3968 results for "*geneti*"

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• From research to data sharing: exploring EGA user's experiences

  The Cell Plasticity and Regeneration Group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute-IDIBELL focuses on the process of recruitment of macrophages that takes place in the small intestine during injury and healing. They recently published a paper titled “Mucosal Macrophages Govern Intestinal Regeneration in Response to Injury" in Gastroenterology Journal. As part of the research, some experiments were conducted using human intestinal organoid lines. These cells were processed for RNA sequencing, and the sequencing data were deposited at the EGA to be made available to the scientific community. When dealing with human genomic information, repositories must ensure the availability of the datasets while ensuring data protection. In this context, the European Genome-phenome Archive stands as a service for secure archiving and sharing of genetic, phenotypic and clinical data resulting from biomedical research. Following the recent publication of their paper, we took the opportunity to talk to Ilias Moraitis, first author, and Jordi Guiu, group leader, to find out about their experience with data sharing. Could you explain the focus of your research? In the lab, we study intestinal regeneration and how immune cells participate in this process. We use several techniques: engineered mouse models, image tracing, as well as mouse and human cells intestinal organoids. What challenges do you face regarding data management? We didn’t have a lot of problems. Always the informatic part, the data analysis, can give problems. But everything was smooth and working. We think it’s very important to deposit the data in repositories. For the mouse data it is very straightforward, but for us it was the first time depositing human data, which is sensitive because it comes from patients, and this is legally regulated. That’s why we thought about the EGA, and it was our first time. Why do you think it is important to submit data to repositories such as EGA? Because we think data is important for the science. Nowadays, we are sequencing a lot everywhere worldwide and having these resources shared with the scientific community it’s not only good for science, but it is also saving money and reducing costs. And there is so much data in there that can be used for other projects and for other questions. And it saves time! How was the process of submitting the data to the EGA? The communication worked very well but it was slower than we would like. But I think this is something we learn on the way. People usually wait until the last minute to do this before publication but if you know it in advance, you can start the process earlier. If you had to repeat the process, would you do anything differently? It’s like everything, isn’t it? For the first time you don’t know, you aren’t sure, but for the second time you know the steps, you know what to do and it’s faster. Of course, we would to do it earlier. Also, there were some things related to the control access that we didn’t know how to manage, but it was something more internal to us. Who is going to receive the communications and when, is our ethical committee going to evaluate this? All these technicalities that we didn’t know before starting this process, so we had to think about all these things. Next time it will be faster on our side. Do you have any suggestions for us to improve the submission process? Maybe we’ll need to ask our bioinformatician who did it! He was in charge of this part. Besides that, we think if the process were faster, it would be better for everyone. Also, in science a lot of times you have to do a lot of things at the very last minute, because of the nature of the experiments, or the need to accomplish for submitting a paper. Being faster in the process would be a plus. On your side, we went through the process and were able to find some information, but there were aspects we weren't aware of and weren't sure how to handle. I'm not sure if other institutes have different protocols for managing data requests or how they handle these internally. We believe the main issue lies in how the forms are filled out. Do you have any recommendations for other submitters? The main advice is to do this with enough time. Submit the data when you have the sequences, and don’t wait until the last minute. And then it can be under embargo, so you don’t need to make it public at that moment. As soon as you sequence, upload it and then it will be there for whenever you need to publish. How do you think we could encourage other researchers to submit their data? There are different layers here. One is that it is mandatory. You have to do this. The other is that we belong to a research community, to the same community and sharing this is making our research community stronger and more efficient. And then, also because this gives you visibility. The data is there, other people can analyse your data, and this also will bring citations to your papers. It has many advantages.

  Blog from-research-to-data-sharing

• Multi-omic analysis of Down Syndrome in thyroid

  Background: Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal disorder characterized by trisomy of chromosome 21 and is associated with various health problems. Congenital thyroid dysfunction is a common endocrine abnormality in DS, but its exact cause remains unknown. This work aimed at studying the etiology of congenital thyroid dysfunction in DS. Methods: Thyroid tissue of fetuses with DS (n=4) and fetuses without a genetic/developmental abnormality (n=5) were analyzed using histopathological evaluation, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling. Results: Histological examination showed abnormally developed DS thyroid tissue compared to non-DS/healthy tissue. RNA-seq analysis showed numerous differences in gene expression between DS and healthy thyroid tissue, including significant downregulation of thyroid genes FOXE1, IYD and DIO2. Gene set enrichment analysis showed disruption of vital cellular processes and functions in DS fetal thyroid tissue. Analysis of DNAm and expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM) analysis identified functional and biologically relevant associations, that can be linked to plausible disrupted pathways in DS. Conclusions: Based on these observations, we conclude that congenital non-autoimmune thyroid dysfunction in DS is probably a DS-specific form of thyroid dysfunction, characterized by abnormal thyroid development, altered expression of genes that regulate thyroid development and hormone production, and altered expression and DNAm of genes pertaining to numerous vital pathways leading to significant metabolic disturbances. The disturbances as investigated by multi-omics analyses (RNA-seq, DNAm and eQTM analyses) are widely spread over the genome, and presumably caused by the direct and downstream effects of overexpressed chromosome 21 genes (dosage effect), and (epi)genomic disturbances.

  Study EGAS00001007677

• Epigenetics Imagine Arrays

  Dac EGAC00001003633

• McGill Cancer Genetics Predisposition Data Access Committee

  Dac EGAC50000000954

• Androgen activity in the normal male embryonic hindbrain drives lethal PFA ependymoma

  PFA ependymoma is an unusual infantile brain tumor with few somatic mutations, thought to be driven by epigenetic mechanisms. PFA ependymomas have a markedly higher incidence, and a worse prognosis in males as compared to female infants. Here we show that the cellular hierarchy of male PFA is less differentiated than female PFA. Androgen supplementation promotes the growth of PFA ependymoma. We conclude that androgen signaling in both the normal developing hindbrain, and PFA ependymoma are both necessary and sufficient to promote growth and delay differentiation.

  Study EGAS50000000507

• DAC for "H3K27me3-mediated epigenetic repression regulates neuroblastoma development and contributes to biological heterogeneity"

  Dac EGAC00001003620

• Target bisulfite sequencing of endometrial cancer

  This study aims to investigate epigenetic alterations in the HLA-A locus in endometrial cancer. Targeted bisulfite sequencing was performed to evaluate DNA methylation status of the HLA-A region in a cohort of endometrial cancer samples. The resulting data were used to assess the association between HLA-A methylation and tumor immune microenvironment. These findings contribute to understanding the role of epigenetic regulation of antigen presentation in endometrial cancer.

  Study JGAS000897

• Genetic variants associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the Japanese population

  Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is often asymptomatic, making early-stage diagnosis difficult using routine clinical examinations alone. The genetic factors underlying PAF and the predictive utility of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for PAF in Asian populations remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we aim to explore genetic variants associated with PAF in a Japanese cohort and to evaluate the predictive performance of PAF-specific PRSs. We analyze Japanese participants genotyped with the Illumina Infinium Asian Screening Array and perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) after sample and variant quality control and genotype imputation based on the GRCh37 reference genome. Using the GWAS results, we construct multiple PRS models and assess their predictive ability both alone and in combination with clinical risk factors. These efforts are intended to provide a basis for personalized prevention and early detection strategies for PAF in the Japanese population.

  Study JGAS000866

• Bulk ATAC-Seq on sorted cord blood hematopoietic populations

  Study EGAS00001004742

• Carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity reactions in Europeans

  An antiepileptic drug carbamazepine is well tolerated by the majority of patients, but can cause severe and potentialy fatal hypersensitivity reactions in a small number of individuals. The aim of this study was to identify genetic predictors of hypersensitivity reactions to carbamazepine. We undertook a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 22 patients of European ancestry with carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (HSS) and compared our data with genotypes from a healthy population within the WTCCC. We performed imputation of classical HLA alleles according to a recently described method (Science. 2010 Dec 10;330(6010):1551-7. Epub 2010 Nov 4). GWAS statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression with an additive model of inheritance.

  Study EGAS00000000037

• Fluctuating DNA methylation tracks cancer evolution at clinical scale

  Long-read Nanopore data of fCpGs from Gabbutt & Duran-Ferrer (2025) for developing the EVOFLUx method to study cancer evolution via DNA methylation fluctuations.

  Study EGAS50000001192

• The Genetic Analysis of multiple sclerosis

  We created these data in order to identify genetic variants associated with increased susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Cases from many parts of the world were genotyped with the Illumina 660 chip along with Swedish controls. In our analysis we also used control data from the WTCCC2 common UK controls and from other published studies.

  Study EGAS00000000101

• Genetic landscape of pediatric ETV6-RUNX1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  Abstract in preparation

  Study EGAS00001001315

• DHODH is a synthetic-lethal vulnerability in BCOR-deficient acute myeloid leukemia

  Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) remains challenging to treat, especially in cases with mutations in the BCL-6 co- repressor (BCOR), which are associated with poor prognosis and chemo-resistance. In this study, we reveal a synthetic lethal interaction between BCOR and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). We demonstrate that BCOR-deficient cells have a heightened sensitivity to DHODH inhibitors such as brequinar and leflunomide, that are already in clinical use. We confirm that DHODH inhibition selectively induces cell death in BCOR-mutant cells in multiple cellular models, in malignant and non-malignant cells, through chemical and genetic manipulation. Interestingly, we find that the dependency on DHODH does not stem from its role in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis disruption. Rather, DHODH’s role in the electron transport chain, essential for mitigating reactive oxygen species, may be the physiological vulnerability that pushes BCOR-mutant cells toward cell death when DHODH is inhibited. DHODH inhibitors could be repurposed as targeted therapies for BCOR-mutant tumors, offering a promising strategy for precision medicine in AML and other cancers.

  Study EGAS50000001060

• The Haemgen RBC study

  Anaemia is a major determinant of global ill-health. To refine our understanding of the genetic factors influencing red blood cell formation and function, we carried out a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for six red blood cell traits: haemoglobin (HB), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell count (RBC). We provide genome-wide association results for 62,553 people of European ancestry using up to 2,644,161 autosomal SNPs. Participants with extreme measurements (>+/-3SD from mean) were excluded on a per phenotype basis. Imputation was done using haplotypes from HapMap Phase 2. SNP associations with each phenotype were tested by linear regression using an additive genetic model. Associations were tested separately in each cohort, with principal components and other study specific factors as covariates to account of population substructure. We then carried out meta-analysis of results from the individual cohorts using z-scores weighted by square root of sample size. SNPs with MAF<1% (weighted average across cohorts) were removed, as were SNPs with weight <50% of phenotype sample size. Anaemia is a major determinant of global ill-health. To refine our understanding of the genetic factors influencing red blood cell formation and function, we carried out a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for six red blood cell traits: haemoglobin (HB), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell count (RBC). We provide genome-wide association results for 62,553 people of European ancestry using up to 2,644,161 autosomal SNPs. Participants with extreme measurements (>+/-3SD from mean) were excluded on a per phenotype basis. Imputation was done using haplotypes from HapMap Phase 2. SNP associations with each phenotype were tested by linear regression using an additive genetic model. Associations were tested separately in each cohort, with principal components and other study specific factors as covariates to account of population substructure. We then carried out meta-analysis of results from the individual cohorts using z-scores weighted by square root of sample size. SNPs with MAF<1% (weighted average across cohorts) were removed, as were SNPs with weight <50% of phenotype sample size.

  Study EGAS00000000132

• Exome Sequencing of familial and sporadic Meniere disease patients

  This study aims to characterize the genetic architecture of spanish patients diagnosed with Meniere disease (MD), focusing on both familial (FMD) and sporadic (SMD) forms, by analyzing coding variants. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on these patients, and variants were called and annotated using the nf-core/sarek bioinformatics pipeline, including alignment to the GRCh38 reference genome. The resulting data provide a curated resource for investigating the potential genetic contribution to the pathophysiology of MD. All data will be made available for reuse under controlled access.

  Study EGAS50000001178

• Insights into BRCA1 and TP53 associated breast cancer development from integrated whole genome analysis of mouse model mammary tumors

  Germline mutations in BRCA1 are a leading cause of hereditary breast cancer. We generated Brca1;Trp53 double conditional knockout (CKO) and Trp53 single CKO mouse models, both with either one or two copies of Trp53 deleted by Cre. We used whole-genome sequencing and optical genome mapping to interrogate the genomes of the resulting mammary tumors. Our comprehensive genomic analyses show that the Brca1;Trp53-CKO tumors recapitulate major genomic features of the human BRCA1 breast samples indicative of conserved fundamental mutational processes. This study also provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms of tumor development with potential implications for the treatment of BRCA1 cancers.

  Study EGAS50000001402

• Long-read whole genome sequencing of gastric cancer

  Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant health challenge globally, with a particularly high incidence in Asia, including Singapore. Understanding the genomic landscape of normal gastric and the different GC subtypes along with its precursor lesions such as intestinal metaplasia (IM) as well as GC metastatic sites is crucial for advancing diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics. Long-read sequencing technologies offer an opportunity to delve deeper into the genomic and epigenetic alterations underlying these conditions and to complement existing short-read omics data. By integrating these data with previously generated in-house multi-omics data (such as RNA sequencing and whole exome sequencing), we hope to better elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying GC initiation and progression.

  Study EGAS50000001607

• RBMX functional retrocopy safeguards brain development

  Retrotransposition has generated thousands of intronless gene copies in mammalian genomes, yet their contribution to brain development and evolution remains largely unexplored. We investigated the role for RBMX retrocopy in shaping neurodevelopment and modulating disease. First, we reported 8 distinct pathogenic variants in RBMX, an X-linked splicing regulator, in 11 males presenting with intellectual disability, microcephaly, and cortical malformations. Then, we combined transcriptomic profiling, protein–protein and protein–RNA interaction studies both in human cellular models and mouse embryonic cortices to assess the functional redundancy between RBMX and its retrocopy RBMXL1. Finally, we use mouse genetics to dissect RBMX function and its compensation by RBMXL1 in corticogenesis. We show that RBMX pathogenic variants disrupt cortical development through both loss- and gain-of-function mechanisms. Surprisingly, despite severe phenotypes in humans, Rbmx-deficient mice display only mild cortical abnormalities, a discrepancy likely due to compensation by Rbmxl1, a retrocopy that arose independently in mice and humans. We demonstrate that RBMX and RBMXL1 share protein and RNA partners and act redundantly in brain development, with RBMXL1 buffering the impact of RBMX deficiency. Together, these findings establish that RBMXL1 functions as a functional paralog of RBMX safeguarding neurodevelopment by buffering deleterious variation. More broadly, these results identify retrocopies as active contributors to neurodevelopmental robustness and suggest that functional retrocopies may have facilitated the evolutionary diversification of the mammalian brain.

  Study EGAS50000001650

• Case Report: Pre-Clinical Combination Targeting VEGF and PI3K in a Rare, Aggressive Mixed Endometrial Carcinoma

  We report a rare case of a young patient (VENUS 167) initially diagnosed with grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer, which, following endocrine treatment, presented with mixed aggressive carcinoma with three distinct histologic patterns: grade 1 endometrioid, large cell neuroendocrine, and undifferentiated carcinoma. The surgical specimen at the time of disease progression was used to establish OPTO.85, a patient-derived organoid (PDO), followed by a corresponding organoid-derived xenograft (ODX). Multi-omic analyses confirmed that OPTO.85 accurately reflected the patient’s tumor characteristics. WES analysis identified oncogenic alterations in PIK3CA, ARID1A, and CTNNB1. Further RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses revealed enrichment in VEGF and Wnt signaling pathways, suggesting therapeutic vulnerabilities. A high-throughput drug screen was conducted using ApexBio-Approved and Epigenetic Drug Libraries, along with Kinase Inhibitor and Tool Compound Libraries developed at the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research. The OPTO.85 PDO exhibited sensitivity to PI3K inhibitors and responsiveness to VEGF inhibition. Cediranib demonstrated synergy with BKM120, significantly reducing organoid growth. This combination also showed in vivo efficacy in the ODX model, where dual inhibitors significantly suppressed tumor growth compared to single compounds. This case exemplifies the impact of genomic profiling and patient-derived models in identifying actionable molecular changes in rare cancers with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. It highlights that high-throughput sequencing for individual patient tumors and generation of patient-derived models are feasible in endometrial cancer. This preclinical model may assist clinical decision and personalized therapy requiring validation in prospective studies.

  Study EGAS50000001665

• RNAseq profile of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma and enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma

  Background : Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) and monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) are aggressive malignancies with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Our research on MEITL has uncovered its genetic portrait including hallmark SEDT2 mutations, expanded its pathological spectrum, and identified molecular biomarkers influencing patients’ outcome. In this study, we aimed to establish and clarify the similar and diverging features of EATL. Methods : A large combined cohort of patients with EATL (n=30) and MEITL (n=52) was assembled and tumor samples were used for whole-exome and RNA sequencing profiling.

  Study EGAS50000001125

• Immune cell atlas of environmental and ancestral diversity in Indonesia [scRNAseq]

  Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) remains consistently underrepresented in large-scale human genomic resources despite its rich ancestral and lifestyle diversity. The region's complex population history and environmental/pathogen pressures could have shaped its populations' unique immune responses. Here, we generated single-cell PBMC profiles from 199 Indonesians sampled across four populations in the islands of Bali and New Guinea. The dataset consists of low-pass whole genome sequencing and pooled single-cell PBMC transcriptome sequencing. These groups capture diversity in regional genetic ancestries (West ISEA-like and Papuan-like) and lifestyle contrasts (urban versus rural communities in Bali; highland versus lowland communities in New Guinea), providing a window into how ancestry and environment jointly shape immune variation across ISEA. Together, this study provides the first large-scale single-cell immune atlas of ISEA, highlighting how ancestral and environmental diversity jointly shape human immunity in this globally important yet understudied region.

  Study EGAS50000001656

• GEenetic landscape of hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  Hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive leukemia characterized by aneuploidy and poor outcome. The genetic basis of hypodiploid ALL is unknown. Here, using complementary genome-wide profiling approaches, we show that hypodiploid ALL comprises two subtypes that differ in the severity of aneuploidy, transcriptional profile and submicroscopic genetic alterations. Near haploid cases with 24-31 chromosomes frequently harbor alterations targeting receptor tyrosine kinase- and Ras signaling (71%) and IKZF3 (AIOLOS; 13%). In contrast, low hypodiploid ALL cases with 32-39 chromosomes are characterized by TP53 alterations, almost half of which are present in non-tumor cells, and have alterations of IKZF2 (HELIOS; 53%) and RB1 (41%). Both near haploid and low hypodiploid tumors exhibit activation of Ras and PI3K signaling pathways, and are sensitive to PI3K inhibition, indicating that these drugs should be explored as a new therapeutic strategy for this frequently lethal form of leukemia.

  Study EGAS00001000380

• Immune cell atlas of environmental and ancestral diversity in Indonesia [WGS]

  Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) remains consistently underrepresented in large-scale human genomic resources despite its rich ancestral and lifestyle diversity. The region's complex population history and environmental/pathogen pressures could have shaped its populations' unique immune responses. Here, we generated single-cell PBMC profiles from 199 Indonesians sampled across four populations in the islands of Bali and New Guinea. The dataset consists of low-pass whole genome sequencing and pooled single-cell PBMC transcriptome sequencing, including T-cell receptor (TCR). These groups capture diversity in regional genetic ancestries (West ISEA-like and Papuan-like) and lifestyle contrasts (urban versus rural communities in Bali; highland versus lowland communities in New Guinea), providing a window into how ancestry and environment jointly shape immune variation across ISEA. Together, this study provides the first large-scale single-cell immune atlas of ISEA, highlighting how ancestral and environmental diversity jointly shape human immunity in this globally important yet understudied region.

  Study EGAS50000001655

• Human four week embryo head as reference for generating an enhancer compendium for neuronal and neural crest development using neural tube organoids.

  This study has the aim of generating an enhancer code compendium of early human neuronal and neural crest development. For this purpose, we generated human neural tube organoids from single cells from two induced pluripotent stem cell lines. The organoids were subject to combined single cell multiomics at four time points of differentiation. To evaluate the biological relevance of the cell types and states obtained from the organoids, we compared with data obtained from 10XGenomics single cell multiomics on the head of a single four weeks post conception human embryo.

  Study EGAS50000001031

• Synthetic modeling reveals HOXB genes are critical for the initiation and maintenance of human leukemia

  Study EGAS00001003627

• The landscape of somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators across 1000 pediatric cancer genomes

  To define the frequency and pattern of somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators in pediatric cancer, we sequenced 633 genes, encoding the majority of proteins involved in patterning the epigenome, in 1000 pediatric tumors spanning 21 different cancer subtypes. This analysis establishes an epigenetic landscape of pediatric cancer, which expands the knowledge for potential therapeutic targets and for developing personalized therapy.

  Study EGAS00001000449

• BLUEPRINT Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cell Methylomes

  An optimized whole genome bisulfite sequencing protocol (µWGBS, Farlik et al. 2015 Cell Reports) was used to establish DNA methylation profiles of FACS-purified stem and progenitor cells types of the human blood lineage. Most cell types were sorted from the peripheral blood of three donors with eight pools of ten cells, two pools of 50 cells, and one pool of 1000 cells. HSCs and MPPs were also sorted from fetal liver (HSCs only), cord blood, and bone marrow. Single-cell methylomes using the scWGBS protocol (Farlik et al. 2015 Cell Reports) were established for six cell types (HSC, MPP, CMP, GMP, CLP, MLP0). Gene expression profiling using the Smart-seq2 protocol (Picelli et al. 2013 Nature Methods) was done for nine stem/progenitor cell types (HSC, MPP, CMP, GMP, CLP, MLP0, MLP1, MLP2, MLP3).

  Study EGAS00001002070

• ATAC-seq: Acquired non-permissive bone marrow microenvironment impairs hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and maintenance and B-cell development post-HSCT

  Defects in B-cell reconstitution upon hematopoietic stem-cell (HSC) transplantation (HSCT) are a common observation, yet the mechanism remains unexplained. The bone marrow (BM) stroma, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), guides HSC maintenance and B-lymphopoiesis by secreting crucial cytokines. We report acquired, permanent, selective and complete B-cell deficiency in the context of full donor-chimerism in a patient with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease and aimed to identify the contribution of the BM-microenvironment in disrupted B-cell reconstitution post-HSCT. We studied longitudinal BM samples from the patient and his identical twin, both of whom underwent HSCT with the same donor with opposite outcomes in B-cell reconstitution. In the index patient BM, we observed progressive loss of proliferation of HSCs and a selective block at the pre-BI cell stage. In vitro modeling studies showed limited survival of patient-HSCs and a relative accumulation of pre-B cells. Patient-derived MSCs failed to support survival and proliferation of HSCs and B-cell development of healthy-HSCs which was correlated with reduced CXCL12 levels. Using bulk RNA-sequencing of MSCs and in vitro functional studies, we showed global changes in the patients’ MSCs and a progressive loss of CXCL12 expression. Indeed, survival of patients HSCs improved supplementing in vitro development culture with CXCL12, suggesting a contribution of defective CXCL12 signaling to the phenotype. In summary, our data show that an acquired defect in the BM-stromal microenvironment and exhaustion of HSCs and committed progenitors may cause a permanent non-permissive state for normal B-cell development.

  Study EGAS50000001438

• Clonal evolution of metastatic colorectal cancer under anticancer therapies

  To investigate the clonal evolution of metastatic CRC at the single-cell level, we performed WGS in 58 clonal organoids and 18 fresh-frozen (FT) bulk-tissue samples from surgically resected primary and metastatic tumors before and after anticancer therapies in 6 patients. This approach enabled detailed phylogenetic reconstruction of individual clones. We discovered the timing and burden of treatment-related mutations as well as the heterogeneous evolution in driver mutations and genomic rearrangements in late-stage clonal evolution under anticancer therapies in metastatic CRC.

  Study EGAS50000001023

• Whole Genome Methylation in CLL

  We have extensively characterized the DNA methylome of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with mutated and unmutated IGHV as well as several mature B cell subpopulations using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and high-density microarrays.

  Study EGAS00001000272

• Sequencing and analysis of a South Asian-Indian personal genome

  India with over 1.3 billion people is estimated to carry three times more genetic diversity compared to Europe. Next-generation sequencing technologies have facilitated the understanding of diversity by enabling whole genome sequencing at greater speed and lower cost. While multiple genomes from people of European and a few of Asian descent have been sequenced, only recently a single male genome from the Indian subcontinent at sufficient depth and coverage was published. We have in this study sequenced and analyzed the genome of a South Asian Indian female (SAIF) from the Indian state of Kerala. We identified over 3.4 million SNPs in this genome including over 89,873 private variations. Comparison of the SAIF genome with several published personal genomes revealed that this individual shared ~50% of the SNPs with each of these genomes. Analysis of the SAIF mitochondrial genome showed that it is closely related to the U1a3 haplogroup which has been previously observed in Kerala. We assessed the SAIF genome for SNPs with health and disease consequences and found that the individual was at a higher risk for multiple sclerosis and a few other diseases. In assessing SNPs that modulate drug response we found a variation that predicts a favorable response to metformin used for treating diabetes. SNPs predictive of adverse reaction to warfarin indicated that the SAIF individual is not at risk for bleeding if treated with typical doses of warfarin. In addition to these, we report the presence of several other SNPs of medical relevance.

  Study EGAS00001000328

• Genetic landscape of pediatric Retinoblastoma

  Retinoblastoma is a pediatric cancer of the developing retina. All retinoblastomas are believed to initiate with biallelic inactivation of the RB1 gene. To identify subsequent genetic lesions in retinoblastoma, we performed whole genome sequencing of tumor and normal DNA of 4 children with retinoblastoma and one matched orthotopic xenograft. Both alleles of RB1 were inactivated in the tumor samples. 3 of the patients had sporadic retinoblastoma and one patient had inherited retinoblastoma. Overall, there were few single nucleotide changes in coding regions of the genome and some of the tumors had few chromosomal lesions. There were very few new genetic lesions in the xenograft compared to the primary tumor. These data suggest that the genome in retinoblastoma is more stable than previously believed and there are relatively few recurrent genetic lesions in known cancer pathways other than the RB1 pathway.

  Study EGAS00001000346

• Passive and active DNA methylation and the interplay with genetic variation in gene regulation

  DNA methylation is an essential1 epigenetic mark whose role in gene regulation and its dependency on genomic sequence and environment are not yet fully understood2,3. In this study we provide novel insights into the mechanistic relationships between genetic variation, DNA methylation and transcriptome sequencing data in three different cell-types of the GenCord human population cohort4. We find that the association between DNA methylation and gene expression variation among individuals are likely due to different mechanisms from those establishing methylation-expression patterns during differentiation. Furthermore, cell-type differential DNA methylation may delineate a platform in which more local inter-individual changes may respond to or act in gene regulation. We show that unlike genetic regulatory variation, DNA methylation alone does not significantly drive allele specific expression.. Finally, inferred mechanistic relationships using genetic variation as well as correlations with TF abundance reveal both a passive and active role of DNA methylation to regulatory interactions influencing gene expression.

  Study EGAS00001000446

• Methylation-based deconvolution of cell-free DNA

  Study EGAS00001007493

• Chromatin accessibility profiling of primary human hepatocytes

  The chromatin accessibility profiling of primary human hepatocytes using Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq).

  Study EGAS50000001230

• Complex genotype-phenotype relationships shape the response to treatment of Down Syndrome Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

  Extensive genetic and epigenetic variegation has been demonstrated in many malignancies. Importantly, their interplay has the potential to contribute to disease progression and treatment resistance. To shed light on the complex relationships between these different sources of intra-tumour heterogeneity, we explored their relative contributions to the evolutionary dynamics of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in children with Down syndrome, which has particularly poor prognosis. We quantified the tumour propagating potential of genetically distinct sub-clones using serial transplantation assays and SNP-arrays. While most leukaemias were characterized by a single dominant subclone, others were highly heterogeneous. Importantly, we provide clear and direct evidence that genotypes and phenotypes with functional relevance to leukemic progression and treatment resistance can co-segregate within the disease. Hence, individual genetic lesions can be restricted to well-defined cell immunophenotypes, corresponding to different stages of the leukemic differentiation hierarchy and varied proliferation potentials. As a result of this difference in fitness, which can be accurately quantified via competitive transplantation assays, matching diagnostic, post-treatment, and relapse leukaemias can be dominated by different genotypes, including pre-leukemic clones persisting throughout the disease progression and treatment. Intriguingly, plasticity also appears to be a temporally defined property that can segregate with genotype. These results suggest that Down Syndrome ALL should be viewed as a complex matrix of cells exhibiting genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity that foster extensive clonal evolution and competition. Therapeutic intervention reshapes this ‘eco-system’ and may provide the right conditions for the preferential expansion of selected compartments and subsequently relapse.

  Study EGAS50000001287

• Identification Of Pathogenic Mutations And Application Of Polygenic Risk Scores In Early-Onset Diabetes Patients

  Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) presents a diagnostic challenge. In this study we investigate the genetic background of Latvian early-onset diabetes patients, using whole-genome sequencing data. Additionally, we investigate the utility of previously published and available type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) polygenic risk scores in differentiating monogenic diabetes (MODY) from T1D and T2D cases.

  Study EGAS50000000991

• Genetic differences between primary colorectal cancer and its paired synchronous and metachronous metastases

  In this study we present for the first time the genetic differences associated with different chronicity of colorectal cancer liver metastases identified by whole-exome sequencing of 210 CRC samples. We focus on differences in primary tumors as we hypothesize that these are the cause of the differences in the time course of the disease. The results suggest that distinct tumor progression pathways account for different chronicity outcomes with ultimate impact on patient’s prognosis

  Study EGAS50000000996

• Mechanisms of active DNA demethylation in human monocytes

  Study EGAS00001004784

• Whole-genome methylation profiling of menstrual stem cells identifies novel biomarkers for endometriosis

  Endometriosis is a highly prevalent condition that remains underdiagnosed and poorly managed due to the lack of clinically validated biomarkers and limited understanding of its underlying pathophysiology. Although menstrual blood–derived stem cells (MenSCs) have been implicated in disease pathogenesis, their potential as a diagnostic source has not been systematically explored. We conducted a clinical study including 42 women (19 with endometriosis and 23 controls) to evaluate whether DNA methylation profiles from freshly isolated MenSCs could identify disease-specific biomarkers. Whole-genome DNA methylation sequencing identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) enriched in genes associated with key features of endometriosis, including inflammation, tissue remodelling, and developmental processes. These DMRs robustly discriminated cases from controls, independently of technical and clinical confounders. Machine learning models trained and validated on these regions demonstrated strong diagnostic performance (specificity 83%, sensitivity 79%). Integration with an independent single-cell RNA sequencing dataset suggested that the identified DMRs may influence gene expression, supporting their biological relevance. Collectively, these findings highlight MenSC DNA methylation profiling as a promising, non-invasive strategy for early diagnosis and personalised management of endometriosis. (PubMed IDs will be provided once the manuscript is published.)

  Study EGAS50000001640

• A prospective study identifies MisMatch Repair genes as candidate predisposing genes for uveal melanoma.

  Objective: The aim of this study is to identify new predisposing genes for uveal melanoma (UM), the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Design: Prospective cohort study from Institut Curie. Participants: 381 unselected patients diagnosed with UM between July 2021 and February 2023 at Institut Curie. Methods: All patients received genetic counseling and consented to extended genetic testing. A panel of 122 genes was analyzed by targeted sequencing on germline DNA from these patients. Main outcomes measures: UM was diagnosed by ophthalmologists at Institut Curie, and a senior pathologist confirmed the diagnosis when tumor or biopsy was available. Classification of the germline genetic variants was performed according to the ACMG guidelines. Results: We identified at least one pathogenic variant (PV) in 79 patients. Among those variants, 20 were found in clinically relevant genes for the patient’s follow-up and genetic counseling. We found a significant enrichment of germline pathogenic variants in Mismatch Repair (MMR) MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 genes in this UM cohort, suggesting that MMR germline alterations could predispose to UM. From this cohort, one tumor was available from a patient carrying a MLH1 germline mutation. The tumor was characterized by a monosomy 3, in line with a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of MLH1, located on chromosome 3. Loss of expression of MLH1 and PMS2 was observed by immunohistochemistry, and MMR mutational signatures SBS6, ID1 and ID2 were identified from the whole genome sequencing of the tumor. These data suggest that MLH1 is implicated in the oncogenesis of this UM. Conclusions: This study is the largest prospective constitutional study performed on UM patients, and the first demonstrating that MMR germline alterations are significantly enriched among these patients. Further analyses will be needed to estimate the risk of developing UM for patients with Lynch syndrome

  Study EGAS50000000914

• PBAT sequencing of naïve human ESCs

  This project investigates the DNA methylation landscape of naïve human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from human embryos, assessing the impact of ERK inhibition (ERKi). Naïve ESCs were cultured in UXGL or PXGL media. Post bisulphite adaptor tagging protocol was used to profile genome-wide DNA methylation.

  Study EGAS50000001006

• The circulating cell-free DNA landscape in sepsis is dominated by impaired liver clearance

  Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a promising molecular biomarker. However, its utility in severe infection remains poorly understood. Here, we isolated cfDNA from sepsis patients and controls, demonstrating a 41-fold increase in the amount of cfDNA in circulation during disease. We used sequencing to reconstruct cfDNA methylomes, fragmentation profiles, and nucleosome footprints across 58 samples. We observed no difference in cfDNA composition between patients and controls, challenging the idea that cfDNA increases due to higher immune cell death during sepsis. Instead, we suggest that liver dysfunction prevents efficient clearance of cfDNA during disease. This was supported by fragmentation and end-motif patterns, both of which showed evidence of cfDNA being exposed to circulating nucleases for a prolonged period, proportionally to the extent of liver dysfunction. Variation in cfDNA of megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor origin was also a significant contributor in sepsis, increasing over time. Moreover, we showed that cfDNA retains nucleosome footprints with cell type-specific gene activity information. We developed a novel approach to study nucleosome phasing that successfully recovers tissue-specific signatures. By combining this with single-cell data, we demonstrated that sepsis patients with liver dysfunction have higher amounts of cfDNA derived from Kupffer cells and the liver parenchyma. In conclusion, we present the first high-throughput multi-modal study of cfDNA during sepsis, which will serve as a reference point for future studies on the role of this biomarker in critical illness.

  Study EGAS50000001033

• South African Blood Regulatory (SABR) Resource

  Functional genomics resources are critical for interpreting human genetic studies, however they are predominantly from European-ancestry individuals. Here we present the South African Blood Regulatory (SABR) resource, a map of blood regulatory variation that includes three South Eastern Bantu-speaking groups. Using paired whole genome and blood transcriptome data from over 600 individuals, we map the genetic architecture of 40 blood cell traits derived from deconvolution analysis, as well as expression, splice, and cell type interaction quantitative trait loci (QTL).

  Study EGAS50000001008

• SCI-MAP: Single Cell Microgel embedded iPS-cells to map molecular variability of cell differentiation using a systems biology approach.

  In the SCI-MAP project we will map cell states encountered across a previously established 49 day in vitro chondrogenic differentiation protocol. We do this to optimise the differentiation process for therapeutic and in vitro modelling ends. We collect epigenetic open chromatin and phenotypic transcriptome data to determine cell states and so performed single nucleus sequencing in two modalities: RNA- and ATAC-sequencing. Data was collected in a time series experiment at 7 points: Days 0, 3, 6, 8, 14, 21, and 49, starting with the first pilot data from day 21 (D21).

  Study EGAS50000001041

• Jeju Genome Project

  The Jeju Genome Project (JGP) is a multi-omics resource for precision medicine in a geographically distinct South Korean population. It comprises 5,309 participants (3,001 community-based; 2,308 hospital-based) with data spanning Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) and genotyping arrays. The hospital cohort is specifically enriched for neurological and rheumatic diseases and malignancies. By providing a population-specific reference panel, JGP enables high-resolution genetic architecture analysis, risk stratification, and the discovery of rare variants relevant to Jeju and broader East Asian populations.

  Study EGAS50000001706

• Integrated targeted deep sequencing reveals unique tissue-of-origin and donor cell-free DNA signatures in transplant recipients

  We have developed a targeted deep methylation sequencing assay that integrates cell-free DNA (cfDNA) tissue-of-origin analysis with donor-derived cfDNA quantification to non-invasively monitor transplant health. In this study, liver and kidney transplant recipients were assessed in conjunction with healthy controls to characterize the dynamic patterns of cfDNA release and clearance, and to identify distinct tissue injury signatures throughout the transplant journey.

  Study EGAS50000000987

• Direct genetic transformation bypasses tumor-associated DNA methylation alterations

  Tumors represent dynamically evolving populations of mutant cells, and many advances have been made in understanding the biology of their progression. However, key unresolved questions remain about the conditions that support their initial transformation, which cannot be easily captured in patient populations but are instead modeled using transgenic cellular or animal systems. Here, we used extensive patient atlas data to define common features of the tumor DNA methylation landscape as they compare to healthy human cells and used this benchmark to screen 21 engineered human and mouse models for their ability to reproduce these patterns. Notably, we find that genetically induced cellular transformation can trigger global changes in DNA methylation levels that are consistent with extensive proliferation but rarely recapitulate the widespread de novo methylation of Polycomb targets as found in clinical samples. Our results raise pertinent questions about the relationship between genetic and epigenetic aspects of tumorigenesis and provide an important molecular reference for evaluating existing as well as newer tumor models.

  Study EGAS50000000902

• Whole Exome Sequencing of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma and enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma

  Background : Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) and monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) are aggressive malignancies with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Our research on MEITL has uncovered its genetic portrait including hallmark SEDT2 mutations, expanded its pathological spectrum, and identified molecular biomarkers influencing patients’ outcome. In this study, we aimed to establish and clarify the similar and diverging features of EATL. Methods : A large combined cohort of patients with EATL (n=30) and MEITL (n=52) was assembled and tumor samples were used for whole-exome and RNA sequencing profiling.

  Study EGAS50000001126

• Single-cell multi-omics and mtDNA genotyping of human peripheral blood cells

  In this study, we characterize human peripheral blood cells using mitochondrial single-cell ATAC-seq (mtscATAC-seq), which simultaneously profiles mitochondrial genomes and chromatin accessibility at single-cell resolution. This submission includes PBMCs from one healthy pediatric donor and one 80-year-old patient diagnosed with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome.

  Study EGAS50000001020

• Dynamic human admixture histories over the past ~1,300 years at the northern Himalayan frontier

  Archaeological and paleogenomic evidence from the Tibetan Plateau and high-altitude Central Himalayas suggest biocultural connections with each other and with lowland East, Central, and South Asia. However, genetic histories at the northern frontier of the Indian Himalayas, which is geographically more proximal to Central and lowland South Asia, remain underexplored. We analyzed genome-wide data from 7 ancient (~2300 to 100 years old) and 10 present-day individuals from the northern Indian Himalayas and one ~3370-year-old individual from the Central Himalayas in Nepal. Ancient and present-day individuals from the northern Himalayas predominantly have Tibetan-related genetic ancestry, likely the source of high-altitude adaptive variants in these individuals, with substantial Steppe-related genetic ancestry that is observed in all individuals dating between ~1300 years and present day. In addition, some present-day individuals have lowland South Asian admixture. Our analyses reveal a dynamic interplay between genetic admixture and continuity in the northern Himalayas.

  Study EGAS50000001342

• Expression profiles and genetic makeup of metastases of a cancer of unknown primary.

  Study EGAS00001004059

• MorphoITH: A Framework for Deconvolving Intra-Tumor Heterogeneity Using Tissue Morphology

  This study introduces MorphoITH, a framework for deconvolving intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) based on tissue morphology from histopathological slides. The study tested MorphoITH's ability to capture different aspects of morphology and to reflect genetic ITH. The data deposited here is derived from a morphology guided multi-regional sequencing dataset used to study the relationship between morphology and genetic evolution. This dataset consists of whole exome sequencing of tumor from multiple sites and adjacent normal samples which were collected from two patients treated in affiliated hospitals of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), including Parkland Hospital.

  Study EGAS50000001064

• Spatial Dynamics of the Developing Heart (single-cell)

  Heart development relies on a topologically defined interplay between diverse cardiac cells. We finely curated spatial and single-cell measurements with high-resolution imaging-based transcriptomics validation to explore spatial dynamics during early human cardiogenesis. Analyzing almost 80,000 individual cells and 70,000 spatially barcoded tissue regions between the 5.5th and 14th postconceptional weeks, we identified 31 coarse- and 72 fine-grained cell states and mapped them to highly resolved cardiac cellular niches. We provide novel insight into the development of the cardiac pacemaker-conduction system, heart valves, and atrial septum, and decipher heterogeneity of the hitherto elusive cardiac fibroblast population. Furthermore, we describe the formation of the cardiac autonomic innervation and present the first spatial account of chromaffin cells in the fetal human heart. Our study, supported by an open-access, spatially centric interactive viewer, delineates the cellular and molecular architecture of the developing heart, offering links to genetic causes of heart disease.

  Study EGAS50000001029

• Dynamics of Tumor Heterogeneity from Primary to Metastatic Dissemination in Prostate Cancer

  PRO-SPeCT: PROstate cancer heterogeneity deconvolution through Single cell Profiling of Chromatin accessibility and Transcriptomic output Identifying drivers of cancer progression to guide treatment selection is hindered by limited abilities to understand tumor heterogeneity’s impact on evolution. Here, we delineated the phenotypic variability across ~300,000 prostate tumor cells collected from multiple loci in primary and matched locoregional metastases. We found inter-patient heterogeneity to be confined to malignant populations. While malignant cell populations exhibit intra-locus heterogeneity, they maintain inter-loci phenotypic similarity within a patient’s prostate gland. In addition, the intra-locus heterogeneity between malignant cell populations is paired with a common clonal architecture. Lastly, we show that malignant cell populations disseminating to locoregional lymph nodes mirror the clonal architecture and phenotypic heterogeneity observed across primary tumor loci while showcasing cell state transition toward inflammatory phenotypes. These findings provide insights into distinct measures of tumor heterogeneity, revealing diverse evolutionary paths across patients converging to common phenotypic adaptations in early prostate cancer progression.

  Study EGAS50000000524

• Epigenetic reprogramming shapes monocytes and heterologous T cell derived cytokine responses in BCG vaccination

  Study EGAS00001007498

• Clonal expansion and epigenetic reprogramming following deletion or amplification of mutant IDH

  Initially IDH1 mutant gliomas are shown to have IDH1 is deletions or amplifications at recurrence yielding a higher-grade tumor with a reprogrammed epigenome. We also report systematic selection for cells with IDH1 CNA in vitro and in vivo.

  Study EGAS00001002618

• Khoe-San Genome Project

  The dataset contains BAM files of whole genome sequencing data of African Khoe-San population (n=169, 30X coverage) recruited from South Africa and Namibia. The population captured the true extent of human genetic diversity as represent the earliest diverged human population. The project described a detailed divergence of human population and identified positive selections associated forager lifestyles in Khoe-San population. These findings emphasise an inclusive catalogue with better representation of the earliest human genomic diversity to better advance biomedical research.

  Study EGAS50000001408

• Global RNA sequencing data of human iPSC-derived microglia from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients

  Global RNA sequencing was performed in RNA samples extracted from human iPSC-derived microglia from healthy controls and sporadic (non-genetic) and genetic C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion-carrying patients with FTD.

  Study EGAS50000001688

• Whole genome sequencing data of paediatric hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  The hyperdiploid (HeH) subtype with 51–67 chromosomes is the most common subtype in childhood, presented in 25–30% of the cases, and is associated with excellent prognosis . The HeH subtype harbors relatively few additional genetic alterations, suggesting that extra chromosomes are the driving event for leukemia onset. Secondary hits usually affect the RAS signaling pathway and histone modifiers.

  Study EGAS50000001690

• Multi-omic analyses from a randomized phase II study of epigenetic priming followed by nivolumab in previously treated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

  Emergence of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) mandates the development of strategies for ICB sensitization. We aimed to understand the effects of epigenetic priming in re-shaping the tumor microenvironment, together with molecular drivers of therapeutic response of epigenetic therapy followed by ICB in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; NCT01928576). This was done through a multi-omic approach encompassing both genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Findings suggest that epigenetic therapy may reshape the tumor microenvironment towards a more inflamed phenotype and prime responses to immunotherapy.

  Study EGAS50000000913

• DNA methylation and transposable element landscapes define human regulatory T cells in tissues and identify their blood recirculating counterpart

  Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in tissues can perform immunoregulatory and tissue-regenerative functions. Despite these important tasks, human-tissue Treg cells lack understanding, specifically, the epigenetic basis of their differentiation as well as re-circulating tissue-Treg cells are incompletely understood. Here, we performed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of human Treg cells from skin and blood and embedded this in a multi-omic epigenetic framework including chromatin accessibility and gene-expression. We thereby revealed novel epigenetic programs defining human skin Treg cell differentiation and delineated how these are present on the different epigenetic levels. We discovered that transposable elements are an integral constituent of the demethylation landscape in skin Treg cells. Based on TCR-sequencing and DNA demethylation homologies, our data unveil that blood CCR8+ Treg cells are recirculatory human tissue-Treg cells. Our data provide novel insights in human tissue-Treg biology, required to harness these cells for therapeutic avenues.

  Study EGAS50000000738

• Translational analyses from a phase II study of pembrolizumab and epigenetic modification with azacitidine in platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

  Epigenetic modulators may sensitize platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) to immune checkpoint inhibition by reprogramming the tumor microenvironment. We report clinical and translational findings from a phase II non-randomized study of pembrolizumab and oral azacytidine in 34 women with PROC (NCT02900560). The effect of combined epigenetic and immunotherapy was evaluated by transcriptomic analyses of serially biopsied tumors. Differential gene expression analyses revealed an upregulation of inflammatory and cytolytic genes and co-inhibitory checkpoints 6 weeks on-therapy. Upregulation of interferon signaling, antigen presentation and immune cell adhesion and migration gene sets was prominent on-therapy, together with an increased density of CD8+ T -cells. Patients with a CA-125 and/or clinical response showed an enrichment of adaptive and conserved immune response gene sets on-therapy.

  Study EGAS50000001165

• RNA-seq data in hMPC, MSC_Pat and EWIma

  Ewing sarcoma is characterized by pathognomonic translocations fusing most frequently EWSR1 with FLI1 (EF1). In addition, Ewing sarcoma can also display alterations in STAG2, TP53 and CDKN2A (SPC). Starting from Ewing sarcoma derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCpat), we recapitulated this translocation and SPC alterations using a CRISPR/cas9 approach and generated a bona fide Ewing sarcoma model (EWIma1) displaying transcriptomic and epigenetic hallmarks of EwS.

  Study EGAS50000001173

• IDH-wildtype untreated human glioblastoma samples (GB-UK cohort), published in Noorani & Haughey et al 2025.

  Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) oncogene amplification is associated with treatment resistance and shorter survival in cancer. Currently, the spatial dynamics of ecDNA, and their evolutionary impact, are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of ecDNA by integrating computational modeling with samples from 94 treatment-naive human IDH wild-type glioblastoma patients. Random ecDNA segregation combined with ecDNA-conferred fitness advantages induce distinct spatial ecDNA copy number patterns which depend on ecDNA oncogenic makeup. EGFR-ecDNAs often reach high copy numbers and confer strong fitness advantages. In contrast, PDGFRA-ecDNAs reach lower copy numbers and confer weaker fitness advantages. EGFR structural variants occur exclusively on ecDNA, arise from and are intermixed with wild-type EGFR-ecDNAs. Computational modeling suggests wild-type and variant EGFR-ecDNAs often accumulate before clonal expansion. Using a genetically engineered mouse model, we confirm that the accumulation of oncogenic ecDNA prior to clonal expansion under strong positive selection is observable both in vivo and in vitro in mouse neural stem cells. Intermixed wild-type and variant ecDNAs remain prevalent at diagnosis, as less fit wild-type ecDNAs hitchhike on strongly selected variant EGFR-ecDNAs. A dN/dS analysis in the Genomics England cohort further suggests positive selection of variants on EGFR-ecDNAs but not PDGFRA-ecDNAs in glioblastoma. Overall, our results suggest ecDNA oncogenic makeup determines unique evolutionary trajectories in glioblastoma. New concepts like ecDNA tumor clonality, ecDNA heteroplasmy and multi-species ecDNAs require a refined evolutionary interpretation of genomic data in a large subset of glioblastoma patients and likely other solid cancers.

  Study EGAS00001008126

• Germline variants in UHRF1 are associated with multi-locus imprinting disturbance in humans and mice

  Genomic imprinting provides is an epigenetic process crucial for normal development and is disrupted in congenital imprinting disorders(CIDs). There is great interest in the clinical consequences and aetiology of multilocus imprinting disturbance(MLID) which occurs in some individuals with CID, though the cause of MLID is unknown in most cases. We investigated a kindred with a CID and MLID and identified a rare genetic variant in the UHRF1 gene which has a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation. We generated a mouse model and found that the equivalent Uhrf1 variant was associated with prenatal lethality and disruption of normal imprinting mechanisms. These findings support UHRF1 as a novel candidate gene for CIDs with MLID.

  Study EGAS50000001179

• BE_screens_of_WRN_gene_in_MSI_models

  We will take advantage of a base-editing screening strategy to engineer mutations in the WRN gene by deep mutagenesis. Two MSI-H cell lines sensitive to WRNi will be genetically modified to express doxycycline-inducible ABE and CBE base editors through a knock-in strategy. Moreover, we will design a pooled library of ~4000 gRNAs targeting the WRN gene plus appropriate controls gRNAs. Library-transduced cells will be selected with WRNi to identify WRN mutations able to interfere with the activity of WRNi.

  Study EGAS00001006872

• Feasibility study of enzymatic methylation sequencing of cell-free DNA from cerebrospinal fluid of pediatric brain tumors for classification

  Array-based DNA methylation profiling is the gold standard for molecular classification of brain tumors. However, it relies on significant amount of input DNA extracted from surgical tissue, thus limiting its use for tumors where biopsy is challenging or limited in quantity. Cell-free tumor DNA (cfDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) presents alternative opportunities for brain tumor diagnosis and disease monitoring following treatment. Novel enzymatic DNA methylation sequencing (EM-seq) methods may allow us to overcome input DNA limitations and accurately quantify methylation from cfDNA for tumor classification.

  Study EGAS50000000871

• Epigenetic and transcriptional profile of memory B cells in Multiple sclerosis

  Methylome and transcriptome data of non-proliferating and autoproliferating memory B cells (CD27+) from Multiple sclerosis patients under natalizumab treatment, that have been generated and analyzed for the study "T-bet+ CXCR3+ B cells drive hyperreactive B-T cell interactions in multiple sclerosis". Aim is to understand epigentic and transcriptional differences in activated memory B cells in MS and how epigentic differences translated in transcriptional changes in the same patient.

  Study EGAS50000000872

• A Comprehensive Genetic Study of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Using Circulating Tumour DNA

  This study on classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) used advanced methods to analyse circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in 297 cases, offering insights into its genetic landscape and linking it to disease pathophysiology and clinical progression. Key findings include the identification of whole genome duplication as a predictor of poor chemotherapy response. Additionally, a highly recurrent somatic expression quantitative trait locus of the BCL6 gene was discovered, implicating regulatory mutations in cHL pathophysiology and highlighting BCL6 as both a vulnerability and therapeutic target. Consensus clustering identified two cHL subtypes distinguished by the underlying mechanisms of genetic instability, rather than by specific genetic mutations or EBV infection. The study also linked the number and clonality of neoantigens with tumour microenvironment and response to checkpoint blockade. Finally, our results suggested ctDNA analysis as a tool to distinguish ambiguous PET/CT-positive lesions persisting after treatment, aiming to reduce unnecessary medical interventions.

  Study EGAS50000000873

• Genetic and Microenvironmental Analysis of Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma

  This study enrolled 129 patients diagnosed with PTCL, comprising 94 cases of nTFHL and 35 cases of PTCL-NOS. Whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed using DNA and RNA of sufficient quality extracted from their tumor specimens. WES was conducted for all 129 cases, while RNA-seq was performed on 57 tumor samples.

  Study EGAS50000001258

• Young Boost Trial for Breast Cancer patients

  The Young Boost Trial (YBT, YOUNG BOOST / BOOG 2004-01 (Borstkanker) | Kanker.nl investigated the optimal radiation dose for breast cancer patients aged 50 years or younger, treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT). In this randomized study, participants were assigned to receive either a 26 Gy or a 16 Gy radiation boost, with the primary endpoint being local recurrence. To explore potential predictive biomarkers of treatment response in this patient group, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on tumor samples to identify genetic factors that could guide personalized treatment strategies and improve clinical outcomes for these young breast cancer patients.

  Study EGAS50000000797

• Impact of Glycolysis Inhibition on the Epigenome of Synovial Fluid T Cells in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

  Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) encompasses a group of childhood-onset autoimmune conditions characterized by joint inflammation and mononuclear cell infiltration, especially of activated CD4+ memory/effector T (Tmem/Teff) cells in synovial fluid (SF). JIA CD4+ T cells exhibit a distinct inflammation-associated epigenomic profile, though the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the role of glycolysis in shaping the epigenomic landscape of JIA SF CD4+ T cells, with a focus on H3K27ac histone modifications. Using an ex vivo model of antigen stimulation, CD4+ T cells were isolated from peripheral blood (PB) of healthy controls (HC) and synovial fluid from JIA patients. Cells were activated in vitro with anti-CD3/CD28 for 24 hours, and changes in H3K27ac were assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq). To explore the specific role of glycolysis, cells were also treated with 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), an inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate production. This inhibition impacted both H3K27ac acetylation patterns and gene expression associated with the activated epigenomic regions. Additionally, HC CD4+ T cells were activated in vitro in the presence of 30% SF or 30% plasma from JIA patients. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to examine SF-induced transcriptional changes, providing insight into the metabolic dysregulation and epigenomic alterations observed in JIA SF CD4+ T cells. This dataset includes ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data that collectively advance our understanding of how glycolysis and the SF environment contribute to the epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in JIA CD4+ T cells.

  Study EGAS50000000808

• MethylBERT enables read-level DNA methylation pattern identification and tumour deconvolution using a Transformer-based model

  DNA methylation (DNAm) is a key epigenetic mark that shows profound alterations in cancer. Read-level methylomes enable more in-depth DNAm analysis due to the broad coverage and preservation of rare cell-type signals, compared to array-based data such as 450K/EPIC array. Here, we propose MethylBERT, a novel Transformer-based model for read-level methylation pattern classification. MethylBERT identifies tumour-derived sequence reads based on their methylation patterns and genomic sequence and the method estimates tumour cell fractions within bulk samples. In our evaluation, MethylBERT outperforms existing deconvolution methods and demonstrates high accuracy regardless of methylation pattern complexity, read length and read coverage. Moreover, we show its applicability to cell-type deconvolution as well as non-invasive early cancer diagnostics using liquid biopsy samples. MethylBERT represents a significant advancement in read-level methylome analysis and enables accurate tumour purity estimation. The broad applicability of MethylBERT will enhance studies on both tumour and non-cancerous bulk methylomes.

  Study EGAS50000000806

• ATAC-Seq and CTCF ChIP-Seq on the OCIAML-2 cell line

  Study EGAS00001004741

• Discordant_Monozygotic_Twins_ALS(Genetics)

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Regarding genetic factors, pathogenetic mutations in more than 35 genes have been identified as playing a role in disease pathogenesis. However, a substantial portion of ALS heritability remains unaccounted for, pointing to the potential involvement of additional genetic and epigenetic factors. For this reason, we conducted a multi-omics study on a monozygotic twin pair discordant for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, performing whole exome sequencing, transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses to gain crucial insights into underlying pathogenetic disease mechanisms. Here, we share genetic data.

  Study EGAS50000000908

• WES samples of patients with anti-PD-1 resistant HNSCC from a non-randomized, open-label phase 1b clinical trial

  Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is an effective treatment for a subset of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the majority remain refractory. In a nonrandomized, open-label Phase 1b clinical trial, participants with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC who had progressed on ICB were treated with low-dose 5-azacytidine (5-aza) daily for either 5 or 10 days, in combination with durvalumab and tremelimumab. The primary objective was to determine the biologically effective dose of 5-aza. In this study, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on baseline samples from 12 participants, and genomic alterations were analyzed to access the genetic background of these participants.

  Study EGAS50000000729

• Transcriptional and epigenetic profiling of bone marrow blood progenitors across age

  Bone marrow from donors without known malignancy was isolated and CD34-enriched, FACS-purified to further enrich for CD34+CD38- primitive cells, and then profiled by single-cell 10X genomics chromium Multiome (RNA+ATAC).

  Study EGAS50000001623

• A benchmark of DNA methylation deconvolution methods for tumoral fraction estimation using DecoNFlow

  In cancer patients, circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) originates from both healthy and cancer cells, and the proportion of tumor-derived cfDNA serves as a surrogate marker of tumor burden. Tumoral cfDNA can be identified using patient-specific mutations or more general tumor-specific DNA methylation patterns that are preserved in cfDNA, enabling non-invasive cancer detection and monitoring. Accurately estimating tumor fractions remains challenging due to the heterogeneous mixture of cfDNA sources in body fluids. Computational DNA methylation deconvolution methods can address this by estimating tumoral fraction with or without reference methylomes. Here, we benchmarked 10 reference-based and 2 reference-free DNAm deconvolution tools and provide the data generated for this benchmarking, consisting of 10 neuroblastoma cell lines and one healthy cfDNA sample (pooled from 15 healthy cfDNA samples), profiled using cfRRBS.

  Study EGAS50000001529

• ATAC-seq, H3K27ac CUT&Tag, and UMI-4C in LCLs derived from constitutional MLH1 epimutation carriers and non-carrier relatives

  ATAC-seq, H3K27ac CUT&Tag, and UMI-4C in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from constitutional MLH1 epimutation carriers and non-carrier relatives

  Study EGAS50000000499

• Transcriptomic and epigenetic characterization of ex vivo expanded T cells

  In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic and epigenetic landscape of primary human T cells stimulated ex vivo under various conditions. Naïve CD8+ T cells isolated from healthy donor PBMCs were subjected to ex vivo stimulation and used for bulk RNA-seq and ATAC-seq library preparation. These datasets were generated to characterize global changes in gene expression and chromatin accessibility associated with ex vivo T-cell stimulation. The data may support comparative analyses of molecular states arising under distinct culture conditions.

  Study EGAS50000001718

• Knoll et al.: The life-saving benefit of dexamethasone in severe COVID-19 is linked to a reversal of monocyte dysregulation

  Following the demonstration of its life-saving effect in clinical trials, dexamethasone quickly became standard-of-care in the treatment of severe COVID-19. Beneficial effects were reported for patients requiring supplemental oxygen or invasive mechanical ventilation. Yet, a substantial proportion of patients still progressed to a critical condition or succumbed to the disease, despite timely initiation of glucocorticoid treatment. No molecular or cellular correlate of this beneficial treatment response has been defined. Here, we identify distinct cellular and molecular changes in circulating immune cells in patients with COVID-19 elicited in response to dexamethasone treatment. The most profound transcriptional changes in response to dexamethasone treatment were noted in monocytes and in B cells. In monocytes, we observed a reversal of hallmark signatures previously associated with COVID-19 severity, and the induction of a specific monocyte substate enriched in glucocorticoid response gene expression which we here refer to as dexamethasone response cluster. Molecular responses to dexamethasone treatment were directly linked to clinical outcome, since the reversal of pathogenic signatures and induction of glucocorticoid response genes were enriched in patients who survived the disease in response to dexamethasone treatment. Cellular responsiveness of circulating monocytes was thus identified as a correlate of clinical response to dexamethasone treatment. Changes in monocyte transcriptomes could also be linked to epigenetic alterations highlighting early differences in monocytes of dexamethasone responders and non-responders. Further, monocyte single-cell transcriptome-derived signatures were enriched in whole blood transcriptomes from patients with fatal outcome in two independent cohorts, highlighting the potential clinical value for early identification of non-responders who are refractory to dexamethasone treatment. Overall, our findings indicate that the life-saving effects of dexamethasone in COVID-19 patients are linked to a specific immunomodulatory effect based on the reversion of monocyte dysregulation. Our study elucidates the potential mechanism of action of one of the most efficient and cost-effective drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. It further highlights the potential of single-cell omics for monitoring target engagement of immunomodulatory drugs and for the stratification of patients for precision medicine approaches.

  Study EGAS00001007461

• Monosomy 7 delineates a primitive acute myeloid leukemia with adverse prognosis and responsiveness to epigenetic therapy

  The mechanistic basis for adverse risk associated with monosomy 7 remains undetermined in AML. In contrast to del(7q), monosomy 7 conferred adverse prognosis independent of TP53 and complex karyotype. Single-cell RNA and ATAC-seq revealed an epigenetically remodeled landscape and expansion of multipotent progenitor (MPP)-like cells. Monosomy 7 derived progenitors were distinguished by reduced chromatin accessibility and expression of STK17A and NT5C3A, which conferred resistance to cytotoxic and venetoclax-based therapy. To circumvent resistance mediated by monosomy 7 and deficient TP53, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) effectively restored apoptotic potential and augmented the activity of venetoclax. In a randomized clinical trial including older unfit patients with AML and monosomy 7, responses were observed in the majority that received low-dose cytarabine, venetoclax and the HDACi pracinostat, some with durable remissions exceeding 3 years. Longitudinal studies highlighted diminution of MPP-like cells, linking epigenetic remodeling to clinical response and therapeutic vulnerability of monosomy 7 AML.

  Study EGAS50000001641

• AGECAN - Interespecies conservation of brain specific DNA methylation in aging and cancer

  Study EGAS00001004851

• Single-nucleus ATAC sequencing of the human motor cortex

  Single-nucleus ATAC-sequencing of the human motor cortex in patients with ALS, C9ORF72-ALS-FTD, ALS-FTD and unaffected controls.

  Study EGAS50000001563

• Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility profiling of human fetal liver hematopoiesis (10x Multiome)

  The fetal liver is the primary haematopoietic organ during early human development, yet the timing and regulatory mechanisms governing blood formation remain incompletely understood. To define the cellular, transcriptional, and epigenetic changes underlying human fetal liver hematopoiesis over development, we generated a high-resolution, time-resolved single-nucleus multiome atlas of human fetal liver spanning 5–18 post-conception weeks (PCW) for CD45+CD235- cells. In total, 308,021 high-quality nuclei from 53 donors were profiled using paired chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic modalities. This study is for the chromatin accessibility.

  Study EGAS50000001632

• TULIPs decorate the three-dimensional genome of PFA ependymoma

  Study EGAS00001005476

• Repression of CADM1 transcription by HPV type 18 is mediated by three-dimensional rearrangement of promoter-enhancer interactions

  Repression of CADM1 transcription by HPV type 18 is mediated by three-dimensional rearrangement of promoter-enhancer interactions

  Study EGAS50000000773

• Genetics of gene expression in primary human immune cells

  The purpose of this study was to identify cell specific expression quantitative trait loci in freshly isolated highly purified primary B-cells and monocytes from healthy subjects of European ancestry. Cells were purified from Ficoll gradient prepared peripheral blood mononuclear cell fractions using positive selection via magnetic bead labelling of the B-cell marker CD19 and monocyte marker CD14. RNA was extracted from 287 B-cell samples and 288 monocyte samples. RNA was then hybridised to HumanHT-12 v4 BeadChips whole genome expression arrays (Illumina). Individuals were genotyped on HumanOmniExpress-12v1.0 BeadChips (Illumina) at 733202 genetic markers. Data presented include the raw expression values and Robust Spline Normalised values (RSN) for expression for each cell type per individual. Additional genotype data per individual is available on request.

  Study EGAS00000000109

• Association studies using the Metabochip array - Samples analysed by the WTCCC (1958 British Birth Cohort (58BC), Hypertension cohort (HT), Type 2 Diabetes Cohort (T2D) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) cohort)

  Genomewide association studies (GWAS) have proven a powerful hypothesis-free method to identify common disease-associated variants. Even quite large GWAS, however, have only at best identified moderate proportions of the genetic variants contributing to disease heritability. To provide cost-effective genotyping of common and rare variants to map the remaining heritability and to fine-map established loci, the Metabochip Consortium has developed a 200,000 SNP chip that has been produced in very large numbers for a fraction of the cost of GWAS chips. This chip provides a powerful tool for genetic studies of metabolic, cardiovascular and anthropometric traits (Voight et al., in press PLoS Genetics).

  Study EGAS00000000115

• Circulating cell-free DNA methylation profiling for detection, distinction, and estrogen receptor status classification of advanced breast cancer

  We developed cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation signatures for minimally invasive breast cancer detection, distinction, and estrogen receptor (ER) status classification with cell-free Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation and Sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq). We profiled peripheral blood plasma from 87 patients with mBC spanning ER-positive/HER2-negative (ER+/HER2-), HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

  Study EGAS50000001675

• Processing of tissue and cfDNA samples of CRC patients using Active-seq

  In this study, we have developed a novel technology called Active-Seq (Azide Click Tagging for In Vitro Epigenomic sequencing), a base conversion-free technology used to profile the DNA methylation status of a sample, based on the isolation of DNA containing unmodified CpG sites using a mutated bacterial methyltransferase enzyme and a synthetically prepared cofactor analogue. We procured samples from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients including tumour tissue as well as normal adjacent tissues. The data enabled us to identify CRC-specific markers that could then be used to track and monitor the presence of tumour DNA in cell-free DNA plasma (cfDNA) samples procured in the same patients. The FASTQ files of all the colorectal cancer tissues, normal adjacent tissues as wells as the cfDNA samples are available in this submission. The data made available in this study have been used to outline an approach for tumour-informed disease profiling in colorectal cancer cfDNA samples using Active-Seq.

  Study EGAS50000001226

• Axes of Biological Variation in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

  To explore the DLBCL molecular and genetic environment, we conducted genome-wide NGS sequencing on 103 DLBCL biopsy samples (named as Cornell-NCI cohort) with NGS platforms, including bulk WES, etc. The raw fastq files of the bulk WES were deposited on the EGA for user access. For additional information regarding the genomic data associated with the study, please also see the paper companion website at https://llmpp.ccr.cancer.gov/local/DLBCL_singlecell/

  Study EGAS50000001227

• Bone morphogenetic protein-9 controls pulmonary vascular growth and remodeling

  Human PMECs from 10 donor lungs were isolated, cultured (passages 3 to 4), synchronized by serum starvation (0.3% FCS), and stimulated with 10 ng/mL BMP-9 for 4 h. Single-cell profiling was performed using the 10X Genomics Chromium RNA 3' V3.1 kit. Five experimental groups were analyzed using cell hashing and sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq500. Data were processed with Cell Ranger and Seurat for differential gene expression and functional enrichment analysis.

  Study EGAS50000001026

• Dataset of DNA methylation profiles of 189 pediatric central nervous system, soft tissue, and bone tumors

  The research of CNS tumors brought knowledge about the role of epigenetics in these tumors. Certain subgroups of tumors are defined solely by their epigenetic profiles. In this study we carried on epigenetic profiling using targeted methylation sequencing of aproximately 180 pediatric CNS and Sarcoma tumor samples.

  Study EGAS50000000051

• Procardis study on novel susceptibility genes for coronary artery disease (CAD)

  An increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein has been identified as a risk factor for coronary artery disease that is highly heritable. The genetic determinants of the Lp(a) lipoprotein level and their relevance for the risk of coronary disease are incompletely understood. METHODS: We used a novel gene chip containing 48,742 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2100 candidate genes to test for associations in 3145 case subjects with coronary disease and 3352 control subjects. Replication was tested in three independent populations involving 4846 additional case subjects with coronary disease and 4594 control subjects. RESULTS: Three chromosomal regions (6q26-27, 9p21, and 1p13) were strongly associated with the risk of coronary disease. The LPA locus on 6q26-27 encoding Lp(a) lipoprotein had the strongest association. We identified a common variant (rs10455872) at the LPA locus with an odds ratio for coronary disease of 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49 to 1.95) and another independent variant (rs3798220) with an odds ratio of 1.92 (95% CI, 1.48 to 2.49). Both variants were strongly associated with an increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein, a reduced copy number in LPA (which determines the number of kringle IV-type 2 repeats), and a small Lp(a) lipoprotein size. Replication studies confirmed the effects of both variants on the Lp(a) lipoprotein level and the risk of coronary disease. A meta-analysis showed that with a genotype score involving both LPA SNPs, the odds ratios for coronary disease were 1.51 (95% CI, 1.38 to 1.66) for one variant and 2.57 (95% CI, 1.80 to 3.67) for two or more variants. After adjustment for the Lp(a) lipoprotein level, the association between the LPA genotype score and the risk of coronary disease was abolished. CONCLUSIONS: We identified two LPA variants that were strongly associated with both an increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein and an increased risk of coronary disease. Our findings provide support for a causal role of Lp(a) lipoprotein in coronary disease.

  Study EGAS00000000055

• The patterns and dynamics of genomic instability in metastatic pancreatic cancer

  Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy with a five-year mortality of 97–98%, usually due to widespread metastatic disease. Previous studies indicate that this disease has a complex genomic landscape, with frequent copy number changes and point mutations, but genomic rearrangements have not been characterized in detail. Despite the clinical importance of metastasis, there remain fundamental questions about the clonal structures of metastatic tumours, including phylogenetic relationships among metastases, the scale of ongoing parallel evolution in metastatic and primary sites, and how the tumour disseminates. Here we harness advances in DNA sequencing to annotate genomic rearrangements in 13 patients with pancreatic cancer and explore clonal relationships among metastases. We find that pancreatic cancer acquires rearrangements indicative of telomere dysfunction and abnormal cell-cycle control, namely dysregulated G1-to-S-phase transition with intact G2–M checkpoint. These initiate amplification of cancer genes and occur predominantly in early cancer development rather than the later stages of the disease. Genomic instability frequently persists after cancer dissemination, resulting in ongoing, parallel and even convergent evolution among different metastases. We find evidence that there is genetic heterogeneity among metastasis-initiating cells, that seeding metastasis may require driver mutations beyond those required for primary tumours, and that phylogenetic trees across metastases show organ-specific branches. These data attest to the richness of genetic variation in cancer, brought about by the tandem forces of genomic instability and evolutionary selection.

  Study EGAS00000000064

• Recurrent somatic DICER1 mutations in non-epithelial ovarian tumors

  Background: Germline truncating mutations in DICER1, an RNase III-type endoribonuclease essential for processing of microRNAs, are seen in families with the pleuropulmonary blastoma-family tumor and dysplasia syndrome; these individuals have a propensity to develop non-epithelial ovarian tumors (i.e. sex-cord stromal and germ cell tumors). Methods: We sequenced the whole transcriptomes or exomes of 14 non-epithelial ovarian tumors and noted closely clustered mutations in the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 in four cases. Using Sanger sequencing, we then analyzed additional ovarian tumors for mutations in this region. The impact of the mutations on the enzymatic activity of Dicer1 was determined using in vitro RNA cleavage assays. Results: RNase IIIb domain DICER1 mutations were found in 30/102 non-epithelial ovarian tumors (29%), predominantly Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (26/43, 60%), including 4/4 from individuals with germline DICER1 mutations. The mutations were restricted to metal binding sites within the RNase IIIb catalytic centres critical for miRNA interaction and cleavage, and were somatic in all 14 cases where germline DNA was available for testing. Of 266 epithelial ovarian and endometrial cancers tested, one case, an ovarian carcinosarcoma, had a hotspot mutation. In vitro, the mutant DICER proteins showed reduced RNase IIIb activity but retained RNase IIIa activity. Conclusions: Somatic missense mutations of the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 are common in non-epithelial ovarian tumors. Genetic, pathologic, and functional evidence suggest that these mutations do not obliterate DICER1 function, rather, they alter it in specific cell types, a novel mechanism through which perturbed microRNA expression is oncogenic.

  Study EGAS00001000135

• scATAC-seq and combined scRNA-seq of the human first trimester neurodevelopment

  Study EGAS00001007472