12377 results for ""statistically+reactive"+taxa+in+microbial+community"

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• Non-coding mutations reveal cancer driver cistromes in luminal breast cancer

  Whole-genome sequencing of primary breast tumors enabled the identification of cancer driver genes and non-coding cancer driver plexuses from somatic mutations. However, differentiating between driver and passenger events among non-coding genetic variants remains a challenge to understand the etiology of cancer and inform the delivery of personalized cancer medicine. Herein, we reveal enrichment of non-coding mutations in cis-regulatory elements that cover a subset of transcription factors linked to tumor progression in luminal breast cancers. Using a cohort of 26 primary luminal ER+PR+ breast tumors, we compiled a catalogue of ~100,000 unique cis-regulatory elements from ATAC-seq data. Integrating this catalogue with somatic mutations from 350 publicly available breast tumor whole genomes, we identified four recurrently mutated individual cis-regulatory elements. By then partitioning the non-coding genome into cistromes, defined as the sum of binding sites for a transcription factor, we uncovered cancer driver cistromes for ten transcription factors, namely CTCF, ELF1, ESR1, FOSL2, FOXA1, FOXM1 GATA3, JUND, TFAP2A, and TFAP2C in luminal breast cancer. Nine of these ten transcription factors were shown to be essential for growth in breast cancer, with four exclusive to the luminal subtype. Collectively, we present a strategy to find cancer driver cistromes relying on quantifying the enrichment of non-coding mutations over cis-regulatory elements concatenated into a functional unit drawn from an accessible chromatin catalogue derived from primary cancer tissues.

  Study EGAS00001005235

• Predictive value of chromosome 18q11.2-q12.1 loss for benefit from bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer; a post-hoc analysis of the randomized controlled trial AGITG-MAX

  Patients and methods: We analyzed tumor samples of 256 patients enrolled in the AGITG-MAX 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) who were randomly assigned to receive either capecitabine, or capecitabine and bevacizumab with- or without mitomycin. Chromosome 18q11.2-q12.1 copy number status was measured and correlated with PFS according to a predefined analysis plan with marker-treatment interaction as the primary end-point.Results: Chromosome 18q11.2-q12.1 losses were detected in 71% of patients (181/256) characteristic for mCRC. Consistent with the non-randomized study, significant PFS benefit of bevacizumab was observed in chromosome 18q11.2-q12.1 loss patients (P=0.009), and not in 18q no-loss patients (P=0.67). Although significance for marker-treatment interaction was not reached (Pinteraction = 0.28), hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (HRinteraction 0.72, CI 0.39 - 1.32) show striking overlap with the non-randomized study cohorts (HRinteraction 0.41, CI 0.32 - 0.8) supported by a non-significant Cochrane chi-squared (P=0.11) for heterogeneity. Conclusions: PFS characteristics for marker positive- and negative patients randomized for treatment with- or without bevacizumab were consistent with those of the non-randomized discovery study, though the number of AGITG-MAX samples fell short to reach significance for marker-treatment interaction. Post-hoc analysis of the AGITG-MAX RCT provides supportive evidence for chromosome 18q11.2-q12.1 as a clinically relevant predictive marker for mCRC patients.

  Study EGAS00001005453

• Pomalidomide for the Treatment of Bleeding in HHT (PATH-HHT)

  Data Access NOTE: Please refer to the "Authorized Access" section below for information about how access to the data from this accession differs from many other dbGaP accessions.Objectives: To determine efficacy (reduction in severity of epistaxis), tolerability, and improvement in quality of life of pomalidomide compared to placebo after 24 weeks of treatment.Background: This study addresses the efficacy of pomalidomide in the treatment of epistaxis in patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) who have anemia and/or require blood transfusion or iron infusion for treatment of bleeding-induced anemia and iron deficiency. HHT (also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is an inherited bleeding disorder. Over 95% of patients develop recurrent epistaxis, which may be severe and result in chronic anemia, need for iron infusions and blood transfusions, substantial psychiatric comorbidity (including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder) and reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HHT is clinically diagnosed using the Curacao criteria, which consists of 1) spontaneous and recurrent epistaxis, 2) telangiectasias at characteristic sites, 3) visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or telangiectasias, and 4) a first degree relative with HHT (inheritance is usually autosomal dominant). Patients with three criteria are considered to have definite HHT, and those with 2 criteria probable HHT. HHT affects approximately 1 in 3,800 individuals. Significant manifestations of HHT often do not appear until the third or fourth decades, sometimes later.Participants: 144 patients from 11 clinical centers were enrolled.Design: This is a multi-center, double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial that investigated the efficacy and safety of pomalidomide in patients with HHT and chronic epistaxis leading to iron-deficiency anemia or requiring intravenous iron infusions or blood transfusion.Screening evaluation included the Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) with three-month recall, which reflected the patient's history of epistaxis and bleeding over the prior three months, as well as detailed review of iron infusion and red cell transfusion over the preceding six months. Eligible patients were provided a diary to record the duration of each epistaxis event that occurred during the 4 weeks prior to the baseline visit, and then returned for the baseline randomization visit, at which time patients underwent genetic testing, if this had not been previously performed, and completed an ESS with 4-week recall and quality of life assessments. Patients were randomized 2:1, stratified by study site, to either pomalidomide 4 mg/day or matching placebo during each of six 28 day cycles (24 weeks). Patients were seen every four weeks during treatment, and at a 4-week post-treatment follow-up visit to measure the ESS (with 4-week recall), laboratory assessments including iron stores and need for iron infusion, CBC, and metabolic profile. Patients were assessed for adverse events (AE) throughout the study. Treatment dosage could be reduced, or temporarily or permanently discontinued following AE-specific guidelines related to fatigue, cytopenias or other toxicities.Quality of life assessments were completed at baseline, and the 12- and 24-week visits, and the 4-week post-treatment follow-up visit using validated NIH instruments of 1) Neuro-QOL satisfaction with social roles and activities, 2) PROMIS emotional distress – depression, and 3) PROMIS fatigue, and the HHT-specific quality of life instrument developed specifically for this study. The effect of pomalidomide on duration of epistaxis was assessed via diary between weeks 8-12, 20-24 and the 4-week post-treatment period.Conclusions: Among patients with HHT, pomalidomide treatment resulted in a significant, clinically relevant reduction in epistaxis severity. No unexpected safety signals were identified (Al-Samkari et al., 2024; PMID: 39292928)

  Study phs003948

• Whole_genome_sequencing_of_100_DDD_trios_with_suspected_noncoding_causal_mutations

  We would like to whole-genome sequence 100 trios (300 individuals) from the DDD project in which we suspect the proband has a pathogenic noncoding mutation, to 30X coverage. These have been carefully selected to maximise the chances of finding pathogenic noncoding mutations. Specifically, we have selected probands who have no likely causal mutation within the coding region but who have a heterozygous loss-of-function mutation inherited from one parent in a known recessive developmental disorder gene, and whose phenotype is a good match for the typical phenotype caused by recessive variants in that gene. We suspect that these probands may have a heterozygous noncoding mutation on the other allele which reduces expression of the gene so that, together, these two mutations are effectively equivalent to a homozygous loss-of-function mutation. About a quarter of the probands have affected siblings and, if those siblings have been exome sequenced, we have checked that they are identical-by-descent in the region of the gene. We propose to search in the promoter region, intronic and annotated regulatory regions around these genes of interest for rare variants inherited from the other parent (i.e. not the one who transmitted the loss-of-function variant), or de novo variants. If we find such variants, and demonstrate an enrichment of this compound heterozygous LoF noncoding mechanism above that expected by chance, we intend to follow up specific candidates by RNAseq and potentially CRISPR/Cas9 experiments. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/

  Study EGAS00001002452

• Genetics of Neuropsychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

  Although schizophrenia is a highly heritable disease, relatively little progress had been made in securely identifying the genetic causes of this disorder, and most instances of schizophrenia in the general population remain unexplained. One avenue of explanation for the genetic basis of schizophrenia, however, has been effectively closed by recent research. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have now shown that common variation makes at most a modest contribution to the risk of schizophrenia. At the same time that the role of common variation has been circumscribed by GWAS, however, the analysis of copy number variants that are detectable on a genome-wide scale has revealed and replicated a number of very rare variants that associate with schizophrenia. These rare copy number variants that have been implicated in schizophrenia, however, have one striking feature in common: they are all risk factors for other brain related disorders beyond schizophrenia such as mental retardation, autism and epilepsy. These findings argue that genetic risk factors may confer a highly penetrant vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorder, which is then further modified by interacting genetic or environmental factors to determine the ultimate manifestation. Most schizophrenia collections that are being studied today, however, have been selected precisely for their homogeneity: including only schizophrenia patients with no comorbidities, or schizophrenia patients with relatives who have schizophrenia but no other neuropsychiatric conditions. These selection criteria are inconsistent with what we now know about the bulk of the genetic differences that have been associated with disease. The central hypothesis of this project is that there are rare genetic variants that strongly elevate the risk of various neuropsychiatric diseases, and that these risk factors can be identified most readily in families segregating multiple neuropsychiatric conditions.

  Study phs000682

• Analysis of Donor Pancreata Defines the Transcriptomic Signature and Microenvironment of Early Neoplastic Pancreatic Lesions

  The adult healthy human pancreas has been poorly studied given lack of indication to obtain tissue from the pancreas in the absence of disease and rapid postmortem degradation. We obtained pancreata from brain dead donors thus avoiding any warm ischemia time. We found that neoplastic lesions occur frequently in healthy organs, in donors as young as in their 3rd decade of life. Using the 10X Genomics Platform, we performed single cell RNA sequencing on 7 donor pancreata, 6 of which we separately sequenced tissue from the pancreas head and tail, for a total of 11 sequencing runs. Of note, because one of our runs (containing sequencing from pancreas head and tail) did not pass qc, our final analysis in our study utilized 6 donor pancreata, 5 of which contained pancreas head and tail sequenced separately. This is a robust single-cell dataset of healthy, nonpathologic pancreas tissue and includes acinar, ductal, and non-epithelial cells (myeloid cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, lymphocytes).Briefly, the donor pancreas was dissected by a clinically-trained pancreatobiliary surgeon. The organ was dissected into head, body, and tail, with portions of each placed into DMEM media with 1% BSA/10µM Y27632. Tissue was minced into 1mm3 pieces, then digested with 1 mg/mL collagenase P for 20-30 min at 37°C with gentle agitation. Digested tissue was rinsed three times with DMEM/1% BSA/10µM Y27632, then filtered through a 40µm mesh. Resulting cells were submitted to the University of Michigan Advanced Genomics Core for single cell sequencing using the 10x Genomics Platform. FASTQ files of all sequencing runs along with clinical annotation of donors is available through this dbGaP submission.

  Study phs003229

• PROstate Cancer Medically Optimized Genome Enhanced ThErapy (PROMOTE) of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) Patients Treated with Abiraterone Acetate

  The Prostate Cancer Medically Optimized Genome-Enhanced Therapy (PROMOTE) study uses genetic clues in castration-resistant prostate cancer that may identify an individualized treatment approach for men with the disease. Understanding the molecular biology behind castration-resistant prostate cancer has led to more treatment options, but there are still no definite conclusions about which specific drug best treats patients - maximum suppression of cancer growth while minimizing side effects. The PROMOTE study explores the genetic characteristics of each tumor to predict these treatment paradigms for the future, resulting in more effective and less toxic options for patients. Our long-term goal is to improve treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer by using genomic sequencing to increase life span and quality of life. We also will uncover novel vulnerable targets in the cancer genome that may provide new drug therapies. PARTICIPATION Eligible participants are men: With castration-resistant prostate cancer or prostate cancer not responding to hormone treatments About to begin abiraterone acetate therapy Agreeable to undergoing two tumor biopsies During the study, participants travel to Mayo Clinic for an initial biopsy (before beginning abiraterone acetate) and a second biopsy approximately three months later. The cell tissue collected is analyzed to identify gene alterations in the tumor that could eventually be targeted with treatments. Tissue is preserved for future research. Participants can continue to be treated by their local cancer care team during this period and beyond. In addition, the Mayo team carefully monitors participants' cancer via follow-up studies and the genetic signature of tumors that were biopsied so that patients may benefit from future treatments.

  Study phs001141

• Heart and Vascular Health Study (HVH)

  Objectives The Heart and Vascular Health Study (HVH) is a case-control study of risk factors for the development of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, venous thrombosis (VT), and atrial fibrillation (AF). The study setting is Group Health, an integrated health care delivery system in Washington State. Background The HVH originated in 1988 with the examination of risk factors for MI. Over the ensuing years, the study has been funded by a series of grants, which have added case subjects with stroke, VT, and AF, and used a common control group. Study aims have focused on the associations of medication use with cardiovascular events. Starting in 1997, the study aims expanded to include genetic associations with cardiovascular disease. Participants recruited in 2009 or later and who provided blood samples for genetic analysis were asked for consent to deposit genetic and phenotype data in dbGaP. Design As part of the HVH study, case subjects were identified by searching for ICD-9 codes consistent with MI, stroke, VT, or AF, and medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis. Control subjects were identified at random from the Group Health enrollment and were matched to MI cases. All subjects have an index date. For cases, the index date was assigned as the date that the cardiovascular event (MI, stroke, VT, or AF) came to clinical attention. For controls, the index date was a random date within the range of the case index dates. For both cases and controls, information was collected from the inpatient and outpatient medical record, by telephone interview with consenting survivors, and from the Group Health pharmacy and laboratory databases. Consenting participants provided a blood specimen. Genetic Research Genetic factors underlying cardiovascular disease are studied using DNA isolated from the blood samples.

  Study phs001013

• The International Consortium for Prostate Cancer Genetics Genome Wide Association Study of Familial Prostate Cancer

  Initially, the ICPCG focused largely on high-risk prostate cancer pedigrees using linkage analysis. However, association studies have also been informative to find prostate cancer susceptibility variants in the genome. We hypothesize that genome-wide (GW) association studies of familial cases of prostate cancer will have the power to identify rarer and perhaps less penetrant risk variants associated with prostate cancer than have been identified to date. Our approach will be to examine evidence for association in selected, independent cases from high-risk pedigrees; we hypothesize that they represent a more homogeneous set of cases with potentially different associations. Use of the 5M plus exome SNP platform will allow us to include in our search more rare variants in our search than have ever been investigated for prostate cancer. Aim 1. Identify a set of independent prostate cancer cases selected from ICPCG high-risk prostate cancer pedigrees that have 3 or more related prostate cancer cases and have an average age at diagnosis ≤ 75 years. Identify appropriate matched controls from participating ICPCG groups/ populations. Aim 2. Perform GW SNP genotyping with the Illumina 5M plus exome SNP set on the set of independent prostate cancer cases and controls described in Aim 1. Aim 3. Perform association analyses appropriately matching controls for different ICPCG populations and groups. There will be a two-stage design for confirmation. Aim 4. Test reported associations using the extensive sample set available to us by collaboration with the PRACTICAL consortium that has access to 50 000 DNA samples from 34 groups internationally (over 7,000 of whom are positive for prostate cancer family history).

  Study phs000733

• Single-Cell Analysis of CD19-Specific CAR T Cell Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory CD19+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  By leveraging single-cell transcriptome and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, we aimed to track the transcriptional signatures of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell clonotypes throughout the course of treatment and furthermore identify molecular patterns leading to potent CAR T cell cytotoxicity. The data presented in this study encompass blood and bone marrow samples from patients ≤ 21 years of age with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) participating in the SJCAR19 phase I/II clinical trial (NCT03573700). In brief, patients enrolled in the clinical trial received either 1 x 10^6 (dose level 1) or 3 x 10^6 (dose level 2) per kilogram of body weight following successful generation of autologous CAR T cell products and lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Peripheral blood was drawn from each participant every week until week 4 post-infusion, at week 6 or 8, and month 3 or 6 if feasible. At week 4 post-infusion, blood marrow was also collected from participants. Total T cells (CD3+) were sorted from each post-infusion sample, as well as the pre-infusion CAR T cell products, and processed through 10x Genomics’ single-cell gene expression and V(D)J sequencing platform using the standard protocol. We identified a unique and unexpected transcriptional signature in a subset of pre-infusion CAR T cells that shared TCRs with post-infusion cytotoxic effector CAR T cells. Functional validation of cells with even a subset of these pre-effector markers demonstrated their immediate cytotoxic potential and resistance to exhaustion. The data deposited into dbGaP include all raw single-cell expression and V(D)J sequencing generated from samples obtained from 16 study participants.

  Study phs002966

• Epigenetics of Cocaine and Nicotine Addiction

  This project characterizes DNA methylation and gene expression changes that occur in the human brain, specifically in neurons from the rostral striatum. Major advances from NIDA funded initiatives for noninvasive neuroimaging studies have made it possible to study neuroanatomical, neurochemical and functional changes in the human brain that contribute to the vulnerability to abuse drugs, together with the neurotoxic consequences of years of drug misuse. Animal models have been developed to explain the fundamental behavioral and biological mechanisms of addiction, including reward, tolerance and dependence. From these studies, we learned that cocaine abuse not only alters the epigenetic status of genes, but also induces particular epigenetic modifications depending on the frequency of the drug's administration. Certain genes are switched on by infrequent (short-term exposure) administration, while others are switched on only after chronic administration (addiction/dependence). Animal studies have also suggested that cocaine-seeking habits modeling chronic cocaine addiction in humans depend upon dopamine-dependent serial connectivity linking the ventral (nucleus accumbens) with the dorsal striatum (caudate nucleus). The primary goal of this study is to identify DNA methylation and gene expression changes that occur in the transition from recreational cocaine use to cocaine addiction. High throughput sequencing studies were designed to investigate unique postmortem human brain specimens from individuals that met criteria for cocaine dependence, as compared to unaffected age-matched controls. Brain biospecimens were available from the University of Miami Brain Endowment BankTM, from a collection of phenotypically well-characterized postmortem tissues sampled from chronic cocaine abusers that came to autopsy. This biobank of postmortem brain specimens and annotated genomic data serve as a research resource to support NIDA's scientific mission.

  Study phs001377

• Genetic Aberrations and Subclonal Structure Impact Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

  Large-scale whole-exome sequencing (WES) of primary tumor samples enables the unbiased discovery of recurrent putative driver events and patterns of clonal evolution. We report the identification of 44 recurrently mutated genes and 11 recurrent CNVs through the WES of 538 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and matched germline DNAs. These include previously unrecognized cancer drivers (e.g., RPS15, IKZF3), and collectively identify nuclear export, MYC activity and MAPK signaling as central pathways affected by somatic mutation in CLL. A clonality analysis of this large dataset further enabled the reconstruction of temporal relationships between these driver events. Several drivers were associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in 280 samples that were collected prior to uniform treatment with front line chemo-immunotherapy, with mature follow up of greater than 10 years. Direct comparison between matched pretreatment and relapse CLL from 59 samples demonstrated marked clonal evolution occurring in more than 95% of these patients. Distinct patterns of clonal evolution in relationship to specific gene alteration were observed, suggesting a hierarchy of fitness amongst mutations. Thus, large WES datasets of clinically informative samples enable the discovery of novel driver genes as well as the network of relationships between the drivers and their impact on disease relapse and clinical outcome.Additionally, we performed RNA-seq for 268 CLL samples (including 26 follow-up samples) and used them to identify expression subtypes of CLL. RRBS for 30 of these samples was also generated. 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 phs000922

• Center Common Disease Genomics [CCDG] - Cardiovascular: Partners Biobank

  This study is a part of NHGRI's Center for Common Disease Genomics, a collaborative large-scale genome sequencing effort to comprehensively identify rare risk and protective variants contributing to multiple common disease phenotypes. Current estimates anticipate that the CCDG program will perform whole genome sequencing of 140K individuals and whole exome sequencing of 225K individuals over the course of the project. The Cardiovascular Disease working group of the CCDG considered five diseases: early-onset coronary artery disease (EOCAD), stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes. CAD is the leading cause of death in the world and common variant association studies show that our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is incomplete (e.g, >2/3 of the 63 common variants previously mapped for CAD do not directly relate to known risk factors). CAD is representative of a class of common diseases with onset at middle age. When CAD occurs early in life, there is a stronger inherited component. In addition, there is empirical evidence that a burden of rare coding alleles in individual genes contribute to risk for CAD. Source: https://ccdg.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/CCDG_CVD_EOCAD_STROKE_FINAL.pdf For this study, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard generated genetic data for ~13,500 individuals from the Partners Biobank, including using whole exome sequencing and whole genome genotyping (Infinium Global Screening Array), with 550 samples from patients with myocardial infarction, a type of EOCAD. Partners Biobank, launched in 2010, is a biobank composed of samples from Partners hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. The Biobank has enrolled >100K individuals to study how genes, lifestyle, and other factors affect people's health and contribute to disease.

  Study phs002018

• Epigenetic Profiling of Human Colorectal Cancer

  DNA methylation, together with chromatin modifications, constitute the epigenome that functions to regulate gene expression and genome integrity. DNA methylation alterations are ubiquitous in human cancers, as many genes acquire DNA methylation in a cancer-specific manner. DNA methylation at these sites in the genome of cancer cells not only serves as a marker for tumor identification, but together with gene mutation and gene expression data, can also be used to describe subsets of tumors of the same organ source. We have previously shown distinct human colorectal cancer subtypes based on DNA methylation differences. Correlating these DNA methylation differences with clinical co-variates will serve to further understand how these distinct subtypes are generated. We have collected 100 colorectal tumor tissues (for which clinical information is known) and have obtained (unprotected) genome-wide DNA methylation and chromatin modification information for each sample for the purposes of identifying and classifying unique tumor subtypes of colorectal cancers. In addition, we have determined mutations of key genes relevant to colorectal cancer as well as gene expression profiles. We will use the clinical data for each de-identified sample to correlate with the DNA methylation, mutation and gene expression information so as to understand the driving forces behind these distinct colorectal subtypes. We have selected the most promising tumors for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing using next-generation sequencing technology to obtain complete maps of colon cancer methylomes. Researchers will be unable to identify the subjects because the samples and associated information have been de-identified and anonymized by the tissue source site. In addition, upon receipt by the USC Epigenome Center, we have assigned new random identifiers for each sample. The data generated using these new codes are not traceable to the patient identity.

  Study phs000385

• Whole Exome Sequencing of Head and Neck Patients-Derived Tumor Organoids and Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tumor Tissue

  In this study, tissue specimens were procured from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing routine diagnostic procedures as part of their standard of care. For surgical cases, only excess tissue remaining after allocation for essential pathological diagnosis was utilized for research purposes. We aimed to validate the genomic fidelity of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) compared to their originating tumors. Whole exome sequencing was performed on four paired sets of PDOs and matched surgical specimens preserved as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. The objective was to demonstrate that the in vitro PDO models maintain the genomic profile of the patient-specific tumors, thus supporting their potential application in identifying efficacious personalized treatment regimens. Comparative analyses of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) between matched PDO and FFPE pairs were conducted to assess global genomic similarity and shared HNSCC-relevant variants. The results indicated that the PDOs closely recapitulated the mutational landscape of the resected tumors from which they were derived. This finding supports the validity of the employed in vitro culture conditions for potential use in precision medicine approaches for HNSCC. The data submitted to dbGaP comprise eight whole exome sequencing profiles of matched pairs of HNSCC FFPE and PDO samples from four subjects. Novogene (Novogene Co., Ltd, CA, USA) generated these profiles from 1.0μg genomic DNA per sample, using the Agilent SureSelect Human All Exon kit (Agilent Technologies, CA, USA). Deposited files include raw BAM files of reads aligned to human genome Hg19 using BWA (v.0.7.8-r455), sorted with Samtools (v1.0), and filtered for duplicate reads using Picard (v1.111). Additionally, we've deposited VCF files of SNV variant calls from GATK (v3.8).

  Study phs003755

• Out with the Java, in with the Python - new EGA data download client unveiled

  We will shortly be deprecating the Java-based download client also known as API V2. The Java client began its life at the back end of 2014, and during its time has seen many developments that have served our users well. During its tenure, the Java client enabled distribution of over 6.5 million files totalling nearly 15 petabytes of data to researchers around the globe. Recent increases in genomic and phenotypic data file sizes, the number of datasets archived in the EGA, the number of users downloading data, and the diversity of download locations has meant that at times the Java client struggled to distribute data efficiently. In response, our team of developers have built a new download client with more robust features and better functionality and reliability. Enter stage left our shiny new API V3.1! The new API V3.1 will replace both API V2 and API V3. The download client for the new API V3.1 is written in Python, and the code is openly available on Github. This Python client makes https calls to the EGA AAI (https://ega.ebi.ac.uk:8443/) and to the EGA Data API (https://ega.ebi.ac.uk:8052), both of which must be accessible from the client location. In addition to general updates to improve performance, the API V3.1 has three new features enhancing the EGA distributions services. First, requested data are now downloaded over secure https connections rather than http, meaning that data can be delivered unencrypted. Instead of separately requesting, downloading, and decrypting data using the Java client, data can now be requested and downloaded using a single command without the need for decrypting. The API V3.1 also automatically verifies each file’s unencrypted md5 after download to ensure the file has downloaded correctly. Second, the new API supports segmenting and automatic resuming. To enable quicker download speeds, the API breaks files into up to four segments and downloads them in parallel. With the new resume feature, downloads - both segmented and continuous stream - will automatically resume if they encounter any errors or the connection is interrupted. These features result in both a faster and more reliable download experience. Finally, the new API V3.1 implements the GA4GH-compliant htsget protocol for supporting requests over genomic ranges. This exciting new feature means that for data files with accompanying index files (e.g. .crai for CRAM files) users can download specific regions of interest rather than the entire file saving both time and storage space. The new features of the Python-based API V3.1 represent significant improvements in security, speed, reliability, and flexibility that are sure to provide a better data download experience. To take full advantage of these features, users must update to Python 3.X. Considering the changes in the data structures with the new API, the upgrade to a new version of the Python client is also mandatory. Updating the client to the latest version can be achieved by running the following command: pip3 install pyega3 -U We are excited for users to try out the new features and take advantage of the multifariously growing EGA distribution services for human biomedical omics data. If you have any questions or feedback, please email the EGA Helpdesk team. We'd love to hear from you!

  Blog new-ega-data-download-client

• UK10K NEURO FSZ

  In the UK10K project we propose a series of complementary genetic approaches to find new low frequency/rare variants contributing to disease phenotypes. These will be based on obtaining the genome wide sequence of 4000 samples from the TwinsUK and ALSPAC cohorts (at 6x sequence coverage), and the exome sequence (protein coding regions and related conserved sequence) of 6000 samples selected for extreme phenotypes. Our studies will focus primarily on cardiovascular-related quantitative traits, obesity and related metabolic traits, neurodevelopmental disorders and a limited number of extreme clinical phenotypes that will provide proof-of-concept for future familial trait sequencing. We will analyse directly quantitative traits in the cohorts and the selected traits in the extreme samples, and also use imputation down to 0.1% allele frequency to extend the analyses to further sample sets with genome wide genotype data. In each case we will investigate indels and larger structural variants as well as SNPs, and use statistical methods that combine rare variants in a locus or pathway as well as single-variant approaches. These Finnish schizophrenia samples have been collected from a population cohort using national registers. The entire sample collection consists of 2756 individuals from 458 families of whom 931 are diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, each family having at least two affected siblings. 170 families originate from an internal isolate (Kuusamo) with a three-fold lifetime risk for the trait. The genealogy of the internal isolate is well documented and the individuals form a “megapedigree” reaching to the 17th Century. All diagnoses are based on DSM-IV and for a large fraction of cases there is cognitive data. For further details/descriptions with regard to this data set please contact Tiina Paunio (tiina.paunio@thl.fi)

  Study EGAS00001000118

• Systems biology of Colorectal Cancer

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in both males and females, and it is perhaps the best understood of all epithelial tumors in terms of its molecular origin. Yet, despite large amount of work that has concentrated on understanding of colon tumorigenesis, we still do not know the full complement of molecular lesions that are individually necessary – and together sufficient – to cause colorectal cancer. Neither do we understand why some specific mutations that are relatively rare in other tumors (e.g. loss of the APC tumor suppressor) are extremely common in colorectal cancer. We propose here to use the tools of systems biology to develop a quantitative and comprehensive model of colorectal tumorigenesis. The model will include identification of cell-type specific and oncogenic pathways that contribute to colon tumorigenesis, and explain in molecular detail how a genotype of an individual CRC leads to activation of downstream genes that drive uncontrolled cell growth. This model will subsequently be used to find novel therapeutic targets, to guide genetic screening to identify individuals with elevated risk for developing CRC, and to classify patients into molecular subgroups to select the treatment combination that is optimal for each patient (personalized medicine). The specific objectives of the SYSCOL project are: 1. Identify genetic markers for individual risk using genotyping and sequencing of constitutional DNA from sporadic and familial CRC cases and controls 2. Identify genes and regulatory elements that contribute to colorectal cancer cell growth 3. Use data from Aims 1-2 to develop a quantitative model for colorectal tumorigenesis 4. Apply the model for identification of high-risk individuals, for molecular classification of the disease, and for identification of novel molecular treatment targets

  Study EGAS00001000854

• Sequencing of paediatric High Grade Gliomas and DIPG

  Paediatric high grade glioma (pHGG) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) are a phenotypically diverse collection of tumours which molecular profiling studies have refined into age- and location-based subgroups driven by unique genetic and epigenetic alterations. Despite this, the rarity of these tumours means individual studies are underpowered to investigate subgroup-specific changes and to identify low frequency events recurrently targeting specific pathways. We have collated genomic data from 143 unpublished cases up to 30 years of age along with those from 18 previously published datasets in an integrated analysis comprising 1067 unique patients across all anatomical compartments of the CNS, with histone mutation status available for 893 cases (n=67 H3.3G34R/V, n=316 H3.3K27M, n=68 H3.1/H3.2K27M). Distinct clinicopathological and molecular subgroups are defined by these histone mutations, with several novel co-segregating mutations identified through these aggregated analyses, including loss of FBXW7 in H3.3G34R/V, TOP3A rearrangements in H3.3K27M, and BCOR mutations in H3.1K27M. Histone wild-type subgroups can be further refined by the presence of key oncogenic events (PDGFRA or EGFR amplification/mutations) or methylation profiles which molecularly more closely resemble pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma or other low grade gliomas. The burden of genomic aberrations decreases with age, highlighting the infant population as biologically and clinically distinct. Across the whole cohort, we identify novel previously unrecognised pathway dysregulation in small subsets of tumours (e.g. splicing, WNT, immune response) which make up the umbrella classification of paediatric diffusely infiltrating gliomas. The integrated dataset helps to further define the molecular diversity of the disease, opening up novel avenues for biological study and providing a basis for functionally defined future treatment stratification.

  Study EGAS00001002314

• Transcriptional_profiling_of_tauopathies_in_human_IPS_derived_neurons

  This project is a pilot study, in collaboration with Maria Grazia Spillantini and Mariangela Iovino (Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair), to investigate the utility of IPS-derived neurons for the study of neurodegenerative disorders. Our aim is to characterise the transcriptional consequences of tauopathies using neurons derived from differentiated IPSCs as a model system. We will use IPS cells derived from six individuals, four with known mutations in the tau protein, 2 without. RNA will be extracted at Day 0 and Day 65 of differentiation by which time the neuronal tauopathy is apparent. RNA will be extracted and the transcriptome of each line characterised using RNAseq. We will then search for genes that are differentially expressed between the transcriptomes of individuals with tau mutations versus those in controls. My lab will analyse the RNAseq data, comparing both affected and controls and both time-points, to establish candidate genes. Darren Logan’s lab, along with our collaborators, will experimentally verify and further investigate these genes in additional lines and animal models. From this analysis we will generate a list of candidate genes that are differentially expressed between cases and controls. This study will not only help us understand the molecular basis of tauopathies, but also identify gene candidates for biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease. It will serve as a proof of principle for future planned studies into generating and transcriptomically analysing an allelic series of Tau mutations in IPSCs with a controlled genetic background.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/

  Study EGAS00001000382

• A molecular cell atlas of the human lung from single cell RNA sequencing

  Although single cell RNA sequencing studies have begun providing compendia of cell expression profiles, it has proven more difficult to systematically identify and localize all molecular cell types in individual organs to create a full molecular cell atlas. Here we describe droplet- and plate-based single cell RNA sequencing applied to ~75,000 human lung and blood cells, combined with a multi-pronged cell annotation approach, which have allowed us to define the gene expression profiles and anatomical locations of 58 cell populations in the human lung, including 41 of 45 previously known cell types or subtypes and 14 new ones. This comprehensive molecular atlas elucidates the biochemical functions of lung cell types and the cell-selective transcription factors and optimal markers for making and monitoring them; defines the cell targets of circulating hormones and predicts local signaling interactions including sources and targets of chemokines in immune cell trafficking and expression changes on lung homing; and identifies the cell types directly affected by lung disease genes and respiratory viruses. Comparison to mouse identified 17 molecular types that appear to have been gained or lost during lung evolution and others whose expression profiles have been substantially altered, revealing extensive plasticity of cell types and cell-type-specific gene expression during organ evolution including expression switches between cell types. This atlas provides the molecular foundation for investigating how lung cell identities, functions, and interactions are achieved in development and tissue engineering and altered in disease and evolution.

  Study EGAS00001004344

• Integrated genomic analyses reveal molecular correlates of clinical response and resistance to atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

  Atezolizumab (anti–programmed death-ligand 1 [anti-PD-L1]) and bevacizumab (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [anti-VEGF]) combination therapy has become the new standard of care in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, potential predictive biomarkers and mechanisms of response and resistance remain less understood. We report integrated molecular analyses of tumor samples from 358 patients enrolled in the GO30140 phase 1b or IMbrave150 phase 3 trials who were treated with atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab, atezolizumab alone, or sorafenib. Pre-existing immunity assessed by high expression of CD274 (PD-L1 mRNA), T-effector signature, and intratumoral CD8+ T cell density were associated with response and better clinical outcomes with the combination treatment. Less clinical benefit was associated with high regulatory T cell (Treg) to effector T-cell ratio and high expression of oncofetal genes such as GPC3 and AFP. Improved outcomes from the combination vs atezolizumab alone appeared to be associated with high expression of KDR (VEGFR2), Treg, and myeloid inflammation signatures, indicating anti-VEGF may contribute by targeting these axes. These findings were further validated by transcriptome analysis of paired pre- and post-treatment biopsies, in situ analysis by multiplex IHC and digital pathology, and in vivo study of an immunogenic hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model. Our findings highlight that anti-VEGF therapy might augment antitumor immunity and enhance anti–PD-L1 immunotherapy by targeting VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, Treg proliferation, and myeloid cell inflammation. Furthermore, our study identified candidate biomarkers for predicting response and resistance to anti–PD-L1 and anti-VEGF combination therapy.

  Study EGAS00001005503

• Spiradenocarcinoma

  • Spiradenocarcinoma is a rare cutaneous sweat gland adnexal cancer with potential for aggressive behaviour. They are classified histologically into low- and high-grade tumours, with morphologically low-grade tumours thought to behave more favourably. However, limited information is available, with only 18 published cases. • We have collected morphologically low-grade spiroadenocarcinomas (one with a lung metastasis) and high-grade spiroadenocarcinomas, as well as some spiradenomas (benign lesions), cylindromas (another type of malignant cutaneous sweat gland adnexal tumour) and hybrid spiradenoma-cylindromas. • H&E-stained sections were reviewed, follow-up was obtained, and immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, p53 and, MYB has been performed. The tumours were solitary, measuring 0.8-7?cm (median: 2.7?cm), with a predilection for the head and neck of elderly patients (median age: 72 years; range 53-92) without gender bias. Histologically, the tumours were multinodular and located in deep dermis and subcutis. A pre-existing spiradenoma was present in all cases. The malignant component was characterized by expansile growth with loss of the dual cell population, up to moderate cytological atypia and increased mitotic activity (median: 10/10 HPF; range 1-28). Additional findings included squamoid differentiation (n=9), necrosis (n=7), and ulceration (n=5). P53 expression was variable and no significant differences were noted in the benign compared with the malignant parts of the tumours. In contrast, in the malignant components the Ki-67 proliferative index was slightly increased, and MYB expression was lost. Follow-up (median: 67 months; range: 13-132) available for 16 patients (84%) revealed a local recurrence rate of 19% but no metastases or disease-related mortality. • Here we wish to exome sequence these cases to define the first genomic landscape for this malignancy.

  Study EGAS00001001799

• Integrative analysis of exome-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq (bulk and single-cell), and Hi-C data generated from 3-D spatially mapped samples acquired during surgical resection from 10 patients diagnosed with IDH-WT glioblastoma

  Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary brain cancer in adults, remains incurable with no targeted therapies approved despite decades of investigation into its molecular landscape. Treatment failure is attributed to intratumoral heterogeneity in the GBM genome and epigenome, which foster tumor evolution and selection of resistant clones. However, tumor evolution and intratumoral heterogeneity remain poorly understood on the level of the whole tumor as most studies are based on single samples per patient and lack spatial context. Here, we have used 3-D neuronavigation during surgical resection for 10 primary IDH-WT GBM patients to collect 102 samples representing maximal tumor diversity, each mapped by 3-D spatial coordinates. We have applied a strategic set of genomic and epigenomic assays spanning multiple levels of resolution to discover, orthogonally validate, and functionally assess drivers of tumor evolution and intratumoral heterogeneity. These include extrachromosomal DNA amplifications, chromothripsis events, inversions, and translocations that disrupt both the GBM genome and epigenome while generating fusion transcripts and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. We define epigenomic programs that contribute to GBM evolution and intratumoral heterogeneity, revealing their 3-D spatial patterning within whole tumors and their cell type(s) of origin in single-cell data from the same tumor samples. Notably, we distinguish neuronal, glial, and immune programs aberrantly active in tumor cells from their counterparts in normal cells and discover NEUROD1, JUN/FOS, and NF1 transcription factors as key drivers of GBM evolution and growth. Collectively, these data provide unprecedented insight into GBM evolution and intratumoral heterogeneity from single-cell to whole-tumor resolution, redefining current understanding and providing a rich resource of targets for therapeutic investigation.

  Study EGAS00001006785

• Regenerative effects of MSC treatment on busulfan-induced small intestine damaged organoids.

  Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative treatment for leukemia and a range of non-malignant disorders. The success of the therapy is hampered by occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD); an inflammatory response damaging recipient organs, with gut, liver, and skin being the most susceptible. Intestinal GvHD injury is often a life-threatening complication in patients unresponsive to steroid treatment. Second-line available therapies are immunosuppressants or mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) infusions. Data from our institution and others demonstrate rescue of approximately 40-50% of patients suffering from aGvHD with mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) and minor side effects. Although promising, the better understanding of MSC mode of action and patient response to MSC-based therapy is essential to improve this lifesaving treatment. Here, we developed a novel 3D co-culture model of human small intestinal organoids and MSCs, which allows to study the regenerative effects of MSCs on intestinal epithelium in a more physiologically relevant setting than existing in vitro systems. Using this model we mimicked chemotherapy-mediated damage of the intestinal epithelium. The treatment with busulfan, the chemotherapeutic commonly used as conditioning regiment before the HSCT, affected pathways regulating EMT, proliferation, and apoptosis in small intestinal organoids, as shown by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. The co-culture of busulfan treated intestinal organoids with MSCs reversed the effects of busulfan on the transcriptome and proteome of intestinal epithelium, which we also confirmed by functional evaluation of proliferation and apoptosis. Collectively, we demonstrate that our novel in vitro co-culture system is a new valuable tool to facilitate the investigation of the molecular mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of MSCs on damaged intestinal epithelium.

  Study EGAS00001007432