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• E5103 Correlative Studies

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

  Study phs003201

• SNPs and Extent of Atherosclerosis (SEA) Study

  The SEA study is a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants associated with premature atherosclerosis in subjects included in the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) repository - a unique NHLBI resource including data, DNA and arterial specimens from over 3000 multi-ethnic subjects 15-34 years of age who died of non-atherosclerotic causes (mostly trauma). All PDAY subjects had post-mortem quantitative assessment of raised atherosclerotic lesions in their aorta and coronary arteries - making this the largest and most carefully phenotyped cohort for premature atherosclerosis in the world. The goal of the current project was to use the quantitative measure of raised atherosclerotic lesions in the PDAY cohort as the target phenotype for a genome-wide association study and to use quantitative measures of subclinical atherosclerosis (coronary calcium and carotid IMT) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to confirm or refute candidate loci identified from the PDAY analysis. Identifying genetic factors that predispose individuals to premature atherosclerosis could lead to more effective screening and early treatment of high risk individuals and suggest novel molecular targets for treatment and prevention interventions.

  Study phs000349

• Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate Endpoints (ECLIPSE)

  ECLIPSE was a longitudinal observational study of 2164 COPD subjects and a smaller number of smoking controls (337) and nonsmoking controls (245) followed regularly for three years, with three chest CT scans (at baseline, one year, and three years) (Vestbo, European Respiratory Journal 2008; 31: 869). Inclusion criteria included age 40-75, at least 10 pack-years of smoking, and spirometry in GOLD grades 2-4 (COPD cases) or normal spirometry with post-bronchodilator FEV1 >85% predicted and FEV1/FVC>0.7 (controls). Study visits were performed at enrollment, three months, and every six months thereafter with spirometry, questionnaires, and other clinical evaluations. The ECLIPSE CT scans have been analyzed with the VIDA software for emphysema and airway phenotypes. ECLIPSE has provided key insights into the clinical epidemiology of COPD, including COPD exacerbations (Hurst, NEJM 2010; 363: 1128) and lung function decline in COPD (Vestbo, NEJM 2011; 365: 1184). ECLIPSE has been used in a number of genetic studies of COPD susceptibility and protein biomarkers(Faner, Thorax 2014; 69: 666). Genome-wide gene expression microarray data are available in 147 induced sputum samples from COPD subjects and 248 peripheral blood samples from COPD and control subjects.

  Study phs001252

• Genetics of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a common extranodal T-cell lymphoma primarily arising in the skin. In early disease stages, MF presents as skin patches and plaques that in some cases may progress to tumor and disperse to lymph nodes and other internal organs. The 10-year overall survival is 50% in advanced stages. Early diagnosis is difficult as the histology overlaps with features of inflammatory skin diseases. Even when the diagnosis is established, there are no prognostic markers that predict whether the disease will be aggressive or indolent. Lastly, there are no curative treatments and MF will invariably relapse, even after aggressive chemotherapy. The disease is a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenge. The main objective of this study is to address the question of tumor heterogeneity in MF. To date, MF is considered to be monoclonal, derived from a transformed, mature memory T-cell. However, clinical observations and preliminary data suggest that MF comprises multiple subclones, which may be of importance for understanding disease evolution and resistance to therapy. We plan to address this objective using Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) of MF tissue prepared by laser microdissection (LMD).

  Study phs001877

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm Y

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing and if possible, whole-genome, methylation and miRNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from all patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to their corresponding genomic alterations. Arm Y is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with AKT mutations are treated with AZD5363. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms in the EAY-131 trial included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood and RNA from tumor tissue. A fuller genomic landscape of tumors from these patients will enable discovery of potential molecular features correlated to clinical outcomes or lay the foundation for future studies leading to new and more effective treatments.

  Study phs001904

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

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

  Study phs002510

• Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea (MSH)

  This study aimed to determine whether or not treatment with hydroxyurea titrated to maximum tolerated doses would reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive (painful) crises by at least 50% in 299 men and women between 18 and 50 years old with a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia by gel electrophoresis conducted by a Core Laboratory. A secondary objective investigated correlations of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and other patient or treatment characteristics with the occurrence of vaso-occlusive (painful) crises, and the effect of treatment on the quality of life.This controlled trial made hydroxyurea the first drug of proven benefit in preventing vaso-occlusive pain crisis and acute chest syndrome caused by sickle cell disease, with additional findings including reduced mortality in adult patients taking hydroxyurea for frequent painful sickle cell episodes after 9 of years follow-up. No significant side-effects of hydroxyurea therapy were noted.Instructions for requesting individual-level data are available on BioData Catalyst at https://biodatacatalyst.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/data/. Apply for data access in dbGaP. Upon approval, users may begin accessing requested data in BioData Catalyst. For questions about availability, you may contact the BioData Catalyst team at https://biodatacatalyst.nhlbi.nih.gov/contact.

  Study phs002348

• Kids First: Whole Genome Sequencing of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (NCS) is a common, major structural birth defect - due to the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures - that requires extensive surgical correction and is associated with considerable ongoing medical problems and health care costs. Because little is known about the causes of NCS, whole genome sequencing will help advance knowledge of genetic factors contributing to the etiology of NCS. Data from this project will lead to a better understanding of biological processes involved in the etiology of NCS and provide critical insights for development of early diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.

  Study phs001806

• Genetic Analysis of Desmoplastic Melanoma

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

  Study phs000977

• NHLBI TOPMed: Study of Asthma Phenotypes and Pharmacogenomic Interactions by Race-Ethnicity (SAPPHIRE)

  Started in 2007, the Study of Asthma Phenotypes and Pharmacogenomic Interactions by Race-ethnicity (SAPPHIRE) is one of the largest asthma cohort studies in the United States. Its overarching goal is to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of asthma and asthma medication treatment response. The cohort was recruited from a large health care system serving southeast Michigan and the Detroit metropolitan area, and the participants broadly represent the demographic and socioeconomic diversity of the region. Control participants (i.e., patients without a diagnosis with asthma) were recruited from the same health system and geographic region. By virtue of their health system enrollment, both asthma case and control patients have longitudinal clinical information which was routinely collected as part of their care. Both case and control patients underwent at detailed evaluation at the time of enrollment which included lung function testing and bronchodilator response. The SAPPHIRE cohort is a member of the Asthma Translational Genomics Collaborative (ATGC). The latter was selected for whole genome sequencing in Phase 3 of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's TOPMed Program. The SAPPHIRE sample selected for sequencing includes African American and/or Latino individuals with and without asthma.

  Study phs001467

• Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Cardiorenal GWAS

  REGARDS is a national, population-based, longitudinal study of incident stroke and associated risk factors including over 30,000 Black and White adults aged 45 years or older from all 48 contiguous U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The study was designed to investigate reasons underlying the higher rate of stroke mortality among Black participants compared to White participants and among residents of the Southeastern U.S. compared to other U.S. regions. By design, Black adults and residents of the deep south were oversampled. Between 2003 and 2007 (baseline visit) participants completed a computer-assisted telephone interview to collect demographic information and medication adherence, and an in-home visit for blood pressure measurements and collection of blood and urine samples. Following the baseline visit, participants have been contacted by phone at six-month intervals to obtain information on incident stroke or secondary outcomes. Additionally, samples and data were collected on about 50% of the original cohort during a second study visit an average of 10 years after the baseline visit. Genotyping was performed as part of an ancillary study on 10,788 (84% Black) participants using Illumina MEGA arrays.

  Study phs002719

• Mapping Genes for Mammographic Density

  We recruited 1,521 women from the Old Order Amish (OOA) population of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with the primary goal of identifying genetic factors that influence mammographic density. All women were between the ages of 40 and 88 years, with a mean of 54 years. Additional study design details, including eligibility criteria, are described elsewhere (Douglas et al., 2008). The present-day OOA of Lancaster County are the descendants of approximately 550 individuals from central Western Europe who immigrated to the U.S. in the early eighteenth century. All living individuals derive from a single, 14-generation pedigree (Lee et al., 2010). Although the OOA are a genetically closed founder population, allele frequencies and LD profiles are remarkably similar between the OOA and U.S. participants in the International HapMap project (HapMap CEU) for common SNPs (MAF>/=5%) (Van Hout et al., 2010). We recently completed genome-wide linkage and association analyses of mammographic density, including dense and non-dense areas of the breast and the ratio of dense to total area of the breast. Summary-level data from our GWAS are available here and through the Marker of DEnsity (MODE) Consortium.

  Study phs000604

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm H

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from all patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to their corresponding genomic alterations. Arm H is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with BRAF V600K/V600E mutations are treated with Dabrafenib and Trametinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms in the EAY-131 trial included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood and RNA from tumor tissue. A fuller genomic landscape of tumors from these patients will enable discovery of potential molecular features correlated to clinical outcomes or lay the foundation for future studies leading to new and more effective treatments.

  Study phs001888

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

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

  Study phs002486

• Genetic Underpinnings of Ethnic Disparities in Bone Toxicities Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy among children and young adolescents. More than 90% of children are cured with a combination of multiple chemotherapeutic drugs. Some may suffer from debilitating toxicities due to the cytotoxic drugs, necessitating pharmacogenetic research to search for genetic markers predictive of treatment toxicities, so that treatment can be better tailored based on patients' genetic makeup. Bone toxicities, including osteonecrosis and fractures, most often due to glucocorticoids, are the most common complications in ALL, which have long-lasting detrimental impact on the still developing skeletons in children. In DFCI ALL Consortium Protocol 05-001, a multi-center clinical trial for childhood ALL conducted in Canada and the US, we found that Hispanic children had less drug toxicities to their bones than non-Hispanic children. Although reasons for the observed ethnic differences are largely unknown, patients' inherited genetic background may be at play. This study seeks to perform a novel pharmacogenomic study based on multi-site clinical trials DFCI ALL Consortium Protocol 05-001 and 11-001 to identify genetic underpinnings of ethnic disparities in bone toxicities.

  Study phs002317

• Mapping Disease Pathways for Biliary Atresia

  Biliary atresia (BA) is a poorly understood rare disease that causes jaundice and liver failure at birth due to underdeveloped bile ducts. Associated defects include poor development of the portal vein and involvement of non-hepatic organs. After initial surgical drainage in all patients, the majority need liver transplantation because of progressive cirrhosis. In addition to the risks of lifelong immunosuppression after liver transplantation, the post-transplant biliary atresia patient can experience surgical complications like portal vein thrombosis along with the consequences of extrahepatic involvement often found in affected patients. To determine the genetic basis of this disease, a genome-wide association study of 811 BA cases, all of whom received liver transplantation, and 4654 controls was performed with a 2.5 million SNP array. The study found that BA associates with polygenic risk conferred by over 6000 common variants, minor allele frequencies >1%, in 102 ciliogenesis and planar polarity effector genes (CPLANE). Whole genome sequencing of 100 of 811 cases revealed that most cases harbored rare variants, allele frequencies Whole genome genotyping, gene expression and whole genome sequencing data is being made available.

  Study phs003458

• The Somatic Mutational Landscape of Thyroid Cancer in Patients with Germline PTEN Mutations

  PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is associated with a high rate of thyroid cancer and benign thyroid disease, yet nothing is known of the genomic landscape of PHTS-associated thyroid tumors. In this study, exome sequencing was performed on 58 thyroid tumors (28 cancers, 30 benign nodules) from 19 patients with PHTS, sequenced in tumor-normal pairs. Somatic variant calling was utilized to determine the somatic mutational landscape of thyroid tumors in this population. This was then compared to the known mutational landscape of sporadic thyroid cancer in the general population using sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The primary finding of the study was that PHTS-associated thyroid tumors had a unique genomic landscape, including a high frequency of second-hit somatic PTEN alterations compared to the sporadic thyroid tumors. Additionally, PHTS-associated thyroid cancers were found to have somatic alterations in BRAF, RAS family members, and genes associated with DNA double stranded break repair. Data available through dbGAP will include tumor BAM files for each tumor, normal BAM files for each patient, and MAF files for PHTS-associated thyroid cancer and PHTS associated benign thyroid nodules.

  Study phs003640

• Leukemia Relapse via Genetic Immune Escape after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

  Graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) reactions are responsible for the effectiveness of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation as a treatment modality for myeloid neoplasia, whereby donor T- effector cells recognize leukemia neoantigens. However, a substantial fraction of patients experience relapses because of the failure of the immunological responses to control leukemic outgrowth. Here we demonstrate, through a broad immunogenetic study, that germline and somatic reduction of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) heterogeneity enhances the risk of leukemic recurrence. We show that preexistent germline-encoded low evolutionary divergence of class II HLA genotypes constitutes an independent factor associated with disease relapse and that acquisition of clonal somatic defects in HLA alleles may lead to escape from GvL control. Both class I and II HLA genes are targeted by somatic mutations as clonal selection factors potentially impairing cellular immune responses and responses to immunomodulatory strategies. These findings define new molecular modes of post-transplant leukemia escape contributing to relapse.The present dataset provides HLA peripheral blood and bone marrow samples supporting the genotyping studies performed for this research. This sample set originates from patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and relapsing after transplant.

  Study phs003235

• CSER: Evaluating Utility and Improving Implementation of Genomic Sequencing for Pediatric Cancer Patients in the Diverse Population and Healthcare Settings of Texas: The KidsCanSeq Study

  Through this Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER) with Enhanced Diversity project we are completing a clinical study (The Texas KidsCanSeq Study) comparing the results of targeted cancer panel sequencing versus genome-scale testing in pediatric cancer patients across diverse clinical settings. We will compare the targeted pediatric cancer panel to germline whole exome sequencing (WES) of unselected childhood cancer patients. We will also compare an RNA/DNA targeted pediatric cancer panel versus WES, transcriptome sequencing and copy number array of FFPE tumor samples for the subset of patients with high-risk tumors. Exome sequencing is performed from a blood or saliva sample of the pediatric age (0-18) patient. We are building on our success completing the CSER program BASIC3 exome sequencing trial (which included 60% Hispanic and African-American patients from a single large academic center) in this large multi-institutional study of an even more diverse patient population from six pediatric oncology healthcare settings across Texas. Data from the Texas KidsCanSeq study will be submitted through the CSER Data Coordinating Center for access in NIH-supported databases.

  Study phs002378

• Whole Genome Sequencing for Metastatic Mutational Burden in Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma

  Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is an ultra-rare cancer. Though it has a favorable prognosis and an indolent course, it has high rates of local recurrence and metastasis to the lungs. EMC is most often characterized by a translocation involving the NR4A3 gene most often fusing with EWSR1, leading to constitutive expression of NR4A3, the biological significance of which is unknown. Our study presents a case of EMC with case-matched lung and advanced pelvic metastases. We conducted Whole Genome Sequencing to examine differences in the mutational landscape at two different stages of metastasis. This is the first study to our knowledge to analyze mega-base scale structural variants (SVs) in EMC. Our data validates copy number variants (CNVs) found in previous studies. While the primary tumor and lung metastasis had similar somatic variations and CNVs, the pelvic metastasis had more SVs with especially increased mutational burden of SVs in chromosome 2. This suggests that different molecular drivers appear in more advanced, relapsing EMC compared with the primary tumor and early lung metastasis. The sequencing data is available through dbGaP.

  Study phs003305

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

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

  Study phs003662

• Investigation of molecular diagnosis by molecular biological analysis using next-generation sequencer for actionable endocrine diseases (including neoplastic diseases)

  Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) deficiency, caused by an FBP1 mutation, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypoglycemic lactic acidosis. Due to the rarity of FBPase deficiency, the mechanism by which the mutations cause enzyme activity loss still remains unclear. Here we identify compound heterozygous missense mutations of FBP1, c.491G>A (p.G164D) and c.581T>C (p.F194S), in an adult patient with hypoglycemic lactic acidosis. The G164D and F194S FBP1 mutants exhibit decreased FBP1 protein expression and a loss of FBPase enzyme activity. The biochemical phenotypes of all previously reported FBP1 missense mutations in addition to G164D and F194S are classified into three functional categories. Type 1 mutations are located at pivotal residues in enzyme activity motifs and have no effects on protein expression. Type 2 mutations structurally cluster around the substrate binding pocket and are associated with decreased protein expression due to protein misfolding. Type 3 mutations are likely nonpathogenic. These findings demonstrate a key role of protein misfolding in mediating the pathogenesis of FBPase deficiency, particularly for Type 2 mutations. This study provides important insights that certain patients with Type 2 mutations may respond to chaperone molecules.

  Study JGAS000625

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

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

  Study EGAS50000001177

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

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

  Study EGAS50000001646

• Comprehensive molecular profiling identifies novel genetic drivers and subtypes underlying medulloblastoma

  Current therapies for medulloblastoma (MB), a highly malignant childhood brain tumor, impose debilitating effects on the developing child, warranting the development of molecularly targeted treatments with reduced toxicities. Prior studies have failed to disclose the full spectrum of driver genes and molecular processes operative in MB or adequately explain heterogeneity among molecular subgroups. Herein, we detail the somatic landscape across 491 sequenced MBs and molecular heterogeneity amongst 1,256 epigenetically analyzed cases, identifying subgroup-specific mutational signatures, driver genes, and pathway alterations including previously unappreciated actionable therapeutic targets. Integrative approaches for assigning driver genes to subgroups explained >65-70% of Group 3 and Group 4, doubling previous knowledge. Novel subtypes underlying Group 3 and Group 4 were differentially enriched for specific driver events, including hotspot in-frame indels targeting KBTBD4 and ‘enhancer hijacking’ driving activation of PRDM6. Thus, application of integrative genomics to an unprecedented cohort of clinical samples derived from a single childhood cancer entity has disclosed a series of new cancer genes and biologically relevant subtype diversity that represent attractive therapeutic targets for treating MB.

  Study EGAS00001001953

• WTCCC2 Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) samples

  A WTCCC2 project genome-wide association study for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in individuals from India, Brazil and Sudan, genotyped on the custom Illumina 670k array. The WTCCC2 analysis of the Brazilian and Indian samples is described in Fakiola et al. [Nat Genet. 2013 Feb;45(2):208-13].It should be noted that due to expected family structure in the data, normal analyses of these data should include an estimation of the relatedness between the samples. For more details about sample collection for the project please refer to the Methods section of the paper above. The samples from India were all collected from Bihar state in northeastern India. The Brazilian samples were collected from a wide area of northern Brazil, and managed at two laboratories in Natal and Belem. For more details on the geographic distribution of the Brazil samples please see Jamieson et al. [Genes Immun. 2007 Jan;8(1):84-90]. We have not generated qc_passed or info files for the Sudanese data, a preliminary scan of the data indicated that there may be DNA quality issues with these samples.

  Study EGAS00001000773

• Field_effect_of_healthy_and_diseased_livers_WGS

  Recent work in the Campbell group has revealed somatic mutations present in normal, non-cancerous human skin. A subset of the mutations conferred selective advantages to the host cells, leading to clonal expansions and raising the risk for future cancer development. Capturing such somatic mutations in normal tissue is important to advance our understanding about carcinogenesis and could provide prospective medical insights. In this project, our goal is to detect somatic mutations in normal (pre-cancerous) liver tissue. Using Laser Microdissection technology, we will dissect individual liver lobules from patient samples and submit these to sequencing. For each patient sample, we aim to sequence multiple lobules to characterise the mutagenic burden. Samples will be taken from patients with different liver disease aetiologies, including alcoholism and obesity, with a view on distinguishing the prevalent mutation types occurring in each disease context. We will perform both whole genome and targeted sequencing, initially using the WTSI cancer panel. Later we aim to use a novel bait set that captures both cancer genes as well as genes relevant to the non-cancerous samples (ie. genes implicated in hereditary disorders, immune sequences).

  Study EGAS00001002413

• SHANK2 mutations associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder cause hyperconnectivity of human neurons

  Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the synaptic scaffolding gene SHANK2 are strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To investigate their effect on synaptic connectivity, we generated cortical neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) derived from neurotypic and ASD-affected donors. We developed Sparse coculture for Connectivity (SparCon) assays where SHANK2 and control neurons were differentially labeled and sparsely seeded together on a lawn of unlabeled control neurons. We observed striking increases in dendrite length, dendrite complexity, total synapse number, and frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. These findings were phenocopied in gene-edited homozygous SHANK2 knockout cells and rescued by gene correction of an ASD SHANK2 muation, supporting a role for SHANK2 as a regulator of connectivity in developing human neurons. Dendrite length increases were exacerbated by IGF1, TG003, or BDNF, and suppressed by DHPG treatment. The transcriptome in these isogenic SHANK2 neurons was deeply perturbed in synapse, plasticity, and neuronal morphogenesis gene sets and ASD gene modules, and activity-dependent dendrite extension was impaired. Our unexpected findings provide evidence for hyperconnectivity and profoundly altered transcriptome in SHANK2 neurons derived from ASD subjects.

  Study EGAS00001003436

• Ultra-Low-Pass Whole Genome Sequencing of Cell-Free DNA for Large B-Cell Lymphoma

  While deep targeted DNA sequencing of liquid biopsies has shown prognostic utility in large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), the routine clinical adoption of these assays remains limited due to their high costs. Here, leveraging a well-annotated cohort of encompassing both frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) LBCL, we profiled patient plasma samples with two complementary modalities – ultra-low-pass whole genome sequencing (ulpWGS) and deep targeted DNA sequencing, the former being a cost-effective method to profile large scale chromosomal abnormalities and estimate tumor burden. Our findings revealed a strong association of high cell-free tumor burden by both genomic profiling modalities with established measures of tumor burden and patient survival. Notably, the associations with survival remained statistically significant after accounting for international prognostic index scoring. Furthermore, we showed that del(17p) in circulating tumor DNA as detected by ulpWGS was strongly associated with TP53 mutation status and predicted for significantly inferior patient outcome in frontline but not R/R LBCL patients. Our study demonstrates that ulpWGS can provide robust prognostic biomarkers for both frontline and R/R LBCL, highlighting its broad applicability for risk stratification.

  Study EGAS50000001027

• UK10K_OBESITY_GS

  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. The GS samples are part of the Obesity group and will undergo exome sequencing.

  Study EGAS00001000242

• Spatial_transcriptome_analysis_of_Paediatric_Thymus

  Cell atlas of Paediatric Thymus Cell atlas of Paediatric Thymus - The Human Cell Atlas initiative is an ambitious global research effort which aims to describe every cell in the human body across all developmental stages to generate a reference map to accelerate progress in science and medicine particularly relating to human development and disease. The initiative is led by investigators based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and funding support from the Wellcome and NIH. We aim to interrogate the cellular composition and molecular regulators underpinning a cells identity through; genetic and genomic analysis, expression analysis, non-identifiable video imaging and cell line and organoid production, as well as, computational algorithms to predict cellular developmental trajectories and cell-cell interactions. We will subsequently validate these findings in situ using spatial genomic and imaging technologies e.g. immunohistochemistry, RNAscope, in situ sequencing and spatial transcriptomic analyses. 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 EGAS00001004281

• Oncoprint GSCCs

  Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most malignant primary brain tumor, with a median survival rarely exceeding 2 years. Tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment are key factors contributing to the poor response rates of current therapeutic approaches. GBM-associated macrophages (GAMs) often exhibit immunosuppressive features that promote tumor progression. However, their dynamic interactions with GBM tumor cells remain poorly understood. Here, we used patient-derived GBM stem cell cultures and combined single-cell RNA sequencing of GAM-GBM co-cultures and real-time in vivo monitoring of GAM-GBM interactions in orthotopic zebrafish xenograft models to provide insight into the cellular, molecular, and spatial heterogeneity. Our analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity across GBM patients in GBM-induced GAM polarization and the ability to attract and activate GAMs – features that correlated with patient survival. Differential gene expression analysis, immunohistochemistry on original tumor samples, and knock-out experiments in zebrafish subsequently identified LGALS1 as a primary regulator of immunosuppression. Overall, our work highlights that GAM-GBM interactions can be studied in a clinically relevant way using co-cultures and avatar models, while offering new opportunities to identify promising immune-modulating targets.

  Study EGAS00001007481

• Widespread DNA hypomethylation and differential gene expression in Turner syndrome

  Adults with 45,X monosomy (Turner syndrome) reflect a surviving minority since more than 99% of fetuses with 45,X monosomy die in utero. In adulthood 45,X monosomy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, although strikingly heterogeneous with some individuals left untouched while others suffer from cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease and infertility. The present study investigates the leukocyte DNAmethylation profile by using the 450K-Illumina Infinium assay and the leukocyte RNA-expression profile in 45,X monosomy compared with karyotypically normal female and male controls. We present results illustrating that genome wide X-chromosome RNA-expression profile, autosomal DNA-methylation profile, and the X-chromosome methylation profile clearly distinguish Turner syndrome from controls. Our results reveal genome wide hypomethylation with most differentially methylated positions showing a medium level of methylation. Contrary to previous studies, applying a single loci specific analysis at well-defined DNA loci, our results indicate that the hypomethylation extend to repetitive elements. We describe novel candidate genes that could be involved in comorbidity in TS and explain congenital urinary malformations (PRKX), premature ovarian failure (KDM6A), and aortic aneurysm formation (ZFYVE9 and TIMP1)

  Study EGAS00001002190

• Determination_of_cell_specific_regulatory_enhancers_in_hematopoetic_models

  The BLUEPRINT project is a large-scale project investigating epigenetic mechanisms involved in blood formation, in health and disease. The human variation workpackage (WP10) of the project seeks to characterize the effect of common sequence variation on the epigenome status of a cell. To do this, the project will use highly purified blood cells to minimise “experimental noise” and therefore enhance the power to discover modest effects. Two peripheral blood cell types, the CD14+CD16- monocyte (an important central orchestrator of adaptive immunity and a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity) and the CD65+CD9- neutrophilic granulocyte (the frontline cell for innate immunity) have been selected for this purpose. The two types of cells will be obtained at high purity from adult blood (AB) of 200 healthy males and females, respectively. Cells will be purified by using already validated and fully operational protocols that are based on density gradient centrifugation of the buffy coat obtained from whole blood, followed by magnetic bead-based purification using monoclonal antibodies against Cluster of Differentiation (CD) lineage-specific cell surface markers. This data set contains functional genomics data for gene expression and chromatin state.

  Study EGAS00001000586

• E-cadherin inactivation shapes tumor microenvironment specificities in invasive lobular carcinoma

  Invasive lobular breast carcinoma (ILC) shows specific stromal features, T lymphocyte infiltration (TIL) being associated with poor prognosis. Here, we reveal the involved mechanism by performing single cell RNA sequencing, combined immunohistochemistry, deconvolution of bulk RNA sequencing from large retrospective ILC series, and functional assays using primary cells. We show that ILC accumulates FAP+ inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAF) through a previously undescribed mechanism mediated by E-cadherin/CDH1 on CAF plasticity. Indeed, CDH1 inactivation in ILC cancer cells prevents differentiation of iCAF into myofibroblastic CAF (myCAF), leading to iCAF accumulation. In turn, iCAF attract TILs into the tumor center and shape their spatial organization in ILC. Subsequently, CDH1-inactivated ILC cancer cells promote immune escape by lack of retention and activation of ITGAE-expressing resident memory CD8+ T lymphocytes (TRM). Hence, our study uncovers reciprocal interactions between CDH1-inactivated cancer cells, iCAF and CD8+ TRM, gaining insight into the underlying mechanism associated with the distinctive stromal reaction observed in ILC and revealing why and how TILs have a poor prognosis in ILC patients, a mechanism that can be generalized to other CDH1-inactivated cancer types.

  Study EGAS50000001760

• Gut microbiome modulates response to anti PD1 immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma patients

  There is a growing appreciation of the role of the microbiome in cancer, and evidence in pre-clinical models that the gut microbiome may modulate responses to immune checkpoint blockade though this has not been well-characterized in patients. We analyzed the oral (n=86)and gut (n=43) 16S microbiome in melanoma patients on PD-1 blockade. Significant differences were noted in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome between responders and non-responders in patients with a fecal microbiome sample, with significantly higher alpha diversity and relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae bacteria) in R. Metagenomic studies (n=25) revealed functional differences in gut bacteria in R including enrichment of anabolic pathways. Immune profiling demonstrated enhanced systemic and anti-tumor immunity in patients with a favorable gut microbiome as well as in germ-free mice receiving fecal transplant from responding patients. Together, these data have important implications for treatment with immune checkpoint blockade in cancer. The fastq files associated with this dataset are stored at ENA under the following accession numbers: PRJEB22894 (Fecal 16S), PRJEB22874 (Oral 16S), PRJEB22895 (Murine 16S), PRJEB22893 (Fecal WGS).

  Study EGAS00001002698

• An_exome_sequencing_study_of_the_HIV_elite_long_term_non_progressors_and_rapid_progressors__CASCADE_cohorts_

  Background: A rare subgroup of HIV infected individuals naturally controls infection withouttreatment. These ?elite controllers? constitute an important model for the natural control ofHIV infection. Indeed, the study of these individuals may provide insights into strategies forthe development of HIV vaccines. Although several HLA and chemokine alleles are knownto be over-represented in elite controllers, only a small portion of HIV phenotypic variation isexplained by known genetic variants. The elite controller phenotype is rare and distinct,representing the extreme of an infectious disease trait. As such, this phenotype may be partlyexplained by variation in host immune control, which may be characterized by differences inrare functional genetic variants. Genomic regions underlying elite control can be potentiallyidentified by comparing the presence or frequency of variants in this group to thatrepresenting the opposite extreme. In this context, ?rapid progressors? is a group defined byits rapid immunological and clinical disease progression.Aim: To extend an existing study, in order to identify DNA sequence variants involved in thecontrol of HIV infection with greater statistical resolution. Specifically, we aim to sequence upto 200 exomes from multiple cohort studies within the EuroCoord CASCADE collaboration (acollaboration of 25 HIV seroconversion cohort studies across Europe).

  Study EGAS00001000522

• Somatic IL4R Hotspot Mutations in Primary Mediastinal Large B-cell lymphoma lead to constitutive JAK-STAT activation

  Primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a distinct subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma thought to arise from thymic medullary B cells. Gene mutations underlying the molecular pathogenesis of the disease are incompletely characterized. Here, we describe novel somatic IL4R mutations in 15 out of 62 primary cases of PMBCL (24.2%) and in all PMBCL-derived cell lines tested. The majority of mutations (11/21; 52%) were hotspot single nucleotide variants in exon 8 leading to an I242N amino acid change in the transmembrane domain. Functional analyses establish this mutation as gain-of-function leading to constitutive activation of the JAK-STAT pathway and upregulation of downstream cytokine expression profiles and B cell specific antigens. Moreover, expression of I242N mutant IL4R in a mouse xenotransplantation model conferred growth advantage in vivo. The pattern of concurrent mutations within the JAK-STAT signaling pathway suggests additive/synergistic effects of these gene mutations contributing to lymphomagenesis. Our data establish IL4R mutations as novel driver alterations and provide a strong preclinical rationale for therapeutic targeting of JAK-STAT signaling in PMBCL.

  Study EGAS00001002796

• Hominin-specific NOTCH2 paralogs expand human cortical neurogenesis through regulation of Delta/Notch interactions.

  The human cerebral cortex has undergone rapid expansion and increased complexity during recent evolution. Hominid-specific gene duplications represent a major driving force of evolution, but their impact on human brain evolution remains unclear. Using tailored RNA sequencing (RNAseq), we profiled the spatial and temporal expression of Hominid-specific duplicated (HS) genes in the human fetal cortex, leading to the identification of a repertoire of 36 HS genes displaying robust and dynamic patterns during cortical neurogenesis. Among these we focused on NOTCH2NL, previously uncharacterized HS paralogs of NOTCH2. NOTCH2NL promote the clonal expansion of human cortical progenitors by increasing self-renewal, ultimately leading to higher neuronal output. NOTCH2NL function by activating the Notch pathway, through inhibition of Delta/Notch interactions. Our study uncovers a large repertoire of recently evolved genes linking genomic evolution to human brain development, and reveals how hominin-specific NOTCH paralogs may have contributed to the expansion of the human cortex. The dataset contains raw sequences (FASTQ files) from the Illumina 2x150bp paired-end RNA sequencing profiles of 11 fetal human brain samples at 7, 9, 12, 15 and 21 gestational weeks.

  Study EGAS00001002798

• Japan PBC-GWAS Haplotype Study

  Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) susceptibility loci have largely been discovered through single SNP association testing. In this study, we report genic haplotype patterns associated with PBC risk genome-wide in two Japanese cohorts. Among the 74 genic PBC risk haplotype candidates we detected with a novel methodological approach in a discovery cohort of 1,937 Japanese, nearly two-thirds were replicated (49 haplotypes, Bonferroni-corrected P<6.8x10-4) in an independent Japanese cohort (N=949). Along with corroborating known PBC-associated loci (TNFSF15, HLA-DRA), risk haplotypes may potentially model cis-interactions that regulate gene expression. For example, one replicated haplotype association (9q32-9q33.1, OR=1.7, P=3.0x10-21) consists of intergenic SNPs outside of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region that overlap regulatory histone mark peaks in liver and blood cells, and are significantly associated with TNFSF8 expression in whole blood. We also replicated a novel haplotype association involving non-HLA SNPs mapped to UMAD1 (7p21.3; OR=15.2, P=3.9x10-9) that overlap enhancer peaks in liver and memory Th cells. Our analysis demonstrates the utility of haplotype association analyses in discovering and characterizing PBC susceptibility loci.

  Study EGAS00001002915

• Rapid brain tumor classification from sparse epigenomic data

  Although the intraoperative, molecular differential diagnosis of the approximately one hundred different brain tumor entities described to date has been a goal of neuropathology in the last decade, this has not yet been achieved in a clinically relevant time frame of less than one hour after biopsy collection. Recent advances in third-generation sequencing technologies have brought this once-elusive goal within reach. However, established machine learning techniques rely on concepts and methods, impractical for live diagnostic workflows in clinical applications. Here, we present MethyLYZR, a Naïve Bayesian framework enabling fully tractable live classification of cancer epigenomes. MethyLYZR can be run in parallel with an ongoing Nanopore experiment with negligible computational cost and provides clinically relevant and accurate cancer classification results within 15 minutes of sequencing. Therefore, only the time required for DNA extraction and the Nanopore sequencer's maximum parallel throughput remain limiting factors for even faster time-to-results. We demonstrate the potential utility of the MethyLYZR framework not only for the neurosurgical intraoperative use case but also for other oncologic indications and cell-free DNA from liquid biopsies.

  Study EGAS50000000559

• Genetic coupling of enhancer activity and connectivity in gene expression control

  In this study, we investigated whether the genetic effects of eQTLs on enhancer activity and enhancer-promoter contacts (connectivity) are inherently coupled or distinct. To address this, we performed Capture Hi-C targeting ~1100 eQTL loci, along with ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, in monocytes from 34 healthy male donors. Using single-modality and multi-modality Bayesian statistical approaches, we demonstrated that eQTL effects are predominantly shared across enhancer activity, connectivity, and gene expression. However, we also identified a locus where an eQTL disrupts a CTCF binding site at a putative insulator, facilitating contacts between the PCK2 gene promoter and downstream enhancers. To validate these findings, we used 4C-seq to confirm the allelic effects of eQTLs on enhancer-promoter connectivity at the PCK2 locus and another eQTL region associated with THBS1 expression, both of which showed consistent eQTL effects across all three modalities. Additionally, we conducted Hi-C on monocytes from two donors to map reference TADs and performed ChIP-seq to confirm the allelic effects of the PCK2 eQTL on CTCF binding. Together, these data provide comprehensive insights into the genetic coupling of enhancer activity, connectivity, and gene expression.

  Study EGAS50000000756

• Integrative_genome_profiling_in_AML

  AML emerges as a consequence of accumulating independent genetic aberrations that direct regulation and/or dysfunction of genes resulting in aberrant activation of signalling pathways, resistance to apoptosis and uncontrolled proliferation. Given the significant heterogeneity of AML genomes, AML patients demonstrate a highly variable response rate and poor median survival in response to current chemotherapy regimens. For the past 4 years we have conducted gene expression profiling on purified bone marrow populations equating to normal haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from healthy subjects and patients with de novo AML in order to identify AML signatures of aberrantly expressed genes in cancer versus normal. We are now applying a series of bioinformatic methodologies combined with clinical and conventional diagnostic data to establish novel genomics strategies for improved prognostication of AML. Additionally, we use our AML signatures to unravel oncogenic signalling pathway activities in AML patients and test inhibitory drugs for these pathways inn preclinical therapeutic programmes. We consider that superimposing GEP and clinical data for our AML patient cohort with additional data on their mutational status will significantly improve the prognostic power of the study as well as unravel yet unknown mutations associated with aberrant signalling activities of oncogenic pathways.

  Study EGAS00001000858

• An_evaluation_of_different_strategies_for_large_scale_pooled_sequencing_study_design_

  Second generation sequencing technology has enabled the design of large-scale sequencing experiments in targeted disease-related regions in thousands of cases and controls. Cost implications dictate a pooled DNA sequencing design, evaluation of allele frequency differences based on the resequenced samples and large-scale targeted follow-up in further samples. To evaluate the feasibility of this approach and to assess different study design strategies, we have carried out a pilot study which tests the feasibility of PCR-based and pull-down DNA pooling for (a) SNP discovery and (b) allele frequency comparison purposes. All samples are from the HapMap or 1958 BC. The sample composition of the pool is listed below: Pool 5: 31 HapMap Individuals (NA12249, NA12156, NA12004, NA11831, NA12716, NA11832, NA11993, NA12057, NA11995, NA12006, NA12144, NA12802, NA12146, NA12005, NA12003, NA07000, NA12043, NA12044, NA11992, NA11881, NA11994, NA07345, NA12154, NA06994, NA06985, NA12239, NA07022, NA07034, NA12155, NA07056, NA06993); 19 1958 BC Individuals (WTCCC88214, WTCCC88215, WTCCC88216, WTCCC88217, WTCCC88222, WTCCC88233, WTCCC88240, WTCCC88241, WTCCC88242, WTCCC88247, WTCCC88249, WTCCC88262, WTCCC88264, WTCCC88278, WTCCC88294, WTCCC88298, WTCCC88302, WTCCC88305, WTCCC88321) Some pools were carried out in duplicate to assess reproducibility. We focused on 10 (PD), 7(PCR) chromosomal regions, ~2(PD), ~1.6 (PCR) Mb in total.

  Study EGAS00001000134

• Identification of 19 novel loci reveals gene regulatory mechanisms determining susceptibility to testicular germ cell tumour

  Testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) is the most common cancer in young men1,2, and is characterised by strong inherited genetic risk factors3. Here we have undertaken large-scale genome wide association study (GWAS) for TGCT, encompassing ~7,500 cases and ~23,000 controls, through the Oncoarray consortium. We identified 19 novel loci, approximately doubling the number of known TGCT risk loci to 44 (P<5x10-8)4-14 and conduct deep, high-throughput functional annotation of all risk loci. We establish a network of physical interactions for all risk SNPs to candidate casual genes in 3D space, using high-throughput chromosome conformation capture techniques (HiC) in TGCT cells. Firstly, functional evidence reveals widespread disruption of developmental transcriptional regulators, consistent with failed primordial germ cell differentiation as an initiating step in TGCT oncogenesis15. We secondly observe multiple risk loci associated with defective microtubule assembly, compatible with the high level of aneuploidy observed in TGCTs, suggesting gross chromosomal instability. Finally KIT-MAPK signalling features as a recurrently dysregulated pathway. In summary our findings substantially increase the number of known TGCT risk alleles, and provides a functional basis for disease susceptibility.

  Study EGAS00001001836

• SS18-SSX-mediated hijacking of BAF complexes drives synovial sarcoma

  Synovial sarcoma (SS) is defined by a recurrent t(x;18) chromosomal translocation, which produces the hallmark SS18-SSX oncogenic fusion. Incorporation of SS18-SSX into BAF complexes renders BAF complexes aberrant in two distinct manners: the addition of 78aa of SSX onto SS18, and concomitant loss of BAF47 assembly. However, the importance and functional contributions of each of these perturbations on BAF complex targeting and gene expression regulation remain unclear. Here we use an integrative set of genomic approaches in human cancer cell lines and primary tumor samples to define the mechanistic consequences of the SS18-SSX fusion oncoprotein. We find that SS18-SSX hijacks BAF complexes to broad polycomb domains to activate bivalent genes, driving a unique gene expression program distinct from other loss-of-function BAF complex malignancies. Importantly, restoration of BAF47 rescues enhancer activation but is dispensable for proliferative arrest in cell lines. These results demonstrate that gain-of-function SS18-SSX-mediated BAF complex targeting and gene activation is the driving event in SS, and present a mechanism by which distinct functions of BAF complexes can be co-opted to drive oncogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001002920

• Resequencing (MIPS) of candidate genes for Keratoconus (2020)

  In this study, we selected 34 candidate genes for KC based on previous Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and the literature, and resequenced them in 745 KC patients and 810 ethnically matched controls. Data analysis was performed using the single variant association test as well as gene-based mutation burden and variance components tests. In our study, we detected enrichment of genetic variation across multiple gene-based tests for the genes COL2A1, COL5A1, TNXB, ZEB1 and ZNF469. The top hit in the Fisher’s exact test was obtained for a common variant in the COL12A1 gene. Interestingly, COL5A1, TNXB, ZNF469 and COL12A1 are all known Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) genes. Though the co-occurrence of KC and EDS has been reported previously, this study is the first to demonstrate a consistent role of genetic variants in EDS genes in the etiology of KC. In conclusion, our data show a shared genetic etiology between KC and EDS, and clearly confirm the currently disputed role of ZNF469 in disease susceptibility for KC. Besides the role for EDS genes, we also confirm the previously reported involvement of genetic variation in ZEB1 in KC.

  Study EGAS00001004267

• Patient-tailored design for selective co-inhibition of leukemic cell subpopulations

  The extensive primary and secondary drug resistance in many cancer types requires rational approaches to design personalized and selective combinatorial therapies that do not only show synergistic effect in overall cancer cell killing but also result in minimal toxic side effects on non-malignant cells. To address the combinatorial explosion in the number of relevant combinations, we implemented a machine learning approach that prioritizes patient-customized drug combinations with a desired synergy-efficacy-toxicity balance by combining single-cell RNA-sequencing with ex vivo single-agent testing in scarce patient-derived primary cells. When applied to two diagnostic and two refractory AML patient cases, each with a different genetic background, our integrated approach accurately predicted patient-specific combinations that were shown to result not only in synergistic cancer cell co-inhibition but were also capable of targeting specific AML cell subpopulations that emerge in differing stages of disease pathogenesis or treatment regimens. Our data-driven approach provides an unbiased means for systematic identification of personalized combinatorial regimens that selectively co-inhibit leukemic cells while avoiding inhibition of non-malignant cells, and highlight the relevance of considering cell heterogeneity for personalized cancer therapy.

  Study EGAS00001004614

• Pre-neoplastic liver colonization by 11p15.5 altered mosaic cells in young children with hepatoblastoma

  In children, liver tumors are a heterogeneous group representing 1-2% of all cancers with the most common diagnosis being hepatoblastoma (HB). While HBs are predominantly sporadic, around 15% of cases develop as part of predisposition syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (APC mutation) or Beckwith-Wiedemann (BWS; 11p15.5 locus altered). Here, we identified a mosaic genetic alteration of 11p15.5 locus in the liver in 17% of HB patients without a clinical diagnosis of BWS syndrome. These mosaic 11p15.5 alterations were never found in children with other types of liver tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma or adenoma, fibrolamellar carcinoma). Bulk transcriptomic analysis revealed the abundance of extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and progenitor gene signatures in mosaic livers. In situ hybridization assay RNAscope allowed for the detection of 11p15.5 altered hepatocytes mosaicism in liver FFPE sections of HB patients presenting IGF2 overexpression and H19 downregulation together with an alteration of the zonal architecture of the liver. Spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed an overexpression of the IGF2 pathway, lipogenesis, and platelet activation in 11p15.5 altered hepatocytes. These data provide insights for 11p15.5 mosaicism detection as well as functional consequences of these alterations during the early steps of carcinogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001006692

• Case Report: Rare IKZF1 gene fusions identified in neonate with congenital KMT2A-rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  Here we describe a rare case of congenital KMT2Ar ALL presenting with co-occurring IKZF1 gene fusions and a predictably aggressive disease trajectory. We report for the first time, the novel IKZF1::TUT1 and KDM2A::IKZF1 gene fusions. Rearrangements in-volving KMT2A are commonly retained in relapsed infant ALL, however, in this case the KMT2A::AFF1 gene fusion did not appear to be the lesion driving leukemic relapse. Instead, our data suggest that relapse was driven by IKZF1::TUT1. This gene fusion remained in all samples investigated, including the on-blinatumomab therapy sample taken immediately prior to relapse. Conversely, the KMT2A::AFF1 gene fusion was only detected in the diagnosis and refractory post-induction samples highlighting a key role for IKZF1::TUT1 in disease pathogenesis. Intriguingly, both IKZF1 gene fusions are predicted to be out-of-frame, however, our data demonstrate the IKZF1 gene is still expressed. This is not unprecedented and it has previously been observed that out-of-frame fusions can cause transcriptional activation/repression of genes involved in the fusions leading to increases or decreases of their expression and the as-sociated functional outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001006947

• RNAseq

  Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a prototypical periodic fever syndrome caused by genetic variation in MEFV. While it is known that especially IL-1β responses are dysregulated in FMF, its innate immune landscape has not been comprehensively described. Therefore, we extensively characterized the function of monocytes and neutrophils in patients with FMF in between disease attacks, as well as their circulating inflammatory proteome. We found that monocyte IL-1 and IL-6 production was enhanced following a range of stimulations, in concordance with alterations in the plasma inflammatory proteome. In contrast, neutrophil function in FMF was normal. Additionally, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analyses revealed important epigenetic and transcriptional reprogramming arguing for monocyte function dysregulation. Interestingly, chromatin-accessibility was down-regulated in genomic regions related to cellular responses. This argues that the primary immune dysregulation in monocytes due to MEFV mutations leads to a chronic inflammatory profile that is subsequently associated with counterregulatory epigenetic and transcriptional changes reminiscent of tolerance (rather than trained immunity) induction. These data increase our understanding of the innate immune changes in FMF, that can be used in the design of novel approaches to manage chronic inflammation of these patients.

  Study EGAS00001007165

• Single-cell profiling of co-cultures of GSCCs and macrophages

  Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most malignant primary brain tumor, with a median survival rarely exceeding 2 years. Tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment are key factors contributing to the poor response rates of current therapeutic approaches. GBM-associated macrophages (GAMs) often exhibit immunosuppressive features that promote tumor progression. However, their dynamic interactions with GBM tumor cells remain poorly understood. Here, we used patient-derived GBM stem cell cultures and combined single-cell RNA sequencing of GAM-GBM co-cultures and real-time in vivo monitoring of GAM-GBM interactions in orthotopic zebrafish xenograft models to provide insight into the cellular, molecular, and spatial heterogeneity. Our analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity across GBM patients in GBM-induced GAM polarization and the ability to attract and activate GAMs – features that correlated with patient survival. Differential gene expression analysis, immunohistochemistry on original tumor samples, and knock-out experiments in zebrafish subsequently identified LGALS1 as a primary regulator of immunosuppression. Overall, our work highlights that GAM-GBM interactions can be studied in a clinically relevant way using co-cultures and avatar models, while offering new opportunities to identify promising immune-modulating targets.

  Study EGAS00001007482

• Immune and clinicopathological features predict HER2-positive breast cancer prognosis in the neoadjuvant NeoALTTO and CALGB 40601 trials

  The identification of prognostic drivers in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy is crucial for treatment optimization in HER2-positive breast cancer, with the immune microenvironment being a key factor. Here, we investigated the complexity of B and T cell receptor (BCR and TCR) repertoires, reflecting antigen-specific immune response, in the context of two phase III trials, namely NeoALTTO and CALGB 40601, evaluating neoadjuvant paclitaxel with trastuzumab and/or lapatinib in women affected by HER2-positive breast cancer. BCR/TCR features were heterogeneous, and BCR measures describing clonal expansion demonstrated independent prognostic value. A model developed in NeoALTTO and validated in CALGB 40601 predicted event-free survival (EFS) by integrating hormone receptor and clinical nodal status, treatment response (breast pCR)breast pathological complete response (pCR) as well as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and BCR evenness, measuring the equality of BCR clonal distribution. The HER2-EveNT score derived from the model allows the identification of patients with 5-year EFS > 90%, and, in those not achieving pCR, of a subgroup of immune-enriched tumors with an excellent outcome despite residual disease.

  Study EGAS00001007563

• Phosphoproteomics adds value to treatment recommendations in molecular tumor boards

  Precision oncology approaches employing genomics-guided targeted therapies for individual patients have provided significant survival benefits in several cancer types. However, low response rates in most solid malignancies, many patients without actionable genomic lesions, and increasing evidence that non-genomic mechanisms may play an important role in tumors indicate that genomics alone is often insufficient to inform and guide the clinical care of patients. Here, we show for the first time that comprehensive (phospho)proteome profiling is feasible and informative in a real-world prospective precision oncology setting. We developed a novel tumor pathway activity (TUPAC) scoring methodology that provides a holistic perspective on dysregulated receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling in individual patients. Based on 919 tumor tissue profiles of patients enrolled in the national NCT/DKTK MASTER study and the INFORM registry trial, we illustrate how TUPAC scoring can be used to uncover individual tumor biology in rare cancers and demonstrate that TUPAC methodology identifies EGFR-driven sarcomas despite the absence of genetic EGFR alterations. Overall, our work demonstrates the utility of the additional phosphoproteome data layer to enhance therapeutic recommendations in molecular tumor boards.

  Study EGAS00001007891

• The earliest stages of neoplastic transformation in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

  The succession of somatic genetic events associated with the conversion of a normal colorectal epithelial cell into a colorectal carcinoma constitutes a paradigmatic model of cancer development. Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is caused by constitutional inactivating mutations in APC, the central gatekeeper gene of colorectal cancer, and is associated with a substantially increased lifetime-risk of colorectal cancer. To investigate the earliest stages of neoplastic change due to APC inactivation, we microdissected and individually whole genome sequenced 279 histologically normal and abnormal colorectal crypts from 15 individuals with FAP. Histologically normal crypts generally exhibited similar mutation burdens and mutational signatures to normal crypts from wild-type individuals of the same age, with 1/110 carrying a somatic inactivating APC mutation. By contrast, 9/18 aberrant crypt foci carried somatic APC mutations and exhibited modestly increased burdens of some mutational signatures found in normal crypts. 12/13 diminutive adenomatous polyps (less than 5mm diameter) showed somatic APC mutations and carried substantially increased mutation loads of most mutational signatures present in normal crypts. Phylogenetic trees of crypts from aberrant crypt foci and adenomatous polyps revealed that some had acquired their initiating somatic APC mutations decades previously during the first few years of life. The results catalogue the changes in somatic mutation rates, mutational processes and “driver” mutations in cancer genes during the earliest stages of colorectal neoplastic transformation initiated by APC inactivation and highlight the long periods of clonal evolution required for a cancer to develop.

  Dataset EGAD00001015471

• The earliest stages of neoplastic transformation in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

  The succession of somatic genetic events associated with the conversion of a normal colorectal epithelial cell into a colorectal carcinoma constitutes a paradigmatic model of cancer development. Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is caused by constitutional inactivating mutations in APC, the central gatekeeper gene of colorectal cancer, and is associated with a substantially increased lifetime-risk of colorectal cancer. To investigate the earliest stages of neoplastic change due to APC inactivation, we microdissected and individually whole genome sequenced 279 histologically normal and abnormal colorectal crypts from 15 individuals with FAP. Histologically normal crypts generally exhibited similar mutation burdens and mutational signatures to normal crypts from wild-type individuals of the same age, with 1/110 carrying a somatic inactivating APC mutation. By contrast, 9/18 aberrant crypt foci carried somatic APC mutations and exhibited modestly increased burdens of some mutational signatures found in normal crypts. 12/13 diminutive adenomatous polyps (less than 5mm diameter) showed somatic APC mutations and carried substantially increased mutation loads of most mutational signatures present in normal crypts. Phylogenetic trees of crypts from aberrant crypt foci and adenomatous polyps revealed that some had acquired their initiating somatic APC mutations decades previously during the first few years of life. The results catalogue the changes in somatic mutation rates, mutational processes and “driver” mutations in cancer genes during the earliest stages of colorectal neoplastic transformation initiated by APC inactivation and highlight the long periods of clonal evolution required for a cancer to develop.

  Dataset EGAD00001015477

• H3Africa - Deciphering Developmental Disorders in Africa

  Developmental disorders are typically rare conditions, causing an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavioural areas. Genetic heterogeneity and highly variable clinical manifestations make diagnosing developmental disorders particularly challenging. Developmental disorders are increasing in prevalence in low- and middle-income countries, partly due to effective prevention and treatment of infectious diseases leading to a decrease in childhood mortality. New sequencing technologies are used effectively in the diagnosis of rare diseases and results can impact clinical practice significantly. Despite this international trend, very little implementation of these new approaches has taken place in low-resource settings, especially in Africa. The Deciphering Developmental Disorders in Africa (DDD-Africa) study aims to take advantage of an unbiased genotype-driven approach to improve healthcare services for patients. The study aims to recruit and perform detailed clinical phenotyping and exome sequencing (ES) on 500 African patients with a developmental disorder in whom a genetic diagnosis has not been confirmed. Where available, parents are also included in sequencing efforts. The project has two active research sites in Johannesburg (South Africa) and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) representing diversity in geography, clinical, socio-economic, genetic and environmental factors.

  Study EGAS00001008319

• Ulcerative Colitis Human Microbiome Project (UCHMP)

  The aims of the multi-center Ulcerative Colitis Human Microbiome Project (UCHMP) are to examine the role of the enteric microbiome in causing human ulcerative colitis, specifically the development of pouchitis. Pouchitis is an inflammatory condition of the surgically-created ileoanal pouch that serves as a pseudo-rectum in patients with ulcerative colitis who have undergone a total colectomy. It is a condition unique to ulcerative colitis (UC), as it rarely occurs in non-UC patients who have the same procedure. Within one year, about 50% of patients will develop pouchitis. The condition is almost certainly due to aspects of the pouch microbiota on a background of genetic susceptibility, as most patients respond to treatment with antibiotics. While there have been reports on the microbiota in pouchitis patients, all have been performed after the inflammatory process is initiated, rendering interpretation of the results difficult, as the inflammatory process itself will change the microbiota. Our project is therefore unique and possibly the only opportunity in the role of the enteric microbiome in IBD in a prospective manner, thereby establishing potentially important causal relationships between microbiota structure or function and development of UC.The studies also offer two additional advantages. First, the development of the pouch microbiota can be observed prospectively. Second, the cause of antibiotic treatment failure in some patients with pouchitis may be revealed. The two aims are (1) to identify causal factors in the structure and/or function of the enteric microbiota in the development of pouchitis, and (2) to determine the basis of treatment failure in UC pouchitis patients. Our analyses will include serial measurements of enteric microbial structure (16S rRNA gene-based), function (metagenomics and functional candidate genes), and cultivation, the latter to enhance interpretation of gene sequences derived from metagenomes and targeted gene surveys (either functional or 16S genes). The insights gained from these studies will help us understand the fundamental and causative roles of the enteric microbiome in human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This information will be the basis for developing strategies to restore host-microbial relationships to prevent and treat IBD.

  Study phs000262

• NHLBI GO-ESP: Family Studies (Mendelian Lipid Disorders)

  The NHLBI "Grand Opportunity" Exome Sequencing Project (GO-ESP), a signature project of the NHLBI Recovery Act investment, was designed to identify genetic variants in coding regions (exons) of the human genome (the "exome") that are associated with heart, lung and blood diseases. These and related diseases that are of high impact to public health and individuals from diverse racial and ethnic groups will be studied. These data may help researchers understand the causes of disease, contributing to better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, as well as determine whether to tailor prevention and treatments to specific populations. This could lead to more effective treatments and reduce the likelihood of side effects. GO-ESP is comprised of five collaborative components: 3 cohort consortia - HeartGO, LungGO, and WHISP - and 2 sequencing centers - BroadGO and SeattleGO. In this study, we seek to identify the genetic cause of two monogenic lipid disorders-severe hypercholesterolemia and familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia. Monogenic severe hypercholesterolemia is clinically characterized by elevated total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in plasma. Elevated LDL-cholesterol levels lead to excessive deposition of cholesterol in arterial walls, which eventually results in accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Monogenic hypercholesterolemia has a prevalence of approximately one in 500 individuals, making it one of the most common inherited disorders. To date, mutations in the LDL receptor (LDLR) ligand-binding domains of APOB and PCSK9 have been shown to cause hypercholesterolemia. While mutations in these genes can explain a large percentage of clinically diagnosed patients, the underlying molecular determinant in a substantial fraction of patients remains unknown. Familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia (low HDL-C) is defined by an HDL-C below the age- and sex- specific 10th percentile. ABCA1, LCAT, and APOA1 are known to cause familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia. We hypothesize that: (1) additional novel genes responsible for Mendelian forms of low HDL-C exist; and (2) the causal gene and mutation(s) in each family may be discovered with exome analysis of just a few affected individuals in each pedigree.

  Study phs000587

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Duke Cognition Cohort

  The overall goal is to identify genetic variants influencing normal variation between humans, with a focus on cognitive and neurosensory traits. Because of the focus of funding agencies on disease, very few studies of the genetics of non-disease traits have been performed. The genetic variation underlying the vast majority of differences between humans therefore remains not only undiscovered, but also unexplored. We have assessed >1,200 healthy volunteers for >70 diverse, non-disease phenotypes, with a focus on cognitive and neurosensory traits that are understudied and seem to have a strong biological basis. Our study includes measurements of face recognition, night vision, cognitive performance, auditory pitch discrimination, contagious yawn susceptibility, time perception, sense of direction, taste preferences, personality, sexual behaviors, sleep habits, acne, headache locations, synesthesia, and teeth sensitivity. This method is very different from the focus of most studies on collecting cohorts of patients with disease and controls with minimal phenotypic information. Because we phenotype the same healthy volunteers for multiple highly variable yet heritable traits, we can perform genetic analyses on a large number of phenotypes by just investing once in sequencing the DNA of these participants. An additional >2,000 participants in our cohort have been measured just for cognitive performance instead of for the more extensive phenotyping. Most of the genetic studies in this cohort have been about cognitive perfromance. The number of participants with genetic data generated who have undergone the more extensive phenotyping is limited. Our studies of the more novel traits like contagious yawning have therefore focused more on correlations between different phenotypes until we have a sufficient sample size to truly attempt to make genetic discoveries. . The dataset also includes two small challenge studies. In one study, the cognitive performance of 150 healthy volunteers was measured before and after an acute dose of the antiepileptic drug topiramate. In the other study, the cognitive performance of 13 healthy volunteers was measured before and after 24 hours of sleep deprivation.

  Study phs001406

• Identification of Somatic Changes in Tumors from Fanconi Anemia Patients

  This study focused on the identification of genomic signatures present in tumors from Fanconi anemia patients. Fanconi anemia is a rare hereditary disease caused by defects in DNA interstrand crosslink repair. The primary patient phenotypes are bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition. We concentrated on squamous cell carcinomas and used whole genome Illumina sequencing (22 tumor samples and 12 normal samples) , whole exome sequencing (37 tumor samples and 33 normal samples), PacBio long-read whole-genome (nine tumor and four normal samples),10X linked-read whole-genome sequencing, 10x single-cell/nuclei 3’ RNA sequencing (three tumor samples), 10x Visium spatial transcriptomics (one tumor sample), EPIC 850K methylation array (six samples), and bulk RNAseq (six tumor samples) to identify somatic changes present in tumors. The study aimed to identify changes that drive tumorigenesis in Fanconi anemia, give insight into the early development and aggressive nature of these tumors, and suggest therapeutic avenues for these patients. Another goal was to compare the genomic changes identified in tumors from Fanconi anemia patients with sporadic head and neck cancers. This study demonstrated that the tumors from Fanconi anemia individuals are generally not driven by HPV. Instead, they acquire mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor. The main characteristic of the tumors is the presence of a high number of structural variants in the form of small deletions, unbalanced translocations, and fold-back inversions, which often form complex rearrangements. These rearrangements result in amplifications and deletions of a multitude of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, respectively. The study also shows that lack of the Fanconi anemia DNA repair pathway leads to an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a mouse model and in human samples that may influence the behavior of tumors in Fanconi anemia. Finally, comparing genomic changes in Fanconi anemia and sporadic tumors of the head and neck, we propose that the structural variants present in sporadic cancer result in a functional deficiency of the Fanconi anemia DNA repair pathway.

  Study phs002652

• Bacterial Vaginosis, Cervical Immune Cells and HIV Susceptibility

  This was a cross-sectional study to characterize cervical immune cell composition and activation status in the presence versus absence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) using bulk messenger RNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq). Women enrolled in a longitudinal, open cohort study and engaged in a sex work in Mombasa, Kenya, were eligible. On the day of enrollment, participants self-collected vaginal swabs for generation of Gram-stained slide. The slides were scored from 0-10 using the method of Nugent and Hillier; in this system, women with scores of 0-3 are considered to have normal vaginal flora, those with scores of 4-6 are considered to have intermediate flora, and those with scores of 7-10 are considered to have BV. For this study, only women with normal flora (Nugent scores 0-3) or BV (Nugent scores 7-10) were eligible. Participants underwent speculum-assisted pelvic examination and collection of cervical biopsy specimens using Tischler forceps. Biopsies were placed immediately in ice cold medium and transferred to the laboratory where they were weighed and transferred to freezing medium (10% DMSO + fetal bovine serum) and cooled slowly overnight. Samples were shipped from Kenya to the United States in liquid nitrogen dry shippers, collagenase digested into single cell suspensions, and sorted on a FACS aria to enrich for a population of live, CD45+ cells. Sorted samples (N=17 with BV and N=13 without BV) were immediately lysed and processed using the Takara SMART-Seq v4 Ultra Low Input RNA Kit for sequencing. Library generation was completed using the manufacturer's instructions and sequencing performed on an Illumina NextSeq500 platform using Illumina NextSeq 500/550 High Output v2.5 (150 Cycles). The FASTQ files generated and BV status (N=9 with BV and N=12 without BV that passed quality control) of the donor sample will be available on dbGaP. We identified over 1000 differentially expressed genes between women with versus without BV at an adjusted p-value of <0.05 (listed under "gene names" below).

  Study phs002329

• NextGen Consortium: The iPSCORE (iPSC Collection for Omic Research) Resource for Studying the Impact of Genetic Variation on Molecular and Physiological Phenotypes - Whole Genome Sequence

  The iPSC Collection for Omic Research (iPSCORE) Resource was created as part of the Next-Gen Consortium funded by NHLBI. The overarching purpose of the resource is to provide a large collection of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for use in studying the impact of genetic variation on molecular and physiological phenotypes. The resource has been used in a number of studies in the Dr. Kelly A. Frazer's Lab examining both the characteristics of human iPSCs and a variety of iPSC-derived cell types including cardiovascular progenitor cells (iPSC-CVPCs), pancreatic precursor cells (iPSC-PPCs), and retina pigment epithelium cells (iPSC-RPEs). We have shown that the iPSCs, CVPCs, and PPCs are suitable surrogate models to identify genetic factors active in early developmental processes because they exhibit fetal-like molecular properties.A total of 273 individuals have participated in the study, of which 222 have had iPSCs generated from fibroblasts. Of the 273 individuals, 181 are part of 55 families that include 24 monozygotic twin pairs and 5 dizygotic twin pairs, allowing for the incorporation of familial relationships into genetic analyses.Germline DNA has been sequenced from blood or fibroblast samples for all 273 individuals (available through dbGaP phs001325) and other genomic data (RNA-seq, DNA methylation, genotype arrays, ATAC-seq, H3K27ac ChIP-seq, HiC-seq) have been generated from the 222 iPSCs as well as derived cell types (available through dbGaP phs000924).QTL analyses were conducted for multiple omics data types and summary statistics are available through dbGaP phs0001325.Important note: Of the 273 individuals, 268 are consented for general research use and 5 are consented for cardiac research only.For detailed information about iPSCORE Collection including samples, methods used to generate the data, and how to access the datasets visit the Frazer lab website.The 222 well characterized iPSC lines that constitute the iPSCORE resource are available, please contact Dr. Kelly A. Frazer (kafrazer@health.ucsd.edu) if you are interested in obtaining the collection.

  Study phs001325

• Clinical and Genetic Evaluation of Individuals with Undiagnosed Disorders through the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN)

  The National Human Genome Research Institute and the NIH Clinical Center established the intramural Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) in 2008 to make progress in uncovering, understanding, and treating rare disorders. Based on the success of the UDP, the NIH Common Fund established the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) in FY 2013 (Phase I, 9/16/2015-8/31/2018) to achieve this type of cross-disciplinary approach to disease diagnosis in academic medical centers around the United States. The NIH Common Fund expanded the network in 2018 (Phase II, 9/1/2018-6/20/2023) to increase the availability of diagnostic services, foster opportunities for collaboration between laboratory and clinical investigators, provide resulting data and protocols to the broader community, and assess development of a sustainable national resource after Common Fund support ends. The UDN transitioned from Common Fund in 2023. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) will oversee the Network in Phase III, which launched in July 2023, with help from 17 different NIH Institutes and Centers along with the NIH Office of the Director. With help from patients, family members, patient advocacy groups, a Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC), several Clinical Sites, and other stakeholders, the NIH envisions the UDN evolving into a larger, diverse, and self-sustained network that fosters scientific discovery and provides expert diagnostic services for undiagnosed patients across the nation. The overarching goals of the UDN in Phase III include: Continuing the proven success of the UDN in improving the clinical evaluation of difficult-to-diagnose patients using a collaborative team approach and investigating and validating promising new diagnostic technologies. Facilitating research into the etiology of undiagnosed diseases by collecting and sharing standardized, high-quality clinical and laboratory data including genotyping, phenotyping, and documentation of environmental exposures. Promoting a broader integrated and collaborative community across multiple Clinical Sites and among laboratory and clinical investigators prepared to investigate the genetic, pathophysiologic, cell biologic, and molecular mechanisms underpinning these difficult-to-diagnose conditions.

  Study phs001232

• NHLBI TOPMed: Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC)

  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. COPD is a heterogeneous syndrome, with affected individuals demonstrating marked differences in lung structure (emphysema vs. airway disease); physiology (airflow obstruction); and other clinical features (e.g., exacerbations, co-morbid illnesses). Multiple genomic regions influencing COPD susceptibility have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and rare coding variants can also influence risk for COPD. However, only a small percentage of the estimated heritability for COPD risk can be explained by known genetic loci. Like most complex diseases, COPD is influenced by multiple genetic determinants (each with modest individual effects). Emerging evidence supports the paradigm that complex disease genetic determinants are part of a network of interacting genes and proteins; perturbations of this network can increase disease risk. To identify this network, multiple Omics data will need to be analyzed with methods to account for nonlinear relationships and interactions between key genes and proteins. Our overall hypothesis is that integrated network analysis of genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenetic data from biospecimens ranging from lung tissue to nasal epithelial cells to blood in highly phenotyped subjects will provide insights into COPD pathogenesis and heterogeneity. We will leverage the well-phenotyped, NHLBI-funded Lung Tissue Research Consortium (LTRC) to address these questions. We will perform multi-omics analysis in 1548 lung tissue and blood samples from the LTRC. With these multi-omics data, we will utilize a systems biology approach to understand relationships between multiple genetic determinants and multiple types of Omics data. We will begin by performing single Omics analyses in COPD vs. control lung, nasal, and blood samples. Next, we will integrate single Omics data with genetic variants identified by WGS to assist in fine mapping genetic determinants of COPD. We will then perform integrated network analysis of COPD with genetic and multiple Omics data using correlation-based, gene regulatory, and Bayesian networks. Subjects were recruited from Mayo Clinic, Universities of Colorado, Michigan, and Pittsburgh, and Temple University.

  Study phs001662

• Diabetic Retinopathy Genomics Study (DRGen) - Genetic Biomarkers of Diabetic Retinopathy

  Using a well-defined, clinically supported phenotypic strategy, we seek to better understand the role of common and rare genetic variants in the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Whole exome/whole genome sequencing (WES/WGS) was used to systematically search the human genome to detect DR susceptibility genes or genes that protect people from developing advanced DR. Clinical data and bio specimens were obtained from clinically defined DR phenotypes such as, (i) No/Mild NPDR (non-proliferative DR) with a subset of extreme phenotype, ii) Diabetic macular edema (DME) alone and iii) Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) alone. In this ongoing comprehensive genomic study, we wish to i) Identify potential common and rare variants that may influence the phenotypic differentiation of DR into DME or PDR, ii) Define genetic variants stratified based on the "extreme phenotype," and iii) Characterize genetic factors that determine the differential response to anti-VEGF drugs in DME patients. Definition of Diabetic Retinopathy and classification of groups Study 1. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Anybody showing evidence of retinal neovascularization on the disc (NVD) or elsewhere (NVE) with or without pre-retinal and vitreous hemorrhage will be considered PDR. We will include only those "active" PDR patients. The total number of consented subjects in this study is 182. Study 2. Isolated Phenotype: Varied response with anti-VEGF treatment is a significant limiting factor for better clinical outcomes. We quantify the response to anti-VEGF treatment based on visual acuity changes and anatomic features of DME assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Depending on the response at one month following three monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, we have observed two phenotypes: 1) Good responders: Participants were considered "good responders" if the anatomical outcome to anti-VEGF treatment resulted in a significant reduction of baseline central retinal thickness (CRT) &gt; 25% after three anti-VEGF injections. 2) Poor Responders: Participants were classified as "poor responders" if the outcome of anti-VEGF treatment resulted in a reduction of CRT &lt; 20% or in any increase in CRT after three monthly injections. The total number of consented subjects in this study is 17.

  Study phs002501

• UK10K NEURO IOP COLLIER

  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. The Genetics and Psychosis (GAP) set consists of samples from subjects with schizophrenia, ascertained as a new-onset sample. This set is of UK origin, with data on cognition, brain imaging and other endophenotypes. The Maudsley twin series consists of probands ascertained from the Maudsley Twin Register, defined as patients of multiple birth who had suffered psychotic symptoms. This set is of UK origin, with data on cognition, brain imaging and other endophenotypes, with DNA available from an MZ or DZ affected or unaffected co-twin. The Maudsley family study (MFS) consists of over 250 families who have a history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder Within the Maudsley Family Study, biological markers of psychosis include neuropsychological tests, Evoked Response Potentials Tests (ERPs), MRI scans, dermatoglyphics and eye tracking. Early risk factors for psychosis and clinical symptoms are also investigated. This set is of UK origin, with DNA available from both affected and unaffected relatives in many of the probands. For further information on this study please contact David Collier (david.collier@kcl.ac.uk).

  Study EGAS00001000121

• Germline elongator mutations in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma

  Cancer genomics has illuminated a wide spectrum of genes and core molecular processes contributing to human malignancy. Still, the genetic and molecular basis of many cancers remains only partially explained. Genetic predisposition accounts for 5-10% of cancer diagnoses and genetic events cooperating with known somatic driver events are poorly understood. Analyzing established cancer predisposition genes in medulloblastoma (MB), a malignant childhood brain tumor, we recently identified pathogenic germline variants that account for 5% of all MB patients. Here, by extending our previous analysis to include all protein-coding genes, we discovered and replicated rare germline loss-of-function (LoF) variants across Elongator Complex Protein 1 (ELP1) on 9q31.3 in 15% of pediatric MBSHH cases, thus implicating ELP1 as the most common MB predisposition gene and increasing genetic predisposition to 40% for pediatric MBSHH. Inheritance was verified based on parent-offspring and pedigree analysis, which identified two families with a history of pediatric MB. ELP1-associated MBs were restricted to the molecular SHHa subtype and were characterized by universal biallelic inactivation of ELP1 due to somatic loss of chromosome 9q. The majority of ELP1-associated MBs exhibited co-occurring somatic PTCH1 (9q22.32) alterations, suggesting that ELP1-deficiency predisposes to tumor development in combination with constitutive activation of SHH signaling. ELP1 is an essential subunit of the evolutionary conserved Elongator complex, whose primary function is to enable efficient translational elongation through tRNAs modifications at the wobble (U34) position. Biochemical, transcriptional, and proteomic analyses revealed that ELP1-associated MBSHH are characterized by a destabilized core Elongator complex, loss of Elongator-dependent tRNA modifications, codon-dependent translational reprogramming, and induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR), consistent with deregulation of protein homeostasis due to Elongator-deficiency in model systems. Our findings suggest that genetic predisposition to proteome instability is a previously underappreciated determinant in the pathogenesis of pediatric brain cancer. These results provide strong rationale for further investigating the role of protein homeostasis in other pediatric and adult cancer types and potential opportunities for novel therapeutic interference.

  Study EGAS00001004126

• Evolution and clinical impact of genetic epistasis within EGFR-mutant lung cancers

  The current understanding of tumorigenesis is largely centered on a monogenic driver oncogene model. This paradigm is incompatible with the prevailing clinical experience in most solid malignancies: monotherapy with a drug directed against an individual oncogenic driver typically results in incomplete clinical responses and eventual tumor progression1-7. By profiling the somatic genetic alterations present in over 2,000 cases of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, we show that combinations of functional genetic alterations, i.e. genetic collectives dominate the landscape of advanced-stage disease. We highlight this polygenic landscape and evolution of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through the spatial-temporal genomic profiling of 7 distinct tumor biopsy specimens and 6 plasma specimens obtained from an EGFR-mutant NSCLC patient at (1) initial diagnosis of early-stage disease, (2) metastatic progression, (3) sequential treatment and resistance to 2 EGFR inhibitors, (4) death. The comprehensive genomic analysis of this case, coupled with circulating free (cf) tumor DNA profiling of additional advanced-stage EGFR-mutant NSCLC clinical cohorts with associated treatment responses uncovered features of evolutionary selection for multiple concurrent gene alterations: including the presence of EGFR inhibitor-sensitive (EGFRL858R;EGFRexon19del) or inhibitor-resistant (EGFRT790M;EGFRC797S) forms of oncogenic EGFR along with cell cycle gene alterations (e.g. in CDK4/6, CCNE1, RB1) and activating alterations in WNT/β-catenin and PI3K pathway genes, which our data suggest can cooperatively impart non-redundant functions to limit EGFR targeted therapy response and/or promote tumor progression. Moreover, evidence of an unanticipated parallel evolution of both EGFR T790M and two distinct forms of oncogenic PIK3CA was observed. Our study provides a large-scale clinical and genetic dataset of advanced-stage EGFR-mutant NSCLC, a rationale for specific polytherapy strategies such as EGFR and CDK4/6 inhibitor co-treatment to potentially enhance clinical outcomes, and prompts a re-evaluation of the prevailing paradigm of monogenic-based molecular stratification for targeted therapy. Instead, our findings highlight an alternative model of genetic collectives that operate through epistasis to drive lung cancer progression and therapy resistance.

  Study EGAS00001002604

• HCA_Thymus_Disease_DiGeorge_Transplant_RNA

  Single cell transcriptomics study of thymic transplant biopsies Allogeneic thymus transplantation is the only curative therapy for complete DiGeorge Syndrome (cDGS), a rare severe primary immunodeficiency characterised by athymia. GOSH is one of only two centres worldwide to offer this treatment. Despite a lack of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matching between donor and host, transplanted thymus becomes repopulated by recipient bone marrow derived precursor cells and supports development of functional T-cells. The mechanisms underlying thymopoiesis in this context are poorly understood, but over time we observe reconstitution of T-cell immunity, with the ability to produce host naïve T-cells showing a broad T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and to generate MHC-restricted T-cell proliferative responses. Although lifesaving, the achieved immunological reconstitution is typically not complete with circulating T-cell numbers usually remaining below the age related normal ranges. Additionally, we observe persistence of donor-derived T-cells of unknown clinical significance. To gain more insight into the mechanisms by which MHC-mismatched transplanted thymus supports T-cell development with self-tolerance, as well as into the basis of suboptimal T-cell immunity, we now aim to investigate immune reconstitution after thymus transplantation in further detail by using single-cell transcriptomics, applied to thymic transplant biopsies and peripheral blood samples collected during standard post-transplant patient care. By identifying which lineages of host- derived cells repopulate the thymic tissue after transplantation, we will be able to address the role of MHC in positive and negative T-cell selection during T-cell differentiation. We will also be able to clarify the exact ontogeny of the persistent donor T-cells, as well as their possible role. Understanding the mechanisms of action of HLA-mismatched transplanted thymus will contribute to treatment optimisation. Additionally, our research provides a unique opportunity to further investigate key immunological concepts, such as tolerance and autoimmunity, challenging existing paradigms in thymus immunology. 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 EGAS00001004025

• Security Overview

  Security Overview The European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA) houses consented human data under controlled access. Access decisions are handled by the relevant Data Access Committee (DAC), which autonomously manages requests through the DAC Portal. This document provides an overview of EGA’s practices in ensuring the security of data stored at EGA. As security is a prime concern of the EGA, the EGA is a member of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) Data Security work stream. The EGA contributes and helps develop the recommendations outlined the GA4GH Security Technology Infrastructure document, which defines guidelines, best practices, and standards for building and operating an infrastructure that promotes responsible data sharing in accordance with the GA4GH Privacy and Security Policy. Explore the EGA dataflow to gain deeper insights! Accessing data in the EGA involves several steps. First, users need to create an EGA account. Once logged in, they can request access to data controlled by a DAC through the EGA website (see documentation). The DAC oversees these requests through the DAC Portal, and if approved, grants the necessary permissions to the user's EGA account, allowing them to access and download all relevant data and metadata for the requested dataset(s). The key points of EGA security strategy are: 1 Regular Risk Assessment The EGA regularly identifies and assesses risk related to the following: Breach of confidentiality,Breach of privacy or autonomy,Malicious or accidental corruption or destruction of data archived at EGA,Disruption of services provided by the EGA. 2 Risk mitigation The EGA implements and maintains safeguards to minimise the risks identified above in accordance with the 6 control objectives listed in Appendix 1 and outlined in the GA4GH Security and Infrastructure document.If a breach is discovered, the EGA applies a defined protocol to minimise damage. 3 Identity and authorisation management The EGA authenticates the identity of individuals or software accessing controlled access data held at the EGA.The EGA ensures an appropriate level of assurance (LoA) is applied to the identity consistent with the risk associated with that individual, such as multi-factor authentication for DACs.The EGA provides the minimum access rights and privileges consistent with the user’s identity, allowing access consistent with the GA4GH Privacy and Security Policy, as determined by the appropriate DAC. 4 Audit Logs The EGA maintains a set of logs recording: Changes to user access rights,Data access requests,Resource usage. 5 Cryptography, communication security, and data integrity The EGA ensures data transmission integrity using a hash function.All data transmitted to or from the EGA is end-to-end encrypted.All data at EGA is stored using strong encryption.Encryption keys are not stored in the same system as the encrypted data.All data archived at EGA must be accompanied by a signed submission statement ensuring appropriate consent or ethical approval has been obtained, and is in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The EGA has a defined protocol defining the response in the event of a security breach, and is continuing to work with the GA4GH Data Security Work Stream to help define best practice and associated standards for breach responses. Appendix 1 GA4GH Control Objectives Control Objective 1: Implement technology safeguards to minimise the risk of unauthorised access, use, or disclosure of confidential and private data.Control Objective 2: Implement technology safeguards to minimise the risk of discovery, access, and use of individuals’ clinical and genomic data, and individual identities, other than as authorised by applicable jurisdictional law, institutional policy, and individual consents.Control Objective 3: Implement technology safeguards to minimise the risk of accidental or malicious corruption or destruction of data.Control Objective 4: Implement technology safeguards to minimise the risk of disruption, degradation, and interruption of services enabling access to data.Control Objective 5: Implement technology safeguards to minimise the risk of potential security attacks and misuse of authorised accesses and privileges.Control Objective 6: Implement technology safeguards to promptly detect the failure to attain the above control objectives and to respond with proper countermeasures.Appendix 2Refer to the document below to learn more about EGA long-term data preservation policy and procedures at EMBL-EBI.Long-term data preservation

  Documentation about/security

• ACT-Discover: identifying karyotype heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer evolution using ctDNA

  Background Liquid biopsies, and the dynamic tracking of somatic mutations within circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) can provide insight into the dynamics of cancer evolution and the intra-tumour heterogeneity that fuels treatment resistance. However, identifying and tracking dynamic changes in somatic copy-number alterations (SCNAs), which have been associated with poor outcome and metastasis, using ctDNA is challenging. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a disease which has been considered to harbour early punctuated events in its evolution, leading to an early fitness peak, with minimal further subclonal evolution. Methods To interrogate the role of SCNAs in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cancer evolution, we applied whole-exome sequencing of 55 longitudinal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples taken from 24 patients (including 8 from whom a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) was derived) with metastatic disease prospectively recruited into a clinical trial. We developed a method, Aneuploidy in Circulating Tumour DNA (ACT-Discover), that leverages haplotype phasing of paired tumour biopsies or PDXs to identify SCNAs in cfDNA with greater sensitivity. Results SCNAs were observed within 28 of 47 evaluable cfDNA samples. Of these events, 30% could only be identified by harnessing the haplotype-aware approach leveraged in ACT-Discover. The exceptional purity of PDX tumours enabled near-complete phasing of genomic regions in allelic imbalance, highlighting an important auxiliary function of PDXs. Finally, although the classical model of pancreatic cancer evolution emphasises the importance of early, homogenous somatic events as a key requirement for cancer development, ACT-Discover identified substantial heterogeneity of SCNAs, including parallel focal and arm-level events, affecting different parental alleles within individual tumours. Indeed, ongoing acquisition of SCNAs was identified within tumours throughout the disease course, including within an untreated metastatic tumour. Conclusions This work demonstrates the power of haplotype phasing to study genomic variation in cfDNA samples and reveals undiscovered intra-tumour heterogeneity with important scientific and clinical implications. Implementation of ACT-Discover could lead to important insights from existing cohorts, or underpin future prospective studies seeking to characterise the landscape of tumour evolution through liquid biopsy.

  Study EGAS00001007077

• Better Outcomes for Children: GWAS from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) - eMERGE Phase II data - (dbGaP Deposit 1)

  This submission includes genotyping data from 6 separate cohorts (named A-E here), each is described in separate paragraphs below. Cohort A) Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 1.5 million people in the United States, at an estimated lifetime cost of $4 million. It is part of Pervasive Developmental Disorder characterized by impairments in communication, language and reciprocal social interaction, and by unusual patterns of restricted and repetitive interests or behaviors. Autism, or autistic disorder, is the most severe form of the disease which has a wide range of symptom severity encompassed by the more inclusive term, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The prevalence of Autistic Disorder is currently estimated to be 4 per 1000, affecting 4 times more boys than girls. Susceptibility to autism is clearly attributable to genetic factors but the extensive clinical and genetic heterogeneity within the disorder have hindered efforts at genetic dissection. Identifying the genetic variants that contribute to this highly heritable disease is crucial to advancing research on autism. Reported concordance rates among monozygotic twins range from 60% &#8722; 90% and heritability of autism has been estimated to be 90% or greater. Identifying genetic variants that contribute to this highly heritable disease is crucial to advancing research on autism. Cohort B) The long-term objective of this research is to determine the molecular genetic basis of Cardiovascular (CV) disease in the young; this study seeks to identify gene mutations that cause "structural heart defects". Every year in the USA, 32,000 individuals are born with CV malformations; approximately 20% die during the first year of life. Another 30,000 young people develop a disturbance of cardiac rhythm or conduction. In addition, the life expectancy of another 40,000 young people is shortened by other forms of CV disease. It is becoming more apparent that in spite of the success in diagnosis and treatment, very little is known about the causes of CV disease in the young; understanding the causes will permit insight into the pathophysiologic basis of disease and allow definition of disease risk - two critical elements for disease prevention. Disease prevention and/or risk modification promises to be the new frontier in the management of CV disease in the young. Cohort C) Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE) is one of the manifestations of eosinophilic gastrointestinal inflammation which have profound effects on a patient&#39;s health and development. Results of epidemiologic studies performed through our center demonstrate that eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disease is not an uncommon entity. While the epidemiology of eosinophilic esophagitis has not been thoroughly studied until recently, there appears to be a significant increase in the diagnosis of EE in the last decade. Based on our research, this mainly reflects increased disease recognition, but there is also a bona-fide increase in disease incidence which coincides with the increasing incidence of asthma and allergic diseases in the industrialized world. In addition, many patients with intractable symptoms thought in the past to represent atypical GERD or other disorders are now being recognized as having EE. Diagnosis of EE requires endoscopy and biopsies to document the characteristic histologic findings of esophageal eosinophilia. In general, this study proposed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying eosinophil growth, survival, migration, and function, and to investigate and further characterize the pathophysiology of, clinical manifestations of, and spectrum of disease severity of eosinophilic esophagitis in humans. Cohort D) Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a debilitating complex genetic disorder characterized by inflammation of the joints and other tissues and shares histopathological features with other autoimmune diseases. It is considered a complex genetic disorder. There are more than 50,000 children with JIA in the USA, approximately 1 per 1000 births, which is about the same incidence as juvenile diabetes. It is believed that genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a role in defining genetic risk, and it can be hypothesized that loci in other chromosomal regions are involved in conferring risk in JIA. These candidate chromosomal regions can be identified using genome wide association analyses. The long-term goal is a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of these disabling arthropathies for which the molecular basis is not presently understood. The results of recent GWAS for Caucasian JIA were recently published in Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Feb 21 (Published online, PMID=22354554). Cohort E) Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) is characterized by very frequent (several to many per day) absence seizures in an otherwise normal child with an EEG usually demonstrating 3 Hz bilateral, synchronous, symmetrical spikewaves pattern with normal background activity. CAE occurs in 10% to 15% of all children with epilepsy with an annual incidence of 6.3 to 8/100,000 in children &lt;15 years of age. Females are more affected than males. Epilepsy onset is typically between the ages of 4 to 8 years with a peak incidence of 6 to 7 years. CAE does not start after age 13 years. The primary objective of this study is: To identify the optimal anticonvulsant (i.e. the antiepileptic drug (AED) with highest rate of seizure control and lowest incidence of treatment limiting toxicity) used for the initial treatment of children with Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE). The secondary objectives are: To determine the pharmacogenetic and other non-heritable factors underlying the interindividual variation in anticonvulsant response efficacy and toxicity. To define and contrast the effects of ethosuximide, lamotrigine, and valproic acid monotherapy on cognition (attention), behavior and quality of life in children with Childhood Absence Epilepsy. Cohort F) Cincinnati Controls. These are local healthy children selected to be representative of the population of Cincinnati with respect to gender and ancestry. Cohort G) Cytogenetics cases are ascertained by the clinical request to obtain cytogenetic analysis. The platform used included genotyping data which are then available for genome wide association analysis

  Study phs000494

• NIH RECOVER-Pediatric: Understanding the Long-Term Impact of COVID on Children and Families

  The NIH Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative comprises a set of three combined retrospective and prospective, longitudinal and observational meta-cohort studies with nested case-control studies designed to define and characterize the epidemiology, natural history, clinical spectrum, and underlying mechanisms of post-acute effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or Post-COVID syndrome) in a diverse study population representative of the general COVID-19 population in the US. Enrolled patients, with and without known SARS-CoV-2 infection, will be observed for clinical signs and symptoms of PASC and will be assessed for risk and resiliency factors and potential mediating factors associated with the severity and progression of PASC. The objective of the RECOVER initiative is to enhance knowledge of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infections in order to support development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Overarching scientific objectives are as follows:Characterize the incidence and prevalence of sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Characterize the spectrum of clinical symptoms, subclinical organ dysfunction, natural history, and distinct phenotypes identified as sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Define the biological mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of the sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The RECOVER observational studies comprise three cohorts across the lifespan (adult, pediatric, and tissue pathology (autopsy)). The data collection and data analysis plans for each cohort have been harmonized to use common data elements where feasible. Brief descriptions of each cohort are provided in the following paragraphs: 1) NIH RECOVER: A Multi-site Observational Study of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults (see phs003463)The RECOVER adult cohort study is a combined retrospective and prospective, longitudinal, observational meta-cohort of individuals who will enter the cohort with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection and at varying stages before and after infection. Individuals with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection, and with or without PASC symptoms, will be followed to identify risk factors and occurrence of PASC. This study will be conducted in the United States and subjects will be recruited through inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings. Study data including age, demographics, social determinants of health, medical history, vaccination history, details of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, overall health and physical function, and PASC symptom screen will be reported by subjects or collected from the electronic health record using a case report form at specified intervals. Biologic specimens will be collected at specified intervals, with some tests performed in local clinical laboratories and others performed by centralized research centers or banked in the Biospecimen Repository. Advanced clinical examinations and radiologic examinations will be performed at local study sites with cross-site standardization. 2) A Multi-Center Observational Study: The RECOVER Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) Pediatric Cohort Study (this study)The RECOVER pediatric study is a combined retrospective and prospective, longitudinal, observational meta-cohort of individuals ages newborn-25 years who will enter the cohort with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection at varying stages before and after infection. Individuals with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection and with or without PASC symptoms will be followed to identify risk factors and occurrence of PASC. This study recruit participants inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings in the United States. Study data including age, demographics, social determinants of health, medical history, vaccination history, details of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, overall health and physical function, and PASC symptoms will be reported by participants or collected from the electronic health record using a case report form at specified intervals. Biologic specimens will be collected at specified intervals, with some tests performed in local clinical laboratories and others performed by centralized research centers or banked in the Biospecimen Repository. Advanced clinical and radiologic examinations will be performed at local study sites with cross-site standardization. 3) NIH RECOVER: A Multi-site Pathology Study of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection The RECOVER tissue pathology study is a cross-sectional study designed to define and characterize the epidemiology, natural history, clinical spectrum, and underlying mechanisms of post-acute effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a diverse population representative of the general COVID-19 population in the US. The autopsy study will characterize the pathology of PASC in (i) non-hospitalized patients who die 30 days or later from symptom onset of COVID-19, and (ii) hospitalized patients who die 30 days or later after discharge from a hospitalization for COVID-19. The study will include decedents who had previously fully recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection (i.e., >30 days from onset in non-hospitalized, or >30 days from discharge in hospitalized patients), and decedents who meet clinical criteria of PASC as defined by the recent World Health Organization publication (see Section 5.4 below). The autopsy study will also explore the pathology of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in a smaller subset of patients who died 15-30 days from symptom onset. This protocol defines the common set of clinical data elements, autopsy procedures for tissue collection, core measures, pathology protocols, shared pathology tissues, data elements, and methodology. Each investigator site is expected to perform autopsies on the decedents to address the pathophysiology of the potential long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on human health. The Consortium analysis plan aims to address research questions by incorporating: 1) tissue obtained from autopsies performed at each Phase II participant's site; and 2) tissue available from other pathology investigators/autopsy sites within the Consortium.

  Study phs003461

• Trial of Late Surfactant for Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Study in Ventilated Preterm Infants Receiving Inhaled Nitric Oxide (TOLSURF-BioLINCC)

  Data Access NOTE: Please refer to the &#8220;Authorized Access&#8221; section below for information about how access to the data from this accession differs from many other dbGaP accessions.Objectives: To assess whether late surfactant treatment in extremely low gestational age newborn (ELGAN, &#8804;28 week gestation) infants requiring ventilation at 7-14 days safely improves survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common form of chronic lung disease in children with an estimated 15,000 new cases annually in the United States. BPD affects infants born prematurely, is a major contributor to the cost of prematurity each year, and is associated with long-term pulmonary disability, neurodevelopmental abnormalities and death.Increases in the survival of ELGAN infants have resulted in another form of BPD, which is characterized by impaired alveolar and microvascular development with excess tone and reactivity of airway smooth muscle. Despite treatments to enhance lung maturation, premature infants often need prolonged intubation and mechanical ventilation and/or oxygen support. When mechanical ventilation is required longer than 7 days, BPD results in 70% of surviving ELGAN infants. Most of these infants experience clinical episodes of increased requirement for ventilatory support that are associated with dysfunctional surfactant, which is primarily due to low surfactant protein B (SP-B). In pilot studies of late surfactant treatment in premature infants, there was short-term improvement in SP-B content. These prior studies provided the rationale for a larger clinical trial for later doses of surfactant treatment to prevent episodes of respiratory decompensation and BPD. Participants: 511 infants were eligible for randomization of the 2693 infants screened. Of the 511 infants eligible for randomization, there were 252 infants allocated to the treatment arm and 259 infants allocated to the placebo arm.Design: The study was designed to assess the effect of late doses of surfactant on survival without BPD at 36 weeks post menstrual age (PMA) in ELGAN infants who required intubation and mechanical ventilation between 7 and 14 days of age and were receiving Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). Infants were stratified within clinical centers and gestational age groups and randomized to treatment with calfactant, a natural surfactant extracted from bovine lung lavage fluid, or a sham procedure.All infants received iNO according to the protocol used in the Nitric Oxide Chronic Lung Disease (NOCLD) trial. A masked syringe containing either a standard dose of calfactant for the treatment group, or air for the placebo group, was administered to the infant behind a screen by staff not involved in providing the infant's clinical care. Monitor and ventilator alarms were turned off during dosing to avoid unblinding of clinical staff. To accommodate research staff availability and infant instability, the dosing interval was not strictly set but could be repeated every 24 &#8211; 72 hours up to 5 doses if the infant still required intubation. Dosing could be discontinued by physician request or parental withdrawal from the study. Due to parental preference, the first infant in a multiple birth was randomized according to the randomization schedule and subsequent infants were assigned to the same treatment group. Follow-up to assess pulmonary and neurologic development continued until 2 years of age, with treatment group blinding maintained. The primary outcome was survival without BPD at 36 weeks PMA. Secondary outcomes included BPD at 40 weeks PMA, pulmonary outcome at 12&#8211;24 months of age, and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age. Conclusions: There were no significant differences observed between the treatment group and the control group for survival without BPD at 36 weeks or 40 weeks.

  Study phs003899

• Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS)

  Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study Description Subpopulations and intermediate outcome measures in COPD study (SPIROMICS) supports the prospective collection and analysis of phenotypic, biomarker, genetic, genomic, and clinical data from subjects with COPD for the purpose of identifying subpopulations and intermediate outcome measures. It is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and is coordinated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Molecular fingerprinting and extensive subject phenotyping will be performed to identify disease subpopulations and to identify and validate surrogate markers of disease severity which will be useful as intermediate outcome measures for future clinical trials. Secondary aims are to clarify the natural history of COPD, to develop bioinformatic resources that will enable the utilization and sharing of data in studies of COPD and related diseases, and to create a collection of clinical, biomarker, radiographic, and genetic data that can be used by external investigators for other studies of COPD. Participating Institutions: Research participants for SPIROMICS will be enrolled, phenotyped, and followed at twelve SPIROMICS Clinical Centers: Columbia University, Temple University, Johns Hopkins University, Wake Forest University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Iowa, University of Utah, National Jewish Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of California at San Francisco, and University of California at Los Angeles. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill serves as the Genomics and Informatics Center. The Radiology Reading Center is based at the University of Iowa. The PFT Reading Center is based at the University of California at Los Angeles. Study Design: SPIROMICS is a prospective cohort study that enrolled approximately 2,981 participants at twelve clinical centers over five years. Participants are distributed across four enrollment strata (i.e., Never-smokers, Smokers without COPD, Mild/Moderate COPD, and Severe COPD). Study Visits: Participants have up to four in-person visits (Baseline and Annual Clinic Visits at years 1, 2, 3 after Baseline). Study questionnaires and spirometry are completed at all main study visits. Blood and urine samples are collected at visits 1, 2, and 4. Sputum samples are collected at Visit 1. The CT scans are completed and Baseline and Visit 2. Participants also receive quarterly follow-up calls to assess health status and determine if an exacerbation has occurred. Substudies A. Bronchoscopy and Immunophenotyping Substudy The Bronchoscopy Substudy enrolled a total of 251 participants. These participants will be recruited across all four study strata. This substudy includes two study visits. During the first visit sputum samples are collected for Immunophenotyping analysis at the Immunophenotyping Core Lab based at the University of Michigan. Participants then return for a second visit during which samples are collected via bronchoscopy, including bronchoalveolar lavage, epithelial brushings and bronchial biopsies. Immunophenotyping analysis is also conducted on BAL and blood collected during the bronchoscopy study visit. B. Repeatability Substudy The entire baseline clinic visit was repeated on 98 volunteers to determine reliability of measurement procedures. All baseline study-related procedures and questionnaires, including the CT scan, was re-administered and new samples of blood, urine, saliva, and sputum was collected. Field center staff processed these biospecimen samples according to the same protocol. C. Exacerbation Substudy The Exacerbation Substudy is a prospective, longitudinal observational study of 204 participants, which will allow the assessment of participant driven health care utilization (HCU) events and symptom-defined exacerbation events over time. HCU driven events are defined by change in medical treatment in response to a perceived COPD Exacerbation. Symptom-based events will be defined by using EXACT-PRO (EXacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool - Patient Reported Outcome) a daily symptom diary developed to measure the frequency, severity, and duration of exacerbations in clinical trials. All participants are provided with a PDA on which to complete the diary. Participants reporting a possible COPD exacerbation will be brought into the study clinic for a study visit to collect biological specimens and questionnaire data. The overall objectives of the exacerbation substudy are to: Obtain clinical data and specimens on SPIROMICS participants before and during an acute COPD exacerbation defined by: Health care utilization triggered by the subject, or Symptomatic change (triggered by an EXACT defined threshold) Describe symptomatic changes occurring around HCU and symptom-defined (EXACT) events and their relationship to clinical and specimen data Characterize the non-exacerbation "stable" state in COPD using the EXACT, including: Symptom variability (EXACT), Clinical data and specimen parameters during a stable state (baseline), The relationship between clinical and specimen data and symptom severity and variability. Explore the characteristics of stable patients, defined as those who do not experience HCU or symptom-defined (EXACT) events during the sub-study period, using baseline clinical data and specimens and compare these characteristics with patients who experience HCU and/or symptom-defined events. Examine the relationship between HCU and symptom-defined exacerbation frequency during the first one-year period of follow-up for exacerbations and health outcomes, including 12-month change in lung function and COPD health status, and longer term morbidity and mortality, with the latter derived from long-term data from the larger SPIROMICS study.

  Study phs001119

• Mutational Study Committee of a Taiwanese Lung Cancer Cohort (MSCTLCC)

  Dac EGAC00001001614

• A machine learning classifier for DNA repair defects using plasma DNA

  Study EGAS00001007006

• A MITF germline mutation predisposes to melanoma and renal cell carcinoma

  Study EGAS00000000048

• A body map of somatic mutagenesis in morphologically normal human tissues (WES)

  Study EGAS00001005459

• Obesity and hyperinsulinemia drive adipocytes to activate a cell cycle program and senesce

  Study EGAS00001005770

• Genomic Landscape of Follicular Lymphoma Across a Wide Spectrum of Clinical Behaviors

  Study EGAS00001007105

• A Genome-Wide Association Study of Lung Cancer Risk

  Three genetic loci for lung cancer risk have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but inherited susceptibility to specific histologic types of lung cancer is not well established. We conducted a GWAS of lung cancer and its major histologic types genotyping 515,922 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 5,739 incident lung cancer cases and 5,848 controls from one population-based case-control study and three cohort studies. Results were combined with summary data from 10 additional studies for a total of 13,300 cases and 19,666 controls of European descent. Four studies also provided histology data for replication resulting in 3,333 adenocarcinomas (AD), 2,589 squamous cell carcinomas (SQ), and 1,418 small cell carcinomas (SC). In analyses by histology, rs2736100 (TERT) on chromosome 5p15.33, was associated with risk of adenocarcinoma (OR=1.23, 95%CI=1.13-1.33, P=3.02x10-7), but not other histologic types (OR=1.01, P=0.84, and OR=1.00, P=0.93, for SQ and SC, respectively). This finding was confirmed in each replication study and overall meta-analysis (OR=1.24, 95%CI=1.17-1.31, P=3.74x10-14 for AD and OR=0.99, P=0.69 and OR=0.97, P=0.48, for SQ and SC, respectively). Other previously reported association signals on 15q25 and 6p21 were also refined, but no additional loci reached genome-wide significance. In conclusion, a lung cancer GWAS identified a distinct hereditary contribution to adenocarcinoma. Note: The lung study dataset to be released to dbGaP and caBIG excludes 47 individuals from the PLCO cohort who consented to participate only in cancer research projects and 22 individuals because of updated QC. Thus, the released dataset is derived from 11517 subjects, 5699 cases and 5818 controls. After the updated QC, the dataset to be released to dbGaP and caBIG includes 506062 SNPs.

  Study phs000336

• A circulating biomarker for severity of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

  Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable skeletal myopathy. Clinical trials for FSHD are hindered by heterogeneous biomarkers poorly associated with clinical severity, requiring invasive muscle biopsy. Macroscopically FSHD presents with slow fatty replacement of muscle, rapidly accelerated by inflammation. Mis-expression of the transcription factor DUX4 is currently accepted to underlie FSHD pathogenesis and mechanisms including PAX7 target gene repression have been proposed. Here we perform RNA-sequencing on MRI guided inflamed (n=24) and isogenic non-inflamed (n=24) muscle biopsies from the same clinically characterised FSHD patients, alongside isogenic peripheral blood mononucleated cells from a subset of patients (n=13), and unaffected controls. We employ multivariate models to evaluate the clinical associations of 5 published FSHD transcriptomic biomarkers. We demonstrate that PAX7 target gene repression can discriminate control, inflamed and non-inflamed FSHD muscle independently of age and sex (p&lt;0.013), while the discriminatory power of DUX4 target genes is limited to distinguishing FSHD muscle from control. Importantly, the level of PAX7 target gene repression in non-inflamed muscle associates with clinical assessments of FSHD severity (p=0.04). DUX4 target gene biomarkers in FSHD muscle show associations with lower limb fat fraction and D4Z4 array length, but not clinical assessment. Lastly, PAX7 target gene repression in FSHD muscle correlates with the level in isogenic peripheral blood mononucleated cells (p=0.002). A refined PAX7 target gene biomarker comprising 143/601 PAX7 target genes computed in peripheral blood (the FSHD muscle-blood biomarker) associates with clinical severity in FSHD patients (p&lt;0.036). Our new circulating biomarker validates as a classifier of clinical severity in an independent data set of 54 FSHD patient blood samples, with improved power in older patients (p=0.03). In summary, we present the minimally invasive FSHD muscle-blood biomarker of FSHD clinical severity valid in patient muscle and blood, with potential utility in routine disease monitoring and clinical trials.

  Study EGAS00001007350

• mRNA capture sequencing and RT-qPCR for the detection of pathognomonic, novel and secondary fusion transcripts in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue: a sarcoma showcase

  RNA sequencing is widely used to study gene abundance patterns, but less frequently to assess structural alterations such as fusion transcripts. In this study, we assess the performance of messenger RNA (mRNA) capture sequencing to identify fusion transcripts in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue of different types of sarcoma, followed by orthogonal confirmation using RT-qPCR. To validate our workflow, we used the TruSight RNA Pan-Cancer Panel to analyze a first cohort of 6 positive control tumors for which the diagnostic workup demonstrated the presence of a specific chromosomal rearrangement. Fusion transcript calling by FusionCatcher confirmed all known aberrations and enabled the identification of both fusion gene partners and breakpoints. Next, whole transcriptome TruSeq RNA Exome sequencing was applied to a second cohort of 17 patients, diagnosed with fusion gene-negative alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) or undifferentiated round cell sarcoma (URCS), for whom fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) did not identify the classical pathognomonic rearrangements. Remarkably, for 6 out of 17 patients, mRNA capture sequencing readily detected a pathognomonic fusion transcript, i.e. PAX3-FOXO1 in 2 ARMS patients, and EWSR1-FLI1, EWSR1-ERG or EWSR1-NFATC2 in 4 URCS patients. These data show that RNA capture sequencing may enhance the detection rate of pathognomonic fusion genes in sarcoma. For the 11 patients with no known pathognomonic fusion transcript, 11 newly identified fusion transcripts were confirmed by RT-qPCR, including COPS3-TOM1L2, NCOA1-DTNB, WWTR1-LINC01986, PLAA-MOB3B, AP1B1-CHEK2 and BRD4-LEUTX fusion transcripts in ARMS patients. Additionally, recurrently detected secondary fusion transcripts in two patients diagnosed with EWSR1-NFATC2-positive sarcoma were confirmed (COPS4-TBC1D9, PICALM-SYTL2, SMG6-VPS53 and UBE2F-ALS2). Our results provide new insights into the underlying genetic causes of these malignancies.

  Study EGAS00001005202

• Successful immune checkpoint blockade in a patient with advanced stage microsatellite unstable biliary tract cancer (H021)

  Cancers acquire multiple somatic mutations that can lead to the generation of immunogenic mutation-induced neoantigens. These neoantigens can be recognized by the host’s immune system. However, continuous stimulation of immune cells against tumor antigens can lead to immune cell exhaustion, which allows uncontrolled outgrowth of tumor cells. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a novel approach to overcome immune cell exhaustion and re-activate anti-tumor immune responses. In particular, antibodies blocking the exhaustion-mediating programmed death receptor (PD-1)/PD-L1 pathway have shown clinical efficacy. The effects were particularly pronounced in tumors with DNA mismatch repair deficiency and a high mutational load, which typically occur in the colon and endometrium. Here, we report on a 24-year old woman diagnosed with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who showed strong and durable response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab, although treatment was initiated at an advanced stage of disease. The patient’s tumor displayed DNA mismatch repair deficiency and microsatellite instability (MSI), but lacked other features commonly discussed as predictors of response towards checkpoint blockade, such as PD-L1 expression or dense infiltration with cytotoxic T cells. Notably, high levels of HLA class I and II antigen expression were detected in the tumor, suggesting a potential causal relation between functionality of the tumor’s antigen presentation machinery and the success of immune checkpoint blockade. We suggest determining MSI status in combination with HLA class I and II antigen expression in tumors potentially eligible for immune checkpoint blockade even in the absence of conventional markers predictive for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and in entities not commonly linked to MSI phenotype. Further studies are required to determine the value of these markers for predicting the success of immune checkpoint blockade. (H021)

  Study EGAS00001002441

• Molecular features of adenomas predicting metachronous colorectal cancer: a nested-case control study

  "Background &amp; Aims: Current morphological features defining advanced adenomas (size ≥10 mm, high grade dysplasia or &gt;25% villous component) cannot optimally distinguish individuals at high-risk or low-risk of metachronous colorectal cancer (me-CRC), which may result in suboptimal surveillance. Certain DNA copy number alterations are associated with adenoma-to-carcinoma progression (cancer-associated events; CAEs). We aimed to evaluate whether CAEs can better predict an individual’s risk of me-CRC than the morphological advanced adenoma features. Methods: In this nested case-control study, 529 individuals with a single adenoma at their first colonoscopy were selected from a Norwegian adenoma cohort. DNA copy number profiles were determined, by means of low-coverage whole genome sequencing. We assessed the prevalence of CAEs in advanced and non-advanced adenomas and its association with me-CRC. For the latter, cases (with CRC) were matched to controls (without CRC), with the same follow-up period as cases, as well as age and sex. Subsequently, odds ratios (OR) for the association of the presence of an advanced adenoma or a molecularly-defined high-risk adenoma with me-CRC were calculated. Results: Molecular high-risk features were observed in 85/267 (32%) of advanced adenomas and in 27/262 (10%) of non-advanced adenomas. Me-CRC was more strongly associated with advanced adenomas (OR 3.58; 95% CI 2.27-5.72) than with molecular high-risk adenomas (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.14–3.16). After adjusting for other variables, only advanced adenoma remained significantly associated with me-CRC (OR 3.39; 95% CI 2.10–5.55). Conclusion: Molecularly-defined high-risk adenomas were associated with me-CRC, but the association of advanced adenoma with me-CRC was stronger. " Project goal: Evaluate the value of DNA copy numbers alterations detected in a baseline adenoma, in the prediction of risk of metachronous CRC

  Study EGAS00001007039

• GeneScreen, a Population Based, Targeted Genomic Screening Study

  The GeneScreen research study was based at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. It brought together researchers from different disciplines, including genetics, clinical medicine, bioethics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and public health, to study the best ways to offer targeted genetic screening to the general adult population. DNA samples were collected from people who joined GeneScreen to look at a targeted panel of 17 genes. It tested for genetic differences (called mutations) that can cause one of 11 rare, but preventable or treatable conditions, including certain types of cancer and heart disease. Each condition has specific medical advice people can follow with their doctors to prevent or treat a serious health problem. The GeneScreen study was approved by the UNC Institutional Review Board and by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research Institutional Review Board. GeneScreen is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

  Study phs001817

• A Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) of Risk for Osteosarcoma

  This is a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of osteosarcoma, the most common primary bone malignancy. Osteosarcoma typically occurs in adolescents and young adults. It occurs at increased frequency in several inherited cancer predisposition syndromes but the genetic contribution to sporadic osteosarcoma is largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to identify genetic risk factors for osteosarcoma by conducting a genome-wide association study. We developed collaborations with multiple institutions in order to attain the necessary sample size required to discover novel loci in the genome associated with osteosarcoma using the GWAS approach. Genomic DNA (either blood or buccal in source) derived from osteosarcoma cases was obtained from each participating institution or research group. De-identified blood or buccal cell DNA samples from osteosarcoma cases were derived from existing biobanks at the collaborative institutions. Control subjects were derived from existing NCI cohorts and matched by gender and ethnicity.

  Study phs000734

• The Microbial Ecology of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Fine Scale Resolution Metagenomic Analysis

  Archived self-collected vaginal swabs were utilized from a pilot study of vaginal douching cessation (NIH/NIAID R03-AI061131). Thirty-nine non-pregnant, reproductive-age women who reported the use of vaginal douche products in the two months prior to screening were enrolled. Thirty-three of these successfully completed the 16-week longitudinal study. Participants self-collected vaginal swabs and smears twice weekly. We report sequences based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences amplified from whole genomic DNA isolated from the swabs. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is defined by Gram's stain of vaginal fluid (Nugent's score =7). The large body of information generated will facilitate understanding of vaginal microbial community dynamics, the etiology of BV, and drive the development of better diagnostic tools for BV. Furthermore, it is hoped that the information will enable a more personalized treatment of BV and ultimately, prevent adverse sequelae associated with BV.

  Study phs000261

• Towards a Genomic Understanding of Myeloma

  This project was designed to describe genetic abnormalities in primary samples from patients with multiple myeloma by next generation sequencing. We generated sequence data from multiple myeloma (MM) patients analyzing DNA both from tumor cells (purified from bone marrow using CD138 selection as a marker of plasma cells) and from normal peripheral blood cells (either whole blood or Ficoll-purified mononuclear cells). Using massively parallel sequencing technology (Illumina GA-2 or HiSeq)), we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and/or whole-exome sequencing (WES). The initial set currently deposited contains data from 38 MM patients (23 patients surveyed by WGS and 16 patients by WES, with one patient analyzed by both approaches). Genomes were sampled to high depth, obtaining an average of 33X coverage and 104X coverage for WGS and WES tumors, respectively. The normal samples had similar coverage. Our goal is to help researchers understand the complex genetic landscape of multiple myeloma and provide a resource for the generation of biological hypotheses.

  Study phs000348

• Aberrant RNA-splicing (neojunctions) offers a new source for targets, and our neoantigen discovery platform (SNIPP) characterizes a novel class of clonally-expressed splicing-derived neoantigens that elicit a CD8+ T-cell-mediated tumor killing response.

  RESULTS: Our pipeline identified 789 public neojunctions, with 32 neojunctions concurrently identified in transcriptomic and proteomic glioma data and predicted to be presented by HLA-A*02:01 with high confidence. IVS and subsequent 10x VDJ scRNA-seq identified TCR clonotypes reactive against neojunctions in RPL22 (n=7) and GNAS (n=1), the latter being highly intratumorally-conserved (detected in &gt; 90% of spatially-mapped biopsies across 17/56 patients (26.78%)). TCR-transduced T-cells demonstrated recognition and immunogenic activation against endogenously processed and presented neoantigens in multiple GBM PDX cell lines. Furthermore, IDH1-mutant oligodendroglioma samples demonstrated significantly elevated expression of neojunctions over IDH1-mutant astrocytoma and IDH1wt subtypes. Differential gene expression (DESeq2) identified decreased expression of splicing factors due to oligodendroglioma-specific co-deletion of Chromosomes 1p/19q. siRNA knockdown of these splicing factors (e.g. SF3A3, SNRPD2) in IDH1wt glioma cells resulted in significantly increased expression of corresponding neojunctions.

  Study EGAS00001007986

• WFS1 mutation screening in a large series of Japanese hearing loss patients: Massively parallel DNA sequencing-based analysis

  A heterozygous mutation in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene (WFS1) causes autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hereditary hearing loss, DFNA6/14/38, or Wolfram-like syndrome. To date, more than 40 different mutations have been reported to be responsible for DFNA6/14/38. In the present study, WFS1 variants were screened in a large series of Japanese hearing loss (HL) patients to clarify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of DFNA6/14/38 and Wolfram-like syndrome. Massively parallel DNA sequencing of 68 target genes was performed in 2,549 unrelated Japanese HL patients to identify genomic variations responsible for HL. The detailed clinical features in patients with WFS1 variants were collected from medical charts and analyzed. We successfully identified 13 WFS1 variants in 19 probands: eight of the 13 variants were previously reported mutations, including three mutations (p.A684V, p.K836N, and p.E864K) known to cause Wolfram-like syndrome, and five were novel mutations.

  Study JGAS000123

• A comprehensive human gastric cancer organoid biobank captures tumor subtype heterogeneity and enables therapeutic screening​

  Gastric cancer displays marked molecular heterogeneity with aggressive behavior and treatment resistance. Therefore, good in vitro models that encompass unique subtypes are urgently needed for precision medicine development. Here, we have established a primary gastric cancer organoid (GCO) biobank that comprises normal, dysplastic, cancer and lymph node metastases (n=63) from 34 patients, including detailed whole-exome and transcriptome analysis. The cohort encompasses most known molecular subtypes (including EBV, MSI, intestinal/CIN, and diffuse/GS, with CLDN18-ARHGAP6 or CTNND1-ARHGAP26 fusions or RHOA mutations), capturing regional heterogeneity and subclonal architecture, while their morphology, transcriptome, and genomic profiles remain closely similar to in vivo tumors, even after long-term culture. Large-scale drug screening revealed sensitivity to unexpected drugs that were recently approved or in clinical trials, including Napabucasin, Abemaciclib, and the ATR inhibitor VE-822. Overall, this new GCO biobank, with linked genomic data, provides a useful resource for studying both cancer cell biology and precision cancer therapy.

  Study EGAS00001003145

• A single-chain derivative of the integrin β1-activating TS2/16 antibody potentiates organoid growth in Matrigel and Collagen hydrogels.

  Culturing epithelial organoids from Adult Stem Cells (ASCs) requires interaction of their β1-integrins with extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as laminin or collagen. Matrigel and BME® (extracts from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor cells grown in the mouse abdomen) are a popular source of ECM proteins. Yet, these preparations are costly and subject to batch-to-batch variation due to animal-derived contaminations. Here, we describe a single chain version (scFv) of antibody TS2/16, allosterically activating integrin β1 function in organoids. Addition of 5 nM of monomeric scFv to organoid medium results in up to 5-fold higher yields of organoids in Matrigel/BME®. In addition, scTS2/16 generates 6-7-fold higher yields of intestinal organoids in collagen-I hydrogel, when grown both in 3D and in 2D. Collagen is well-defined, available at clinical grade, and in combination with scTS2/16, will enable the clinical use of gastrointestinal organoids.

  Study EGAS50000001113

• Epigenomics and Single-cell Sequencing Define a Developmental Hierarchy in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

  Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplasm predominantly affecting children. It occupies a hybrid position between cancers and inflammatory diseases, and it provides an attractive model for studying cancer development. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of LCH and its characteristic clinical heterogeneity, we investigated the transcriptomic and epigenomic diversity in primary LCH lesions. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified multiple recurrent types of LCH cells within these biopsies, including putative LCH progenitor cells and several subsets of differentiated LCH cells. We confirmed the presence of proliferative LCH cells in all analysed biopsies using immunohistochemistry, and we defined an epigenomic and gene-regulatory basis of the different LCH cell subsets by chromatin accessibility profiling. In summary, our single-cell analysis of LCH uncovered an unexpected degree of cellular, transcriptomic, and epigenomic heterogeneity among LCH cells, indicative of complex developmental hierarchies in LCH lesions.

  Study EGAS00001003822

• A novel subset of human CD33+ haematopoietic stem cells characterized at single-cell resolution

  Elucidation of the identity and diversity of mechanisms that sustain long-term human blood cell production remains an important challenge. Previous studies indicate that, in adult mice, this property is ultimately vested in cells uniquely identified by their ability to clonally regenerate detectable levels of mature blood cells in serially transplanted recipients. We now present a combined multi-parameter analysis of the molecular features of very primitive human cord blood cells that display different cell output activities in vitro and in vivo. These analyses identified a new, prospectively separable, but still functionally heterogeneous, subset of long-term human blood-forming cells. Single-cell measurements of their transcriptional, DNA methylation and 40-protein content and of closely related phenotypes revealed numerous subtle, but consistent differences both within and between each subset analyzed. These results suggest that multiple regulatory mechanisms underlie the functional heterogeneity exhibited by clonally tracked human blood cell precursors with long-term output abilities.

  Study EGAS00001002826

• Single cell RNA sequencing and Whole Genome Sequencing on different cells from the same sample for a triple negative patient derived xenograft and ovarian cancer cell lines.

  Measuring gene expression of genomically defined tumour clones at single cell resolution would associate functional consequences to somatic alterations, as a prelude to elucidating pathways driving cell population growth, resistance and relapse. In the absence of scalable methods to simultaneously assay DNA and RNA from the same single cell, independent sampling of cell populations for parallel measurement of single cell DNA and single cell RNA must be computationally mapped for genome-transcriptome association. Here we present clonealign, a robust statistical framework to assign gene expression states to cancer clones using single-cell RNA-seq and DNA-seq independently sampled from an heterogeneous cancer cell population. We apply clonealign to triple-negative breast cancer patient derived xenografts and high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell lines and discover clone-specific dysregulated biological pathways not visible using either DNA-Seq or RNA-Seq alone.

  Study EGAS00001003387

• A Universal Gut Metagenomic-Derived Signature Predicts Cirrhosis

  Dysregulation of the gut microbiome has been implicated in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. To determine the diagnostic capacity of this association, stool microbiomes were compared across 163 well-characterized participants encompassing non-NAFLD controls, NAFLD-cirrhosis patients and their first-degree relatives. Interrogation of shotgun metagenomic and untargeted metabolomic profiles using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm and differential abundance analysis identified discrete metagenomic and metabolomic signatures that were similarly effective in detecting cirrhosis (diagnostic accuracy 0.91, AUC). Combining the metagenomic signature with age and serum albumin levels accurately distinguished cirrhosis in etiologically and genetically distinct cohorts from geographically separated regions. Additional inclusion of serum aspartate aminotransferase levels, which are increased in cirrhosis patients, enabled discrimination of cirrhosis from earlier stages of fibrosis. These findings demonstrate that a core set of gut microbiome species may offer universal utility as a non-invasive diagnostic test for cirrhosis.

  Study EGAS00001004600

• A Single-Cell Atlas of the Multicellular Ecosystem of Primary and Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a paradigm of the relation between tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor development. Here, we generated a single-cell atlas of the multicellular ecosystem of HCCs from four relevant sites. Antitumor central memory T (TCM) cells were found in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). Chronic HBV/HCV infection increases infiltration of CD8+ T cells in tumors but aggravates T cell exhaustion. We identified CD11b+ macrophages to be terminally differentiated tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and two distinct differentiation trajectories contribute to their accumulation. We further demonstrated CD11b+ TAMs promote HCC cells invasion and migration, and angiogenesis. We characterized the heterogeneous subpopulations of malignant hepatocytes and their multifaceted roles in shaping the immune microenvironment. Finally, we identified seven TME subtypes that can predict patient prognosis. Collectively, this large-scale atlas deepens our understanding of the ecosystem in primary and metastatic HCCs, might facilitating the development of new immune therapy strategies for this malignancy.

  Study EGAS00001004468