13380 results for ""pdc"+"heritage+language"+census+study"

in 80.00 milliseconds.

• Epigenomic priming of immune genes implicates oligodendroglia in multiple sclerosissusceptibility

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a targeted attack on oligodendroglia (OLG)and associated myelin by immune cells, which are thought to be the main drivers of MS susceptibility. Assessing chromatin accessibility and the transcriptome simultaneously at the single cell level, we found that immune genes exhibit a primedchromatin state in mouse and human OLG in a non-disease context, compatible withrapid transitions to immune-competent states in MS. We identified transcription factors as BACH1 and STAT1 involved in immune gene regulation in oligodendrocyteprecursor cells (OPCs). A subset of immune genes present bivalency of H3K4me3/H3K27me3 in OPCs, with Polycomb inhibition leading to their increased activation upon interferon-gamma (IFNg) treatment. Some MS susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) overlap with these regulatory regions in mouse andhuman OLG, and treatment of mouse OPCs with IFNg leads to chromatin architecture remodeling at these loci and altered expression of interacting genes. Our data indicates that susceptibility for MS may involve OLG, which therefore constitute novel targets for immunological-based therapies for MS.

  Study EGAS00001005911

• Tumor-intrinsic expression of the autophagy gene Atg16l1 suppresses anti-tumor immunity in colorectal cancer

  The vast majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients fail to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Understanding tumor-intrinsic determinants of immunotherapy resistance is critical to improve CRC patient outcomes. Here, we demonstrate that transcript levels of the core autophagy gene ATG16L1 are prognostic of poor outcome and predictive of ICI resistance in late-stage CRC. Deletion of Atg16l1 in murine CRC organoids markedly inhibited tumor growth in primary and metastatic niches in syngeneic hosts. ATG16L1 deficiency rendered CRC organoids more responsive to interferon (IFN) signaling and enhanced programmed cell death while decreasing tumor stem-like populations. IFN hypersensitivity consequently promoted cytotoxic anti-tumor immunity in vivo. In IMblaze370, a large phase III clinical trial of anti-PD-L1 in advanced metastatic CRC, low ATG16L1 levels identified patients with increased lymphocyte infiltration and improved outcome in a KRAS mutant setting. This work reveals autophagy as a clinically relevant immunosuppressive mechanism in CRC and provides a rationale for autophagy inhibition to boost immunotherapy responses in the clinic.

  Study EGAS00001005952

• Salivary Gland Cancer TSO500 dataset

  Salivary gland cancer (SGC) is a rare cancer for which systemic treatment options are limited. Therefore, it is important to characterize its genetic landscape in search for actionable aberrations. This research aimed to identify these actionable aberrations by NGS-based analysis of DNA (single and multiple nucleotide variants, copy number variants, microsatellite instability and tumor mutational burden) in a large cohort of SGC patients. DNA was extracted from archival tissue of 119 patients with various SGC subtypes and sequenced using a targeted NGS panel encompassing 523 cancer related genes (TruSight Oncology 500, TSO500). The 119 patients included 46 AdCC patients, 43 SDC patients, 15 MEC patients, 9 AciCC patients and 6 patients with other subtypes (1 secretory carcinoma, 1 polymorphic adenocarcinoma (PAC), 1 adenocarcinoma NOS, 1 myoepithelial carcinoma, 1 epithelial/myoepithelial carcinoma and 1 mixed PAC/myoepithelial carcinoma). Median exon coverage ranged from 80-904 (median 308) unique reads and the median percentage of exon coverage with at least 100 unique reads was median 96.6% in these 119 samples.

  Study EGAS00001006232

• An Isogenic Cell Line Panel for Sequence-based Screening of Targeted Anti-cancer Drugs

  We describe the creation and characterization of an isogenic cell line panel representing common cancer pathways, with multiple features optimized for high-throughput screening. More than 1,800 cell lines from three normal human cells were generated using CRISPR-technologies. Surprisingly, we discovered most of these lines did not result in complete gene inactivation, despite integration of sgRNA at the desired genomic site. However, a subset of the lines harbored true, biallelic disruptions of the targeted tumor suppressor gene, yielding a final panel of 100 well-characterize lines covering 19 pathways frequently subject to loss of function in cancers. This panel included genetic markers optimized for sequence-based ratiometric assays for drug-based screening assays. To illustrate the potential utility of this panel, we developed a multiplexed high-throughput screen that identified Wee1 inhibitor MK-1775 as a selective growth inhibitor of cells with inactivation of TP53. These cell lines and screening approach should prove useful for researchers studying a variety of cellular and biochemical phenomena

  Study EGAS00001005974

• Genetic and epigenetic variation at regulatory regions contribute to cancer evolution under endocrine treatment

  Comprehensive profiling of hormone-dependent breast cancer (HDBC) has identified hundreds of protein-coding alterations contributing to cancer initiation, but only a handful have been linked to endocrine therapy resistance, potentially contributing to 40% of relapses. If other mechanisms underlie the evolution of HDBC under adjuvant therapy is currently unknown. In this work, we employ integrative functional genomics to dissect the contribution of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) to cancer evolution by focusing on 12 megabases of non-coding DNA, including clonal enhancers, gene promoters, and boundaries of topologically associating domains. Massive parallel perturbation in vitro reveals context-dependent roles for many of these CREs, with a specific impact on dormancy entrance and endocrine therapy resistance9. Profiling of CRE somatic alterations in a unique, longitudinal cohort of patients treated with endocrine therapies identifies non-coding changes involved in therapy resistance. Overall, our data uncover actionable transient transcriptional programs critical for dormant persister cells and unveil new regulatory nodes driving evolutionary trajectories towards disease progression.

  Study EGAS00001006340

• Proteogenomics reveals two distinct biological pilocytic astrocytoma subgroups

  Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the most common pediatric brain tumor and driven by aberrant MAPK signaling, typically mediated by BRAF alterations. While five-year overall survival rates exceed 95%, tumor recurrence constitutes a major clinical challenge in incompletely resected tumors despite chemotherapeutic or radiation based therapies. Therefore, we used proteogenomics to discern the biological heterogeneity of PA to improve classification of this tumor entity and identify novel therapeutic targets. Our proteogenomics approach integrates RNA sequencing and LC/MS-based proteomic profiling data from a cohort of 58 confirmed, primary PA samples. An integrative genomics approach was conducted to discern the biological heterogeneity of PA and to identify aberrant pathway activation in these biological subgroups. In summary, Pilocytic astrocytomas segregate into two groups where younger patients are significantly associated with Group 1. Importantly, we validate the two distinct biological subgroups in two non-overlapping cohorts. The biological heterogeneity seen here may improve biological classification and reveal novel therapeutic targets specifically useful for non-resectable tumors with high risk of recurrent or progressive disease.

  Study EGAS00001006402

• Genomic analysis and evolutionary modeling of breast and larynx cancer, based on specimens from Polish population

  We explore the genomic characteristics of the original dataset of breast and larynx cancer specimens of several cell types from the collection of the Department of Applied Radiology of the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Krakow (Poland) Branch and Institute of Human Genetics Polish Academy of Sciences. DNA from paired tissue samples from primary tumor locations and concurrent metastasis to regional lymph nodes was sequenced and matched to controls. A range of genomic analyses was carried out, such as estimation of variant allele frequencies (VAF) and copy number variation (CNV). They show that subsets of variants from primary tumors are present in metastatic lymph nodes and that the CNV pattern is similar, but not identical to that known in the literature. In addition to that, we fit the VAF data to theoretical site frequency spectra predicted by multiple models found in the literature. Analysis suggests existence of secondary advantageous subclones arising on the clonal background as well as of a number of neutral or slightly deleterious passenger mutations.

  Study EGAS00001006456

• DERMATLAS__Tubular_adenoma

  IVirtually no other tumour type is associated with so many different forms as skin cancer. Histologically, tumours of the skin may arise from epithelium, including epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous or sweat gland, melanocytes, dermal-associated mesenchymal structures or tissue resident immune cells, making for a diversity of clinical presentations. Importantly, many skin tumour types have an extremely poor prognosis. Many skin tumour subtypes have never undergone molecular profiling, or if they have, targeted sequencing has been used and the number of cases analyzed has been so limited that deriving firm conclusions about the profile of driver genes, DNA mutational signatures and germline alleles has not been possible For 70 key skin tumour subtypes defined by the World Health Organization, that have not undergone extensive genetic analysis previoulsy, we propose to perform whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, from a range of body sites, to build a genomic atlas of dermatological tumours, including detailed maps of SNVs, copy number alterations, genome-wide methylation and expression profiles. The cases in this cohort are tubular adenomas.

  Study EGAS00001006686

• The clinical utility of genomics in childhood cancer extends beyond targetable mutations - WGS data

  We deeply sequenced 864 cancer-associated genes and the complete genomes and transcriptomes for 300 pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients with poor prognosis or rare tumors. Using integrative somatic-germline analyses, we assessed the clinical utility of cancer genomics in this population. Clinically actionable variants were identified in 56% of patients. Improved diagnostic accuracy led to modified management in a subset. Therapeutically targetable variants, found in 54% of patients, were of unanticipated timing and type, with over 20% of these derived from the germline. Enrichment in corroborating mutational signature 3 (‘BRCAness’) in patients with germline homologous recombination defects suggests they are drivers of pediatric cancers and potential targets for PARP inhibition. Comprehensive somatic-germline cancer genomic profiling is useful at multiple points in the care trajectory for pediatric/AYA patients, supporting its integration into early clinical management. Re-biopsy at the time of relapse should be considered, and specific attention to mutational burden is indicated. Defective DNA repair genes in the germline may represent important targetable drivers.

  Study EGAS00001006610

• The clinical utility of genomics in childhood cancer extends beyond targetable mutations - Cancer Panel data

  We deeply sequenced 864 cancer-associated genes and the complete genomes and transcriptomes for 300 pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients with poor prognosis or rare tumors. Using integrative somatic-germline analyses, we assessed the clinical utility of cancer genomics in this population. Clinically actionable variants were identified in 56% of patients. Improved diagnostic accuracy led to modified management in a subset. Therapeutically targetable variants, found in 54% of patients, were of unanticipated timing and type, with over 20% of these derived from the germline. Enrichment in corroborating mutational signature 3 (‘BRCAness’) in patients with germline homologous recombination defects suggests they are drivers of pediatric cancers and potential targets for PARP inhibition. Comprehensive somatic-germline cancer genomic profiling is useful at multiple points in the care trajectory for pediatric/AYA patients, supporting its integration into early clinical management. Re-biopsy at the time of relapse should be considered, and specific attention to the mutational burden is indicated. Defective DNA repair genes in the germline may represent important targetable drivers.

  Study EGAS00001006642

• DERMATLAS__Tubular_adenoma_RNAseq

  IVirtually no other tumour type is associated with so many different forms as skin cancer. Histologically, tumours of the skin may arise from epithelium, including epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous or sweat gland, melanocytes, dermal-associated mesenchymal structures or tissue resident immune cells, making for a diversity of clinical presentations. Importantly, many skin tumour types have an extremely poor prognosis. Many skin tumour subtypes have never undergone molecular profiling, or if they have, targeted sequencing has been used and the number of cases analyzed has been so limited that deriving firm conclusions about the profile of driver genes, DNA mutational signatures and germline alleles has not been possible For 70 key skin tumour subtypes defined by the World Health Organization, that have not undergone extensive genetic analysis previoulsy, we propose to perform whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, from a range of body sites, to build a genomic atlas of dermatological tumours, including detailed maps of SNVs, copy number alterations, genome-wide methylation and expression profiles. The cases in this cohort are tubular adenomas.

  Study EGAS00001006685

• Structural Expression of BMMF in tissues of colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer patients

  Chronic inflammation, linked to the presence of bovine milk and meat factors (BMMF) and specific subsets of macrophages, results in oxygen radical synthesis and induction of mutations in DNA of actively replicating cells and replicating single stranded DNA (zur Hausen et al., 2017). Cancers arising from this process have been characterized as indirect carcinogenesis by infectious agents (without persistence of genes of the agent in premalignant or cancers cells). Here we investigate structural properties of pleomorphic vesicles, regularly identified by staining peritumour tissues of colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer for expression of BMMF Rep. The latter represents a subgroup of BMMF1 proteins involved in replication of small single-stranded circular plasmids of BMMF, but most likely also contributing to pleomorphic vesicular structures found in the periphery of colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancers. Structurally dense regions are demonstrated in preselected areas of colorectal cancer, after staining with monoclonal antibodies against BMMF1 Rep. Similar structures were observed in human embryonic cells (HEK293TT) overexpressing Rep. These data suggest that Rep or Rep isoforms contribute to the structural formation of vesicles.

  Study EGAS00001006744

• Detection of isoforms and genomic alterations by high-throughput full-length single-cell RNA sequencing in HGSOC

  Understanding the complex background of cancer requires genotype-phenotype information in single-cell resolution. Long-read single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), capturing full-length transcripts, lacked the depth to provide this information so far. Here, we increased the PacBio sequencing depth to 12,000 reads per cell, leveraging multiple strategies, including artifact removal and transcript concatenation, and applied the technology to samples from three human ovarian cancer patients. Our approach captured 152,000 isoforms, of which over 52,000 were novel, detected cell type- and cell-specific isoform usage, and revealed differential isoform expression in tumor and mesothelial cells. Furthermore, we identified gene fusions, including a novel scDNA sequencing-validated IGF2BP2::TESPA1 fusion, which was misclassified as high TESPA1 expression in matched short-read data, and called somatic and germline mutations, confirming targeted NGS cancer gene panel results. With multiple new opportunities, especially for cancer biology, we envision long-read scRNA-seq to become increasingly relevant in oncology and personalized medicine.

  Study EGAS00001006807

• Genotype data from 'Dense sampling of ethnic groups within African countries reveals fine-scale genetic structure and extensive historical admixture.'

  Previous studies have highlighted how African genomes have been shaped by a complex series of historical events. Despite this, genome-wide data has only been obtained from a small proportion of present-day ethnolinguistic groups. By analysing new autosomal genetic variation data of 1333 individuals from over 150 ethnic groups from Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Nigeria and Sudan, we demonstrate a previously underappreciated fine-scale level of genetic structure within these countries, for example correlating with historical polities in western Cameroon. By comparing genetic variation patterns among populations, we infer that many northern Cameroonian and Sudanese groups share genetic links with multiple geographically disparate populations, likely resulting from long-distance migrations. In Ghana and Nigeria, we infer signatures of intermixing dated to over 2000 years ago, corresponding to reports of environmental transformations possibly related to climate change. We also infer recent intermixing signals in multiple African populations, including Congolese, that likely relates to the expansions of Bantu language-speaking peoples.

  Study EGAS00001006944

• RNA sequencing of CCO- and CCO+ human hepatocytes

  RNAseq data from Passman et al 2023. Clonal CCO-deficient hepatocyte patches and nearby CCO-proficient hepatocytes were identified in morphologically normal human livers and sampled at varying distances along the PT-CV axis. Samples are named according to their location within the liver lobule, with "PT" denoting samples abutting the portal triad, "CV" denoting samples abutting the central hepatic vein, and "Mid" sampled acquired midway between these structures. Normal human liver is thought to be generally quiescent, however clonal hepatocyte expansions have been observed but neither their cellular source nor their expansion dynamics have been determined. Knowing the hepatocyte cell of origin, and their subsequent dynamics and trajectory within the human liver will provide an important basis to understand disease-associated dysregulation. Here we use in vivo lineage tracing and a combination of methylation sequence analysis to demonstrate normal human hepatocyte ancestry. We exploit next generation mitochondrial sequencing to determine hepatocyte clonal expansion dynamics across spatially-distinct areas of laser-capture microdissected clones, in tandem with computational modelling in morphologically-normal human liver.

  Study EGAS00001006984

• Integrated single cell analysis in transformed follicular lymphoma

  Histological transformation of follicular lymphoma to aggressive form occurs 2-3% per year with poor outcome. Divergent evolution and an altered tumour-microenvironment (TME) have been implicated during transformation. However, phenotypic consequences of this evolution and its implication in TME remain unknown. To address this, we performed single cell whole genome and whole transcriptome sequencing of paired pre/post transformation patient samples. We further performed scWTS of additional samples from patients without transformation. Our analysis revealed evolutionary dynamics of transformation at unprecedented resolution. Integration of scWGS and scWTS identified pathways upregulated during evolution. scWTS analysis revealed a shifting TME landscape, with an exhausted signature emerging during transformation. Using multi-color immunofluorescence we transferred these findings to a TME-based transformation biomarker, subsequently validated in independent pretreatment cohorts. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive view of the combined genomic and phenotypic evolution of malignant cells during transformation, and shifting cross-talk between malignant cells and TME.

  Study EGAS00001007023

• Spatial transcriptomics reveal topological immune landscapes of Asian head and neck angiosarcoma

  Angiosarcomas are rare malignant tumors of the endothelium, arising commonly from the head and neck region (AS-HN) and recently associated with ultraviolet (UV) exposure and human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) infection. We examined 81 cases of angiosarcomas, including 47 cases of AS-HN, integrating information from whole genome sequencing, gene expression profiling and spatial transcriptomics (10X Visium). In the AS-HN cohort, we observed recurrent somatic mutations in CSMD3 (18%), LRP1B (18%), MUC16 (18%), POT1 (16%) and TP53 (16%). UV-positive AS-HN harbored significantly higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) than UV-negative cases (p=0.0294). NanoString profiling identified three clusters with distinct tumor inflammation signature (TIS) scores (p<0.001). Spatial transcriptomics revealed topological profiles of the tumor microenvironment, identifying dominant but tumor-excluded inflammatory signals in “immune-hot” cases and immune foci even in otherwise “cold” cases. In conclusion, spatial transcriptomics reveal the tumor immune landscape of angiosarcoma, and in combination with multi-omic information, may improve implementation of treatment strategies.

  Study EGAS00001007083

• Effective reprogramming of patient-derived M2-polarized glioblastoma-associated microglia/macrophages by treatment with GW2580

  Purpose: Targeting immunosuppressive and pro-tumorigenic glioblastoma-associated macrophages and microglial cells (GAMs) has great potential to improve patient outcomes. Colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) has emerged as a promising target for reprogramming anti-inflammatory M2-like GAMs. However, treatment data on patient-derived, tumor-educated GAMs and their influence on the adaptive immunity are lacking. Experimental Design: CD11b+-GAMs freshly isolated from patient tumors were treated with CSF1R-targeting drugs PLX3397, BLZ945, and GW2580. Phenotypical changes upon treatment were assessed using RNAseq. Changes in GAM activation were confirmed in a complex patient-derived 3D tumor organoid model serving as a tumor avatar. Results: The most effective reprogramming of GAMs was observed upon GW2580 treatment, which led to the downregulation of M2-related markers, IL-6, and IL-10, ERK1/2 and MAPK signaling pathways, while M1-like markers and gene set enrichment indicating activated MHC-II presentation were substantially increased. Moreover, treatment of patient-derived glioblastoma organoids with GW2580 confirmed successful reprogramming.

  Study EGAS00001007466

• Relation between transcriptome, karyotype and age in cases of sex chromosome aneuploidies.

  Why women live longer than men is still an open question in human biology. Sex chromosomes have been proposed to play a role in the observed sex gap in longevity, and the Y male chromosome has been suspected of having a potential toxic genomic impact on male longevity. It has been hypothesized that transposable element (TE) repression declines with age, potentially leading to detrimental effects such as somatic mutations and disrupted gene expression, which may accelerate the aging process. Given that the Y chromosome is rich in repeats, age-related increases in TE expression could be more pronounced in males, likely contributing to their reduced longevity compared to females. In this work, we first studied whether TE expression is associated with the number of sex chromosomes in humans. We analyzed blood transcriptomic data obtained from individuals of different karyotype compositions: 46,XX females (normal female karyotype), 46,XY males (normal male karyotype), as well as males with abnormal karyotypes, such as 47,XXY, and 47,XYY.

  Study EGAS00001007462

• DERMATLAS__Leiomyoma_WES

  Virtually no other tumour type is associated with so many different forms as skin cancer. Histologically, tumours of the skin may arise from epithelium, including epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous or sweat gland, melanocytes, dermal-associated mesenchymal structures or tissue resident immune cells, making for a diversity of clinical presentations. Importantly, many skin tumour types have an extremely poor prognosis. Many skin tumour subtypes have never undergone molecular profiling, or if they have, targeted sequencing has been used and the number of cases analyzed has been so limited that deriving firm conclusions about the profile of driver genes, DNA mutational signatures and germline alleles has not been possible For 70 key skin tumour subtypes defined by the World Health Organization, that have not undergone extensive genetic analysis previoulsy, we propose to perform whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, from a range of body sites, to build a genomic atlas of dermatological tumours, including detailed maps of SNVs, copy number alterations, genome-wide methylation and expression profiles. The cases in this cohort are leiomyomas.

  Study EGAS00001007629

• GOSH_Childhood_Leukemia_Behjati_WellcomeCore_RNA

  Paediatric single-cell archival project This project is taking sequential samples of children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) between 2011 and the present day. Patients selected, are those that have done badly (e.g. had to escalate treatment, relapsed or died) despite having apparently ""good"" or ""intermediate"" risk cytogenetics, and often also had immunotherapy (e.g., the bi-specific T-cell engager blinatumomab) because of this. Using samples from key treatment-points, we hope to better characterise their disease and treatment response, to re-define understandings of risk for patients who did unexpectedly poorly. Additionally, we hope to define the disease/immunological factors that determine response to increasingly used immunotherapies within the field of paediatric B-ALL. Each of the samples will be viably frozen bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells. They will come in Eppendorf's, frozen and de-anonymised, from GOSH. We plan to primarily do single cell analysis (GEX, BCR +/-TCR), and then tumour-only WGS and bulk-RNA expression on left-over

  Study EGAS00001007616

• DERMATLAS__Leiomyoma_RNAseq

  Virtually no other tumour type is associated with so many different forms as skin cancer. Histologically, tumours of the skin may arise from epithelium, including epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous or sweat gland, melanocytes, dermal-associated mesenchymal structures or tissue resident immune cells, making for a diversity of clinical presentations. Importantly, many skin tumour types have an extremely poor prognosis. Many skin tumour subtypes have never undergone molecular profiling, or if they have, targeted sequencing has been used and the number of cases analyzed has been so limited that deriving firm conclusions about the profile of driver genes, DNA mutational signatures and germline alleles has not been possible For 70 key skin tumour subtypes defined by the World Health Organization, that have not undergone extensive genetic analysis previoulsy, we propose to perform whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, from a range of body sites, to build a genomic atlas of dermatological tumours, including detailed maps of SNVs, copy number alterations, genome-wide methylation and expression profiles. The cases in this cohort are leiomyomas.

  Study EGAS00001007630

• Human NXPE1 mediates variation in sialic acid O-acetylation in Colon Tissue

  Sialylation, and its modifications, have important consequences for development, differentiation and immune system regulation in nearly all human tissues. An accounting of all the genes responsible for modifying sialic acids is incomplete, with only one pathway for O-acetylation being well-defined in humans. Using whole genome sequencing of normal human colorectal tissue we identify a haplotype on chromosome 11 that is associated with differences in mild periodic acid Schiff staining (mPAS), a marker of acetylation of sialic acids. Of the genes in this region, only SNPs from NXPE1 correlate perfectly in a validation data set. NXPE1 protein expression by IHC also correlates with mPAS staining patterns in homozygous, as well as heterozygous colon crypts that have undergone spontaneous gain of the mPAS phenotype. Manipulation of NXPE1 expression with CRISPR-Cas9 causes changes to modified sialic acid levels in both 2D cell line and 3D normal colon organoid models. These findings suggest NXPE1 may cause O-acetylation of sialic acids in colorectal tissue, potentially defining NXPE as a new family of sialic acid-modifying genes.

  Study EGAS00001007704

• Selective targeting of TBXT with DARPins identifies regulatory networks and therapeutic vulnerabilities in chordoma

  The embryonic transcription factor TBXT (brachyury) drives chordoma, a spinal neoplasm without effective drug therapies. TBXT’s regulatory network is poorly understood, and strategies to disrupt its activity for therapeutic purposes are lacking. We developed designed ankyrin repeat proteins that block TBXT-DNA binding (T-DARPins). In chordoma cells, T-DARPins reduced cell cycle progression, spheroid formation, and tumor growth in mice and induced signs of senescence and differentiation. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified gene networks involved in cell cycle regulation, embryonic cell identity, and interferon response and revealed features of regulome components, such as druggability for future translational studies and the fine-tuning of TBXT downstream effectors through IGFBP3. Finally, we found high interferon signaling in chordoma cell lines and patient tumors, which was promoted by TBXT and associated with sensitivity to JAK2 inhibitors. These findings demonstrate the potential of DARPins for probing nuclear proteins to understand the regulatory networks of transcription factor-driven cancers, including entry points for therapies that warrant testing in patients.

  Study EGAS00001008140

• RNAseq data to study PRPF6 regulated splice forms in colon cancer cell lines

  Alternative splicing plays critical roles in differentiation, development, and cancer (Pettigrew et al., 2008; Chen and Manley, 2009). The recent identification of specific spliceosome inhibitors has generated interest in the therapeutic potential of targeting this cellular process (van Alphen et al., 2009). Using an integrated genomic approach, we have identified PRPF6, an RNA binding component of the pre-mRNA spliceosome, as an essential driver of oncogenesis in colon cancer. Importantly, PRPF6 is both amplified and overexpressed in colon cancer, and only colon cancer cells with high PRPF6 levels are sensitive to its loss. Our data clearly point to an important role for PRPF6 in colon cancer growth and suggest that a better understanding of its role in alternative splicing in colon cancer is warranted. To determine the specific alternative splice forms that PRPF6 regulates in colon cancer, we plan three experiments: 1. The first involves knocking down expression of PRPF6 in two different cancer cell lines with 3 different siRNAs, and then completing RNA-seq to determine the gene expression changes that occur relative to a non-targeting control siRNA. Because of the role for PRPF6 in pre-mRNA splicing, we especially want to quantify the changes in splice-specific forms of all genes genome-wide to identify genes whose splicing is altered upon PRPF6 knockdown. 2. The second involves immunoprecipitating PRPF6 from two different cancer cell lines and isolating any RNA that is bound to PRPF6, since PRPF6 is an RNA-binding protein. We then want to carry out RNA-seq to identify which RNA molecules co-immunoprecipitated with PRPF6. This will help us determine possible functions for PRPF6 in regulating colon cancer growth. 3. The third involves overexpressing PRPF6 in cell lines and then carrying out RNA-seq to identify any changes in splice-specific gene expression. This will allow us to determine whether increased PRPF6 expression is sufficient to drive alternative splicing changes.

  Dataset EGAD00001000817

• Assessment of genetic and epigenetic variation in human IPS cells-RNA

  In order to progress human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) towards the clinic, several outstanding questions must be addressed. It is possible to reprogram different somatic cell types into hiPSCs and from studies in the mouse, it appears that an epigenetic memory of the starting cell type is carried over to hiPSCs. However a comprehensive comparative study of the characteristics of these hiPSCs has been missing from the literature. Importantly studies which aimed to address these aspects of hiPSCs have used cells from different patients. In order to avoid this important confounding variable and to keep the genetic background constant, tissue samples were procured from the patients and reprogrammed to iPS cells. The transcriptomes of these iPS cells will be compared. Protocol: primary cultures of cells were reprogrammed to iPS cells. RNA was extracted using a standard column extraction kit.

  Dataset EGAD00001000604

• GDAP - Genome Diversity in Africa Project (2021-02-12)

  The Genomic Diversity in Africa Project (GDAP) started with the plan to develop a genomic resource from African populations, characterise genomic diversity and population history, and facilitate clinical studies in Africa. Currently, 25 individuals from 24 ethnolinguistic groups have been whole-genome sequenced at high depth totalling 585 individuals. An additional 41 individuals have been sequenced with 10X Genomics libraries. At this stage, the initial curation of this dataset has been finished and we are performing the analysis in coordination with our collaborators. The current state of the GDAP represents a very diverse panel of African populations that maximizes geographical and ethnic variation and represents a great starting point to achieve the aforementioned goals. However, southern sub-Saharan countries, Bantu speakers and hunter gatherer groups are currently underrepresented, despite being crucial to understand the evolutionary history of the continent. After extensive effort to collate studies documentation, we finally have the opportunity to sequence 600 new individuals from these groups, including countries as Gabon, Rwanda and Zambia, and address these deficiencies. We aim to proceed with the same strategy: to sequence at high depth 25 individuals with standard PCR free libraries, with 2 additional individuals with 10X Genomics Chromium libraries per ethnolinguistic group. The former allows a good representation of variants down to low frequency in any given population, and the latter allows accurate phasing and the analysis of structural variation. By including these new populations, we want to investigate three crucial questions in African history in addition to the initial objectives: the Bantu expansion, the evolutionary history of hunter gatherers and the transatlantic slave trade. Additionally, the expanded dataset will help us better discover the genetic variation present in Africa and characterize the African pangenome. 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 (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/ . This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2021-02-12.

  Dataset EGAD00001006965

• Genome Diversity in Africa Project: Uganda (2021-02-17)

  Globally, human populations show structured genetic diversity as a result of geographical dispersion, selection and drift. Understanding this genetic variation can provide insights into the evolutionary processes that shape both human adaptation and variation in disease. Populations from SSA have the highest levels of genetic diversity. This characteristic, in addition to historical genetic admixture, can lead to complexities in the design of studies assessing the genetic determinants of disease and human variation. However, such studies of African populations are also likely to provide new opportunities to discover novel disease susceptibility loci and variants and refine gene-disease association signals. A systematic assessment of genetic diversity within SSA would facilitate genomic epidemiological studies in the region. The Genome Diversity in Africa Project (GDAP) aims to produce a comprehensive catalogue of human genetic variation in SSA, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), structural variants, and haplotypes. This resource will make a substantial contribution to understanding patterns of genetic diversity within and among populations in SSA, as well as providing a global resource to help design, implement and interpret genomic studies in SSA populations and studies comprising globally diverse populations, complementing existing genomic resources. Specifically, we plan to carry out high depth whole genome sequencing of up to 2000 individuals across Africa (25 individuals from each ethnolinguistic group). Our scientific objectives are to: 1) develop a resource that provides a comprehensive catalogue of genetic variation in populations from SSA accessible to the global scientific community; 2) characterise population genetic diversity, structure, gene flow and admixture across SSA; 3) develop a cost-efficient, next-generation genotype array for diverse populations across SSA; and 4) facilitate whole genome-sequencing association studies of complex traits and diseases by developing a reference panel for imputation and resource for enhancing fine-mapping disease susceptibility loci. These scientific objectives will be supported by cross-cutting operational activities, including network and management of the consortium, research ethics, and research capacity building in statistical genetics and bioinformatics . This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2021-02-17.

  Dataset EGAD00001006976

• Fetal origins of malignant germ cell tumours

  Germ cell tumours (GCTs) are a collection of benign and malignant neoplasms derived from primordial germ cells (PGCs). They are uniquely able to generate embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, which in malignant GCTs carries prognostic and therapeutic significance. The developmental pathways underpinning GCT initiation and histogenesis are incompletely understood. Here, we studied the phylogenetic and transcriptional diversity of 15 malignant gonadal GCTs and four normal testis biopsies by sequencing 131 whole genomes and 416 transcriptomes from 14 gonadal histologies, excised by laser capture microdissection. Our findings demonstrate that tumours were initiated by whole genome duplication likely in embryogenesis, within ~5-8 cell divisions post-PGC specification, followed by chromosome 12p gains associated with invasive disease. Of note, 12p imbalances were not only generated through GCT-typical isochromosomes, but also through non-isochromosomic configurations. Whilst tumours developed along homogenous phylogenetic pathways, they spawned manifold tissues independent of genetic subclonal diversification. A key feature of GCT tissues was the expression of fetal-specific genes. The transcriptional diversity notwithstanding, we found universal transcriptional elements correlated with hallmark 12p gains. Overall, our study reveals stereotyped phylogenies and transcriptomes underpinning the development of GCT that originate in fetal life and may lend themselves to therapeutic manipulation.

  Dataset EGAD00001007037

• Phylogenetic reconstruction of adult blood cancer reveals early origins and lifelong evolution - WGS

  Mutations in cancer-associated genes drive tumour outgrowth. However, the timing of driver mutations and dynamics of clonal expansion that lead to human cancers are largely unknown. We used 580,133 somatic mutations from whole-genome sequencing of 1013 clonal haematopoietic colonies to reconstruct the phylogeny of haematopoiesis, from embryogenesis to clinical disease, in 12 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms which are blood cancers more common in older age. JAK2V617F, the pathognomonic mutation driving the majority of these cancers, was acquired in utero or childhood, with upper estimates of age of acquisition from 33 weeks gestation to 10.8 years, in all 5 patients in whom JAK2V617F was either the only or the first driver event.  Driver mutations associated with age-related clonal haematopoiesis occurred prior to or following JAK2V617F,  as independent clonal expansions in JAK2V617F-mutated patients, and as large clonal expansions in JAK2V617F-unmutated patients . These mutations were also acquired in utero or childhood, with DNMT3A mutations occurring by 8 weeks of gestation to 7.6 years across 4 patients, and PPM1D mutation occurring by age 5.8yrs in a patient with MPN lacking phenotypic driver mutations. Sequential driver mutation acquisition was common, separated by decades across life, and often outcompeted ancestral clones. The mean latency between JAK2V617F acquisition and clinical presentation was 30 years (range 11-54 years). Rates of clonal expansion were inferred from phylogenetic trees and varied substantially (3% to 190% expansion/year), were affected by additional driver mutations, and were predictive of latency to clinical presentation. Driver mutations and rates of expansion would have been detectable in blood one to four decades before clinical presentation. This study reveals how driver mutation acquisition early in life with life-long growth and evolution underlie adult myeloproliferative neoplasms, providing opportunities for early detection and intervention and a new paradigm for cancer development.

  Dataset EGAD00001007714

• Dataset RNAseq from regions of insitu and invasive human mammary ductal disease

  BAM files from RNAseq study from regions of insitu and invasive human mammary ductal disease

  Dataset EGAD00001008586

• Genomic Advances in Sepsis (GAinS): RNA-seq

  Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. This cohort comprises a subset of patients enrolled in the Genomic Advances in Sepsis (GAinS) study, an established biobank of adult sepsis patients. Patients with sepsis due to community acquired pneumonia or faecal peritonitis were recruited from 34 hospitals across the UK from 2005-2018, with samples for functional genomics and detailed clinical information collected on the first, third and/or fifth day following ICU admission. RNA was extracted from leukocytes isolated at the bedside using LeukoLOCK kits. We have previously identified sepsis response signatures (SRSs), transcriptomic endotypes that are associated with differential early mortality (Davenport et al, Lancet Respir Med, 2016; Burnham et al, AJRCCM, 2017) and response to treatment in a clinical trial (Antcliffe et al, AJRCCM, 2018). We generated RNA sequencing data on 903 samples, including 134 samples repeated from our previously released microarray data. Libraries were prepared using NEB Ultra II Library Prep kits (Illumina) and sequenced on a NovaSeq 6000. Reads were aligned to the reference genome (GRCh38) using STAR and gene counts quantified using featureCounts (annotation Ensembl v99). Counts were TMM-normalised and log-transformed. Following QC, processed data were available on 864 samples from 667 unique patients.

  Dataset EGAD00001008730

• Molecular risk stratification in patients with T1 colorectal cancer_WES

  The introduction of bowel cancer screening has led to a significant increase in the proportion of patients being diagnosed with asymptomatic, early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the majority of these patients are successfully treated with surgery alone, a small proportion of patients have 'born-to-be-bad' aggressive lesions with early dissemination leading to distant metastases. Current standard of care histological assessment is unable to distinguish between these aggressive versus non-aggressive early lesions which is essential to provide appropriate clinical management decisions. This study aims to carry out molecular and histological profiling of approximately 300 T1 CRCs in order to develop a molecular stratifier based on the risk of relapse in early-invasive CRC. This novel T1 cohort will represent the world's largest molecularly characterised T1 cohort of samples, with digital pathology assessment alongside whole exome sequencing, copy number variation analysis and 3' RNA-seq. This data will be used to generate a robust panel of molecular and/or histological markers applicable to formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) archival tissue which discriminates between T1 lesions based on risk of relapse, which will ultimately be used to inform clinical management of CRC at the earliest stages of the disease.

  Dataset EGAD00001010890

• Somatic mutation and selection at epidemiological scale - TwinsUK_RENanoSeq_Buccal

  Utilising restriction enzyme NanoSeq, we hope to explore the somatic mutation burden and mutational signatures in buccal cells from TwinsUK donors. Some donors have paired blood samples and data from this will help contextualise that work. All donors have paired Targeted NanoSeq data from buccal swabs. As we age, many tissues become colonised by microscopic clones carrying somatic driver mutations. Some of these clones represent a first step towards cancer whereas others may contribute to ageing and other diseases. However, our understanding of the clonal landscapes of human tissues, and their impact on cancer risk, ageing and disease, remains limited due to the challenge of detecting somatic mutations present in small numbers of cells. Here, we introduce a new version of nanorate sequencing (NanoSeq), a duplex sequencing method with error rates of less than 5 per billion base pairs, which is compatible with whole-exome and targeted gene sequencing. Deep sequencing of polyclonal samples with single-molecule sensitivity enables the simultaneous detection of mutations in large numbers of clones, yielding accurate somatic mutation rates, mutational signatures and driver mutation frequencies in any tissue. Applying targeted NanoSeq to 1,042 non-invasive samples of oral epithelium and 371 samples of blood from a twin cohort, we found an unprecedentedly rich landscape of selection, with 46 genes under positive selection driving clonal expansions in the oral epithelium, over 62,000 driver mutations, and evidence of negative selection in some genes. The high number of positively selected mutations in multiple genes provides high-resolution maps of selection across coding and non-coding sites, a form of in vivo saturation mutagenesis. Multivariate regression models enable mutational epidemiology studies on how carcinogenic exposures and cancer risk factors, such as age, tobacco or alcohol, alter the acquisition and selection of somatic mutations. Accurate single-molecule sequencing has the potential to unveil the polyclonal landscape of any tissue, providing a powerful tool to study early carcinogenesis, cancer prevention and the role of somatic mutations in ageing and disease.

  Dataset EGAD00001015621

• Somatic mutation and selection at epidemiological scale - Sanger_NanoSeq_RandD

  Bottleneck sequencing of human tissue including neurons, cord blood, sperm 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 (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/. As we age, many tissues become colonised by microscopic clones carrying somatic driver mutations. Some of these clones represent a first step towards cancer whereas others may contribute to ageing and other diseases. However, our understanding of the clonal landscapes of human tissues, and their impact on cancer risk, ageing and disease, remains limited due to the challenge of detecting somatic mutations present in small numbers of cells. Here, we introduce a new version of nanorate sequencing (NanoSeq), a duplex sequencing method with error rates of less than 5 per billion base pairs, which is compatible with whole-exome and targeted gene sequencing. Deep sequencing of polyclonal samples with single-molecule sensitivity enables the simultaneous detection of mutations in large numbers of clones, yielding accurate somatic mutation rates, mutational signatures and driver mutation frequencies in any tissue. Applying targeted NanoSeq to 1,042 non-invasive samples of oral epithelium and 371 samples of blood from a twin cohort, we found an unprecedentedly rich landscape of selection, with 46 genes under positive selection driving clonal expansions in the oral epithelium, over 62,000 driver mutations, and evidence of negative selection in some genes. The high number of positively selected mutations in multiple genes provides high-resolution maps of selection across coding and non-coding sites, a form of in vivo saturation mutagenesis. Multivariate regression models enable mutational epidemiology studies on how carcinogenic exposures and cancer risk factors, such as age, tobacco or alcohol, alter the acquisition and selection of somatic mutations. Accurate single-molecule sequencing has the potential to unveil the polyclonal landscape of any tissue, providing a powerful tool to study early carcinogenesis, cancer prevention and the role of somatic mutations in ageing and disease.

  Dataset EGAD00001015624

• Intratumoral Heterogeneity and Clonal Evolution Induced by HPV Integration.

  The human papillomavirus (HPV) genome is integrated into host DNA in most HPV-positive cancers, but the consequences for chromosomal integrity are unknown. Continuous long-read sequencing of oropharyngeal cancers and cancer cell lines revealed a unique form of structural variation, termed heterocateny here, characterized by heterogeneous, interrelated, and repetative patterns of concatemerized virus and host DNA segments. Evidence of heterocateny was detected in extrachromosomal and/or intrachromosomal DNA in all cases. Unique breakpoint sequences shared across structurally heterogeneous virus-host concatemers within each cancer facilitated stepwise reconstruction of their evolution from a common molecular ancestor. This analysis revealed that unstable virus and virus-host concatemers in ecDNA or integrated form mediate insertion into and excision from chromosomes, capture, rearrangement, and rolling-circle amplification of host DNA, and chromosomal rearrangements. The data indicate that heterocatena is driven by the dynamic, aberrant replication and recombination of an oncogenic DNA virus, thereby extending known consequences of HPV integration to include promotion of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and clonal evolution.

  Study EGAS00001006652

• Characterization_of_individual_foci_of_multicentric_multifocal_breast_cancer_using_targeted_next_generation_sequencing

  Multifocality or multicentricity in breast cancer may be defined as the presence of two or more tumor foci within a single quadrant of the breast or within different quadrants of the same breast, respectively. This original classification of the breast cancer as multicentric or multifocal was based on the assumption that cancers arising in the same quadrant were more likely to arise from the same ductal structures than those occurring in separate areas of the breast. The problem with these definitions is that the “quadrants” of the breast are arbitrary external designations, as no internal boundaries do exist. This project will therefore focus both on synchronous multifocal and multicentric tumors. The incidence of multifocal and multicentric breast cancers was reported to be between 13 and 75% depending on the definition used, the extent of the pathologic sampling of the breast and whether in situ disease is considered evidence of multicentricity (1). Although this incidence is variable, those figures show that it is a frequent phenomenon. Multiple (multifocal/multicentric) breast carcinomas, especially when occurring in the same breast, represent a real challenge for both pathologists and clinicians in terms of identifying the cellular origin and the best therapeutic management of the cancer. Multifocality or multicentricity has been associated with a number of more aggressive features including an increased rate of regional lymph node metastases and adverse patient outcome when compared with unifocal tumors (2-3), and a possible increased risk of local recurrence following breast conserving surgery (4). For the moment, the literature is divided on whether there is a corresponding impact on survival outcomes. Today, the current convention to stage and to treat multifocal and multicentric tumors is the classical tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging guidelines with which tumor size is assessed by the largest tumor focus without taking other foci of disease into consideration. If some papers, as the recent one from Lynch and colleagues, support the current staging convention (3), others, however, as Boyages et al. suggested that aggregate size and not the size of the largest lesion should be considered in order to refine the prognostic assessment of those tumors (5). On the top of that, the question whether multifocal/multicentric carcinomas are due to the spread of a single carcinoma throughout the breast or is due to multiple carcinomas arising simultaneously has been a matter of debate. Some studies suggested that multifocal breast cancer may result from either intramammary spread from a single primary tumor or multiple synchronous primary tumors; whereas others suggest that multiple breast carcinomas always arise from the same clone (6-8). Recently, Pietri and colleagues analyzed the biological characterization of a series of 113 multifocal/multicentric breast cancers (8) which were diagnosed over a 5-year period. The expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors, Ki-67 proliferative index, expression of HER2 and tumor grading were prospectively determined in each tumor focus, and mismatches among foci were recorded. Mismatches in ER status were present in 5 (4.4%) cases and PgR in 18 (15.9%) cases. Mismatches in tumor grading were present in 21 cases (18.6%), proliferative index (Ki-67) in 17 (15%) cases and HER2 status in 11 (9.7%) cases. Interestingly, this heterogeneity among foci has led to 14 (12.4%) patients receiving different adjuvant treatments compared with what would have been indicated if we had only taken into account the biologic status of the primary tumor. This study therefore showed that differences in biological characteristics of multifocal/multicentric lesions play a crucial role in the adjuvant treatment decision making process. In this study, we will concentrate on a larger series of patients with multifocal invasive ductal breast cancer lesions. We aim at: 1. Evaluating the incidence of multifocality according to the different breast cancer molecular subtypes (ER-/HER2-, HER2+, ER+/HER2-). 2. Evaluating the incidence of multifocality in patients with hereditary breast cancer disease (presence of germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations). Moreover, we would like to investigate if multifocal lesions with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations exhibit a characteristic combination of substitution mutation signatures and a distinctive profile of deletions as demonstrated recently by Nik-Zainal and colleagues (9). 3. Correlating multifocality with clinical information in order to define its influence on patients’ survival (DFS and OS). 4. Carrying high coverage targeted gene sequencing of driver cancer genes and genes whose mutation is of therapeutic importance in order to compare clinically-relevant genetic differences between several multifocal breast cancer lesions. 5. Evaluating the impact of the distance between the different lesions on the clinical outcome but also on the genetic differences. 6. Comparing gene expression patterns between several multifocal breast cancer lesions and correlate them with the results of the targeted genes screen. 7. Characterizing the genomic and transcriptomic status of cancer related genes in metastatic lesions (local recurrence, positive lymph node or distant metastatic sites) from the same multifocal invasive ductal breast cancer patients in order to evaluate the consequence of genomic and transcriptomic heterogeneity of multifocal lesions on metastatic lesions. Multiple (multifocal/multicentric) breast carcinomas, especially when occurring in the same breast, represent a real challenge for both pathologists and clinicians in terms of identifying the cellular origin and the best therapeutic choice. This project has the potential to identify genetic/transcriptomic differences existing between several lesions constituting multifocal breast cancers, which in the routine clinical practice are usually considered to be homogeneous among them. We foresee validating significant results in a larger series of patients and this, in turn, could have a remarkable impact on the treatment and clinical management of multifocal breast cancers. Indeed, we hope to provide some evidence whether or not each focus matters in multifocal and multicentric breast cancer to define the adequate therapeutic approach, especially in the context of targeted therapies. The work to be done at Sanger will be target gene screen pooling of 1400 samples.

  Study EGAS00001000407

• Submitter Portal

  Submitter Portal The Submitter Portal does not support array submissions! Please refer to the array documentationAny new objects registered in the Submitter Portal will not be available for use in an array submission For further information please check our Submission FAQs, submission quickguide as well as submission terms! The metadata submission process can be difficult and time-consuming. For this reason, the EGA has developed the Submitter Portal, a tool that was created to offer a simplified and user-friendly method of registering metadata. Our portal provides features that are intended to make the input of metadata easier, ensuring that your data is registered correctly and effectively. Our page is divided into logical sections and includes a helpful video instruction to further assist you as you complete the submission process. With the Submitter Portal, you can rest assured that the submission of your data is in good hands. Submitter Portal Index Previous steps Access to Submitter Portal Start a Submission Take The Tour Tutorial Previous steps Create your EGA account To submit data, you first need to create your EGA user. Then, once your account has been verified by the Help Desk team, you will be able to request a submitter role and send the EGA Data Processing Agreement (DPA). In the case you already have an EGA account, or an ega-box (submission account), you can skip this step. Upload your files Please note that all your files must be encrypted using the Crypt4GH tool before upload them.As soon as you are assigned with a submitter role and added your public key to your profile, you will be able to connect to the EGA inbox and upload your files. Understand the EGA metadata schema It's crucial to comprehend the EGA metadata schema, a set of rules that specify how data is organised, described, and shared inside the EGA, in order to get the most out of this resource. Learn all about EGA metadata schema! Register your DAC and policy There are two objects in the EGA metadata schema that are registered in a separate portal. All DACs and policy objects are registered using the DAC Portal, a tool developed by EGA to help data controllers manage their data stored at the EGA. You can find relevant information in the DAC Portal Guide. Access to Submitter Portal 1. Request Submitter Role Once you have created your EGA user, request a Submitter Role and complete relevant information such as submission type and size. 2. Signature of the Data Processing Agreement The Data Processing Agreement (DPA) signed by CRG and EMBL-EBI (Joint Data Processors for the EGA) can be downloaded to the submitter for its signature. Further information related to the DPA can be in the Privacy Notice section. The DPA should be signed by a legal representative of the submitter with power of attorney/appointment duly authorised to sign contracts on behalf of the institution. The submitter will return a fully-executed copy of the DPA to us. Please note that due to the high volume of submissions to EGA the DPA is non-negotiable. Once you have completed all the information and attached the DPA signed, send your Submitter request and the EGA Helpdesk Team will validate it and send a confirmation to start submitting your metadata. Start a Submission The steps below will show you how to start a submission and are accompanied with a tutorial and the Take the tour of Submitter Portal. 1. Login Go to the Submitter Portal interface and log in using your EGA account credentials. 2. Create a submission The Submitter Portal interface will show you any already existing open submissions. To start a new submission, click on “Create a Submission”.In this phase, you have the option to add any collaborator(s) as well as their permissions (“Read only”, “Read & Write” or “Full Access”). Please note that to add a collaborator, they must also have a submitter role. When adding a collaborator, please enter the user’s full email address in the search field and select the user. For security reasons, the portal does not display partial matches, so the full email address must be entered.The collaborator option is available while the submission is open. In the event that the submission is closed, you will need to reopen it. To do this, you only need to make a small modification in any objects within the submission, for example, copy and paste a title or description of the submission. Once the submission is open, you can add a collaborator. Further information can be found in the Submission Tour 3. Create Study Click on Add Study and complete the form with the relevant information. The fields with an asterisk (*) are mandatory. Further information can be found in the Submission Tour4. Create Sample Sample registration can be done either individually or in batches by using a template. Batch upload: download the template and complete it with information about the sequencing samples. Upload the samples.csv, and the sample will be created.Add a single sample: complete the mandatory fields with the metadata information of your sample.  Further information can be found in the Submission Tour5. Create Experiment Register an experiment with ​information about the sequencing methods, protocols, and machines. Experiments generate the connection between the samples and the study. Further information can be found in the Submission Tour6. Create Run Samples, experiments, and files are linked through runs. To register a run, you will be asked to select the appropriate experiment and the file format. Run registration can be done either individually or in batches by using a template. Batch upload: download the template and complete it with the sample file linkage. Upload the run.csv, and the runs will register.As the INBOX is a directory, bear in mind to include the file path (/). Example: /filename.c4gh.Add single run: select the file format, sample, and experiment from the drop box. For re-using submitted samples, please use the EGA accession ID (EGANXXX). Please note that files must be uploaded to your inbox before linking your files and samples. Further information can be found in the Submission Tour7. Create Analysis Analysis should be only used for BAM/BAI or CRAM/CRAI pair, VCF, and phenotype linkage to samples. The analysis is an EGA-specific metadata object that links samples to files. This object also stores some metadata about your experiments, such as the experiment type, genome reference, or the platform used. **If only BAM or CRAM alignment files are submitted but not the original unaligned FASTQ files, then please make sure that the BAM or CRAM files also contain the unaligned reads. This is critical to enable primary re-analysis and re-alignment of the dataset using new tools or future genome assemblies.** Start by selecting the samples to be linked to the file, and then populate the required attribute fields. Please be aware of the existence of mandatory fields that must be populated.When populating the chromosome field (mandatory), please select the chromosomes from the checkbox. Please take in consideration that EGA allows for the re-use of any registered metadata. Therefore, a previously registered study or samples can be referenced for the analysis in the current data submission.Further information can be found in the Submission Tour 8. Create Dataset Dataset contains the collection of runs/analysis data files subjected to controlled access by being associated with a Policy. Complete the mandatory fields such as title, description, type and policy. Please, take in consideration that DAC and Policy must be registered in advance in the DAC Portal. Similar to other metadata objects, you can re-use previous runs or analyses, using their EGA accessions IDs (runs - EGAR, analyses - EGAZ). If you would like your dataset to be added to the cBioPortal instance, please review the cBioPortal documentation.Further information can be found in the Submission Tour 9. Finalise submission Once the files are ingested, please delete them from your SFTP INBOX after finalising your submission. This will prevent the files from reappearing in your Submitter Portal Inbox. Once you have completed your submission, click on the Finalise button and schedule an estimated release date. Afterwards, your submission will be sent to Helpdesk for approval. Please note that once the Helpdesk has approved your submission, you will receive the identifiers for your data. See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information. 10. Update closed submission If you want to append more files to a closed submission, you will need to reopen the submission where the dataset is registered.Please note that you can only modify datasets that begin with the ID EGAD5XXXXXXX.  Find the Submission: go to the Submitter Portal Menu -> Datasets section and find the submission ID (EGA0XXX). Reopen the submission where the dataset is located: to reopen a submission, simply register new metadata, such as runs or analyses, and the submission will automatically reopen and appear on the main page. You can also do a small edition, such as copying and pasting a title or description. Take The Tour The Submitter Portal Take The Tour is a visual guide of all the steps described previously about how to start a submission. Tutorial In this tutorial, we will show you how to use the Submitter Portal to register your metadata. Please note the video focuses on the run-based submission (for raw files - fastq - and aligned data - BAM/CRAM) and analysis-based submission (for your BAM/BAI pairs, variation -VCF - and phenotype files).

  Documentation submission/metadata/submission/sequencing-phenotype/submitter-portal

• Genomic Diagnosis and Individualized Therapy of Highly Penetrant Genetic Diabetes

  The most common and well-known causes of diabetes are type 1 and type 2 diabetes; however, there are many other etiologies of diabetes. At least 1-2% of diabetes cases result from high penetrance single gene defects, most commonly in a gene encoding either a transcription factor involved in beta cell development and function or the enzyme glucokinase (GCK). Others have mutations in transcription factors necessary for beta cell development and function. This subset of monogenic diabetes cases is autosomal dominant and is known as "Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young" (MODY). Patients with type 1 diabetes are insulin dependent, meaning they lack insulin production and therefore require multiple daily injections of insulin, as well as multiple times a day blood glucose monitoring. This can be quite burdensome. Type 2 diabetes is predominantly an insulin resistance problem and can often be managed with pills initially, but there are many who also require insulin either at diagnosis or later on in their disease course. Usually, monogenic diabetes is misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes and thus treated suboptimally. Those with monogenic diabetes, due to a defect in a gene encoding a transcription factor, respond extremely well to a class of oral diabetes medications called sulfonylureas. Those with GCK-MODY often have a mild, stable, fasting, nonprogressive hyperglycemia for which pharmacological treatment is often not necessary. It is important to accurately diagnose our patients with the correct etiology to their diabetes for a multitude of reasons. Accurately diagnosing a patient with MODY, for example, can predict their clinical course and we can tailor treatment accordingly. If diagnosed with a transcription factor MODY, we can try switching the patient from insulin to an oral sulfonylurea, and if diagnosed with a GCK-MODY, we can consider discontinuing pharmacological treatment altogether. With specific tailoring of treatment, we would hope to improve quality of life by discontinuing perhaps multiple daily injections of insulin and glucose checking as these may not be necessary. In addition, we would hope to improve glycemic control with an eventual decreased cost to society by decreasing the complication rate of diabetes, resulting in less specialty referrals, lab tests, supplies and procedures. Further, given MODY is an autosomal dominant condition with a 50% chance of inheritance to first-degree family members, we could offer testing to asymptomatic family members which could lead to prevention and/or early diagnosis and treatment. Overall, testing for monogenic diabetes is underutilized clinically. Testing is being done in the U.K., but in the U.S. we are lagging behind. This is most predominantly due to lack of knowledge and concern over cost. In addition, it is difficult to differentiate the relatively small number of monogenic diabetes cases from the larger number with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as each of these etiologies have overlapping characteristics. In fact, many patients with monogenic diabetes are being misdiagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There are recommendations set forth by different societies on who to consider screening for monogenic diabetes. However, these recommendations are difficult to employ clinically as they are general recommendations, there is no specific algorithm, and they are based on varying levels of evidence. The purpose of this study is to implement a personalized diabetes medicine program to enhance the identification of individuals and families affected by highly penetrant diabetes gene mutations through a combination of systematic screening and genetic testing at the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, the Baltimore VA Medical Center and additional partner centers at Geisinger Health System and Bay West Endocrinology Associates, and other UM outpatient clinics. Our hope is to develop an approach that can be eventually implemented across the United States so that we can more often uncover the correct etiology to diabetes, tailor treatment accordingly, and test asymptomatic family members.

  Study phs001771

• Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) and Disparities and Cancer Epidemiology - Colorectal Cancer (DANCE)

  The goals for this study were as follows:1. Enroll a total of 5,060 African Americans newly diagnosed with cancer into the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (Detroit ROCS) Cohort. These population-based cases will be ascertained through the Detroit Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS), a founding member of the NCI SEER Program. Participation at baseline will include a written, web-based, or telephone interview, saliva and/or blood collection, and tumor block retrieval, with detailed cancer-related information coming from the MDCSS registry and medical records.2. Enroll a subgroup of colorectal cancer patients identified through the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR). An additional 500 colorectal cancer patients, approximately half non-Hispanic white and half African American, will be identified through the LTR and enrolled into the ROCS protocol. The survey is the same survey administered to the ROCS cohort. The Louisiana (“DANCE-CRC”) cohort will not be followed beyond baseline, and blood will not be collected (tumor tissue, however, will be collected, deidentified, and sent for processing through Dr. Rozek's laboratory at Georgetown University).The proposed cohorts will provide for a broad research agenda evaluating cancer outcomes in African Americans across a variety of factors from individual, provider, health care system and community perspectives. These factors include tumor characteristics driving individualized treatment planning, quality of life after a diagnosis and recurrence. Utilizing the MDCSS registry, we will enroll a large population-based sample of African-American cases with lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers and their caregivers resulting in a cohort that will provide substantial benefit to the cancer research community. KCI has a strong history of research in the African-American community and the faculty represents a breadth of experience that includes clinical oncology, genetic epidemiology, environmental exposures, quality of life, treatment decision making, racism/discrimination, and health behaviors. Drs. Schwartz and Beebe-Dimmer have been and will continue to be generous collaborators with other institutions to ensure that this resource will be extensively utilized. The proposed overall cohort will be the only one of its kind, to our knowledge, filling a substantial gap in our understanding of the determinants driving cancer outcomes in African Americans. In addition to registry data detailing cancer specifics, yearly surveys have collected information about individualized treatment experiences, heath histories, family histories, quality of life after a diagnosis, recurrence and caregiving. Population: Adult cancer survivors (see inclusion criteria in next section) Molecular Technologies: Genotyping: Infinium Expanded Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array (MEGAEX) DNA Sequencing: Illumina NovaSeq X Plus using XLEAP-SBS (sequencing by synthesis) Whole genome sequencingPrincipal Findings: The preliminary data collected reinforces differences by race in factors affecting cancer outcomes. Variants in DNA damage repair genes and HOXB13 may be important cancer risk factors for Black men diagnosed with prostate cancer, and are more frequently observed in men with a family history of cancer. ROCS participants reported high rates of a family history of cancer. The high rate of eligibility for Cancer genetic counseling among ROCS participants supports the need for interventions to increase referrals and uptake of genetic counseling among African Americans 60% of ROCS participants reported participating in regular physical activity (PA), with 24% reporting ≥150 min/wk. There were no differences by sex, but prostate cancer survivors were the most likely to report participating in regular PA, whereas lung cancer survivors were the least likely. Survivors who reported participating in regular PA reported higher health-related quality of life and lower depression. More African American than White survivors reported financial hardship and limiting care. More White than African American survivors reported utilizing assets, while more African American survivors reported cancer-related debt. Data available in dbGaP: Individual phenotype data Individual genotype data Individual sequencing dataSample types: Germline DNA

  Study phs003116

• Mechanisms of Therapy Driven Clonal Evolution in Oncogenic RAS Mutant Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  Although multi-agent combination chemotherapy is curative in a significant fraction of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, 20% of cases relapse and most die due to chemo-refractory disease. Here we used whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing to analyze the mutational landscape and pattern of clonal evolution at relapse in pediatric ALL cases. These analyses showed that ALL relapses originate from a common ancestral precursor clone of the diagnosis and relapsed populations and frequently harbor mutations implicated in chemotherapy resistance. RAS-MAPK pathway activating mutations in NRAS, KRAS and PTPN11 were present in 24/55 (44%) cases in our series. Notably, while some cases showed emergence of RAS mutant clones at relapse, in others, RAS mutant clones present at diagnosis were replaced by RAS wild type populations. Mechanistically, functional dissection of mouse and human wild type Kras and mutant Kras (Kras G12D) isogenic leukemia cells demonstrated induction of methotrexate resistance, but also improved response to vincristine, in mutant Kras- expressing lymphoblasts. These results identify chemotherapy driven selection as a central mechanism of leukemia clonal evolution and pave the road for the development of tailored personalized therapies for the treatment of relapsed ALL.

  Study phs001072

• Transcriptome of Chronic Pain and Disease

  The Functional Genomics Section (FGS) is a part of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Research at the FGS focuses on understanding the mechanics involved in nociception through both clinical samples from patients with chronic pain and mouse models of pain. Pain is relayed from the periphery to the central nervous system through specialized sensory neurons known as nociceptors. The cell body of nociceptors resides in neuronal structures that branch off of the spinal cord known as dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The DRG is a heterogenous tissue containing not only sensory neurons like nociceptors, but also glial cells, capillaries, fibroblasts, and resident macrophages. The interaction between the nociceptors and these DRG cell types can have a significant role in affecting neuronal hyperexcitability and downstream pain sensitivity. To better understand the cellular factors involved in producing conditions of chronic pain, DRGs from consenting organ donors were collected from individuals experiencing pain disorders such as painful diabetic neuropathy and rheumatoid arthritis. A multi-omics approach is being used to identify molecular mechanisms that lead to pain hypersensitivity in patients with chronic pain.  

  Study phs002548

• Detection of Genes Predisposing to Hematologic Malignancies

  We have been conducting genetic studies on families at high risk of different hematologic malignancies, in order to define the related tumors in the families, define precursor and other related conditions, and map and identify susceptibility genes. We have focused mainly on four types of lymphoid malignancies: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). A few families with a rare lymphoma subtype, hairy cell leukemia (HCL) are included. In addition, single large pedigrees with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and juvenile myelomocytic leukemia (JMML) are included. Families are ascertained for having at least two patients with the same hematologic malignancy and are classified by the type of malignancy that predominates in the family. Multiple types of lymphoid malignancies are often found in the same family. Other data has shown that these conditions aggregate together in families. Verification of cancer diagnoses is obtained through medical records, pathology reports, and flow cytometry. Family members with precursor traits are also included, monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) in CLL families and IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in WM families.

  Study phs001219

• Epigenomes and Transcriptomes of Brain Samples of Schizophrenics and Controls

  We examined the effects of antipsychotic medications on the cell-specific epigenomics and transcriptomics in the frontal cortex of schizophrenic subjects. We performed ChIP-seq (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) and RNA-seq on neuronal and non-neuronal nuclei of postmortem frontal cortex samples from two cohorts of schizophrenics, either previously treated or not with antipsychotic medications, and control subjects individually matched by sex and age. In total, we tested 29 schizophrenics (15 untreated and 14 treated patients) and their matched control samples. Two replicates were produced on each brain sample for each assay. ChIP-seq data were generated using MOWChIP-seq (Zhu et al., PMID: 31666743) and RNA-seq data were produced using the combination of SMART-seq2 (Picelli et al., PMID: 24385147) and a Nextera XT DNA library preparation kit. The filename contains the information on the experimental group, the number of the sample within the group, the type of the brain nuclei, the epigenomic/transcriptomic data set (either H3K27ac or mRNA), and the number of replicate. For example, “SCZ-1-untreated-neuron-H3K4me3-R1” refers untreated schizophrenic sample #1, replicate 1 ChIP-seq data on H3K4me3.

  Study phs002487

• Clonal Evolution and Transcriptomic Analysis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Ibrutinib

  Disease progression has been increasingly appreciated with the use of ibrutinib to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Understanding the pattern of clonal evolution and transcriptomic changes during the early treatment period with ibrutinib may provide insight into the mechanisms of resistance. We performed whole exome sequencing on sequential samples with matched germline controls from 61 patients with CLL during the first 12 months of ibrutinib monotherapy or ibrutinib in combination with rituximab. Additionally, RNA sequencing was done on a subset of 14 patients treated with ibrutinib monotherapy. The presence of clonal shifts was associated with an increased risk of disease progression, suggesting that resistant clones are more likely to emerge in CLL with greater evolutionary capacity.This cohort was later augmented with additional data (including data from 15 additional patients). In total, this second set of data contained whole exome sequencing (31 samples), RNA sequencing (6 samples) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (67 samples) for CLL samples and used them to identify expression subtypes of CLL. In an integrative analysis of genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data, incorporating known and newly identified subtypes of CLL, we built new models to improve patient prognostication.

  Study phs001473

• E5103 Correlative Studies

  ECOG-ACRIN E5103 (E5103) was a phase III adjuvant breast cancer trial that randomized 4994 patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer to intravenous doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide every 2 or 3 weeks (at the discretion of treating physician), for four cycles of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by 12 weeks of weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) alone (Arm A), or to the same chemotherapy with either concurrent bevacizumab (Arm B), or concurrent plus sequential bevacizumab (Arm C). To develop predictive genetic biomarkers for chemotherapy efficacy and toxicities, we have successfully performed genome-wide genotyping and whole exome sequencing in the germline (blood) DNA of 3215 and 672 patients, respectively, from the E5103 trial to investigate the association of genetic variants with chemotherapy efficacy and toxicities. Case and control studies were performed with genome-wide analyses (GWAS) and whole exome analyses (WES) across all arms of E5103 to identify genotypes at single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and deleterious gene mutations that were associated with paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN). Through GWAS, we have identified a SNP, rs3125923, and through WES, Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR), that was significantly associated with grade 3-4 TIPN.

  Study phs003201

• The Genomic Landscape of Endocrine Resistant Advanced Breast Cancers: Paired Pre- and Post-endocrine Therapy Samples.

  The genomic evolution of breast cancers exposed to systemic therapy and its effects on clinical outcome have not been broadly characterized. We integrated the genomic sequencing of 1918 breast cancers, including 1501 hormone receptor-positive tumors, with detailed clinical information and treatment outcomes. Functional mutations in ERBB2 and loss-of-function mutations in NF1 were more than twice as common in post-endocrine therapy tumors compared to treatment-naive tumors. Additional alterations in the MAPK pathway (EGFR, KRAS among others) and in estrogen receptor transcriptional regulators (MYC, CTCF, FOXA1 and TBX3) were also more common compared to hormonal therapy-naive tumors. To determine whether candidate genomic lesions in the MAPK pathway and estrogen receptor transcriptional regulators were present prior to therapy or whether such lesions arose under the selective pressure of therapy, we performed whole-exome sequencing in select patients who had adequate samples acquired prior to and after progression on endocrine therapy. In total, 95 specimens corresponding to 30 treatment-naive primary tumors, 35 post-treatment tumors, and 30 normal samples were sequenced from 30 patients with endocrine-resistant metastatic breast cancer.

  Study phs001674

• Urethral Microbiome of Adolescent Males

  Urethral microbiome of adolescent males is designed to characterize the microbial communities resident in the urethra of young men, to identify differences in these communities as a function of race/ethnicity, circumcision status, sexual exposures, and uro-genital symptoms. We collect detailed sexual behavior and symptoms data using cellular telephones with Internet access. Specimens are routinely collected at monthly intervals, and intermittently following reported symptoms, specific sexual exposures, or identification of a sexually transmitted infection. We also collect periodic samples from the penile coronal sulcus to better characterize its relationship to the urethral micriobial communities. Participants are ages 14 - 17 at enrollment, and prior history of sexual exposure is not required for participation. Parental permission is obtained for each participant. The planned duration of followup is up to 4 years allowing for prospective observation of both physical and behavioral maturation from middle adolescence into young adulthood. The overall objectives of the project are to better characterize the healthy male urethral microbiome, and to use this information to better understand acquisition of urethritis and sexually transmitted infections, as well as chronic genital pain and prostatitis syndromes that become common among young adults.

  Study phs000259

• High response rate to anti PD-1 therapy in desmoplastic melanoma

  Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare subtype of melanoma characterized by dense fibrous stroma, resistance to chemotherapy and a lack of actionable driver mutations, but is highly associated with ultraviolet light DNA damage. We analysed 60 patients with advanced DM treated with programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) blocking antibody therapy. Objective tumor responses were observed in 42 of the 60 patients (70%, 95% confidence interval 57-81%), including 19 patients (32% overall) with a complete response. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a high mutational load and frequent NF-1 mutations (14 out of 17 cases). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis from 19 DM and 13 non-DM revealed a higher percentage of PD-L1 positive cells in the tumor parenchyma in DM (p = 0.04), highly associated with increased CD8 density and PD-L1 expression in the tumor invasive margin. Therefore, patients with advanced DM derive significant clinical benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy despite being a cancer defined by its dense desmoplastic fibrous stroma. The benefit is likely derived from the high mutational burden and a frequent pre-existing adaptive immune response limited by PD-L1 expression.

  Study phs001469

• Pharmacogenomics of HIV Therapy - Atazanavir Bilirubin-related Side Effects

  This is an evaluation of genetic associations with atazanavir (ATV) discontinuation for bilirubin-related causes within 12 months of treatment. Patients were treated at an HIV primary care clinic in Nashville TN from 1998 to 2012. A previously known SNP in UGT1A1 (rs887829) was used to define metabolizer genotypes (extensive, intermediate, slow metabolizer). Over 500,000 SNPs from genome-wide genotyping were used to define MDS (Multidimensional Scaling) coordinates to account for population stratification. Patients were defined as cases if they discontinued ATV for bilirubin-related causes within 12 months of treatment, otherwise they were defined as controls if they did not stop treatment. Among 321 evaluable patients, 15 (4.6%) had bilirubin-related atazanavir discontinuation within 12 months. Homozygosity for rs887829 T/T was present in 28.1% of black, 21.4% of Hispanic, and 8.6% of white patients. Among all patients the hazard ratio (HR) for bilirubin-related discontinuation with T/T versus C/C genotype was 7.3 (95% C.I.: 1.7 to 31.5; p = 0.007). Among 152 white patients the HR was 14.4 (95% CI: 2.6 to 78.7; p = 0.002), but among 153 black patients the HR was 0.8 (95% C.I. 0.05 to 12.7; p = 0.87).

  Study phs001484

• Mechanisms of Restoring T Cell Immunity after Cure of Chronic Viral Infection

  We analyzed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells and non-specific memory T cell populations from 6 patients with chronic HCV infection receiving 12 weeks of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy with aritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir + dasabuvir + ribavirin. All patients were treated successfully. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from blood draws right before treatment initiation (Pre-DAA) and 12 months after the end of treatment (Post-DAA). In each patient, HCV-specific cells were sorted using two different HCV multimers: One representing an epitope present in the circulating HCV genome and one epitope where the virus had escaped the T cell response and thus the corresponding T cells did not receive a TCR signal in vivo. Sorted specific T-cell populations and memory T cell subpopulations were analyzed by extracting RNA and performing RNA sequencing using the Smart-Seq2 protocol. A group of 8 patients with acute self-limited HCV infection (resolvers) were included as control representing natural control of infection. These patients were studied 24 weeks after their last detectable HCV viremia. Finally, we confirmed the data from chronically treated patients in a confirmatory cohort, consisting of 9 patients after successful antiviral treatment.

  Study phs002510

• Transcriptomic Characterization of Human Innate T Cells

  We performed low input RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq on 7 lymphocyte populations with the objective of finding the common transcriptional programs shared among innate T cells. In brief, we drew blood from healthy donors and isolated CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, Natural Killer cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and two γδ T cell populations: Vδ1 and Vδ2. We performed low input RNA-seq on samples with 1000 cells each, for 6 healthy individuals, in duplicate. We performed single-cell RNA-seq with DNA-barcoded hashing antibodies to identify the cell type of origin for each cell. We found a common transcriptional program across lymphocytes that is gradually turned on as lymphocytes have a more "innateness" state, promoting effector functions and sacrificing proliferative capacity. Additionally, we performed low input RNA-seq for Vδ3-expressing γδ T cells and δ/αβ T cells for one healthy individual in duplicate (1000 cells per sample). This revealed δ/αβ T cells are transcriptionally more adaptive-like and Vδ3 more innate-like.

  Study phs002007

• An APOBEC Cytidine Deaminase Mutagenesis in Human Cancers

  Reprinted from Roberts et al. "An APOBEC cytidine deaminase mutagenesis pattern is widespread in human cancers", Nature Genetics, 45:970-976, 2013, with permission of Nature Publishing Group: Recent studies indicate that a subclass of APOBEC cytidine deaminases, which convert cytosine to uracil during RNA editing and retrovirus or retrotransposon restriction, may induce mutation clusters in human tumors. We show here that throughout cancer genomes APOBEC-mediated mutagenesis is pervasive and correlates with APOBEC mRNA levels. Mutation clusters in whole-genome and exome data sets conformed to the stringent criteria indicative of an APOBEC mutation pattern. Applying these criteria to 954,247 mutations in 2,680 exomes from 14 cancer types, mostly from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), showed a significant presence of the APOBEC mutation pattern in bladder, cervical, breast, head and neck, and lung cancers, reaching 68% of all mutations in some samples. Within breast cancer, the HER2-enriched subtype was clearly enriched for tumors with the APOBEC mutation pattern, suggesting that this type of mutagenesis is functionally linked with cancer development. The APOBEC mutation pattern also extended to cancer-associated genes, implying that ubiquitous APOBEC-mediated mutagenesis is carcinogenic.

  Study phs000677

• NHLBI GO-ESP: Family Studies (Familial Interstitial Pneumonia)

  The NHLBI "Grand Opportunity" Exome Sequencing Project (GO-ESP), a signature project of the NHLBI Recovery Act investment, was designed to identify genetic variants in coding regions (exons) of the human genome (the "exome") that are associated with heart, lung and blood diseases. These and related diseases that are of high impact to public health and individuals from diverse racial and ethnic groups will be studied. These data may help researchers understand the causes of disease, contributing to better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, as well as determine whether to tailor prevention and treatments to specific populations. This could lead to more effective treatments and reduce the likelihood of side effects. GO-ESP is comprised of five collaborative components: 3 cohort consortia - HeartGO, LungGO, and WHISP - and 2 sequencing centers - BroadGO and SeattleGO. The Familial Interstitial Pneumonia (FIP) project seeks to identify genetic variants in coding regions of the human genome that are linked to FIP by examining the coding regions among relatives with FIP. These data will be used in conjunction with our other genetic studies to help us better understand how and why some individuals develop pulmonary fibrosis.

  Study phs000582

• Genome-Wide Discovery of Novel Breast Cancer Predisposing Mutations

  Cancer risk shows clear heritability, but the inherited genetic factors remain largely unknown. This project will seek to identify new genes in which mutations confer hereditary risk for early onset breast cancer, with important implications for both biological understanding and clinical prediction and prevention. Identifying cancer predisposing mutations can provide new biological insights and significantly impact important clinical decision making regarding treatment, surveillance and preventive approaches. Examples include the BRCA1 breast cancer susceptibility gene, which affects treatment decisions (surgical management), surveillance (frequent breast MRI) and prevention (oophorectory for prevention of ovarian cancer). Hereditary early onset breast cancer patients commonly present to Cancer Genetics clinics, but the majority of these patients do not have identifiable mutations in known candidate genes. Here, we will perform whole exome sequencing to discover novel cancer susceptibility genes. The patients have been recruited from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (PIs Kenneth Offit and Zsofia Stadler) and Massachusetts General Hospital (PI Daniel Haber). All exome sequencing was performed at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT; samples sequence capture was performed using Agilent SureSelect Human All Exon Kit v2 and sequencing was performed on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 or 2500.

  Study phs000822

• Altered chromosomal topology drives oncogenic programs in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

  Metabolic lesions with pleiotropic effects on epigenetic regulation and other cellular processes are widely implicated in cancer, yet their oncogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficiency causes a subset of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with DNA hyper-methylation. Here we associate this hyper-methylation with changes in chromosome topology that activate oncogenic programs. To investigate epigenetic alterations in this disease, we systematically mapped DNA methylation, CTCF insulators, enhancers and chromosome topology in KIT-mutant, PDGFRA-mutant and SDH-deficient GISTs. Although these respective subtypes share similar enhancer landscapes, we identified hundreds of putative insulators where DNA methylation replaced CTCF binding in SDH-deficient GISTs. We focused on disrupted insulators that partitions super-enhancers from FGF3, FGF4 and the KIT oncogene. Recurrent loss of this insulator alters locus topology in SDH-deficient GISTs, allowing aberrant physical interaction between enhancers and oncogenes. CRISPR-mediated excision of the corresponding CTCF motif in an SDH-intact model disrupted the boundary and up-regulated FGFs and KIT expression. Our findings reveal how a metabolic lesion destabilizes chromatin structure to facilitate the initiation and selection of epigenetic alterations that drive oncogenic programs in the absence of canonical mutations.

  Study phs001906

• Clinical Resistance to Crenolanib in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Due to Diverse Molecular Mechanisms

  FLT3 mutations are commonly detected in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients and are associated with poor prognosis. Crenolanib, a potent type I pan-FLT3 (GeneID:2322) inhibitor, is effective against both internal tandem duplications (ITD) and resistance-conferring tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations. While crenolanib monotherapy has demonstrated significant clinical benefit in heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory AML patients, responses are transient and relapse eventually occurs. To investigate the mechanisms of crenolanib resistance, we performed whole exome sequencing of AML patient samples before and after crenolanib treatment (122 samples from 59 patients). Unlike other FLT3 inhibitors, crenolanib did not induce FLT3 activation loop mutations, and mutations of the FLT3 "gatekeeper" residue were infrequent. Instead, mutations of NRAS (GeneID:4893) and IDH2 (GeneID:3418) arose, mostly as FLT3-independent subclones, while TET2 (GeneID:54790) and IDH1 (GeneID:3417) predominantly co-occurred with the FLT3-mutant clone and were enriched in crenolanib poor-responders. The remaining patients exhibited post-crenolanib expansion of mutations associated with epigenetic regulators, transcription factors, and cohesion factors, suggesting diverse non-FLT3 genetic/epigenetic mechanisms of crenolanib resistance. Drug combinations in experimental models restored crenolanib sensitivity.

  Study phs001628

• Genetic Analysis of Desmoplastic Melanoma

  Desmoplastic melanoma is an infrequent variant of melanoma with sarcomatous histology, distinct clinical behavior, and unknown pathogenesis. We performed low-coverage genome and high-coverage exome sequencing of 20 desmoplastic melanomas, followed by targeted sequencing of 293 genes to validate candidate genes. A high mutation burden (median 62 mutations/Mb) ranked desmoplastic melanoma among the most highly mutated cancers. Mutation patterns strongly implicate UV-radiation as the dominant mutagen, indicating a superficially located cell of origin. Novel alterations included recurrent promoter mutations of NF-kappa B inhibitor epsilon, NFKBIE (IkBε) in 14.5% of samples. Commonly mutated oncogenes in melanomas, in particular BRAF(V600E) and NRAS(Q61K/R), were absent. Instead, other genetic alterations known to activate the MAPK and PI3K signaling cascades were identified in 73% of samples, affecting NF1, CBL, ERBB2, MAP2K1, MAP3K1, BRAF, EGFR, PTPN11, MET, RAC1, SOS2, NRAS, and PIK3CA, some of which being candidates for targeted therapies. Reprinted from: Shain, A. H. et al. Exome sequencing of desmoplastic melanoma identifies recurrent NFKBIE promoter mutations and diverse activating mutations in the MAPK pathway. Nat. Genet. With permission from Nature Genetics

  Study phs000977

• eMERGE Phase III Clinical Center at Partners HealthCare

  The Partners HealthCare Biobank is a large research data and sample repository working within the framework of Partners Personalized Medicine. It provides researchers access to high quality, consented samples to help foster research, advance understanding of the causes of common diseases, and advance the practice of medicine. The Partners Biobank provides banked samples (plasma, serum and DNA) collected from consented patients. These samples are available for distribution to Partners HealthCare investigators with appropriate approval from the Partners Institutional Review board (IRB). They are linked to clinical data that originates in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), as well as additional health information collected in a self-reported survey. The Partners Biobank will be genotyping 25,000 subjects with the Illumina Multiethnic Beadchip 1.6 million SNPs with exome and custom content (> 60,000 LoFs). Of the participants genotyped so far, 4929 of 4962 (99.3%) individuals have genotype data that passed the default quality thresholds for the Infinium array (call rate >= 0.99). We are submitting the genotype data to dbGaP for 4929 subjects with 12 phenotypes (based on icd9 codes). We will do annual releases until we reach the full 25,000 genotyped subjects.

  Study phs000944

• Characterization of Autosomal CNV Among the Negrito from Peninsular Malaysia

  Copy number variation (CNV) has been recognized as a major contributor to human genome diversity. It plays an important role in determining phenotypes and has been associated with a number of common and complex diseases. However the CNV data from diverse populations is rather limited. Here we report the first investigation of copy number variation (CNV) in the indigenous populations from Peninsular Malaysia. We genotyped 34 Negrito genomes from Peninsular Malaysia using the Affymetrix SNP 6.0 microarray and identified 62 putative novel CNVs, consisting of 25 gains and 37 losses. These CNVs appear unique to the Negrito population and were absent in the DGV, HapMap3 and Singapore Genome Variation Project (SGVP) datasets. Analysis of gene ontology revealed that genes within these CNVs were enriched in the immune system (GO:0002376), response to stimulus mechanisms (GO:0050896), as well as the metabolic pathways (GO:0001852). Copy number gains in CNVRs enriched with genes were significantly higher than the losses (P value <0.001). Therefore, in view of the small population size, relative isolation and semi-normadic lifestyles of this community, we speculate that these CNVs may be attributed to recent local adaptation of Negritos from Peninsular Malaysia.

  Study phs000664

• VA APOLLO Project - Research for Precision Oncology (RePOP)

  The Research for Precision Oncology Program (RePOP) is a research activity that establishes a cohort of Veterans diagnosed with cancer and who have had genomic analyses performed on their tumor tissue as part of standard of care. All data relevant to a patient's cancer and cancer care will be collected under RePOP, including patient demographics, co-morbidities, genomic analysis, treatments, medications, lab values, imaging studies, and outcomes. All RePOP participants will have signed/verbal informed consent and signed HIPAA authorization to have their data stored and shared from RePOP's Precision Oncology Program Data Repository (PODR). The Applied Proteogenomics OrganizationaL Learning and Outcomes (APOLLO) network is a collaboration between NCI, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to incorporate proteogenomics into patient care as a way of looking beyond the genome, to the activity and expression of the proteins that the genome encodes. The emerging field of proteogenomics aims to better predict how patients will respond to therapy by screening their tumors for both genetic abnormalities and protein information, an approach that has been made possible in recent years due to advances in proteomic technology.

  Study phs001374

• Integrated Analysis of Multimodal Single-Cell Data

  The simultaneous measurement of multiple modalities, known as multimodal analysis, represents an exciting frontier for single cell genomics and necessitates new computational methods that can define cellular states based on multiple data types. Here, we introduce 'weighted nearest neighbor' analysis, an unsupervised framework to learn the relative utility of each data type in each cell, enabling an integrative analysis of multiple modalities. We apply our procedure to a CITE-seq dataset of hundreds of thousands of human white blood cells alongside a panel of 228 antibodies to construct a multimodal reference atlas of the circulating immune system. We demonstrate that integrative analysis substantially improves our ability to resolve cell states and validate the presence of previously unreported lymphoid subpopulations. Moreover, we demonstrate how to leverage this reference to rapidly map new datasets, and to interpret immune responses to vaccination and COVID-19. Our approach represents a broadly applicable strategy to analyze single-cell multimodal datasets, including paired measurements of RNA and chromatin state, and to look beyond the transcriptome towards a unified and multimodal definition of cellular identity. All CITE-seq and ECCITE-seq raw matrices are available in GEO database under the accession number GEO: GSE164378.

  Study phs002315

• Pharmacogenomic Interactions in Glioblastoma Cell Line Models

  Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal disease without effective treatments. To advance toward effective therapeutic approaches that are biomarker-driven, there is a need for new targeted agents and to develop accurate preclinical models that encompass its cellular and molecular diversity. Historical cell line models poorly represent molecular diversity of GBMs, so we developed a living tissue bank encompassing 103 patient-derived GBM cell lines (PDGCLs) as a platform for preclinical pharmacogenomic investigation at scale. Thirty-four PDGCLs were submitted to a comprehensive molecular characterization of copy number alterations and mutations using whole exome sequencing (WES) and gene expression (microarrays), and tested against a panel of 390 small molecules at sixteen different duplicated concentrations. After integrating and systematically correlating molecular alterations with drug sensitivities, we yielded 8,083,140 pharmacogenomic interactions, and discovered novel drug and biomarker combinations which help to prioritize highly effective novel candidate treatments in GBM. Our findings demonstrate the utility of deep characterization of large numbers of models from a single disease to detect complex predictors of compound sensitivity, and indicate novel therapeutic approaches for a large fraction of patients with GBM.

  Study phs001793

• Methotrexate Clearance GWAS in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Patients

  We estimated the plasma clearance of methotrexate from 1279 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients treated on the Children Oncology Group 9904 and 9905 trials (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00005585 and http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00005596). Patients received either a 24-hour infusion of a 1 g/m2 dose or 4-hour infusion of a 2 g/m2 dose). Methotrexate clearance was lower in older children (p=7 x 10-7), females (p=2.7 x 10-4), and patients who received a delayed intensification phase (p=0.0022). In a genome-wide analysis, methotrexate clearance was associated with polymorphisms in the SLCO1B1 gene (p=2.1 x 10-11), which encodes for an organic anion transporter. This replicates findings using different schedules of high-dose methotrexate in ALL patients treated on St. Jude protocols. A combined meta-analysis yields a p-value of 5.7 x 10-19 for the association of methotrexate clearance with SLCO1B1 SNP rs4149056 (Trevino et al, PMID 19901119 and Ramsey et al, PMID 23233662). This data set includes the dependent variable of methotrexate clearance and all of the SNP data available from arrays.

  Study phs000637

• Functional Enhancer Elements Drive Subclass-Selective Expression From Mouse to Human Neocortex

  A complete epigenomic map of human brain cell types will be necessary to fully understand their genetic regulation, and to create the next generation of non-species-restricted genetic tools for their functional characterization. Here we performed both bulk and single-nucleus ATAC-seq studies of fresh human neocortical samples excised during neurosurgery, in order to discover the functional genomic elements that discriminate cell types. This dataset contains 78 bulk layer-dissected ATAC-seq samples, and 3660 single-nucleus ATAC-seq samples from fresh acutely isolated human neurosurgical samples. Furthermore, from these data we identified and validated several enhancers for use in AAV context. We also provide validation single cell RNA-seq for 456 human acutely labeled neurosurgical neurons labeled by 3 unique enhancer-AAV vectors, and single cell RNA-seq for 1483 mouse neurons labeled in vivo by 11 unique enhancer-AAV vectors. Together these datasets provide high-resolution maps of single human neocortical cell types, as well as proof of the functional utility of the genomic elements discovered. As a whole these data will be important to furnish the next generation of cell type-specific functional tools and therapies in neuroscience.  

  Study phs002292

• Resistance Development in Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome through the Basal to Squamous Transition

  While basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) arise from ectopic hedgehog pathway activation and can be treated with pathway inhibitors, sporadic BCCs display high resistance rates, while tumors arising in Gorlin syndrome patients with germline Patched (PTCH1) mutations are uniformly suppressed by inhibitor therapy. In rare cases, Gorlin syndrome patients on long-term inhibitor therapy will develop individual resistant tumor clones that rapidly progress, but the basis of this resistance remains unstudied. Here we report a case of a Smoothened inhibitor (SMOi)-resistant tumor arising in a Gorlin patient on suppressive SMOi for nearly a decade. Using a combination of multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics, we define the tumor populations at the cellular and tissue level to conclude that Gorlin tumors can develop resistance to SMOi through the previously described basal to squamous cell carcinoma transition (BST). Intriguingly, through spatial whole exome genomic analysis, we nominate PCYT2, ETNK1, and the phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthetic pathway as novel genetic suppressors of BST resistance. These observations provide a general framework for studying tumor evolution and provide important clinical insight into mechanisms of resistance to SMOi for not only Gorlin syndrome but sporadic BCCs as well.

  Study phs003415

• Molecular Determinants of Esophageal Cancer in Tanzania

  We describe the genomic profiles of 61 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases from Tanzania and compare them to profiles from an existing cohort of ESCC cases from Malawi. We also provide a comparison to ESCC tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA). Despite a high burden of ESCC in Eastern Africa, investigations into the genomics in this region are nascent. This represents the largest comprehensive genomic analysis of ESCC from sub-Saharan Africa to date. We observed substantial transcriptional overlap with other squamous histologies via comparison with TCGA PanCan dataset. DNA analysis revealed known mutational patterns, both genome-wide as well as in genes known to be commonly mutated in ESCC. TP53 mutations were the most common somatic mutation in tumors from both Tanzania and Malawi but were detected at lower frequencies than previously reported in ESCC cases from other settings. In a combined analysis, two unique transcriptional clusters were identified: a proliferative/epithelial cluster and an invasive/migrative/mesenchymal cluster. Mutational signature analysis of the Tanzanian cohort revealed common signatures associated with aging and cytidine deaminase activity and an absence of signature 29, which was previously reported in the Malawi cohort.

  Study phs003217

• Single Duplex DNA Sequencing with CODEC Detects Mutations with High Sensitivity

  Detecting mutations from single DNA molecules is crucial in many fields but challenging. Next generation sequencing (NGS) affords tremendous throughput but cannot directly sequence double-stranded DNA molecules (single duplexes) to discern the true mutations on both strands. Here, we present Concatenating Original Duplex for Error Correction (CODEC) which confers single duplex resolution to NGS. CODEC affords 1,000-fold higher accuracy than NGS, using up to 100-fold fewer reads than Duplex Sequencing. CODEC revealed mutation frequencies of 2.72 x 10-8 in sperm of a 39-year-old individual, and somatic mutations acquired with age in blood cells. CODEC detected genome-wide clonal hematopoiesis mutations from single DNA molecules, single mutated duplexes from tumor genomes and liquid biopsies, microsatellite instability (MSI) with 10-fold greater sensitivity, and mutational signatures and specific tumor mutations with up to 100-fold fewer reads. CODEC enables more precise genetic testing and reveals biologically significant mutations which are commonly obscured by NGS errors. We applied CODEC to clinical colon and breast neoplasm samples and uncovered expected mutational signatures including homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and MSI.

  Study phs003255

• A Microwell Platform for High-Throughput Longitudinal Phenotyping and Selective Retrieval of Organoids

  In traditional bulk culture, organoids tend to overlap, hindering the analysis of individual organoid characteristics in a high-throughput manner. Additionally, variations in the local spatial properties of the bulk matrix make it challenging to distinguish whether phenotypic differences between organoids stem from inherent cellular disparities or disparities in the microenvironment. To address these challenges, we have developed a microwell-based technique that facilitates the quantification of image-based parameters for organoids grown from single cells. Furthermore, these organoids can be easily retrieved from their respective microwells for molecular profiling. By employing a deep-learning image processing pipeline, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of various phenotypic traits in two CRISPR-engineered human gastric organoid models. This analysis encompassed growth rates, cellular movement, and apical-basal polarity. Through our investigation, we successfully identified genomic alterations associated with increased growth rate, as well as changes in accessibility and expression patterns correlated with apical-basal polarity. This novel methodology offers a valuable tool for studying organoid behavior at a single-cell level, enabling researchers to gain deeper insights into organoid biology and associated genetic modifications.

  Study phs003315

• Nivolumab and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  We performed a trial of adoptive cell therapy using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a single-arm open- label phase 1 trial (NCT03215810) of TIL administered with nivolumab in 20 patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients had tumor metastases resected for TIL, and the sequencing data from these tumors is included herein. The primary endpoint was safety, and secondary endpoints included objective response rate, duration of response, and T-cell persistence. Autologous TIL was expanded ex vivo from minced tumors cultured with IL-2. Patients received initial nivolumab for 4 cycles. If they had subsequent evidence of progression, then they proceeded to receive cyclophosphamide and fludarabine lymphodepletion, TIL infusion, and interleukin-2, followed by maintenance nivolumab. The endpoint of safety was met according to pre-specified criteria. Of 13 evaluable patients, 3 had confirmed responses and 11 had reduction in tumor burden, with a median best change of 35%. Two patients achieved complete responses ongoing 1.5 years later. In exploratory analyses, we found T cells recognizing multiple types of cancer mutations were detected after TIL treatment, and were enriched in responding patients.

  Study phs002486

• Genomic Analysis of Prostate Tumor Heterogeneity in Metastasis

  To investigate the molecular changes, mutations, and signaling pathways that characterize the initial steps of prostate cancer metastasis to the lymph nodes, we analyzed 19 discrete lymph node (LN) metastases, 97 primary tumor foci, 39 benign lymph nodes, and 10 normal adjacent prostate tissue samples from 43 patients enrolled in a clinical trial (NCT01808222) of extended lymphadenectomy and metastasis excision guided by [18F]-fluciclovine PET imaging for high risk, newly diagnosed prostate cancer conducted at Emory University. These patients fell within high or very high-risk groups (T3a, Gleason score 8-10, or PSA greater than 20 ng/ml). Of these patients, 16 had LN metastases at least 4 mm in diameter, and 20 patients had no metastases. For metastatic patients, we performed RNA and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) on three primary tumor foci, one benign LN, and all LN metastases greater than 4mm in diameter. For non-metastatic patients, we sequenced two primary tumor foci and one benign LN. In total, RNAseq was performed on 165 tissue samples from 43 patients, and WES was performed on 137 samples from 35 patients.

  Study phs003404

• Detecting and Subtyping Lung Cancer Through Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA

  Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is among the most aggressive tumors with poor clinical outcomes. Tumors are rarely resected, which is a major barrier to molecular profiling of tumor tissue; therefore, non-invasive approaches using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from liquid biopsies are needed to help advance research and clinical care for patients with SCLC. We developed a targeted capture panel that profiles SCLC genes and transcriptional regulation sites, including transcription start sites (TSS) and transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). This is a single assay that detects genomic mutations and transcriptional regulation activity based on ctDNA fragment patterns reflecting epigenetic nucleosomal positions. We applied this assay to sequence patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and patient plasma samples. We also performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) for a subset of the PDX plasma samples to validate the capture data. We developed new algorithms to quantify activity of key SCLC marker genes of ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and ATOH1 and to classify SCLC subtypes based on activity of these markers. Furthermore, we developed a model to classify SCLC from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has potential important applications for monitoring transdifferentiation and tumor plasticity.

  Study phs003570

• CONNECTS Master Protocol for Clinical Trials targeting Macro- and Micro-Immuno-Thrombosis, Vascular Hyperinflammation, and Hypercoagulability and Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 (ACTIV-4 Host Tissue)

  ACTIV 4 Host Tissue is a shared-placebo clinical trial platform evaluating therapies targeting the host response to COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. The overarching goal of the platform was to find effective strategies for inpatient management of patients with COVID-19. Therapeutic goals for patients hospitalized for COVID-19 include hastening recovery and preventing progression to critical illness, multiorgan failure, or death. Our objective is to determine whether modulating the host tissue response improves clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19. Three trials were implemented to investigate three agents: TXA-127, TRV-027, and Fostamatinib. These agents all impact the host tissue response in COVID-19 via a number of unique mechanisms, including potential beneficial effects on the RAAS system and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Each trial evaluated the efficacy of these agents' ability to impact the host tissue response and improve outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We found no evidence that any of the three agents significantly improved clinical outcomes as measured by the primary outcome, oxygen free days through day 28.

  Study phs003708

• Harnessing Epigenetic Regulators to improve HSC-based lentiviral gene therapy

  Curative benefits of autologous and allogeneic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been proven for various diseases. However, the low number of true HSCs that can be collected from patients and subsequently in vitro maintenance and expansion of true HSCs for genetic correction remain challenging. Addressing this issue, we here focused on optimizing culture conditions to improve the ex vivo expansion of true HSCs for gene therapy purposes. In particular, we explore the use of epigenetic regulators to enhance the effectiveness of HSC-based lentiviral (LV) gene therapy. The HDAC inhibitor Quisinostat and the bromodomain inhibitor CPI203 each promote ex vivo expansion of functional HSCs, as validated by xenotransplantation assays and single cell RNA-sequencing analysis. We confirmed the stealth effect of LV transduction on the loss of HSC numbers in commonly used culture protocols, while addition of Quisinostat or CPI203 improved expansion of HSCs in transduction protocols. Of note, we demonstrated that addition of Quisinostat improved LV transduction efficiency of HSCs and early progenitors. Our suggested culture conditions highlight the potential therapeutic effect of epigenetic regulators in hematopoietic stem cell biology and their clinical applications to advance HSC-based gene correction.

  Study EGAS50000000175

• Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Kaposi Sarcoma

  Summary: Single-cell transcriptome analysis of skin and blood samples from individuals with Kaposi's sarcoma Aims: Elucidate the cellular composition and gene expression profiles of Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) infected cells and non-infected tumor infiltrating cells, and peripheral blood samples from the same individuals, with or without specific therapies, such as antiretroviral therapy for HIV, immunotherapies (such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and immune modulator drugs like pomalidomide), or angiogenesis inhibitory agents. Population: Age 18 and older, both genders, including individuals from North America and other areas of the world (including Africa). Individuals with or without HIV are included. Molecular Technologies: Single-cell RNAseq using 10x Genomics Principal Findings: Two distinct populations of endothelial cells were found infected with KSHV, one CD34+ and one CD34-Both clusters include lytic and latent KSHV gene expressionThe KSHV infected cell clusters differ in expression of housekeeping genes, proliferative markers, ribosomal and secretory vesicle genesBiomarkers of KSHV infected cells were identified, including sodium channel SCN9A Changes in cell composition with therapy are noted Clonal amplification of TCR+ T-cells were noted in the skin and blood Data Available through dbGaP: scRNA-seq data

  Study phs003800

• Somatic Mutations in Individual Skin Cells

  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary cause of melanoma through the acquisition of driver mutations in melanocytes. It also plays a significant role in oncogenesis in other skin cells, such as keratinocytes. However, the mutational profiles vary widely among different skin cancers, and the early mutational processes in different cell types from the same skin, is not well understood. Additionally, our preliminary studies also suggest that the mutation burden in different skin cells vary significantly based on risk factors such as the anatomical site and the use of tanning beds. To explore this, we employed innovative Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) tools to perform a site-matched comparison of the genomic landscapes of melanocytes, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. From 20 biopsies of physiologically normal skin, collected from various anatomical sites across 16 donors, we have performed DNA-sequencing on 106 melanocytes, 78 keratinocytes and 13 fibroblasts. Of these samples, we have also simultaneously performed RNA-sequencing on 78 melanocytes, 46 keratinocytes and 9 fibroblasts. For normal bulk DNA, we also performed targeted (UCSF500; n=9) or exome sequencing (n=8) of skin or saliva samples from the donors.

  Study phs003683

• Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer Project 2

  Understanding the relationship between tumor and peripheral immune environments could allow longitudinal immune monitoring in cancer. Here, we examined whether T cells that share the same TCRab and are found in both tumor and blood can be interrogated to gain insight into the ongoing tumor T cell response. Paired transcriptome and TCRab repertoire of circulating and tumor-infiltrating T cells were analyzed at the single cell level from matched tumor and blood from patients with metastatic melanoma. The data shared here consist of gene expression matrix and fastq files obtained from sequencing single-cell libraries generated with the Chromium (TM) 5' technique. For each of 18 immunotherapy naive and 11 previously treated melanoma patients, T cells (Live/CD45+/TcRab+) were FACS-sorted from PBMCs and freshly resected tumors. Metadata associated with each individual cell consist of Patient I.D., biological sex, immunotherapy status, amino acid and nucleotide CDR3 sequence of the TCR alpha and beta chain (obtained from matched VDJ region enriched libraries), and sequencing batch. Further details about previous treatment history and other clinical parameters can be found in the associated manuscripts (Lucca et al., 2021: PMID: 33651881; Lu et al., PMID: 39609626).

  Study phs002289

• Blood Group Genotypes and Phenotypes in Omani Blood Donors and Its Links With Susceptibility to Malaria

  The Omani population experienced endemic malaria prior to eradication in the late 1990's. Since malaria is known to be a strong selective pressure on the human genome, particularly at blood group associated loci, we aimed to understand how selective pressures from malaria may be affecting genetic variation at blood group loci. Blood samples were collected from 100 healthy, Omani blood donors. Serology testing for 10 clinically relevant blood groups and whole genome sequencing (WGS) to an average coverage of 16X were performed on all samples. Additionally, using the WGS data, genetic variants (SNPs and INDELs) were called for chromosomes 1 - 22 using GRCh38. We find signals of selection at the Plasmodium vivax associated locus, ACKR1 (the Duffy blood group), but not at any Plasmodium falciparum associated loci. We also characterized several previously undescribed blood group alleles in the Omani population affecting antigenic expression, mostly at the RHD, RHCE, and GYPB loci. The data available from this project include BAM files from 100 Omani samples aligned to GRCh38, per chromosome VCF files, and results from the serology tests for all 10 blood groups.

  Study phs003694

• Synovial Fibroblast Gene Expression in Response to Fibronectin Fragment

  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease characterized by the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, hypertrophy of neighboring bone, and varying degrees of synovial inflammation. Recent research has highlighted the potential role of synovial fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of OA, particularly their inflammatory properties that disrupt cartilage homeostasis. Notably, degraded cartilage matrix components, such as fibronectin fragments (FN-f), have been identified in the synovial fluid of OA patients, suggesting that FN-f signaling influences the synovium where synovial fibroblasts reside. Despite affecting over 500 million individuals globally, our limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms of OA has significantly impeded the development of effective treatment strategies. To investigate this, we obtained deidentified surgical waste material from individuals undergoing knee replacement for OA. Synovial tissue was used to isolate synovial fibroblasts for cell culture studies. We generated bulk RNA-seq data from primary synovial fibroblasts (N=5 individuals) treated at passage 3 with either Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) as control or FN-f for 18h to model the OA synovial fibroblast phenotype. We identified differentially expressed genes at an adjusted p-value of

  Study phs003999

• Omic Studies in Children's Respiratory and Environmental Workgroup (CREW) Cohorts

  Children's Respiratory Research Workgroup (CREW) is an NIH-funded project consisting of multiple individual U.S. cohorts and three scientific centers working together to identify phenotypes and causes of childhood asthma. CREW will include data from a large number of children and their families, with broad diversity in terms of ethnicity, family characteristics, neighborhoods and geographic locations. One of the primary goals of CREW is to put together sets of data and samples of participating cohorts to identify phenotypes of childhood asthma (i.e. specific subtypes of asthma that can be distinguished by clinical features such as natural history, triggers, exacerbation frequency, concurrent allergies, lung function, sex, etc). Omics studies will include genotyping, methylation, and RNA sequencing. By integrating the DNA genotyping with the expression, immunologic and clinical data, we will identify eQTL, inflammation QTL, and lung function QTL, as well as QTL associated with other biomarkers. Analyses will identify genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional and protein/metabolite profiles that are associated with specific exposures or phenotypes. As we obtain mechanistic insights about personal and early life risk factors, we will connect asthma phenotypes with underlying causes and pathogenic mechanisms to define endotypes of childhood asthma.

  Study phs004036

• Biallelic loss of function PAX4 variants are a Novel Cause of Transient Neonatal Diabetes

  The identification of genes in which loss of function (LoF) variants cause neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) can provide unique insights into the development and function of human pancreatic beta cells. We describe the identification of biallelic PAX4 LoF variants in 2 unrelated individuals with transient NDM: one due to a homozygous p.(Arg126*) PAX4 stop gain variant and a second due to a homozygous c.-352_104del 2.65kb deletion affecting the first 4 exons and promoter of the PAX4 Matched Annotation from NCBI and EMBL-EBI select transcript. We confirmed reduced transcript expression due to nonsense mediated decay for the e p.(Arg126*) variant in CRISPR-edited iPSC-derived pancreatic endoderm cells. Analysis of PAX4 binding through integration of CUT&RUN and RNA-sequencing in PAX4 depleted endocrine cells identified genes directly regulated by PAX4 involved in both pancreatic islet development and glucose-sensitive insulin secretion. The remitting and relapsing diabetes in both probands demonstrates that in contrast to mice PAX4 is not essential for the development of pancreatic beta-cells and supports differences in the requirements of functional beta-cell mass across the life-course.

  Study EGAS50000000857

• Kids First: The Genomic Architecture of Hirschsprung Disease (HSCR)

  Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a male biased developmental disorder associated with a lack of innervation of the gastrointestinal tract. Genetic studies have been instrumental in understanding its multifactorial inheritance, high heritability, syndromic associations, and genetic heterogeneity with variable penetrance and expressivity. At least 24 genes and 9 loci with pathogenic alleles (PAs) are known to underlie HSCR pathogenesis and explain 62% of its population attributable risk (PAR). Despite this heterogeneity, there is functional unity in HSCR: ~53% of HSCR PAs disrupt RET and EDNRB signaling in the developing enteric nervous system (ENS) in which 11 genes comprising a gene regulatory network control RET and EDNRB gene expression. We propose to identify the remaining 30% PAR by studying 857 unrelated HSCR cases, their 125 affected and 1,446 unaffected firstdegree relatives by whole genome sequencing to increase statistical power of gene discovery through improved detection of all types of coding and regulatory PAs. HSCR arises from cell autonomous defects in enteric neural crest cell precursors (ENCCs) affecting their proliferation, differentiation and migration in the ENS, functional studies that will guide our detection of novel genes.

  Study phs003662

• A Therapeutic Vaccine for Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a rare form of liver cancer affecting 33 children and young adults that is driven by a chimeric protein, DNAJ-PKAc. We conducted a phase 1 clinical trial of a therapeutic vaccine targeting DNAJ-PKAc 38 (FLC-Vac), in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab, in children and adults with advanced FLC. Among 16 patients enrolled, 12 completed the vaccine priming phase and were evaluable for both immunological and clinical endpoints. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were reported by six patients (37.5%). DNAJ43 PKAc-specific T cell responses were detected in 9/12 patients after treatment. In the subset of patients who completed the initial priming phase the disease control rate (DCR) was 75% (9/12), with three partial responses (25%). All patients with clinical responses also had DNAJ-PKAc specific T cell responses, from which we identified multiple class II-restricted T cell receptors (TCRs) with specificity for DNAJ-PKAc. Correlates of response included both functional neoantigen reactivity and changes in TCR repertoire features over time. Immune escape in two patients corresponded with immune exhaustion rather than neoantigen escape or HLA loss.

  Study phs003970

• Establishing stable brain tumor stem cell lines and translational research for new treatments

  Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs) have dismal prognoses with limited clinical options. A lack of characterized cell lines has hindered the development of new treatment strategies. Here, we perform whole genome sequencing analyses of two cell lines established from CPCs. Whole genome sequencing (WGS),was performed in CCHE-45 and NGT131 cell lines. Both cell lines harbored pathogenic TP53 point mutations; CCHE-45 additionally displayed TP53 loss. Furthermore, alterations of the NOTCH and WNT pathways were also detected in both cell lines. Two protein-coding gene fusions, BZW2-URGCP, and CTTNBP2-ERBB4, mutations of two oncodrivers, GBP-4 and KRTAP-12-2, and several copy number alterations were observed in CCHE-45, but not NGT131. The discovered difference's importance and implications highlight the possible diversity of choroid plexus carcinoma and call for additional research to fully understand disease pathogenesis. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the two choroid plexus carcinoma cell lines shared TP53 mutations and other common pathway alterations and activation of NOTCH and WNT pathways. Noticeable differences were also observed. These cell lines can serve as valuable models to propose new treatments in these rare but deadly brain tumors.

  Study JGAS000657

• Effective screening strategy for deafness using a new-genetation sequencing platform: a consecutive analysis

  The diagnosis of the genetic etiology of deafness contributes to the clinical management of patients. We performed the following four genetic tests in three stages for 52 consecutive deafness subjects in one facility. We used the Invade assay and Sanger sequencing for the GJB2 gene or SLC26A4 gene in the first stage test, TaqMan genotyping assay in second stage test, and targeted exon sequencing using the massively parallel DNA sequencing in third stage test. Overall, we identified the genetic cause in 40% (21/52) of patients. The diagnostic rates of the first-, second- and third-stage genetic testing were 17%(9/52), 9%(4/43) and 21% (8/39), respectively. The combination approach using these genetic tests appears to be useful as a diagnostic tool for deafness patients. We recommended that genetic testing for the screening of common mutations in deafness genes using the Invader assay or TaqMan genotyping assay be performed as the initial evaluation. For the remaining undiagnosed cases, targeted exon sequencing using MPS is clinically and economically beneficial. This data set was MPS reads data (fastq) for 39 sensorineural hearing loss patients.

  Study JGAS000032

• High-coverage whole-genome sequencing reveals structural variations in triple-negative breast cancer

  Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells do not express estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Currently, apart from poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, there are few effective therapeutic options for this cancer type. Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of genetic alterations in TNBC via high-coverage whole-genome sequencing along with transcriptomic and whole-exome sequencing. Silencing of BRCA1 gene impaired the homologous recombination (HR) pathway in a subset of TNBC, which exhibited similar phenotypes with tumors with BRCA1 mutations; they harbored many structural variations (SVs) with relative enrichment for tandem duplication. Clonal analysis suggested that TP53 mutations and methylation of CpG dinucleotides in the BRCA1 promoter were the early events of carcinogenesis. SVs were associated with driver oncogenic events such as amplification of MYC, NOTCH2 or NOTCH3 and impacted tumor suppressor genes including RB1, PTEN and KMT2C. We also identified a variety of oncogenes that could transform 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, suggesting that individual TNBC tumors may undergo a unique driver event that can be targetable. Thus, we revealed several features of TNBC that had important clinical implications.

  Study JGAS000095

• Induction of fetal meiotic oocytes from embryonic stem cells in cynomolgus monkeys

  Human in vitro oogenesis provides a framework for clarifying the mechanism of human oogenesis. To create its benchmark, it is vital to promote in vitro oogenesis using a model physiologically close to humans. Here, we establish a foundation for in vitro oogenesis in cynomolgus (cy) monkeys: cy female embryonic stem cells harboring one active and one inactive X chromosome (Xa and Xi, respectively) differentiate robustly into primordial germ cell-like cells, which in xenogeneic reconstituted ovaries develop efficiently into oogonia and, remarkably, further into meiotic oocytes at the zygotene stage. This differentiation entails a comprehensive epigenetic reprogramming, including Xi reprogramming, yet, as partly observed in vivo, Xa and Xi remain epigenetically asymmetric with incomplete Xi reactivation. In humans and monkeys, the Xi epigenome in pluripotent stem cells functions as an Xi-reprogramming determinant. We further show that developmental-pathway over-activations with suboptimal up-regulation of relevant meiotic genes impede in vitro meiotic progression. Cy in vitro oogenesis exhibits critical homology with the human system, including with respect to bottlenecks, providing a salient model for advancing human in vitro oogenesis.

  Study JGAS000573

• Error-corrected flow-based sequencing at whole genome scale and its application to circulating cell-free DNA profiling

  Differentiating sequencing errors from true variants is a central genomics challenge calling for error suppression strategies that balance costs when sparse material or ultra-rare variants require high-accuracy methods. For example, circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) sequencing for cancer monitoring is limited by sparsity of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), abundance of genomic material in samples, library preparation error rates and sequencing errors. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can overcome the low abundance of ccfDNA by integrating signal across the mutation landscape, but higher cost limits adoption compared with targeted panels, where ccfDNA abundance limits maximal coverage depths. Here we applied deep (~120x) lower-cost WGS (Ultima Genomics) with analytic error correction for tumor-informed ctDNA detection within the part-per-million range. We further developed high-coverage duplex error-corrected WGS of ccfDNA, achieving 7.7x10-8 error rates, to assess disease burden in melanoma and urothelial cancer patients without matched tumor sequencing. Together, we show that deeply sequenced error-corrected WGS accurately calls somatic variants, demonstrating the feasibility of WGS for tumor-informed and tumor-agnostic ctDNA detection.

  Study EGAS50000000844

• Vaccine-Expanded Plasmablast-like B Cells Are Associated with Response to Dendritic Cell Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma

  Dendritic cells (DCs), either monocyte-derived (moDCs) or naturally circulating, have been employed in cancer treatment across both metastatic and adjuvant settings. DC vaccines (DC Vax) are capable of inducing tumor-specific immune responses, yet clinical outcomes have thus far fallen short of expectations. Here, we performed a multi-omics analysis of the apheresis product, including CD14⁺ monocytes, and the final DCVax formulation. Among all the components analyzed, the most striking finding was the unexpected presence of CD19⁺ B cells within the DC Vax formulation, which distinguished Responders from Non-Responders to moDC vaccination in metastatic melanoma. The abundance of B cells in DC Vax correlated with their peripheral frequency; however, within the vaccine, these cells acquired a CD20lowCD27hiCD38hi plasmablast-like phenotype, distinct from their autologous circulating B-cell precursors. Notably, a parallel observation was made in Responders, whose pre-treatment lesions were enriched in B cells organized as Tertiary Lymphoid Structures. These results underscore the importance of B cells in both baseline immunity and DCVax formulation, hinting at unexplored mechanisms by which they may influence vaccine effectiveness.

  Study EGAS50000001177

• Non-canonical NF-κB signaling skews B cells away from germinal center to low-affinity effector fate

  The non-canonical (NC) NF-κB pathway is a central regulator of B-cell development and survival, yet its role during B-cell mediated adaptive responses remains uncharted. Here, we uncover an unanticipated regulatory function for NC NF-κB in shaping humoral immunity. High-resolution mapping of NC NF-kB status in B cells from human lymphoid tissues revealed low activity in germinal center B-cells (GCB) than effector subsets, suggesting a selective attenuation. Consistently, mice model harboring B-cells with enforced NC NF-κB activation revealed near- complete loss of GCB and high-affinity antibodies, following vaccination. GCB loss was not driven by intrinsic defects in formation or expansion, but by an immune-niche dysregulation marked by regulatory T-cell expansion. Mechanistically, NC NF-κB activation promoted B-cell- derived IL-10, and blocking this axis normalize the niche and rescue GCB. Concurrently, NC NF- κB signaling boosted low-affinity antibody responses by transcriptionally priming follicular B- cells for plasmacytic differentiation. Together, these findings position NC NF-κB as a tunable rheostat linking B-cell signaling to immune-niche control and humoral immunity.

  Study EGAS50000001646

• Adaptive Therapy Exploits Fitness Deficits in Chemotherapy-Resistant Ovarian Cancer to Achieve Long-Term Tumor Control Open Access

  Drug resistance results in poor outcomes for cancer patients. Adaptive therapy is a potential strategy to address drug resistance that exploits competitive interactions between sensitive and resistant subclones. Here, we showed that adapting carboplatin dose according to tumor response (adaptive therapy) significantly prolonged survival of murine ovarian cancer models compared to standard carboplatin dosing, without increasing mean daily drug dose or toxicity. Platinum resistant ovarian cancer cells exhibited diminished fitness when drug was absent in vitro and in vivo, which caused selective decline of resistant populations due to reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. Conversely fitter, sensitive cells re-grew when drug was withdrawn. Using a bioinformatics pipeline that exploits copy number changes to quantify the emergence of treatment resistance, analysis of cell‐free DNA obtained longitudinally from ovarian cancer patients during treatment showed subclonal selection through therapy, and measurements of resistant population growth correlated strongly with disease burden. These preclinical findings pave the way for future clinical testing of personalized adaptive therapy regimens tailored to the evolution of carboplatin resistance in individual ovarian cancer patients.

  Study EGAS50000001142

• MATISSE WES and bulk RNA-sequencing data

  High-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is frequently seen in frail, elderly patients and often requires mutilating surgical treatment and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). The MATISSE trial (NCT04620200) was conducted to improve clinical prospects in CSCC patients eligible for extensive curative surgery, and evaluated early treatment response and immune dynamics following ultra-short neoadjuvant immunotherapy prior to standard of care surgery with or without radiotherapy. Fifty patients were randomized to receive two courses of nivolumab 3 mg/kg (NIVO, weeks 0&2) or nivolumab 3 mg/kg (weeks 0&2) and one course of ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (week 0 only, NIVO/IPI before surgery at week 4, with the primary objective being histopathological response based on residual viable tumor cells in the surgical specimen. Ten patients choose not to undergo surgery, of whom nine reached a clinical complete response during follow up, and were disease-free at median 34 months follow up. Serial tumor and blood samples at baseline, week 1, week 2 and week 4, enabled to investigate dynamical changes through bulk WES and RNA sequencing to potentially aid future de-escalation trials.

  Study EGAS50000001003

• Final results and ctDNA analyses from the randomized phase 3 IMpassion031 trial evaluating peri-operative atezolizumab for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer

  In IMpassion031, adding atezolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved pathologic complete response (pCR) rate (primary endpoint) for stage II/III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Patients with stage II/III TNBC were randomized 1:1 to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus peri-operative atezolizumab or pre-operative placebo. Descriptive secondary endpoints included event-free, disease-free, and overall survival. Long-term outcomes favored the atezolizumab group (event-free survival HR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.47–1.21). Among patients without pCR, 14/70 (20%) atezolizumab-treated and 33/99 (33%) placebo-treated patients received additional adjuvant therapy, frequently capecitabine. In exploratory analyses, pCR was prognostic for long-term outcome. Patients with baseline ctDNA-negative status (6%) had excellent long-term outcomes. Most patients (87%) had cleared ctDNA at surgery. ctDNA-positive status at surgery identified a subset of non-pCR patients with poorest prognosis. Long-term safety was consistent with primary results. Adding atezolizumab to chemotherapy for stage II/III TNBC is associated with more favorable long-term outcomes. ctDNA dynamics provide prognostic value beyond pCR. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03197935

  Study EGAS50000000974

• Development and first-in-human CAR T therapy targeting the pathognomonic MiT-fusion driven protein GPNMB

  Summary: CAR T therapy for solid tumors is constrained by the scarcity of safe, uniformly expressed cell-surface targets. Here we identify GPNMB, a MiT fusion-driven protein, as highly, homogeneously, and stably expressed in primary and relapsed translocation-positive alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and renal cell carcinoma (tRCC). We develop a GPNMB-directed CAR T cell product, GCAR1, which demonstrates potent activity against patient-matched cells, organoids and xenograft models. In a first-in-human treatment of two patients with relapsed/refractory, metastatic ASPS, GCAR1 is well tolerated and induces stable disease for up to 6 months, accompanied by resolution of many non-target lesions. GCAR1 T cells expand in peripheral blood as a polyclonal population and remain detectable for up to 6 months. Spatial transcriptomics identify multiple immunosuppressive niches adjacent to T cells infiltrating treatment-resistant lesions; biological PDL1 blockade or PD1 and TIGIT double knockout overcomes this resistance and shows synergistic activity with GCAR1 in xenograft models. Taken together, these data provide clinical proof-of-concept for treating solid tumors with CAR T cells targeting a surface antigen driven by an oncogenic gene fusion.

  Study EGAS50000001696

• Context-specific regulatory genetic variation in MTOR dampens neutrophil-T cell crosstalk in pneumonia-associated sepsis, modulating disease

  Sepsis is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome with a high mortality, requiring personalised stratification strategies. Here, we characterise genetic variation that modulates MTOR, a critical regulator of metabolism and immune responses in sepsis. The effects are highly context specific, involving a regulatory element that affects MTOR expression in activated T cells with opposite direction of effect in neutrophils. We show that the G-allele of the lead variant, rs4845987, associated with decreased risk of T2D, reduces MTOR expression in T cells and improves survival in sepsis due to pneumonia, with effects specific to sepsis endotype. Using ex vivo models, we demonstrate that activated T cells promote immunosuppressive sepsis neutrophils through released cytokines, a process dampened by hypoxia and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. Our work demonstrates a novel epigenetic mechanism that fine-tunes MTOR transcription and T cell activity via the variant-containing regulatory element, which further exhibits an allelic effect upon vitamin C treatment. These findings reveal how genetic variation interacts with disease state to modulate immune cell-cell communication, providing a patient stratification strategy to inform more effective sepsis treatment.

  Study EGAS50000000894

• DynaTag for efficient profiling of transcription factors in small samples and single cells

  Systematic discovery of transcription factor (TF) landscapes in low-input samples and at single cell level is a major challenge in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and epigenetics. To address this, we present here cleavage under Dynamic targets and Tagmentation (DynaTag), which allows robust mapping of specific TF-DNA interactions via the use of a physiological salt solution during sample preparation. Using this method, we revealed occupancy alterations for 15 different TFs in stem cell and cancer tissue models. Of note, we showcased for NANOG, MYC, and OCT4 differentially occupied genomic loci during stem cell differentiation, both in bulk and at single-cell resolution. DynaTag demonstrated superior signal-to-background ratio and occupancy resolution in comparison to CUT&RUN and ChIP-seq. In addition, a model for small cell lung cancer chemotherapy treatment in vivo showed increased chromatin occupancies of the gain-of-function mutant P53 p.R248Q, FOXA1, and MYC at altered gene pathways, such as epithelial-mesenchymal-transition. Altogether, these results highlight the technical advancement of DynaTag to uncover TF landscapes in cell models and in tissues of a complex disease model.

  Study EGAS50000001074

• The genomic basis of childhood T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a high-risk tumor that has eluded comprehensive genomic characterization, in part due to the high frequency of non-coding genomic alterations resulting in oncogenic dysregulation. Here we report integrated genome and transcriptome sequencing of T-ALL tumor and remission samples obtained from over 1300 uniformly treated children with T-ALL, coupled with epigenomic and single cell analysis of malignant and normal T cell precursors. Integrated analysis identified 15 subtypes with distinct genomic drivers, gene expression, developmental state and outcome. Integration with chromatin topology analyses enabled elucidation of multiple mechanisms of enhancer deregulation that involve enhancers and genes in a subtype-specific fashion. We show that the immunophenotypically-described, high-risk entity of early T-cell precursor ALL is superseded by a broader category of leukemias of variable immunophenotype with diverse genomic alterations of a core set of genes encoding regulators of hematopoietic stem cell development. Numerous genetic alterations and disease subtypes emerged as independent predictors of survival and treatment failure in univariable and multivariable outcome models. These findings provide a roadmap for the classification, risk stratification and mechanistic understanding of this disease.

  Study EGAS50000000016

• WNT-dependent interaction between inflammatory fibroblasts and FOLR2+ macrophages promotes fibrosis in chronic kidney disease

  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem driven by myofibroblast accumulation, leading to interstitial fibrosis. Heterogeneity is a recently recognised characteristics in kidney fibroblasts in CKD, but the role of different populations is still unclear. Here, we characterize a proinflammatory fibroblast population (named CXCL-iFibro), which corresponds to an early state of myofibroblast differentiation in CKD. By performing immunofluorescence studies and spatial transcriptomics analysis on 2 patients, we demonstrate that CXCL-iFibro co-localize with macrophages in the kidney and participate in their attraction, accumulation, and switch into FOLR2+ macrophages from early CKD stages on. In vitro, we cultured primary inflammatory fibroblasts that we characterized by using bulk RNAseq. We show that macrophages promote the switch of CXCL-iFibro into ECM-secreting myofibroblasts through a WNT/-catenin-dependent pathway, thereby suggesting a reciprocal crosstalk between these populations of fibroblasts and macrophages. Finally, the detection of CXCL-iFibro at early stages of CKD is predictive of poor patient prognosis, which shows that the CXCL-iFibro population is an early player in CKD progression and demonstrates the clinical relevance of our findings.

  Study EGAS50000000101

• Whole exome sequencing of bladder tumors

  Bladder carcinomas are immunogenic, and patients with bladder cancer benefit from immune checkpoint therapy. This is correlated to a high tumor mutation burden, which provides a higher number of neoepitopes that can be recognized by tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is used to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but its mechanism of action remains elusive. Most lymphocytes appearing in the urine of BCG-treated patients are CD4+ T cells though preclinical studies showed that CD8+ T cells are also necessary for BCG treatment efficacy. It is currently unknown which proportion of patients with non-metastatic bladder cancer develop a spontaneous antitumor CD8+ response, and if BCG treatment influences this response. were prepared using the xGen Dual Index UMI Adapters (IDT), and genomic DNA (gDNA) extracted (DNeasy kit, Qiagen) from formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded (FFPE) or snap-frozen tumor tissue, as well as autologous lymphocytes. Libraries were subjected to paired-end sequencing using Illumina HiSeq4000 with a coverage depth of 250X. Library preparation was carried out with the AllType FASTplex NGS 11 Loci Flex Kit (One Lambda), and sequencing was conducted on the Illumina MiSeq platform.

  Study EGAS50000001248

• Residual ANTXR1+ myofibroblasts after chemotherapy inhibit anti-tumor immunity via YAP1 signaling pathway

  Although cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) heterogeneity is well-established, the impact of chemotherapy on CAF populations remains poorly understood. We address this question in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), in which we previously identified 4 CAF populations. While the global content in stroma increases in HGSOC after chemotherapy, the proportion of FAP+ CAF (also called CAF-S1) decreases. Still, maintenance of high residual CAF-S1 content after chemotherapy is associated with reduced CD8+ T lymphocyte density and poor patient prognosis, emphasizing the importance of CAF-S1 reduction upon treatment. Single cell analysis, spatial transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry reveal that the content in the ECM-producing ANTXR1+ CAF-S1 cluster (ECM-myCAF) is the most affected by chemotherapy. Moreover, functional assays demonstrate that ECM-myCAF isolated from HGSOC reduce CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity through a Yes Associated Protein 1 (YAP1)-dependent mechanism. Thus, efficient inhibition after treatment of YAP1-signaling pathway in the ECM-myCAF cluster is required to enhance CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity. Altogether, these data pave the way for novel therapy targeting YAP1 in ECM-myCAF in HGSOC.

  Study EGAS50000000136