13384 results for ""pdc"+"heritage+language"+census+study"

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• Assessment of candidate high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma predisposition genes through integrated germline and tumour sequencing

  High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) has a significant hereditary component, only half of which is explained. Previously, we performed germline exome sequencing on BRCA1 and BRCA2-negative HGSOC patients, revealing three proposed and 43 novel candidate genes enriched with rare loss-of-function variants. For validation, we undertook case-control analyses using genomic data from disease-free controls. This confirms enrichment for nearly all previously identified genes. Additionally, one-hundred-and-eleven HGSOC tumours from variant carriers were sequenced alongside other complementary studies, seeking evidence of biallelic inactivation as supportive evidence. PALB2 and ATM validate as HGSOC predisposition genes, with 6/8 germline carrier tumours exhibiting biallelic inactivation accompanied by characteristic mutational signatures. Among candidate genes, only LLGL2 consistently shows biallelic inactivation and protein expression loss, supporting it as a novel HGSOC susceptibility gene. The remaining candidate genes fail to validate. Integrating case-control analyses with tumour sequencing is thus crucial for accurate gene discovery in familial cancer studies.

  Study EGAS50000000770

• Synthetic - FEGA Sweden Heilsa synthetic dataset December 2023

  Synthetic - This submission contains a subset of a synthetic dataset derived from the project Heilsa Tryggvedottir - a Nordic collaboration on sharing sensitive human data. Heilsa Tryggvedottir is funded by the Nordic e-Infrastructure Collaboration (NeIC), the ELIXIR nodes of Finland, Norway, and Sweden, Computerome in Denmark, and the Estonian Scientific Computing Infrastructure (ETAIS). In the synthetic data creation process, it was attempted to strike a fine balance between the usability of the datasets (e.g. technical FEGA development, testing, user training, and basic bioinformatics) and compliance with GDPR. File names and file content (e.g. headers in fastq) are anonymized. Moreover, the X, Y, and mitochondrial sequences have been discarded from the original data since these data can be used for maternal, paternal, or ethnic origin tracing. The dataset does not follow natural haplotype distribution (inherent to imputation panels). The only inputs derived from real sequence data are variant distribution density per chromosome and learning sequencing error models. The synthetic dataset consists of two fastq files, a cram file, a vcf file, and two index files.

  Study EGAS50000000086

• CD8+ T-cell exhaustion induced by leukemic cells drives progression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

  In order to shed light on mechanisms that lead to CLL progression, we investigated longitudinal changes in both the genetic and immunological landscapes. For that, we analyzed paired samples obtained from CLL patients at diagnosis and progression before front-line treatment or at diagnosis and long-term asymptomatic follow-up. By whole-exome sequencing (WES), we found that CLL cells displayed limited genetic evolution at progression. Conversely, T cells from progressing patients showed significant immunophenotypical and transcriptional changes over time not observed in patients that did not progress. Specifically, we found that CD8+ T cells at progression were characterized by an increasing terminally exhausted effector phenotype (T-betdim/- Eomeshi PD1hi) with high co-expression of inhibitory receptors (PD1, CD244 and CD160). This exhausted status in CD8+ T cells was induced by progressing leukemic cells mainly through a mechanism dependent on soluble factors, including IL-10. Thus, we demonstrate that immunological changes are of paramount importance for CLL clinical progression, thereby providing a rationale for the use of early immunotherapeutic intervention in this disease.

  Study EGAS00001004116

• Lineage-specific genome architecture links disease variants to target genes

  Long-range interactions between DNA regulatory elements and their target genes play major roles in gene regulation. The vast majority of interactions are uncharted, constituting a major missing link in understanding genome control. Here we use promoter capture Hi-C to identify interacting regions of 31,253 promoters in 17 human primary haematopoietic cell types. We show that long-range promoter interactions are highly cell-type specific, preferentially linking active promoters and enhancers. Patterns of promoter interactions reflect cell lineage relationships of the hematopoietic tree, consistent with dynamic remodeling of nuclear architecture during differentiation. Interacting regions are enriched for expression quantitative trait loci with effects on their interacting target genes. We exploit this rich resource of interactome maps to connect non-coding disease variants to their target promoters, identifying thousands of new disease-candidate genes, and implicating a number of gene pathways in disease susceptibility. Our results demonstrate the power of promoter interactomes from primary cells to reveal insights into genomic regulatory mechanisms underlying common diseases.

  Study EGAS00001001911

• CD36 defines CML cells less sensitive to imatinib

  Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are highly effective for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but very few patients are cured. Major drawbacks with TKIs are their low efficacy in eradicating the leukemic stem cells responsible for disease maintenance and relapse upon TKI cessation. Here, we performed RNA-sequencing of flow-sorted primitive (CD34+CD38low) and progenitor (CD34+CD38+) chronic phase CML cells and identified transcriptional upregulation of 32 cell surface molecules relative to corresponding normal bone marrow cells. Focusing on novel markers with increased expression on primitive CML cells, we confirmed upregulation of the scavenger receptor CD36 and the leptin receptor (LEPR) by flow cytometry. We also delineate a subpopulation of primitive CML cells expressing CD36 that is less sensitive to imatinib treatment. Using CD36 targeting antibodies, we show that the CD36 positive cells can be targeted and killed by antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In summary, CD36 defines a subpopulation of primitive CML cells with decreased imatinib sensitivity that can be effectively targeted by ADCC using an anti-CD36 antibody.

  Study EGAS00001002421

• TGF-β attenuates tumour response to PD-L1 blockade by contributing to exclusion of T cells.

  We examined tumours from a large cohort of patients with metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (mUC) treated with an anti–PD-L1 agent (atezolizumab) and identified major determinants of clinical response and immune escape. Whole transcriptome profiles were generated for 368 patients using TruSeq RNA Access technology (Illumina). Somatic mutations were determined via whole exome sequencing for a subset of these patients. - Response was associated with CD8+ T effector cell phenotype and, to an even greater extent, high neoantigen or tumour mutation burden (TMB). On the other hand, lack of response was associated with a transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signature, particularly in patients with CD8+ T cells preferentially residing in collagen-rich matrix surrounding tumours. Integration of these three independent biological features provided the best basis for understanding outcome in this setting. -

  Study EGAS00001002556

• Mutational analysis reveals the origin and therapy-driven evolution of recurrent glioma

  Tumor recurrence is a leading cause of cancer mortality. Therapies for recurrent disease may fail, at least in part, because the genomic alterations driving the growth of recurrences are distinct from those in the initial tumor. To explore this hypothesis, we sequenced the exomes of 23 initial low-grade gliomas and recurrent tumors resected from the same patients. In 43% of cases, at least half of the mutations in the initial tumor were undetected at recurrence, including driver mutations inTP53, ATRX, SMARCA4, and BRAF; this suggests that recurrent tumors are often seeded by cells derived from the initial tumor at a very early stage of their evolution. Notably, tumors from 6 of 10 patients treated with the chemotherapeutic drug temozolomide (TMZ) followed an alternative evolutionary path to high-grade glioma. At recurrence, these tumors were hypermutated and harbored driver mutations in the RB (retinoblastoma) and Akt-mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathways that bore the signature of TMZ-induced mutagenesis.

  Study EGAS00001000579

• Ovarian cancer organoid biobank

  Ovarian cancer (OC) is a heterogeneous disease usually diagnosed at a late stage. Experimental in vitro models that faithfully capture the hallmarks and tumor heterogeneity of OC are limited and hard to establish. We present a novel protocol that enables efficient derivation and long-term expansion of OC organoids. Utilizing this protocol, we have established 56 organoid lines from 32 patients, representing the spectrum of ovarian neoplasms, including non-malignant borderline tumors, as well as mucinous, clear-cell, endometrioid, low- and high-grade serous carcinomas. OC organoids recapitulate histological and genomic features of the pertinent lesion from which they were derived, illustrating intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity, and can be genetically modified. We show that OC organoids can be used for drug screening assays and capture different tumor subtype responses to the gold standard platinum-based chemotherapy, including acquisition of chemoresistance in recurrent disease. Finally, OC organoids can be xenografted, enabling in vivo drug sensitivity assays. Taken together, this demonstrates their potential application for research and personalized medicine.

  Study EGAS00001003073

• Inference of transcription factor binding from cell-free DNA enables tumor subtype prediction and early detection

  Deregulation of transcription factors (TFs) is an important driver of tumorigenesis, but non-invasive assays for assessing transcription factor activity are lacking. We Here we developed and validated a minimally invasive method for assessing TF activity based on cell-free DNA sequencing and nucleosome footprint analysis. We analyzed whole genome sequencing data for >1,000 cell-free DNA samples from cancer patients and healthy controls using a newly developed bioinformatics pipeline developed by us that infers accessibility of TF binding sites from cell-free DNA fragmentation patterns. We observe patient-specific as well as tumor-specific patterns, including accurate prediction of tumor subtypes in prostate cancer, with important clinical implications for the management of patients. Furthermore, we show that cell-free DNA TF profiling is capable of detection of early-stage colorectal carcinomas. Our approach for mapping tumor-specific transcription factor binding in vivo based on blood samples makes a key part of the noncoding genome amenable to clinical analysis.

  Study EGAS00001003206

• Integrated genomic analyses identify ARID1A and ARID1B alterations in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastomas are tumors of peripheral sympathetic neurons and are the most common solid tumor in children. To determine the genetic basis for neuroblastoma we performed whole-genome sequencing (6 cases), exome sequencing (16 cases), genome-wide rearrangement analyses (32 cases), and targeted analyses of specific genomic loci (40 cases) using massively parallel sequencing. On average each tumor had 19 somatic alterations in coding genes (range, 3-70). Among genes not previously known to be involved in neuroblastoma, chromosomal deletions and sequence alterations of chromatin remodeling genes, ARID1A and ARID1B, were identified in 8 of 71 tumors (11%) and were associated with early treatment failure and decreased survival. Using tumor-specific structural alterations, we developed an approach to identify rearranged DNA fragments in sera, providing personalized biomarkers for minimal residual disease detection and monitoring. These results highlight dysregulation of chromatin remodeling in pediatric tumorigenesis and provide new approaches for the management of neuroblastoma patients.Data Provider: Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC)

  Study EGAS00001000369

• Recursive splicing in long vertebrate genes

  Recent studies have shown that expression of many genes with exceptionally long introns in the mammalian brain can be perturbed by regulatory factors linked to neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders1-3, suggesting unique regulatory mechanisms. Here we identify functional recursive splice sites (RSS) in long introns of genes expressed in the brain. These RSS are highly conserved in genes with extreme length across diverse vertebrate species and permit step-wise removal of long introns via recursive splicing. Recursive splicing requires initial definition of a “recursive exon” that is located downstream of RSS, and most often contains premature stop codons. Moreover, we show that RSS create a splicing switch driven by splice site competition in order to distinguish primary mRNA isoforms from alternative isoforms that are prevalent in long genes. The recursive exon is not detectable in the dominant mRNA isoform due to recursive splicing, but is completely included when cryptic promoters or other cryptic exons are used. Thus, by coupling inclusion of recursive exons with the use of cryptic elements, RSS act to distinguish new mRNA isoforms emerging from long genes.

  Study EGAS00001001170

• Uveal melanoma patient with germline MBD4 nonsense mutation

  There is currently no effective treatment for metastasised uveal melanoma (UM). Recently, it was reported that a UM patient was responsive to checkpoint inhibitor (CI) treatment, due to a high tumour mutation burden correlated with a germline loss-of-function MBD4 mutation. Here, we report on another UM patient who carried an MBD4 germline nonsense variant (p.Leu563Ter) and her tumour showed a 5-fold higher than average mutation burden. We confirmed the association between germline loss-of-function variant in MBD4 and CI response. The patient experienced stable disease (10 months) and survived two years with metastatic disease, which is twice as long as median survival. Additionally, the frequency of MBD4 loss-of-function variants in reported UM cohorts was >20 times higher than in an aggregated population genome database (P < 5x10-5), implying a potential role as UM predisposition gene. These findings provide a strong basis for the inclusion of MBD4 in screening of potential UM-prone families as well as stratification of immunotherapy.

  Study EGAS00001003362

• Genome-wide SNP genotyping of Central African rainforest hunter-gatherers and neighbouring agriculturalists

  The emergence of agriculture in West-Central Africa, ~5,000 years ago, profoundly modified the cultural landscape and mode of subsistence of most sub-Saharan populations. How this major innovation has impacted the genetic history of rainforest hunter-gatherers — historically referred to as “pygmies” — and agriculturalists, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we report genome-wide SNP data from eight of these populations located west-to-east of the equatorial rainforest. We find that hunter-gathering populations present up to 50% of farmer genomic ancestry, and that substantial admixture began only within the last 1,000 years. Furthermore, we show that the historical population sizes characterising these communities already differed before the introduction of agriculture. Our results suggest that the first socio-economic interactions between rainforest hunter-gatherers and farmers introduced by the spread of farming were not accompanied by immediate, extensive genetic exchanges and occurred on a backdrop of two groups already differentiated by their specialisation in two ecotopes with differing carrying capacities.

  Study EGAS00001000605

• Illumina HumanCoreExome genotyping data from the British Society for Surgery of the Hand Genetics of Dupuytren’s Disease consortium (BSSH-GODD consortium) collection

  Dupuytren's Disease (DD - OMIM126900) is the most common heritable disorder of connective tissue. It is a fibroproliferative disorder of the palmer fascia, causing flexion contractures of affected digits. DD affects men more commonly than women. DD is an archetypal complex disease, with multiple genetic and environmental factors affecting the final expression of the disease phenotype. The incidence increases with age, and the prevalence of DD is therefore increasing as the UK population ages. Half of all patients present before age 60. DD causes significant functional impairment, and severe contractures can lead to permanent disability. The mainstay of current treatment is surgery, but recurrence and complications are both high. For severe contractures, the only suitable treatment option is amputation. The direct costs to the NHS are high, and underestimate the true economic costs to society. We collected salivary samples from adults in the UK who have had surgery for DD. We have genotyped these samples using the Illumina HumanCoreExome Beadchips. https://research.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/public/dupuytrens/what-is-dupuytrens-disease/

  Study EGAS00001001206

• Analysis of four key cell types (epithelial, fbroblast, myeloid and T cells)

  Alterations of the normal prostate epithelial cell genome trigger the emergence of carcinoma, however cancer-only analyses of genomic aberrations have resulted in little clinical translation. A deep understanding of the tumor microenvironment is likely to inform on key drivers of disease progression and novel therapeutic opportunities. We investigated the role of key cell types along disease progression, profiling the RNA abundance of 52 samples from 13 patients enriched for one of four key cell types, spanning a wide CAPRA-S risk score range. Using a novel differential transcription Bayes method, TABI, we avoided a priori patient stratification, and mapped transcriptional alteration events to specific risk scores. The developmental and cell-type resolution yielded a landscape of concurrent transcriptional alterations from the tumour microenvironment, including key hallmarks. These transcriptional signatures permitted the identification of a “high survival” patient cluster in an independent prostate cancer dataset. Most importantly, together with our integrated transcriptional analysis, differential tissue composition analysis provided evidence for a key role for monocytes and macrophages in prostate cancer progression and disease recurrence.

  Study EGAS00001003579

• Exome-seq, RNA-Seq, SNP array profiling of gastric tumor samples and cell lines.

  Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of worldwide cancer mortality, yet the underlying genomic alterations remain poorly understood. Here we performed exome and transcriptome sequencing and SNP array assays to characterize 51 primary gastric tumors and 32 cell lines. Meta-analysis of the exome data and previously published data sets revealed 24 significantly mutated genes in MSS tumors, and 16 in MSI tumors. More than half of the patients in our collection could potentially benefit from targeted therapies. We identified 55 splice-site mutations accompanied by aberrant splicing products, in addition to mutation-independent differential isoform usage in tumors. The ZAK kinase isoform TV1 is preferentially upregulated in gastric tumors and cell lines relative to normal samples. This pattern is also observed in colorectal, bladder, and breast cancers. Overexpression of this particular isoform activated multiple cancer-related transcription factor reporters, while depletion of ZAK in gastric cell lines inhibited proliferation. These results reveal the spectrum of genomic and transcriptomic alterations in gastric cancer, and identify isoform-specific oncogenic properties of ZAK.

  Study EGAS00001000736

• Sequencing_Acute_Myeloid_Leukaemia_

  This project will aim at sequencing and analysing three samples from a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with t(15;17) translocation (acute promyelocytic leukaemia). The patient was treated with standard chemotherapy and samples (blood and bone marrow) taken for minimal residual disease measured during and after chemotherapy. 2-3years later the patient presented a second AML containing inv (16).In this project we will sequence both AML and normal genomes to find associated mutations This will allow unprecedented insights into the dynamics of appearance of secondary AML, since we will be able to use the MRD samples to track the emergence of the inv(16) leukaemia. We will also be able to distinguish whether the 2 leukaemias are clonally related or not. This project will entail sequencing and analysis of three samples (whole genome 30x coverage) using Hi-Seq. The funds from this grant will cover the cost of sequencing 9 lanes from the AML t(15;17) sample, 9 lanes from AML inv(16) sample and 8 lanes from the normal genome.

  Study EGAS00001000035

• Engineering of a promoterless anti-viral RNAi hairpin into an endogenous miRNA locus

  Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression strategies that allow safe and persistent target mRNA knockdown are key to the success of many in vitro or in vivo RNAi applications. Here, we propose a novel solution which is expression of a promoterless miRNA-adapted shRNA (shmiRNA) from an engineered genomic miRNA locus. For proof-of-concept, we genetically “vaccinated” liver cells against a human pathogen, by using TALEns or CRISPR to integrate an anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) shmiRNA into the liver-specific miR-122/hcr gene. Reporter assays and qRT-PCR confirmed anti-HCV shmiRNA expression as well as miR-122 integrity and functionality. Specificity and safety of shmiRNA integration were validated via PCR, cDNA and miRNA profiling, and whole genome sequencing. A subgenomic HCV replicon and a full-length reporter virus, but not a Dengue virus control, were significantly impaired in the modified cells. Our original combination of DNA engineering and RNAi expression technologies should benefit numerous applications, from basic miRNA research, to human cell and gene therapy.

  Study EGAS00001001252

• Scalable whole-genome single-cell library preparation without pre-amplification

  Single-cell genomics is critical for understanding cellular heterogeneity in cancer, but existing library preparation methods are expensive, require sample preamplification and introduce coverage bias. Here we describe direct library preparation (DLP), a robust, scalable, and high-fidelity method that uses nanoliter-volume transposition reactions for single-cell whole-genome library preparation without preamplification. We examined 782 cells from cell lines and triple-negative breast xenograft tumors. Low-depth sequencing, compared with existing methods, revealed greater coverage uniformity and more reliable detection of copy-number alterations. Using phylogenetic analysis, we found minor xenograft subpopulations that were undetectable by bulk sequencing, as well as dynamic clonal expansion and diversification between passages. Merging single-cell genomes in silico, we generated "bulk-equivalent" genomes with high depth and uniform coverage. Thus, low-depth sequencing of DLP libraries may provide an attractive replacement for conventional bulk sequencing methods, permitting analysis of copy number at the cell level and of other genomic variants at the population level.

  Study EGAS00001002170

• Genomes of Relapsing Neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastoma is a malignancy of the developing sympathetic nervous system that is often lethal when relapse occurs, but the molecular mechanisms behind this process are poorly defined. We here used whole-exome sequencing, mRNA expression, array CGH and DNA methylation analysis to holistically characterize 16 paired samples from neuroblastoma patients at diagnosis and relapse. The mutational burden significantly increased in relapsing tumors accompanied by altered mutational signatures and reduced subclonal heterogeneity. Global allele frequencies at relapse indicated clonal mutation selection during disease progression. Promoter methylation patterns were consistent over disease course and patient-specific. Recurrent alterations at relapse included mutations in the putative CHD5 neuroblastoma tumor suppressor, chromosome 9p losses, DOCK8 mutations, inactivating mutations in PTPN14 and a relapse-specific activity pattern for the PTPN14 target gene, YAP. Recurrent new mutations in HRAS, KRAS, DOCK8 and genes mediating cell-cell interaction in 13/16 relapse tumors also indicate disturbances in signaling pathways mediating mesenchymal transition. Our data shed first light on genetic alteration frequency, identity and evolution in neuroblastoma.

  Study EGAS00001001387

• Drug screening and whole genome sequencing of primary cells and cell lines from ovarian cancer patients to associate genomic aberrations with in vitro drug sensitivities

  Identifying drugs for cancers with poor prognosis like ovarian cancer (OC) is hindered by inappropriate cell models and the limitations of current viability assays. We developed an automated confocal microscopy-based live cell assay (DeathPro) that robustly de-convolves cell death and proliferation over time by employing a specific image processing strategy. Using DeathPro, we screened nine OC patient-derived cell lines and one normal cell line (HOSEpiC) with 22 drugs or combinations. Whole genome was performed to analyze if the cell lines harbor OC-typical genomic aberrations and to relate genomic features to drug sensitivities. Commonly observed alterations in OC patients like TP53 mutations and MYC or PI3KCA amplifications were absent in the normal cell line but frequently detected in the OC cell lines. Moreover, genome-derived homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scores of the OC cell lines correlated with their responses to carboplatin, olaparib and DNA demethylation drugs. Overall, we propose an imaging-based platform to guide drug development and genome-drug sensitivity analysis.

  Study EGAS00001002239

• HipSci - Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Initiative

  Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be generated from adult tissues and differentiated into a range of specific cell types (Yamanaka and Blau, 2010). They therefore provide unprecedented opportunities for investigating disease mechanisms and understanding the phenotypic consequences of genetic variation within the normal population. HipSci brings together diverse constitutents in genomics, proteomics, cell biology and clinical genetics to create a UK national iPS cell resource and use it to carry out cellular genetic studies. Between 2013 and 2016 we aim to generate iPS cells from over 500 healthy individuals and 500 individuals with genetic disease. We will then use these cells to discover how genomic variation impacts on cellular phenotype and identify new disease mechanisms. Strong links with NHS investigators will ensure that studies on the disease-associated cell lines will be linked to extensive clinical information. Further key features of the project are an open access model of data sharing; engagement of the wider clinical genetics community in selecting patient samples; and provision of dedicated laboratory space for collaborative cell phenotyping and differentiation.

  Study EGAS00001001465

• Integrated genomic, transcriptional and epigenomic analyses in germinal center-cell lymphomas link the mutation landscape with differential DNA methylation in Burkitt lymphoma

  Biologically and clinically diverse B-cell neoplasms, including Burkitt, follicular and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, show features of germinal center (GC) B-cells. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of the epigenetic landscape of GC-B-cell lymphomas using whole genome bisulfite sequencing paired with genome and transcriptome sequencing from 29 primary tumor samples and four normal GC-B-cell samples. All lymphomas studied showed extensive genome-wide methylation losses as well as intragenic regions where DNA methylation levels were strongly correlated with expression of associated genes. Pathway analysis revealed that these intragenic regions were enriched in signaling networks differentially activated in Burkitt and follicular lymphomas and affected regulatory mechanisms deregulated by recurrent mutations in a large fraction of Burkitt lymphomas (including the ID3/TCF3 complex, the SWI/SNF remodeling complex and the inhibitory GI signaling pathway). Taken together, these results provide a global picture of Burkitt lymphoma pathomechanism and demonstrate a tight connection between epigenetic regulation and other levels of regulatory control in these tumors.

  Study EGAS00001001067

• Mitochondrial-Nuclear Mutational Cross-Talk Drives Recurrence of Localized Prostate Cancer

  Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent non-skin cancer in men, but has a remarkably quiet mutational profile. Exome sequencing studies have revealed few recurrent somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs). Whole-genome sequencing studies have not yet identified highly recurrent driver non-coding SNVs (ncSNVs) or genomic rearrangements (Grs). As a result, the underlying events that drive this frequent disease remain unknown. While mitochondrial mutations have been linked to several tumour types, including prostate cancer, their global frequency and impact has remained unknown. To determine if mitochondrial mutations might drive some prostate cancers, we analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of 216 tumours from patients with the most commonly diagnosed form of prostate cancer. We developed a pipeline that conservatively identified only mitochondrial SNVs (mitoSNVs) that differed in the heteroplasmy fraction as compared to their paired-normal by at least 20%. We identified several features of the mitochondrial genome that were correlated with nuclear genomic mutations, as well as features that were significantly associated with biochemical recurrence.

  Study EGAS00001001782

• Multi-omics analysis defines core genomic alterations in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

  Pheochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are neural crest-derived tumors. We performed the integrated genomic analysis of a collection of PCC/PGL from the French COMETE network using SNP arrays, whole-exome sequencing, DNA methylation arrays, mRNA expression arrays and miRNA sequencing. We found that PCC/PGL are characterized by a low mutation rate, with few recurrent somatic mutations and focal copy number alterations (CNAs). In contrast, we detected recurrent broad CNAs strongly associated with known molecular groups, often leading to the biallelic inactivation of the known susceptibility genes of PCC/PGL. We also identified DNA methylation changes and miRNA expression clusters strongly associated with molecular groups. Of note, overexpression of the miRNA cluster 182/96/183 is specific of SDHB-mutated tumors and induces invasive traits, whereas silencing of the imprinted DLK1-MEG3 miRNA cluster due to a loss of heterozygosity of the 14q32.2 locus is a potential driver in a subset of sporadic tumors. This comprehensive analysis illustrates the functional interdependence between genomic and epigenomic dysregulations underlying PCC/PGL.

  Study EGAS00001000933