sites. Finally, we show the power of base editor multiplexing by modeling colorectal tumorigenesis in a single step by simultaneously transfecting sgRNA’s targeting four cancer genes. Seven clonal organoid lines and one bulk wild-type control sample were paired-end whole-genome sequenced using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 system. We sequenced four clonal intestinal organoid lines harbouring engineered TP53 and FBXW7 mutations as well as three lines targeted for oncogenic APC/TP53/PIK3CA/SMAD4 mutations. This WGS showed, as previously reported, a genome-wide increase in C>T mutations due to C>T base editor off-target activity, which is not enriched in predicted off-target regions based on the sgRNA sequences. Furthermore, we confirmed the absence of editing-induced driver mutations and lack of off-target mutational hotspots created by the genomic engineering.

  Study EGAS00001006886

• Genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing identifies epigenetic perturbations in the upper airways under long-term exposure to moderate levels of ambient air pollution

  While the link between exposure to high levels of ambient particulate matter (PM) and increased incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases is widely recognized, recent epidemiological studies have shown that low PM concentrations are equally associated with adverse health effects. As DNA methylation is one of the main mechanisms by which cells regulate and stabilize gene expression, changes in the methylome could constitute early indicators of dysregulated signaling pathways. So far, little is known about PM-associated DNA methylation changes in the upper airways, the first point of contact between airborne pollutants and the human body. Here, we focused on cells of the upper respiratory tract and assessed their genome-wide DNA methylation pattern to explore exposure-associated early regulatory changes. Using a mobile epidemiological laboratory, nasal lavage samples were collected from a cohort of 60 adults that lived in districts with records of low (Simmerath) or moderate (Stuttgart) PM10 levels in Germany. PM10 concentrations were verified by particle measurements on the days of the sample collection and genome-wide DNA methylation was determined by enzymatic methyl sequencing at single-base resolution. We identified 231 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between moderately and lowly PM10 exposed individuals. A high proportion of DMRs overlapped with regulatory elements, and DMR target genes were involved in pathways regulating cellular redox homeostasis and immune response. In addition, we found distinct changes in DNA methylation of the HOXA gene cluster whose methylation levels have previously been linked to air pollution exposure but also to carcinogenesis in several instances. The findings of this study suggest that regulatory changes in upper airway cells occur at PM10 levels below current European thresholds, some of which may be involved in the development of air pollution-related diseases.

  Study EGAS00001007374

• Ciliopathies Exome Sequencing Initiative

  The study is aimed at identifying new genes involved in pediatric brain disorders from inbred families originating predominantly in the Middle East. Each patient analyzed to date has a specific and highly unique neurodevelopmental disorder that is likely to be recessive in nature. Many patients have one of the diseases along the "ciliopathy" spectrum of diseases, with evidence of kidney failure, retinal blindness and cerebellar ataxia.

  Study phs000288

• Family Genomics of Congenital Heart Defects

  The study identified the causal mutation in a five-generation pedigree harboring a cardiac septal defect. The inheritance pattern is consistent with an autosomal dominant mutation with high penetrance. We performed whole-genome sequencing (Complete Genomics) on 21 individuals in the pedigree, of which 11 individuals are affected. We identified a single gene, GATA4, as primarily responsible for this cardiac phenotype in this pedigree.

  Study phs000758

• Single cell atlas of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma

  Relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphomas (rrLBCL) are clinically and biologically diverse lymphoid malignancies with intricate microenvironments that play a key role in disease development. In this study, we used single-nucleus multiome profiling along with bulk DNA and RNA sequencing on 120 tumor and control biopsies to comprehensively characterize the various cell types and subsets found in rrLBCL tumors.

  Study EGAS50000001293

• The genomic landscape of Burkitt Lymphoma

  As part of the ICGC, the ICGC MMML-Seq project performed whole genome sequencing and RNA sequencing of Burkitt Lymphomas . Burkitt lymphomas are the most common B-cell lymphomas in childhood. Analyses were performed in concordance with the guidelines of the ICGC. The results define the genomic landscape of structural variants, somatic single nucleotide variants and mutational signatures in these lymphomas.

  Study EGAS00001002198

• POT1_splice_site_mutant_analysis

  We are interested in the contribution mutations in the Shelterin complex protein POT1 may have to the development of melanoma. We have identified a patient who carries a splice site mutation in POT1 and as part of our analysis of this gene we aim to sequence the transcriptome of this patient to see how this mutation influences splicing. RNA has been obtained from lymphocytes collected from the patient.

  Study EGAS00001000571

• ARGO_GWAS

  Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis affecting ~40% of people over the age of 70. OA is characterised by cartilage degeneration in the synovial joints and presents one of the leading causes of chronic disability and impaired quality of life in the developed world.The ARGO study is an ongoing collection of well-phenotyped OA patients undergoing total joint replacement and is based in Greece.

  Study EGAS00001000917

• Capture Hi-C on Hodgkin lymphoma cell line L-428

  In situ promoter capture Hi-C on Hodgkin lymphoma cell line L-428 in experimental triplicates. Hi-C libraries were prepared as previously described (Orlando et al., 2018, https://currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cphg.63). Promoter capture was based on 32,313 biotinylated 120-mer RNA baits (Agilent). Hi-C libraries were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000 technology. The files are in FASTQ format.

  Study EGAS00001003032