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• ctDNA monitoring using patient-specific sequencing and integration of variant reads - Breast cohort

  Circulating tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA) can be used to monitor cancer dynamics noninvasively. Detection of ctDNA can be challenging in patients with low-volume or residual disease, where plasma contains very few tumor-derived DNA fragments. We show that sensitivity for ctDNA detection in plasma can be improved by analyzing hundreds to thousands of mutations that are first identified by tumor genotyping. We describe the INtegration of VAriant Reads (INVAR) pipeline, which combines custom error-suppression methods and signal-enrichment approaches based on biological features of ctDNA. With this approach, the detection limit in each sample can be estimated independently based on the number of informative reads sequenced across multiple patient-specific loci. We applied INVAR to custom hybrid-capture sequencing data from 176 plasma samples from 105 patients with melanoma, lung, renal, glioma, and breast cancer across both early and advanced disease. By integrating signal across a median of >105 informative reads, ctDNA was routinely quantified to 1 mutant molecule per 100,000, and in some cases with high tumor mutation burden and/or plasma input material, to individual parts per million. This resulted in median Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of 0.98 in advanced cancers, and 0.80 in early stage and challenging settings for ctDNA detection. We generalized this method to whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing, showing that the INVAR may be applied without requiring personalized sequencing panels, so long as a tumor mutation list is available. As tumor sequencing becomes increasingly performed, such methods for personalized cancer monitoring may enhance the sensitivity of cancer liquid biopsies.

  Study EGAS00001004446

• SCANDARE MACARON

  Among gynecological cancers, high-grade serous ovarian cancer has the highest prevalence and more than 75% of patients have advanced stage at diagnosis with a 5-year survival of 40%. When the initial complete surgical removal is not possible (60% of patients), an interval surgery can be considered after three to four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the tumor mass. However, in approximately 50% of cases the tumor has little or no response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Therefore, identification of potential drug targets, biomarkers and/or pathways whose modulation can help in the prevention, interception, or curing of the disease is essential to address the unmet need. Therefore, MACARON project aims to address these issues through the identification of shared neoantigens arising out of somatic alterations and aberrant transcriptional programs in ovarian cancer DNA/RNA datasets.

  Study EGAS50000000145

• Identification of a Type 1 Diabetes-Associated T Cell Receptor Repertoire Signature from the Human Peripheral Blood

  Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a T-cell mediated disease with a strong immunogenetic HLA dependence. HLA allelic influence on the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire shapes thymic selection and controls activation of diabetogenic clones, yet remains largely unresolved in T1D. We sequenced the circulating TCRβ chain repertoire from 2250 HLA-typed participants across three cross-sectional cohorts, including T1D individuals, and healthy related and unrelated controls. We found that HLA risk alleles show higher restriction of TCR repertoires in T1D individuals. We leveraged deep learning to identify T1D-associated TCR subsequence motifs that were also observed in independent TCR cohorts residing in pancreas-draining lymph nodes of T1D individuals. Collectively, our data demonstrate T1D-related TCR motif enrichment based on genetic risk, offering a potential metric for autoreactivity and groundwork for TCR-based diagnostics and therapeutics.

  Study phs003979

• Profiling_molecular_heterogeneity_in_human_primary_microglia

  In the brain the cells that control inflammation are called a type of white blood cell called microglia. Microglia are located throughout the brain and spinal cord and account for 10–15% of all cells found within the brain. As the resident white blood cells, they are the main active immune defence in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are part of an important class of cells known as macrophages that have two main states: M1 and M2. M1 cells are pro- inflammatory, leading to more inflammation, while M2 are anti-inflammatory, and drive wound healing. In this study, we will collect primary microglia from surgical biospies of 100 individuals. 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 EGAS00001002494

• Whole Genome Study for De Novo Mutation Rates

  Germline mutations are the source of evolution and contribute substantially to many health-related processes. In this study, we use whole genome deep sequencing data from parents-offspring trios to examine the de novo point mutations (DNMs) in the offspring. We studied correlation between parental ages with de novo mutation rates. This study is published in Wong WS, Solomon BD, Bodian DL, Kothiyal P, Eley G, Huddleston KC, Baker R, Thach DC, Iyer RK, Vockley JG, Niederhuber JE. New observations on maternal age effect on germline de novo mutations. Nat Commun. 2016 Jan 19;7:10486 (PMID: 26781218. Also, we studied differences in molecular signatures in paternal versus maternal origin of de novo mutations. This study is published in Jakob M. Goldmann, Wendy S.W. Wong, Michele Pinelli, Terry Farrah, Dale Bodian, Anna B. Stittrich, Gustavo Glusman, Lisenka E.L.M. Vissers, Alexander Hoischen, Jared C. Roach, Joseph G. Vockley, Joris A. Veltman, Benjamin D. Solomon, Christian Gilissen, John E. Niederhuber. Parent-of-origin specific signatures of de novo mutations. Nat Genet. 2016 Aug;48(8):935-9, PMID: 27322544.

  Study phs001055

• STAMPEED: Whole Genome Association Analysis of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) Outcomes

  This retrospective cohort study was designed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with complications after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Validated discoveries provide information to improve risk assessment, counseling and treatment planning and to direct future mechanistic studies of the genes and pathways that influence outcomes, thereby providing insight and rationale for new targeted therapies. The study was conducted with the use of 3 different approaches. (1) We used GWAS discovery and replication analyses to identify SNPs variants associated with outcomes after HCT. (2) We tested SNP alleles in HLA-matched sibling donors and recipients to determine whether mismatching in the recipient is associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or the risk of recurrent malignancy after HCT. Such associations would suggest that the peptide encoded by the SNP allele functions as a minor histocompatibility antigen. (3) We performed in silico candidate SNP studies to determine the validity of previously published results showing associations with outcomes after HCT. The study population represents a large cohort from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and consists of 4,471 recipients and 4,628 donors containing 4,258 recipient-donor pairs. Recipients suffered from a hematologic malignancy or myelodysplastic syndrome and were treated in a highly structured clinical research environment with comprehensive monitoring and systematic data recording. We used proportional hazards analyses to test for associations with acute and chronic GVHD, acute kidney injury, gram-negative bacteremia, invasive fungal disease, CMV infection and disease, recurrent malignancy, death not attributable to recurrent malignancy, and death after recurrent or progressive malignancy.

  Study phs001918

• Access to shallow whole genome sequencing data from DETECT

  Access to this dataset is subject to aceptance of the terms and conditions. Please summarise your project and sign the following document:

  Dac EGAC50000000553

• FLT3 is genetically essential for ITD-mutated leukemic stem cells but dispensable for human HSCs

  bulk RNA sequencing of AML patients It contains 18 samples from primary AML patients. Half of the samples are control samples and half of the samples are FLT3-ITD knock-out (edited for the FLT3-ITD mutation). It is using Illumina high-throughput technology

  Dataset EGAD50000000636

• Autosomal recessive CD70 deficiency is associated with combined immunodeficiency and EBV viremia

  We describe four patients from two unrelated families of different ethnicities who had primary immunodeficiency predominantly manifesting as susceptibility to EBV-related diseases. We performed whole exome sequencing (P1 and P2 from family 1) or whole genome sequencing (P4 and both parents from family 2) in those two families and identified homozygous frameshift or in-frame deletions in CD70 in these patients which abolished either CD70 surface expression or binding to its counter structure CD27. Sanger sequencing identified the same homozygous CD70 mutation in P3, which is not included in the dbGaP submission. Autosomal recessive CD70 deficiency is a novel cause of combined immunodeficiency and EBV-associated diseases, reminiscent of CD27 deficiency.

  Study phs001245

• Dual inhibition of FLT3 and BCL-2 is effective in preclinical models of BCL11B-activated lineage ambiguous leukemia

  Aberrant activation of BCL11B (“BCL11B-a”) defines a subtype of lineage ambiguous leukemias with T-lymphoid and myeloid features, co-occurring activating FLT3 mutations, and a stem/progenitor immunophenotype and gene expression profile. As with other lineage ambiguous leukemias, optimal treatment is unclear and there are limited targeted therapeutic options. Here, we investigated the efficacy of BCL-2 and FLT3 inhibition with venetoclax and gilteritinib, respectively, in preclinical models of BCL11B-a leukemia. Despite variation in response to single agent therapies, the combination of venetoclax plus gilteritinib was highly effective in all models evaluated. BH3 profiling and single cell RNA-seq analysis suggests that resistance to venetoclax and/or gilteritinib monotherapies is due to the tumor-intrinsic activity of BCL-xL and/or MCL-1 prior to drug treatment. These data support clinical evaluation of venetoclax in combination with gilteritinib in BCL11B-a lineage ambiguous leukemias.

  Study EGAS50000000978

• Atypical B cells and impaired SARS-CoV-2 neutralisation following heterologous vaccination in the elderly

  Age is a major risk factor for hospitalization and death after SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in vaccinees. Suboptimal responses to a primary vaccination course have been reported in the elderly, but there is little information regarding the impact of age on responses to booster third doses. Here we show that individuals 70 or older who received a primary two dose schedule with AZD1222 and booster third dose with mRNA vaccine achieved significantly lower neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped virus compared to those below 70 at one month post booster. Neither the concentration of serum binding anti spike IgG antibody, nor the frequency of spike- specific B cells showed differences by age grouping. Impaired neutralization potency and breadth post-third dose in the elderly was associated with enrichment of circulating “atypical” spike-specific B cells expressing CD11c and FCRL5. Presence of these atypical B cells was confirmed by scRNA seq. However, when considering individuals who received three doses of mRNA vaccine, we did not observe statistically significant differences in neutralization or enrichment in atypical B cells by age grouping following dose 3. Together, our data reveal impaired neutralising antibody responses in the elderly after heterologous vaccination with AdV followed by mRNA booster dose, but not in homologous three dose mRNA vaccination highlighting that different vaccine formats differentially instruct the memory B cell response.

  Study EGAS00001007385

• Early Onset and Progression of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Lung Disease Prior to 10 Years of Age

  Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic defect in airway host-defense, and typically results in chronic infection of the airways. Patients with PCD have chronic lung, sinus and ear infections. This longitudinal study is designed to define the rate of progression of PCD lung function in participants prior to 10 years of age using special lung function tests, which help to track lung impairment and prognosis in other disorders of the airways such as cystic fibrosis. This longitudinal protocol will also systematically track other specific outcomes, including pathogens infecting the airways (assessed by respiratory cultures), and age at onset and progression of airway damage and bronchiectasis [assessed by high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the chest].

  Study phs001310

• CRISPR-screening identifies mechanisms of resistance to KRASG12C and SHP2 inhibitor combinations in non-small cell lung cancer

  Although KRASG12C inhibitors show clinical activity in patients with KRAS G12C mutated NSCLC and other solid tumor malignancies, response is limited by multiple mechanisms of resistance. The KRASG12C inhibitor JDQ443 shows enhanced preclinical antitumor activity combined with the SHP2 inhibitor TNO155, and the combination is currently under clinical evaluation. To identify rational combination strategies that could help overcome or prevent some types of resistance, we evaluated the duration of tumor responses to JDQ443 �� TNO155, alone or combined with the PI3K�� inhibitor alpelisib and/or the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib, in xenograft models derived from a KRASG12C-mutant NSCLC line and investigated the genetic mechanisms associated with loss of response to combined KRASG12C/SHP2 inhibition.

  Study JGAS000643

• BLUEPRINT EpiVar ChIP-seq in lineage specifying transcription factors

  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.

  Dataset EGAD00001004571

• A genome scan for genes underlying adult body size differences between Central African hunter-gatherers and farmers.

  The evolutionary and biological bases of the Central African pygmy phenotype, a characteristic of rainforest huntergatherers defined by reduced body size compared with neighboring farmers, remain largely unknown. Here, we perform a joint investigation in Central African hunter-gatherers and farmers of adult standing height, sitting height, leg length, and body mass index (BMI), considering 358 hunter-gatherers and 169 farmers with genotypes for 153,798 SNPs. In addition to reduced standing heights, hunter-gatherers have shorter sitting heights and leg lengths and higher sitting/standing height ratios than farmers and lower BMI for males. Standing height, sitting height, and leg length are strongly correlated with inferred levels of farmer genetic ancestry, whereas BMI is only weakly correlated, perhaps reflecting greater contributions of non-genetic factors to body weight than to height. Single- and multi-marker association tests identify one region and eight genes associated with hunter-gatherer/farmer status, and 24 genes associated with the height-related traits. Many of these genes have putative functions consistent with roles in determining their associated traits and the pygmy phenotype, and they include three associated with standing height in non-Africans (PRKG1, DSCAM, MAGI2). We find evidence that European height-associated SNPs or variants in linkage disequilibrium with them contribute to standing- and sitting-height determination in Central Africans, but not to the differential status of hunter-gatherers and farmers. These findings provide new insights into the biological basis of the pygmy phenotype, and they highlight the potential of cross-population studies for exploring the genetic basis of phenotypes that vary naturally across populations. Pemberton et al. Human Genetics 2018 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-018-1902-3

  Study EGAS00001002975

• Efficacy of two different FGFR-inhibitors in a patient with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma harboring an FGFR2 mutation

  Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) is a type of cancer with few effective systemic therapies. Elucidation of the molecular landscape of the disease from genomic studies based on next generation sequencing (NGS) has contributed to the introduction of new targeted therapies. One of these treatments consists of a class of small molecules that target members of the FGFR family of receptor tyrosine kinases. These drugs are effective and have been approved for cholangiocarcinomas with fusions or rearrangements of FGFR genes. In contrast, the role of these inhibitors in cholangiocarcinomas with mutations in FGFR genes is less well defined. We report here a patient with a cholangiocarcinoma bearing a FGFR2 p.Ser252Trp mutation. The patient was treated with two different FGFR inhibitors, as the first caused ocular toxicity. She obtained clinical benefit from both. This case illustrates the efficacy of FGFR inhibitors on cholangiocarcinoma with specific point mutations. This is the first case to report the clinical benefit of these drugs in FGFR2 p.Ser252Trp mutation. Clinical benefit can be sustained, as seen in our patient. Our case also shows that FGFR inhibitors-induced adverse effects, such as ocular toxicities, may not recur after re-challenge with an alternative drug of the same class.

  Dataset EGAD50000000021

• Prenatal lead exposure is associated with decreased cord blood DNA methylation of the glycoprotein VI gene involved in platelet activation and thrombus formation

  Early-life lead exposure impairs neurodevelopment and later exposure affects the cardiovascular system. Lead has been associated with reduced global 5-methylcytosine DNA methylation, suggesting that lead toxicity acts through epigenetic mechanisms. The objective of this study is to clarify how early life lead exposure alters DNA methylation of specific genes, using an epigenomic approach. We measured lead concentrations in urine (gestational week, GW, 8) and erythrocytes (GW 14), using ICP-MS, for 127 pregnant mothers recruited in the MINIMat food and supplementation cohort in rural Bangladesh. Cord blood DNA methylation was analyzed with the Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChip and top sites were validated by methylation-sensitive high-resolution melt curve analysis. Maternal urinary lead concentrations (divided into quartiles) showed significant (after adjustment for FDR) inverse associations with methylation at nine CpGs. Three of these sites were in the 5’ end, including the promoter, of glycoprotein IV (GP6); cg18355337 (q=0.029, β=-0.30), cg25818583 (q=0.041, β=-0.18) and cg23796967 (q=0.047, β=-0.17). The methylation in another CpG site in GP6 was close to significant (cg05374025, q=0.057, β=-0.23). The erythrocyte lead concentrations (divided into quartiles) were also inversely associated with CpG methylation in GP6, although this was not statistically significant after FDR-adjustments. Eight CpG sites in GP6 constituted a differentially methylated region in relation to urinary lead (p=0.005, q=0.48) and erythrocyte lead (p=0.007, q=0.46). In conclusion, we found that moderate prenatal lead exposure appear to epigenetically affect GP6, a key component of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, suggesting a novel link between early lead exposure and cardiovascular disease later in life.

  Study EGAS00001001575

• Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Hemorrhagic Stroke (GERFHS)

  GERFHS is a population-based, case-control study of hemorrhagic stroke in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. Cases are recruited from within 50 miles of the University of Cincinnati and population-based controls are matched to cases by age (+/- 5 years), race and gender from the same population as cases. All study participants are of self-reported non-Hispanic Caucasian ethnicity and the data show consistency with the principal component projections. The current submission includes genome wide genotyping on a subset of these cases and controls.

  Study phs000874

• A developmental cell atlas of the human thyroid gland - WGS

  The thyroid gland produces hormones essential for health from embryogenesis to adulthood. Thyroid disorders, including congenital hypothyroidism and thyroid carcinoma, are prevalent and pose significant health challenges. Congenital hypothyroidism often results from thyroid dysgenesis or impaired hormone synthesis, is particularly prevalent in trisomy 21 (T21), while thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent endocrine malignancy, affecting both paediatric and adult populations. Understanding the molecular basis of these conditions requires deeper insights into fetal thyroid development. We generated a spatiotemporal atlas of the human thyroid during early pregnancy, revealing key cell types, including hormone-producing thyrocytes. Thyroid follicular cells are heterogeneous, with two functional cell states (fTFC1, fTFC2) that persist into adulthood, with fTFC2 characterised by elevated PAX8 expression. We demonstrated that T21 thyroids displayed dysgenesis with disrupted follicular morphology, and altered extracellular matrix interactions, and that the fTFC2 signature was enriched in paediatric papillary thyroid cancer compared to adults. These findings uncover thyrocyte heterogeneity across the lifespan, advancing understanding of thyroid development and disease.

  Dataset EGAD00001015447

• A developmental cell atlas of the human thyroid gland - RNA

  The thyroid gland produces hormones essential for health from embryogenesis to adulthood. Thyroid disorders, including congenital hypothyroidism and thyroid carcinoma, are prevalent and pose significant health challenges. Congenital hypothyroidism often results from thyroid dysgenesis or impaired hormone synthesis, is particularly prevalent in trisomy 21 (T21), while thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent endocrine malignancy, affecting both paediatric and adult populations. Understanding the molecular basis of these conditions requires deeper insights into fetal thyroid development. We generated a spatiotemporal atlas of the human thyroid during early pregnancy, revealing key cell types, including hormone-producing thyrocytes. Thyroid follicular cells are heterogeneous, with two functional cell states (fTFC1, fTFC2) that persist into adulthood, with fTFC2 characterised by elevated PAX8 expression. We demonstrated that T21 thyroids displayed dysgenesis with disrupted follicular morphology, and altered extracellular matrix interactions, and that the fTFC2 signature was enriched in paediatric papillary thyroid cancer compared to adults. These findings uncover thyrocyte heterogeneity across the lifespan, advancing understanding of thyroid development and disease.

  Dataset EGAD00001015448

• The mutational landscape of normal human endometrial epithelium

  All normal somatic cells are thought to acquire mutations. However, characterisation of the patterns and consequences of somatic mutation in normal tissues is limited. Uterine endometrium is a dynamic tissue undergoing cyclical shedding and reconstitution lined by a gland-forming epithelium. Whole genome sequencing of normal endometrial glands showed that most are clonal cell populations derived from a recent common ancestor, with mutation burdens differing from other normal cell types and many fold lower than endometrial cancers. Mutational signatures found ubiquitously account for most mutations. Many, in some women all, endometrial glands are colonised by cell clones carrying driver mutations in cancer genes, often with multiple drivers. Total and driver mutation burdens increase with age, but are also influenced by other factors, including body mass index and parity, and clones with drivers often originate during early decades of life. The somatic mutational landscapes of normal cells differ between cell types and are revealing the procession of neoplastic change leading to cancer.

  Dataset EGAD00001004547

• A non-canonical lymphoblast in refractory childhood T-cell leukaemia

  Refractory cancers may arise either through the acquisition of resistance mechanisms or represent distinct disease states. The origin of childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) that does not respond to initial treatment, i.e. refractory disease, is unknown. Refractory T-ALL carries a poor prognosis and cannot be predicted at diagnosis. Here, we perform single cell mRNA sequencing of T-ALL from 58 children (84 samples) who did, or did not respond to initial treatment. We identify a transcriptionally distinctive blast population, exhibiting features of innate-like lymphocytes, as the major source of refractory disease. Evidence of such blasts at diagnosis heralds refractory disease across independent datasets and is associated with survival in a large, contemporary trial cohort. Our findings portray refractory T-ALL as a distinct disease with the potential for immediate clinical utility. This dataset contains 56 single-cell RNA sequencing data files with corresponding single-cell T cell receptor sequencing data files. The data here form the validation cohort in our paper.

  Dataset EGAD00001015673

• The spatial organization of intratumor heterogeneity andevolutionary trajectories of metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has one of the poorest survival amongst cancers. Using multi-regional sampling of nine resected HCC with different etiologies, we find that phylogenetic relationships of these sectors show diverse levels of genetic sharing spanning early to late diversification. Unlike the variegated pattern found in colorectal cancers, a large proportion of HCC display a clear Isolation-By-Distance pattern where spatially closer sectors are genetically more similar. Two resected intra-hepatic metastases showed genetic divergence occurring before and after primary tumor diversification respectively. Interestingly, metastatic tumors had much higher variability than their primary tumors, suggesting that intra-hepatic metastasis is accompanied by rapid diversification at the distant location. The presence of co-existing mutations offers the possibility of drug repositioning for HCC treatment. Taken together, these insights into intra-tumor heterogeneity allow for a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary trajectories of HCC and suggest novel avenues for personalized therapy.

  Study EGAS00001001603

• Real-time response profiling through serial plasma analyses during FOLFOX treatment in patients with colorectal cancer

  Response evaluation of cancer therapeutics relies on the assessment of the change in tumor burden, which is performed in accordance with defined criteria every 8-12 weeks. However, predictive factors for response are not available for the majority of patients with advanced stage colorectal cancer. Here we show that measurement of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels during one of the most commonly administered drug regimens, i.e. FOLFOX, allows an early, real-time assessment of treatment response. During the 48-hour FOLFOX application, we serially assessed plasma DNA and observed that ctDNA levels initially decreased during the first 23 hours. In patients with stable disease or partial response, ctDNA levels remained low, whereas in patients with progressive disease, ctDNA levels increased at the end of the treatment cycle predicting clinical and radiologic response correctly. Hence, ctDNA monitoring during treatment may contribute to an early outcome prediction with significant implications for the management of patients.

  Study EGAS00001004213

• Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT-BioLINCC)

  Data Access NOTEPlease refer to the "Authorized Access" section below for information about how access to the data from this accession. Access differs from many other dbGaP accessions. BiospecimensAccess to Biospecimens is through the NHLBI Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center (BioLINCC). Biospecimens from TOPCAT include Buffy Coat, DNA, Plasma, Serum, Urine, and Whole Blood. Please note that use of biospecimens in genetic research is subject to a tiered consent. Objectives The TOPCAT trial evaluated the effectiveness of aldosterone antagonist therapy in reducing cardiovascular mortality, aborted cardiac arrest, and heart failure hospitalization in patients who have heart failure with preserved systolic function. Background Many patients with heart failure have a normal, or near-normal, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Such patients share similar signs and symptoms as patients who have heart failure and a reduced LVEF, as well as an impaired quality of life and a poor prognosis. However, at the time of TOPCAT, the benefit of medical therapies for heart failure were limited to those with a reduced LVEF. Due to a lack of favorable evidence from clinical trials, clinical guidelines offered no specific recommendations for the management of heart failure in patients with preserved LVEF, except for attention to coexisting conditions. Among patients with heart failure and a reduced LVEF and those with myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have been shown to be effective in reducing overall mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. In small mechanistic studies involving patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular function, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists improved measures of diastolic function. However, rigorous testing was needed regarding their effect on clinical outcomes in patients with preserved LVEF. Therefore, the TOPCAT trial was initiated to determine whether treatment with spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist, would improve clinical outcomes in patients with symptomatic heart failure and a relatively preserved LVEF. Participants A total of 3445 participants were enrolled, with 1722 assigned to the spironolactone group and 1723 assigned to the placebo group. Among these, 2464 participants were enrolled via the hospitalization stratum and 981 were enrolled via the BNP stratum. Design TOPCAT was a phase 3, multicenter, international, randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled trial. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either spironolactone or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. Randomization was stratified according to whether the patient met the criterion for previous hospitalization or BNP elevation. The baseline visit included assessment of socio-demographics, physical characteristics, medical history, lifestyle factors, laboratory measures, electrocardiography variables and health-related quality of life and functional status. Study drugs were initially administered at a dose of 15 mg once daily, which was increased as tolerated to a maximum of 45 mg daily during the first four months after randomization. Subsequent dose adjustments were made as required and subjects continued to receive other treatments for heart failure and co-existing illnesses. Measurement of potassium and creatinine levels was required within 1 week after a change in the study-drug dose and at each scheduled study visit. Follow-up visits to monitor symptoms, medications, and events and to dispense study drug were scheduled every four months during the subject's first year on the study, and every six months thereafter. The mean follow-up interval was 3.3 years in each study group. Repository blood and urine samples were collected at the baseline and 1 year visits from consenting subjects. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, aborted cardiac arrest or hospitalization for the management of heart failure. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality, hospitalization for heart failure management, new onset of diabetes mellitus or atrial fibrillation, and quality of life. A subset of subjects also participated in the Echocardiography or Echocardiography and Vascular Stiffness ancillary studies. Echocardiography, and additionally tonometry in the Echocardiography and Vascular Stiffness study, were performed at baseline and at either 12 or 18 months following randomization. If the subject was already enrolled in the TOPCAT trial at the time the ancillary study was initiated, but had not yet reached the 18 month visit, baseline was determined via a retrospective analysis performed on any echocardiographic images completed within 60 days prior to TOPCAT enrollment and no tonometry was performed if applicable. Conclusions In patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction, treatment with spironolactone did not significantly reduce the incidence of the primary composite outcome of death from cardiovascular causes, aborted cardiac arrest, or hospitalization for the management of heart failure. However, the drug reduced the secondary endpoint of heart failure hospitalization incidence.

  Study phs003665

• Genomic and Transcriptomic Landscape of Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) is a rare liver tumor primarily affecting adolescents and young adults. Little is known of the molecular pathogenesis. To characterize the disease we performed RNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing on FL-HCC tumors and adjacent normal tissue. The results demonstrate few consistent differences on the chromosomal level and many hundreds of alterations in the expression of RNA transcripts.

  Study phs000709

• GWA Study of Oral Cavity, Pharynx and Larynx Cancers in European, and North and South American Populations - CIDR

  There is striking geographical variation in head and neck cancer (HNC) incidence globally. Some of the highest incidence rates have been observed in Southern and Eastern Europe and South America. The goal of this project is to assess susceptibility loci across and within ancestral backgrounds, using the All of Us array. Ten studies have come together in this initiative.

  Study phs002503

• Microenvironment subtypes and association with tumor cell mutations and antigen expression in follicular lymphoma

  Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a B-cell lymphoma with a complex tumor microenvironment that is rich in non-malignant immune cells. We applied single-cell RNA-sequencing to characterize the immune microenvironment of FL. This provides a classification framework of the FL microenvironment, their association with FL genotypes and antigen presentation, and informs different potential immunotherapeutic strategies.

  Study EGAS00001006052

• Duplexseq of the interstrand crosslinks_WGS

  One of the most dangerous forms of DNA damage are interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), which covalently crosslink the two strands of the DNA double helix. The repair of these lesions is crucial for cellular survival due to their ability to block transcription and DNA replication. Initially, the major pathway that has been described in ICL repair involves a network of 22 genes that are mutated in a severe human genetic disease known as Fanconi Anemia (FA). Using synthetic lethality screens in the near-haploid human HAP1 cell line, we recently identified two potentially novel regulators of ICL repair, C1orf112 and THAP12. Loss of C1orf112 and THAP12 causes hypersensitivity to ICL-inducing DNA damaging agents, such as Mitomycin C (MMC). Additionally, C1orf112-depleted cells show elevated levels of micronuclei and accumulation of DNA damage in S-phase. To better understand how C1orf112 and THAP12 mediate the repair of ICLs, we want to perform mutational signature analysis, using the BotSeq method. Therefore, WT, C1orf112 and THAP12 knockout cells were cultured in vehicle or MMC treated conditions for 10 days and the genomic DNA was isolated. FANCA and FANCD2 knockout cells are taken along as controls in this experimental setting. . This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2023-04-20.

  Dataset EGAD00001010298

• Analysis of mutational and proteomic heterogeneity of gastric cancer to monitor post-treatment tumor burden using circulating tumor DNA

  It remains unclear whether complete spectrum of tumor heterogeneity is reflected in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Here, we performed multi-regional target sequencing of primary tumors from 10 patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric cancer. A total of 126 non-synonymous mutations were identified from 30 samples from 10 tumors. Of these, 16 (12.7%) were likely mutations that occurred early in tumor development (i.e., present in all three regions) and were designated founder mutations. Among those validated with highly sensitive digital PCR (dPCR), 93% of non-founder mutations were found in all three regions. Variant allele frequencies (VAFs) of founder mutations were significantly higher than those of non-founder mutations. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that five of eight tumors (62.5%, excluding two hypermutator) had at least one identifiable truncal/founder mutation. These findings led us to prioritize founder mutations for ctDNA detection with individually-designed primer/probe sets for dPCR. Marked proteomic diversity was present across the tumor regions both within and between patients independent of mutational status. In preoperative plasma, the average ctDNA VAF of founder mutations was significantly higher than that of non-founder mutations (p = 0.039). Our present data demonstrated that high VAF mutations in the tumor likely represent founder or truncal mutations. However, mutation patterns alone appear insufficient to predict protein heterogeneity. These results suggest that, in practice, mutations having high VAF identified without multi-regional sequencing may be useful for ctDNA monitoring but are inadequate to fully predict proteomic heterogeneity of the tumor.

  Study JGAS000231

• Using NGS to Sequence Whole Genomes to Identify Genes Underlying ALS

  Our ALS Consortium - a partnership of clinicians, basic scientists, geneticists, and computational biologists from 48 institutions (4 of which are industry partners) across 5 countries - establishes a framework to apply whole genome sequencing (WGS) and functional genomics to the study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Because ALS-causing mutations tend to be of moderate impact and are relatively rare in the population (reviewed in Al-Chalabi et al., 2017, PMID: 27982040), identification of new mutations require several thousand samples, which need to be obtained from multiple sites (even the busiest ALS clinics see only 200-400 patients per year). ALS Consortium is using genomics technologies to study the causes and mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease, and the contribution of various cell types within the brain and spinal cord. Much of this work is done and continues to be done in collaboration with the members of the NYGC ALS Consortium.

  Study phs003067

• Genetic_profiling_of_mucosal_melanoma

  Primary mucosal melanomas (MMs) arise from melanocytes located in mucosal membranes lining the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. MMs frequently present late and have a poor prognosis; the 5-year survival rate is only 14%. MM makes up only ~1.4% of all melanomas and it is this rarity that makes knowledge of the genetic changes that contribute to its pathogenesis limited to a small number of exome/genome studies and other targeted studies. Thus to investigate the somatic alterations and mutation spectra in MM genomes, we have extracted genomic DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human MMs, and subjected them to whole exome sequencing. Given the propensity of MM to metastasize, we will also be sequencing metastatic MM lesions; primary and metastatic lesions from the same individual represent an excellent opportunity to identify potential drivers of metastasis in MM. Finally we will sequence ‘normal’ DNA from the same individual, where possible, to exclude germline variations.

  Study EGAS00001001115

• A genomic approach towards an understanding of clonal evolution and disease progression in multiple myeloma

  Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a largely incurable haematological malignancy defined by the clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow. Clonal heterogeneity has recently been established as a feature in MM, however, the subclonal evolution associated with disease progression has not been described. We used whole exome sequencing to analyse 10 paired patient samples, providing new insights into the progression from Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and Smouldering MM (SMM), to symptomatic MM. We confirm that clonal heterogeneity is a common feature at diagnosis and that the driving events involved in disease progression are more complex than previously reported. While we observe some previously identified known “drivers” of MM, we find that the driving events involved in progression are complex and not limited to the known SNVs or CNVs. The RAS/MAPK pathway was found to be the most frequently deregulated pathway, with recurrent mutations in KRAS and NRAS observed in patients at both MGUS/SMM and MM stages. We reveal that MM evolution is mainly characterised by the phenomenon of clonal stability, where the subclonal plasma cell populations identified at MM progression are already present in the asymptomatic MGUS/SMM stages. These subclonal populations could be amenable to therapeutic intervention to arrest transformation to MM.

  Study EGAS00001002850

• Genomic landscape of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST)

  Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common tumor predisposition syndrome, and is associated with an aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs), the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in people with NF1. The only potentially curative therapy involves surgery which is not always possible. Even therapy with curative intent is associated with poor overall survival for both sporadic and NF1-related MPNSTs. The development of novel therapies has been largely hindered by a lack of understanding of the molecular events underpinning MPNST pathogenesis. This is a comprehensive multi-omic study of MPNST evolution based on whole genome sequencing and transcriptomic data.

  Study EGAS00001006069

• Reconstruction of complex rearrangement patterns causing the initiation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

  The genomic hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the loss of the short arm of chromosome three. This appears to be the earliest genomic event in the formation of these cancers. Often chromosome 3 is lost at the same time as part of chromosome 5 is duplicated via an unbalanced translocation, often with features consistent with focal chromothripsis. In this study, we sought to reconstruct the chromothriptic event that underlies the initiation of kidney cancer. We used long read sequencing (promethION, Oxford Nanopore Technologies) of patient tumour-derived DNA to elucidate how a single cell division error can generate cancer genome complexity.

  Dataset EGAD00001005495

• Human Lung Tissue eQTL Study

  Genetic risks underlying respiratory diseases (e.g. COPD and asthma) are carefully studied by large genome-wide association studies (GWAS), where many loci were identified. In the post-GWAS era, the main challenge is to find the causal genes and pathways in GWAS-nominated chromosomal regions and to characterize etiology mechanism. The Lung eQTL Consortium is an international effort to systematically capture the genetic architecture of gene expression regulation in human lung. By studying lung specimens from 1,103 individuals of mostly European ancestry, we report a large number of genetic variants affecting gene expression in the lung, or lung expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). These lung eQTLs will serve as an important resource to aid in the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of lung biology and its disruption in disease.

  Study phs001745

• Genome-wide DNA Methylation is Predictive of Outcome in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia

  Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a myeloproliferative disorder of childhood caused by mutations in the Ras pathway. Outcomes in this disease vary dramatically from spontaneous resolution with little or no treatment to rapid relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Given the high morbidity and late effects of transplant, it is critical to identify patients at diagnosis who can be observed rather than transplanted. We hypothesized that assessing DNA methylation status would help predict disease outcome. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling using the Illumina 450k platform in a discovery cohort of 39 patients was performed. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on the most highly variable CpG sites identified three clusters of patients. Importantly, these clusters differed significantly in terms of 4-year event-free survival, with the lowest methylation cluster having the highest rates of survival. These findings were validated in an independent cohort of 40 patients. Of particular interest is that all but one of fourteen patients experiencing spontaneous resolution of their disease clustered together and closer to 22 healthy controls than the other JMML cases. This study demonstrates that DNA methylation patterns in JMML are predictive of outcome in this heterogeneously behaving disease and can identify patients who are most likely to experience spontaneous resolution.

  Study EGAS00001002700

• single cell RNA-seq of bone marrow from infants with MLL-rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by single cell RNA-sequencing

  This dataset contains two experiments. 1) Single cell RNA-seq of diagnostic samples from patients with MLL-rearranged infant ALL that underwent relapse or not (samples ending in R relapsed, samples ending in N did not). For some of the patients, multiple indipendent plates were produced (each plate is a sample). 2) in vitro prednisolone exposure experiment. diagnostic bone marrow samples from patient 4662R were cultured for three days with and without prednisolone. Single cell experiments were conducted according to Muraro et al (cell systems, 2016, doi:10.1016/j.cels.2016.09.002). Cell barcodes and UMI sequences are embedded in the header of each fastq entry. Cell barcodes irrelevant to this experiment were removed before submission.

  Dataset EGAD00001005461

• Multi-Omic Investigation of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Wilms Tumor

  Wilms’ Tumor (WT), also known as nephroblastoma, is one of the most common malignant kidney tumors diagnosed in children. One of the most common WT predisposition syndromes is Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS, OMIM: 130650), which affects approximately 1/10,000 live births. In this study, we perform Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), DNA methylation array, and messenger RNA-Sequencing (mRNA-Seq), to examine the genomic, methylomic, and transcriptomic signature of BWS WT. We analyzed six tumor-normal paired samples, three BWS tumor only samples, and four non-BWS control samples to identify BWS WT drivers.

  Study phs002769

• Whole exome sequencing of uterine adenomyosis

  Uterine adenomyosis, defined by proliferation of the ectopic endometrial glands in myometrium, is a common benign uterine disorder that significantly impairs the quality of life of the women it affects. Adenomyosis lesions have chronic inflammatory reactions as well as cancer-like features such as invasive capacity into the normal myometrium. In contrast to endometriosis and leiomyoma, the genomic characterization of adenomyosis has yet to be reported. We conducted high-coverage whole exome sequencing analyses of freshly frozen adenomyosis samples, as well as co-occurring leiomyoma. Our WES analyses showed that adenomyosis is a clonal disorder with somatic mutations.

  Study JGAS000169

• Neural Systems, Inhibitory Control, and Methamphetamine Dependence

  The Neural Systems, Inhibitory Control, and Methamphetamine Dependence study started in 2011 and is currently finishing data collection for its last participants. The study included methamphetamine abusing individuals and healthy control participants aged 18-55 years. Participants who qualified over the telephone were scheduled to visit the London Laboratory at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior for the In-Person Screening Phase. The screening procedures, usually scheduled over two visits, determined if participants were eligible to complete the subsequent study visits. Both groups completed identical screening procedures, with the exception of more in-depth drug use questions for the methamphetamine users. After providing written consent, participants completed questionnaires about their mood, medical, psychiatric and drug use history, personality and life experiences. They also provided a urine sample to determine what drugs they recently used and a breath sample to determine the carbon monoxide levels in their system. The drug screen tested for recent methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates/opioids, benzodiazepines, THC and other amphetamines. Methamphetamine participants needed to test positive for methamphetamine at admission. If methamphetamine participants tested positive for any drugs other than methamphetamine or marijuana, and if healthy control participants tested positive for any drugs other than marijuana, they were excluded from the study. Additionally, the urine samples of female participants were tested for pregnancy; pregnant females were also excluded. If no exclusionary criteria were met during the first screening visit, participants completed a second screening visit to ensure they were mentally and physically healthy enough to participate. The second screening visit included a psychiatric diagnostic interview (DSM-IV (SCID-I) for first 500 participants and the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview M.I.N.I for the last 50 participants). Additionally, laboratory tests and procedures were completed by the UCLA General Clinical Research Center and interpreted by a study physician. Laboratory tests included vital signs (heart rate--BPM, blood pressure, and respirations), an electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the electrical activity of the heart, and an 18-cc blood sample to perform laboratory tests which included a complete chemistry and metabolic panel, hepatic panel, Hepatitis-C tests, and HIV test. The laboratory tests from this blood sample ensured that participants' liver and kidneys were functioning normally, and that their standard blood counts (red cell, white cell, and salts) were also normal. If a Hepatitis-C (HCV) or HIV test was positive, participants were not allowed to continue in the study and their results were reported to the California State Health Department. Participants deemed eligible to continue in the methamphetamine group participated on an outpatient basis or were admitted to the UCLA Medical Center to participate on an inpatient basis for up to 10 days. Typically, detectable levels of methamphetamine in urinalysis remain for 2-3 days, therefore inpatient days 0-3 served as a "washout period" and the methamphetamine abusing inpatient participants provided daily urine samples to test for recent drug use and pregnancy (female participants only). Outpatient participants were also required to remain abstinent from all drugs except nicotine and marijuana for at least 4 days prior to study sessions. Self-reported abstinence for outpatients was verified by urine toxicology and saliva screening at every visit to UCLA before completion of study procedures. Neurocognitive assessments, about three hours each, typically took place on two separate days. The purpose of the neurocognitive sessions were to assess participants' intellectual and neurocognitive functioning. On either the same day as the neurocognitive testing or on separate days, both methamphetamine abusers and healthy controls were administered a structural MRI to collect information on brain structure.

  Study phs001197

• Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study - Cohort

  CARDIA is a study examining the etiology and natural history of cardiovascular disease beginning in young adulthood. In 1985-1986, a cohort of 5115 healthy black and white men and women aged 18-30 years were selected to have approximately the same number of people in subgroups of age (18-24 and 25-30), sex, race, and education (high school or less and more than high school) within each of four US Field Centers. These same participants were asked to participate in follow-up examinations during 1987-1988 (Year 2), 1990-1991 (Year 5), 1992-1993 (Year 7), 1995-1996 (Year 10), 2000-2001 (Year 15), 2005-2006 (Year 20), and 2010-2011 (Year 25); the proportions of the surviving cohort that have returned for the seven follow-up examinations were 90%, 86%, 81%, 79%, 74%, 72%, and 72%, respectively. In addition to the follow-up examinations, participants are contacted regularly for the ascertainment of information on out-patient procedures and hospitalizations experienced between contacts. Within the past five years, 95% of the original surviving cohort has been contacted. While the specifics of each examination has differed somewhat, data have been collected on a variety of factors believed to be related to heart disease. These include conditions with clear links to heart disease such as blood pressure, cholesterol and other lipids. Data have also been collected on physical measurements such as weight and skinfold fat as well as lifestyle factors such as substance use (tobacco and alcohol), dietary and exercise patterns, behavioral and psychological variables, medical and family history, and other chemistries (e.g., insulin and glucose). In addition, subclinical atherosclerosis was measured via echocardiography during Years 5, 10, and 25, computed tomography during Years 15 and 20, and carotid ultrasound during Year 20. The CARDIA Cohort is utilized in the following dbGaP sub-studies. To view genotypes, other molecular data, and derived variables collected in these sub-studies, please click on the following sub-studies below or in the "Sub-studies" box located on the right hand side of this top-level study page phs000285 CARDIA Cohort. phs000236 PAGE_CALiCo_CARDIA phs000309 GENEVA_CARDIA phs000399 GO-ESP HeartGO_CARDIA phs000613 CARDIA_CARe

  Study phs000285

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

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

  Study EGAS50000000101

• Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis by genome-wide haplotyping of maternal cell-free plasma DNA

  Whereas non-invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidies (NIPT-A) is widely implemented, non-invasive prenatal testing for monogenic diseases (NIPT-M) is lagging. By capturing and targeted sequencing of 250000 polymorphic SNP loci from maternal plasma circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and DNA from relatives, the fetal haplotype and chromosomal copy numbers are deduced. In all families tested, the cfDNA derived haplotypes are on average 97% concordant with the neonatal and embryo haplotype. This generic non-invasive prenatal diagnostic approach allows cost efficient scrutinizing the fetal genome for the presence of any inherited monogenic disease or trait.

  Study EGAS00001003634

• Mucosal Melanoma Targeted Exome Sequencing Study (UCSF)

  Mucosal melanoma is a deadly disease that carries the worst prognosis amongst subtypes of melanoma. Like all melanomas, mucosal melanomas are frequently driven by activating mutations in the MAPK and/or PI3K pathways; however, unlike melanomas that arise on sun-exposed skin, mucosal melanomas harbor few point mutations. Instead, most somatic alterations involve structural alterations, which appear early during tumor progression. Molecular studies in mucosal melanoma generally only profile point mutations without interrogating copy number alterations, and pathogenic mutations are only found in 30% of cases. We sequenced 38 mucosal melanomas, and in addition to profiling point mutations, we looked for copy number alterations that amplify oncogenes or delete tumor suppressors.

  Study phs001594

• Diagnostic Exome Sequencing in Persons with Severe Intellectual Disability

  Intellectual disability is a common condition that carries lifelong severe medical and developmental consequences. The causes of intellectual disability (ID) remain unknown for the majority of patients due to the extensive clinical and genetic heterogeneity of this disorder. De novo mutations may play an important role in ID as most individuals with ID present as isolated cases without family history and/or clear syndromic indication. In addition, the involvement of such mutations have recently been demonstrated in a small number of individuals with ID. Here we evaluate the diagnostic potential and role of de novo mutations in a cohort of 100 patients with ID of unknown cause using family-based exome sequencing.

  Study EGAS00001000287

• DNA_repair_in_BLM_deficient_hiPSCs

  We are aiming to investigate repair of a double strand break (DSB) within the genome in the presence and absence of the BLOOM protein. Zinc Finger Nucleases introduce DSBs at specified loci within the genome. Using sequencing we will assess the size of the deletion following repair. Protocol1. Transfect normal and BLOOM deficient human iPS cells with ZFNs, using AMXA2. Harvest cells after 5 days3. Perform column extraction of DNA4. PCR-amplify the ZFN region 5. Sequence and analyse repair of the DSBThis 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 EGAS00001000740

• Single-cell RNA-seq data of the tumor microenvironment of lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma and other Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes

  Lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma (LR-CHL) is a rare subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma. Recent technical advances have allowed for the characterization of specific crosstalk mechanisms between malignant Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells and different normal immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CHL. However, the TME of LR-CHL has not yet been characterized at single cell resolution. Here, using single cell RNA sequencing, we examined the immune cell profile of 8 cell suspension samples of LR-CHL in comparison to 20 samples of the mixed cellularity (9 cases) and nodular sclerosis (11 cases) subtypes of CHL, as well as 5 reactive lymph node controls.

  Study EGAS00001005541

• The last addition to the list of clonal evolution studies in the EGA

  Tumours of different types may arise from a single cell with at least one malignant mutation. Accumulation of subsequent hits generates lineages of cells with different cancer transformation power; thus, every clone follows an autonomous evolution, and several clones may co-exist into the same solid or liquid tumour. Clonal evolution studies are not new: the conceptual power of this approach has been recognized since the early ’80, especially in leukaemia patients. Nonetheless, these studies greatly benefit from recent technological improvements -machineries and protocols-, which enable ever-increasing sequencing depth, allowing the detection of low frequency variants and consequently more tumour clones. Note: the figure belongs to the original paper and is owned by the authors. Researchers at the University of Kyoto in Japan, have indeed used state of the art knowledge to investigate the clonal evolution of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in a large panel of patients. CML progresses from a majoritarian benign chronic phase into an often fatal blast crisis phase. It is nowadays known that blast crisis are triggered by genetic instability and disrupted DNA repair, which lead to accumulation of DNA mutations. The use of thyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the Philadelphia chromosome have enormously improved the treatment of blast crisis, nonetheless resistant patients are still a medical challenge. Yotaro Ochi and collegues used Whole Exome Sequencing of paired chronic phase and blast crisis samples to depict the genetic landscape of progression from the first to the second stage of the disease (as illustrated in their figure). Their results were published in Nature Communication on this May 2021. They used a dataset previously deposited at the EGA (EGAS00001003071) and their new generated data have been made available under accession number EGAS00001005075. Their analysis of the occurring mutations contribute to understanding the mechanisms of CML evolution and therefore develop a protocol for early management of patients with a TKI resistance signature. Up to date, the EGA hosts 99 clonal evolution studies, developed in several cancer types, including myeloma, renal carcinomas and ovarian cancer, in addition to various leukaemia subtypes, where this approach has been more widely applied and produced important results and seminal papers. From a pan-cancer point of view, the definition of tumour architecture through clonal evolution studies is instrumental to unravel the mechanisms of disease progression and treatment-resistance insource. At the EGA, we are honoured to contribute to exciting and important science advances with our service!

  Blog the-last-addition-to-the-list-of-clonal-evolution-studies-in-the-ega

• Autozygosity pilot - Born in Bradford (2014-11-20)

  The offspring of first cousin marriages have ~6% of their genome autozygous, i.e. homozygous identical by descent, or even more if there was further consanguinity in their ancestry. In the UK there are large populations with very high first cousin marriage rates of 20-50%. Sequencing the exomes of a sample of these individuals has the potential both to support genetic health programmes in these populations, and to provide genetic research information about rare loss of function mutations. This pilot study based on existing cohort samples from the Born In Bradford study will identify homozygous individuals for almost all variants down to an allele frequency around 1%, plus individuals carrying hundreds of new homozygous rare loss-of-function variants, and will support development of community relations and ethics for a wider study currently being designed. The data deposited in the EGA consist of low coverage whole exome sequencing on these samples.Data Access is controlled by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute DAC and the Born In Bradford Executive Group. This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2014-11-20.

  Dataset EGAD00001001079

• GEX CITE-Seq performance dataset

  To understand the impact of enzymatic treatments on gene expression and epitope preservation on major immune cell populations, skin dissociation (SkinD) and solid soft tumor dissociation (TumorD) were tested on three healthy PBMC samples in triplicate (D1, D2, D3), against an untreated control. CITE-seq performance was assessed on a solid biopsy cohort of 11 samples (5 healthy skin samples, 3 primary melanoma samples, 3 melanoma metastasis samples) as well as on a liquid biopsy PBMC cohort consisting of three healthy donors and three immunotherapy-treated melanoma patients. This dataset contains the GEX data for each sample. Data is provided in the form of pooled BAM files. Linkage between samples, BAM files and hashtags is provided in a separate linkage file.

  Dataset EGAD00001008418

• ADT/SPEX CITE-Seq performance dataset

  To understand the impact of enzymatic treatments on gene expression and epitope preservation on major immune cell populations, skin dissociation (SkinD) and solid soft tumor dissociation (TumorD) were tested on three healthy PBMC samples in triplicate (D1, D2, D3), against an untreated control. CITE-seq performance was assessed on a solid biopsy cohort of 11 samples (5 healthy skin samples, 3 primary melanoma samples, 3 melanoma metastasis samples) as well as on a liquid biopsy PBMC cohort consisting of three healthy donors and three immunotherapy-treated melanoma patients. This dataset contains the ADT/SPEX data for each sample. Data is provided in the form of pooled BAM files. Linkage between samples, BAM files and hashtags is provided in a separate linkage file.

  Dataset EGAD00001008419

• Development of a diagnostic gene panel for Gorlin syndrome and its application to liquid biopsy

  Gorlin syndrome is an autosomal dominant, rare disease caused by mutations in PTCH1, PTCH2, and SUFU with various symptoms in multiple organs making early diagnosis challenging. In this study, we generated a Gorlin syndrome gene panel that could help to overcome the difficulties in diagnosing Gorlin syndrome using a single test. This gene panel is time- and cost-efficient and highly reliable with a high-quality score of 30, on-target ratio, and coverage depth, and could detect more mutations than whole-exome sequencing of the same patient. Although the current in silico prediction tools have a limited genetic database of gene mutations in rare hereditary diseases, five prediction tools were used to identify pathological mutations. Pathogenic gene mutations were detected not only in PTCH1 but also in PTCH2 in five out of 12 patients with Gorlin syndrome diagnosed based on clinical symptoms. Using this gene panel, we showed the same gene mutation in the patients and their asymptomatic relatives; hence, it has enabled a highly reliable genetic diagnosis of Gorlin syndrome at a low cost requiring only blood sample.

  Study JGAS000308

• Epigenetics of Cocaine and Nicotine Addiction

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

  Study phs001377

• An MTOR mutation hitchhikes through renal embryogenesis, driving multifocal, multiphenotypic tumours - WGS

  Embryogenesis is a vulnerable time. Mutations in developmental cells can result in the seeding of cells predisposed to disease within mature organs, creating a field effect. We characterise an embryonic cancer mutation that drives multifocal, multiphenotypic renal tumours in a 14-year-old girl. Their shared MTOR mutation, absent from normal tissues, increases protein flexibility which enables a FAT domain hinge to dramatically increase mTORC1 activity. Developmental mutations, not usually detected in traditional genetic screening, have vital clinical importance in guiding prognosis, targeted treatment, and family screening decisions for paediatric tumours.

  Dataset EGAD00001011645

• An MTOR mutation hitchhikes through renal embryogenesis, driving multifocal, multiphenotypic tumours - scRNA

  Embryogenesis is a vulnerable time. Mutations in developmental cells can result in the seeding of cells predisposed to disease within mature organs, creating a field effect. We characterise an embryonic cancer mutation that drives multifocal, multiphenotypic renal tumours in a 14-year-old girl. Their shared MTOR mutation, absent from normal tissues, increases protein flexibility which enables a FAT domain hinge to dramatically increase mTORC1 activity. Developmental mutations, not usually detected in traditional genetic screening, have vital clinical importance in guiding prognosis, targeted treatment, and family screening decisions for paediatric tumours.

  Dataset EGAD00001011647

• AVENIO Expanded ctDNA panel sequence alignments (BAMs) from plasma DNA of BC, CRC and NSCLC patients

  The AVENIO ctDNA Expanded Kit is a next-generation sequencing (NGS) liquid biopsy assay with a 77 gene panel (192 kb) containing genes in U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines and emerging cancer biomarkers. This pan-cancer assay was applied to 48 plasma samples from patients with breast, colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer. After sequencing 150bp paired-end, reads were aligned to the hg38 genome with the AVENIO Oncology Analysis Software (version 2.0). These files are the deduplicated alignments generated by the analysis software used for subsequent variant, indel and CNV calling.

  Dataset EGAD00001006301

• Chracterising cellur pathways underlying CD3/CD28 activation of human CD4+ cells

  We devised an approach to disentangle the TCR and CD28 pathways upon stimulation in naive and memory primary human CD4+ T cells (Tcons) in response to defined stimulatory signals. Isolated memory and naïve T cells were activated using anti-CD3, anti-CD28 or both in combination. As a control we cultured cells in the same conditions but without the stimuli. We carried Chipmentation using the H3K27ac antibody on 200,000 cross-linked cells. 1) This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/ .

  Dataset EGAD00001006611

• An MTOR mutation hitchhikes through renal embryogenesis, driving multifocal, multiphenotypic tumours - RNA

  Embryogenesis is a vulnerable time. Mutations in developmental cells can result in the seeding of cells predisposed to disease within mature organs, creating a field effect. We characterise an embryonic cancer mutation that drives multifocal, multiphenotypic renal tumours in a 14-year-old girl. Their shared MTOR mutation, absent from normal tissues, increases protein flexibility which enables a FAT domain hinge to dramatically increase mTORC1 activity. Developmental mutations, not usually detected in traditional genetic screening, have vital clinical importance in guiding prognosis, targeted treatment, and family screening decisions for paediatric tumours.

  Dataset EGAD00001011646

• Acute Respiratory Distress Network (ARDSNet) Studies 10 and 12 Statins for Acutely Injured Lungs from Sepsis (SAILS) (ARDSNet-SAILS-BioLINCC)

  Data Access NOTE: Please refer to the “Authorized Access” section below for information about how access to the data from this accession differs from many other dbGaP accessions. Biospecimens Access to Biospecimens is through the NHLBI Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center (BioLINCC). Biospecimens from ARDSNet-SAILS include Plasma, DNA, and Urine. Please note that use of biospecimens in genetic research is subject to a tiered consent. Objectives The SAILS trial was intended to assess the efficacy and safety of oral rosuvastatin in participants with sepsis-induced Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and test the hypothesis that rosuvastatin therapy would improve the clinical outcomes of critically ill participants with sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Background In ARDS, inflammation in the lungs and other organs can cause life-threatening organ failure. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (statins) can modulate inflammatory responses. Previous observational studies suggested that statins improved clinical outcomes in participants with sepsis. Participants There were 745 participants. Design Participants were randomly assigned in permuted blocks to receive either enteral rosuvastatin or placebo. A 40 mg loading dose of the study drug was administered within four hours after randomization. Subsequently, maintenance doses of 20 mg were administered daily until the third day after discharge from the intensive care unit, study day 28, hospital discharge, or death, whichever came first. The primary outcome measure was mortality before hospital discharge home or until study day 60 if the participant was still in a health care facility. Secondary outcome measures included the number of ventilator-free days to day 28, organ-failure-free days to day 14, and ICU-free days to day 28. Conclusions The study was stopped because of futility after 745 of an estimated 1000 participants had been enrolled. There was no significant difference between study groups in 60 day in-hospital mortality or in mean ventilator-free days. The rosuvastatin group had fewer days free of hepatic or renal failure. Thus, rosuvastatin therapy did not improve clinical outcomes in participants with sepsis-associated ARDS and may have contributed to hepatic and renal organ dysfunction.

  Study phs003736

• CRCbiome: Gut metagenome of Norwegian screening participants using FIT sampling

  The study aims to characterize the gut metagenome of Norwegian screening participants and assess the ability of the gut metagenome to identify those at need for colonoscopy. Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality. However, current screening methods are either hampered by invasiveness or suboptimal performance, limiting their effectiveness as primary screening methods. To aid in the development of a non-invasive screening test with improved sensitivity and specificity, we have initiated a prospective biomarker study (CRCbiome), nested within a large randomized CRC screening trial in Norway. We aim to develop a microbiome-based classification algorithm to identify advanced colorectal lesions in screening participants testing positive for an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT). We will also examine interactions with host factors, diet, lifestyle and prescription drugs. The prospective nature of the study also enables the analysis of changes in the gut microbiome following the removal of precancerous lesions. Methods: The CRCbiome study recruits participants enrolled in the Bowel Cancer Screening in Norway (BCSN) study, a randomized trial initiated in 2012 comparing once-only sigmoidoscopy to repeated biennial FIT, where women and men aged 50–74 years at study entry are invited to participate. Since 2017, participants randomized to FIT screening with a positive test result have been invited to join the CRCbiome study. Self-reported diet, lifestyle and demographic data are collected prior to colonoscopy after the positive FIT-test (baseline). Screening data, including colonoscopy findings are obtained from the BCSN database. Fecal samples for gut microbiome analyses are collected both before and 2 and 12 months after colonoscopy. Samples are analyzed using metagenome sequencing, with taxonomy profiles, and gene and pathway content as primary measures. CRCbiome data will also be linked to national registries to obtain information on prescription histories and cancer relevant outcomes occurring during the 10 year follow-up period. Discussion: The CRCbiome study will increase our understanding of how the gut microbiome, in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors, influences the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. This knowledge will be crucial to develop microbiome-based screening tools for CRC. By evaluating biomarker performance in a screening setting, using samples from the target population, the generalizability of the findings to future screening cohorts is likely to be high.

  Study EGAS50000000170

• Chromatin accessibility maps of chronic lymphocytic leukemia identify subtype-specific epigenome signatures and transcription regulatory networks

  Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by substantial clinical heterogeneity, despite relatively few genetic alterations. To provide a basis for studying epigenome deregulation in CLL, we established genome-wide chromatin accessibility maps for 88 CLL samples from 55 patients using the ATAC-seq assay, and we also performed ChIPmentation and RNA-seq profiling for ten representative samples. Based on the resulting dataset, we devised and applied a bioinformatic method that links chromatin profiles to clinical annotations. Our analysis identified sample-specific variation on top of a shared core of CLL regulatory regions. IGHV mutation status – which distinguishes the two major subtypes of CLL – was accurately predicted by the chromatin profiles, and gene regulatory networks inferred for IGHV-mutated vs. IGHV-unmutated samples identified characteristic differences between these two disease subtypes. In summary, we discovered widespread heterogeneity in the chromatin landscape of CLL, established a community resource for studying epigenome deregulation in leukemia, and demonstrated the feasibility of chromatin accessibility mapping in cancer cohorts and clinical research.

  Dataset EGAD00001002110

• Mapping Cells and Interactions in the Thymus Across Development and Aging (2025-07-28)

  Single cell RNA sequencing on thymic cells from children with syndromic diseases such as Trisomy 21 and inflammatory/autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis. Our group has previously performed atlasing of the healthy human thymus using single cell transcriptomics and obtained an unprecedented understanding of human thymus throughout development. In this study, we intend to survey diseased human thymus and compare this to healthy to obtain a better understanding of thymic dysfunction in human diseases. The diseases we will survey include congenital conditions such as Down's syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome as well as acquired diseases such as myasthenia gravis and thymic hyperplasia. We intend to perform genetic and genomic study on the samples, including expression analysis. This will not only help us to understand the cells and molecular pathways affected in dysfunctional thymus; but may also lead to generalisable understandings in human genetic diseases and inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/ . This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2025-07-28.

  Dataset EGAD00001015660

• Res1_HT29_exp2_MC_03_03_22

  1 sample is pure plasmid DNA and 10 samples are cell pellets for genomic DNA extraction. CRISPR PCR1 and PCR2 indexing - Please use standard Kozuke primers.

  Study EGAS00001006093

• Res1_H23_exp1_MC_04_03_22

  1 sample is pure plasmid DNA and 8 samples are cell pellets for genomic DNA extraction. CRISPR PCR1 and PCR2 indexing - Please use standard Kozuke primers.

  Study EGAS00001006091

• Res1_HT29_exp1_MC_02_03_22

  1 sample is pure plasmid DNA and 10 samples are cell pellets for genomic DNA extraction. CRISPR PCR1 and PCR2 indexing - Please use standard Kozuke primers.

  Study EGAS00001006092

• Tissue-specificity and co-expression analyses identify human long non-coding RNAs related to inherited retinal disease genes

  The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in biological and pathological processes is still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to identify lncRNAs that potentially contribute to retinal biology and Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) by using two complementary strategies, tissue-specificity and location in topologically associating domains (TADs) containing IRD genes on one hand, and co-expression analyses on the other, applied to human retinal omics datasets. This combined approach resulted in the selection of 11 Retina Enriched IRD-gene Related (REIR) lncRNAs, one of which is novel. In-depth in silico and experimental characterization of REIRs identified novel REIR isoforms and confirmed retina-predominant (often photoreceptor-specific) expression as well as predicted functional association with visual function. Long-read direct cDNA sequencing (ONT) of three post-mortem human retina samples was used to delineate the novel REIR isoforms.

  Study EGAS50000000963

• Comprehensive analyses of clinicopathological features and genomic mutations of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma

  Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary liver cancer. We performed whole exome sequencing to clarify the relationship between genetic mutations and clinicopathological features in cHCC-CCA.

  Study JGAS000599

• Progression to AML is predictable and distinct from age related clonal hematopoiesis

  To examine the occurrence of somatic mutations prior to the development of acute myeloid leukemia, we undertook deep ECS (estimated limit of detection 1 mutation in 2500 cells) of 261 AML associated genes in 96 pre-AML cases and 420 age and gender-matched healthy controls of an average of 3853 unique DNA molecules covering each of the 1.19M bases spanning the target gene panel. The findings suggest that the development of clonal hematopoiesis and accumulation of somatic mutations is distinct and accelerated in pre-AML cases compared to healthy individuals

  Study EGAS00001002570

• NHLBI GO-ESP: Lung Cohorts Exome Sequencing Project (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension)

  The NHLBI "Grand Opportunity" Exome Sequencing Project (GO-ESP), a signature project of the NHLBI Recovery Act investment, was designed to identify genetic variants in coding regions (exons) of the human genome (the "exome") that are associated with heart, lung and blood diseases. These and related diseases that are of high impact to public health and individuals from diverse racial and ethnic groups will be studied. These data may help researchers understand the causes of disease, contributing to better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, as well as determine whether to tailor prevention and treatments to specific populations. This could lead to more effective treatments and reduce the likelihood of side effects. GO-ESP is comprised of five collaborative components: 3 cohort consortia - HeartGO, LungGO, and WHISP - and 2 sequencing centers - BroadGO and SeattleGO. The syndrome of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a pulmonary disease that carries very high morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a category of PH (WHO Group 1) that includes several entities (idiopathic or heritable PAH, and PAH associated with other diseases such as connective tissue diseases including scleroderma-associated PAH) and carries a dismal prognosis, in particular when it relates to scleroderma-associated PAH (median survival of about 4 years). It is believed that the severity of structural changes involving the pulmonary vasculature and right ventricular failure are genetically determined. The 'Genomics and Genetics of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension' study at Johns Hopkins University aims to identify genetic determinants associated with risk of PAH in a cohort of European American and African American participants with and without PAH. The study also focuses on patients with scleroderma, who are further stratified according to those who have or do not have PAH. The broad goals of the Lung GO/ESP-GO falls into two general categories: (i) discovery of all variants (i.e., common and rare) in all protein-coding regions of the human genome (i.e., the exome) conferring risk to complex pulmonary diseases including PAH. The Johns Hopkins University PAH cohort offers a unique opportunity to elucidate genetic variants that cause PAH.

  Study phs000290

• Elucidating the development of cervical cancer and identifying therapeutic targets based on cancer genome analysis.

  The objective of this project is to analyze genomic aberrations and gene expression changes, such as mutations, deletions, and amplifications, in human cervical cancer cells at the somatic cell level, and to contrast these with clinicopathological information to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and characteristics of lcervical cancer development and progression at the genetic level.

  Study JGAS000803

• Single Cell Transcriptomics of peripheral immune cells pre- and post-Immune Checkpoint Blockade

  This is raw sequencing data, analysis of which is presented in the paper "Sensitivity to Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Progression-Free Survival is associated with baseline CD8+ T cell clone size and cytotoxicity", DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.15.383786

  Dataset EGAD00001007942

• pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma exomes in study: Pro-immunogenic Impact of MEK inhibition combined with an anti-CD40 immunostimulatory antibody

  This dataset contains 3 pairs of exomes, germline (from whole blood) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX), from human pancreatic durctal adenocarcinoma patients. The data is referred to in the publication: "Pro-immunogenic impact of MEK inhibition synergizes with agonist anti-CD40 immunostimulatory antibodies in tumor therapy" (Nature Communications, 2020) Abstract: Cancer types with lower mutational load and a non-permissive tumor microenvironment are intrinsically resistant to immune checkpoint blockade. While the combination of cytostatic drugs and immunostimulatory antibodies constitutes an attractive concept for overcoming this refractoriness, suppression of immune cell function by cytostatic drugs may limit therapeutic efficacy. Here we show that targeted inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) does not impair dendritic cell-mediated T-cell priming and activation. Accordingly, combining MEK inhibitors (MEKi) with agonist antibodies (Abs) targeting the immunostimulatory CD40 receptor resulted in potent synergistic anti-tumor efficacy. Detailed analysis of the mechanism of action of MEKi GDC-0623 by means of flow cytometric analysis of the tumor immune infiltrate and whole tumor transcriptomics showed that, in addition to its cytostatic impact on tumor cells, this drug exerts multiple pro-immunogenic effects, including the suppression of M2-type macrophages, myeloid derived suppressor cells and CD4+ T-regulatory cells. In addition, MEKi was found to induce tumor-cell intrinsic interferon signaling, which contributed to antigen presentation by tumor cells. Finally, the tumoridical impact of MEKi involves the activation of multiple pro-inflammatory pathways involved in immune cell effector function in the tumor microenvironment. Our data therefore indicate that the combination of MEK inhibition with agonist anti-CD40 Ab is a promising therapeutic concept, especially for the treatment of mutant Kras-driven tumors such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

  Dataset EGAD00001005938

• NSIGHT North Carolina Newborn Exome Sequencing for Universal Screening (NC NEXUS)

  Since newborn screening (NBS) began in the 1960s, technological advances have resulted in its use in an increasing number of disorders. Recent developments in whole-genome sequencing and its simpler corollary, whole-exome sequencing (WES), now afford the opportunity to comprehensively define the variation within an individual's genome in a rapid and affordable manner. Many challenges arise with the clinical application of genome-scale sequencing and in deriving practical benefits to infants and children. Its utility in NBS has yet to be demonstrated and its application in the pediatric population requires special examination, not only for potential clinical benefits but also for the unique ethical challenges it presents. In this proposal, we outline a highly interdisciplinary approach to identify, confront, and overcome the major challenges that must be met in order to implement deep sequencing technology to enhance current newborn screening in a diverse pediatric population. Overarching Aim 1 will evaluate the utility of WES as a diagnostic tool to extend the utility of current NBS. Using diverse cohorts of infants and young children with known conditions identified through NBS, we will examine the sensitivity and specificity of WES. We will also utilize WES in cohorts of children with known conditions not currently screened as potential candidates for NBS in the future. Overarching Aim 2 will develop and assess a framework for analyzing WES in a clinically oriented framework based on principles of ethics and evidence-based medicine. We will develop strategies to guide clinicians, clinical laboratories, and patients/families in their decisions regarding the inevitable incidental findings that will be detected, in ways that respect the child and protect his/her future autonomy, while also respecting parental interests and rights. Overarching Aim 3 will explore ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) involved in informed decision making and develop best practices regarding the return of results after testing. We will develop novel decision support tools and evaluate their usefulness in parental decision making, and examine the burdens placed on clinicians as this new technology is deployed in the vulnerable and special population that are newborns and their families.

  Study phs002095

• Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples (T2D-GENES) Project 1: KARE

  T2D-GENES (Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples) is a NIDDK-funded international research consortium which seeks to identify genetic variants for type 2 diabetes (T2D) through multiethnic sequencing studies. T2D-GENES Project 1 is a multi-ethnic sequencing study designed to assess whether less common variants play a role in T2D risk and to assess similarities and differences in the distribution of T2D risk variants across ancestry groups. The individuals were obtained from 14 cohorts that are listed in Table 1. The strategy was to perform deep exome sequencing of 12,940 individuals, 6,504 with T2D and 6,436 controls, divided among five ancestry groups: Europeans, East Asians, South Asians, American Hispanics, and African Americans. Sequencing was performed at the Broad Institute using the Agilent v2 capture reagent on Illumina HiSeq machines. Please note that while we summarize the full sample list in publications and below, the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) study does not have a sub study, as it is not consented to be deposited in dbGAP. Table 1. T2D-GENES Whole Exome Sequencing Studies Ancestry Study Countries of Origin # Cases # Controls African American Jackson Heart Study US 502 527 African American Wake Forest School of Medicine Study US 518 532 East Asian Korea Association Research Project Korea 526 561 East Asian Singapore Diabetes Cohort Study; Singapore Prospective Study Program Singapore (Chinese) 486 592 European Ashkenazi US, Israel 506 352 European Metabolic Syndrome in Men Study (METSIM) Finland 484 498 European Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) Study Finland 472 476 European Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) Germany 97 90 European UK Type 2 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (UKT2D) UK 322 320 European Malmö-Botnia Study Finland, Sweden 478 443 Hispanic San Antonio Family Heart Study, San Antonio Family Diabetes/ Gallbladder Study, Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study, and the Investigation of Nephropathy and Diabetes Study Family Component US 272 219 Hispanic Starr County, Texas US 749 704 South Asian London Life Sciences Population Study (LOLIPOP) UK (Indian Asian) 530 538 South Asian Singapore Indian Eye Study Singapore (Indian Asian) 563 585 The Korea Association Research Project (KARE) studies contributed 526 cases and 561 controls to T2D-GENES Project 1.

  Study phs001096

• Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples (T2D-GENES) Project 1: Ashkenazi

  T2D-GENES (Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples) is a NIDDK-funded international research consortium which seeks to identify genetic variants for type 2 diabetes (T2D) through multiethnic sequencing studies. T2D-GENES Project 1 is a multi-ethnic sequencing study designed to assess whether less common variants play a role in T2D risk and to assess similarities and differences in the distribution of T2D risk variants across ancestry groups. The individuals were obtained from 14 cohorts that are listed in Table 1. The strategy was to perform deep exome sequencing of 12,940 individuals, 6,504 with T2D and 6,436 controls, divided among five ancestry groups: Europeans, East Asians, South Asians, American Hispanics, and African Americans. Sequencing was performed at the Broad Institute using the Agilent v2 capture reagent on Illumina HiSeq machines. Please note that while we summarize the full sample list in publications and below, the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) study does not have a sub study, as it is not consented to be deposited in dbGAP. Table 1. T2D-GENES Whole Exome Sequencing Studies Ancestry Study Countries of Origin # Cases # Controls African American Jackson Heart Study US 502 527 African American Wake Forest School of Medicine Study US 518 532 East Asian Korea Association Research Project Korea 526 561 East Asian Singapore Diabetes Cohort Study; Singapore Prospective Study Program Singapore (Chinese) 486 592 European Ashkenazi US, Israel 506 352 European Metabolic Syndrome in Men Study (METSIM) Finland 484 498 European Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) Study Finland 472 476 European Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) Germany 97 90 European UK Type 2 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (UKT2D) UK 322 320 European Malmö-Botnia Study Finland, Sweden 478 443 Hispanic San Antonio Family Heart Study, San Antonio Family Diabetes/ Gallbladder Study, Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study, and the Investigation of Nephropathy and Diabetes Study Family Component US 272 219 Hispanic Starr County, Texas US 749 704 South Asian London Life Sciences Population Study (LOLIPOP) UK (Indian Asian) 530 538 South Asian Singapore Indian Eye Study Singapore (Indian Asian) 563 585 The Ashkenazi study contributed 506 cases and 352 controls to T2D-GENES Project 1.

  Study phs001095

• Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples (T2D-GENES) Project 1: Singapore

  T2D-GENES (Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples) is a NIDDK-funded international research consortium which seeks to identify genetic variants for type 2 diabetes (T2D) through multiethnic sequencing studies. T2D-GENES Project 1 is a multi-ethnic sequencing study designed to assess whether less common variants play a role in T2D risk and to assess similarities and differences in the distribution of T2D risk variants across ancestry groups. The individuals were obtained from 14 cohorts that are listed in Table 1. The strategy was to perform deep exome sequencing of 12,940 individuals, 6,504 with T2D and 6,436 controls, divided among five ancestry groups: Europeans, East Asians, South Asians, American Hispanics, and African Americans. Sequencing was performed at the Broad Institute using the Agilent v2 capture reagent on Illumina HiSeq machines. Please note that while we summarize the full sample list in publications and below, the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) study does not have a sub study, as it is not consented to be deposited in dbGAP. Table 1. T2D-GENES Whole Exome Sequencing Studies Ancestry Study Countries of Origin # Cases # Controls African American Jackson Heart Study US 502 527 African American Wake Forest School of Medicine Study US 518 532 East Asian Korea Association Research Project Korea 526 561 East Asian Singapore Diabetes Cohort Study; Singapore Prospective Study Program Singapore (Chinese) 486 592 European Ashkenazi US, Israel 506 352 European Metabolic Syndrome in Men Study (METSIM) Finland 484 498 European Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) Study Finland 472 476 European Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) Germany 97 90 European UK Type 2 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (UKT2D) UK 322 320 European Malmö-Botnia Study Finland, Sweden 478 443 Hispanic San Antonio Family Heart Study, San Antonio Family Diabetes/ Gallbladder Study, Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study, and the Investigation of Nephropathy and Diabetes Study Family Component US 272 219 Hispanic Starr County, Texas US 749 704 South Asian London Life Sciences Population Study (LOLIPOP) UK (Indian Asian) 530 538 South Asian Singapore Indian Eye Study Singapore (Indian Asian) 563 585 The Singapore studies contributed 1049 cases and 1177 controls to T2D-GENES Project 1.

  Study phs001097

• Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples (T2D-GENES) Project 1: London Life Sciences Population Study (LOLIPOP) UK South Asian

  T2D-GENES (Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Exploration by Next-Generation Sequencing in Multi-Ethnic Samples) is a NIDDK-funded international research consortium which seeks to identify genetic variants for type 2 diabetes (T2D) through multiethnic sequencing studies. T2D-GENES Project 1 is a multi-ethnic sequencing study designed to assess whether less common variants play a role in T2D risk and to assess similarities and differences in the distribution of T2D risk variants across ancestry groups. The individuals were obtained from 14 cohorts that are listed in Table 1. The strategy was to perform deep exome sequencing of 12,940 individuals, 6,504 with T2D and 6,436 controls, divided among five ancestry groups: Europeans, East Asians, South Asians, American Hispanics, and African Americans. Sequencing was performed at the Broad Institute using the Agilent v2 capture reagent on Illumina HiSeq machines. Please note that while we summarize the full sample list in publications and below, the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) study does not have a sub study, as it is not consented to be deposited in dbGAP. Table 1. T2D-GENES Whole Exome Sequencing Studies Ancestry Study Countries of Origin # Cases # Controls African American Jackson Heart Study US 502 527 African American Wake Forest School of Medicine Study US 518 532 East Asian Korea Association Research Project Korea 526 561 East Asian Singapore Diabetes Cohort Study; Singapore Prospective Study Program Singapore (Chinese) 486 592 European Ashkenazi US, Israel 506 352 European Metabolic Syndrome in Men Study (METSIM) Finland 484 498 European Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) Study Finland 472 476 European Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) Germany 97 90 European UK Type 2 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (UKT2D) UK 322 320 European Malmö-Botnia Study Finland, Sweden 478 443 Hispanic San Antonio Family Heart Study, San Antonio Family Diabetes/ Gallbladder Study, Veterans Administration Genetic Epidemiology Study, and the Investigation of Nephropathy and Diabetes Study Family Component US 272 219 Hispanic Starr County, Texas US 749 704 South Asian London Life Sciences Population Study (LOLIPOP) UK (Indian Asian) 530 538 South Asian Singapore Indian Eye Study Singapore (Indian Asian) 563 585 The London Life Sciences Population Study (LOLIPOP) contributed 530 cases and 538 controls to T2D-GENES Project 1.

  Study phs001093

• CYP2C19 long-read sequencing

  Inter-individual differences in drug response based on genetic variations can lead to drug toxicity and treatment inefficacy. A large part of this variability is caused by genetic variants in pharmacogenes. Unfortunately, the Single Nucleotide Variant (SNV) panels currently used in clinical pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing are unable to detect all genetic variability in these genes. Long-read sequencing, on the other hand, has been shown to be able to resolve complex (pharmaco)genes. In this study we have assessed the added value of long-read sequencing for PGx focusing on the clinically important and highly polymorphic CYP2C19 gene. With a capture-based long-read sequencing panel we were able to characterize the entire region and assign variants to their allele of origin (phasing), resulting in the identification of 813 unique variants in 37 samples. To assess the clinical utility of this data we have compared the performance of three different *-allele tools (Aldy, PharmCat and PharmaKU) which are specifically designed to assign clinical haplotypes to pharmacogenes based on all input variants. We conclude that long-read sequencing can improve our ability to characterize the CYP2C19 locus, help to identify novel haplotypes and that *-allele tools are an useful asset in phenotype prediction. Ultimately, this approach could help to better predict an individual’s drug response and improve therapy outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001006929

• Genomic characterization of co-existing biliary tract intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma lesions reveals distinct evolutionary paths of gallbladder cancer

  Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common cancer of the biliary tract with dismal survival largely due to delayed diagnosis. Biliary tract intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) is the common benign tumor that is suspected to be precancerous lesions. However, the genetic and evolutionary relationships between BilIN and carcinoma remain unclear. Here we performed whole-exome sequencing of coexisting low-grade BilIN (adenoma), high-grade BilIN, and carcinoma lesions, and normal tissues from the same patients.

  Dataset EGAD00001007792

• Multimodal Analysis for Human Ex Vivo Studies Shows Extensive Molecular Changes from Delays in Blood Processing

  Multi-omic profiling of human peripheral blood is increasingly utilized to identify biomarkers and pathophysiologic mechanisms of disease. The importance of these platforms in clinical and translational studies led us to investigate the impact of delayed blood processing on the numbers and state of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and on the plasma proteome. Similar to previous studies, we show minimal effects of delayed processing on the numbers and general phenotype of PBMCs up to 18 hours. In contrast, profound changes in the single-cell transcriptome and composition of the plasma proteome become evident as early as 6 hours after blood draw. These reflect patterns of cellular activation across diverse cell types that lead to progressive distancing of the gene expression state and plasma proteome from native in vivo biology. Differences accumulating during an overnight rest (18 hours) could confound relevant biologic variance related to many underlying disease states.

  Study phs002280

• ALS Compute

  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of brain and spinal cord motor neurons. Half of ALS patients display cognitive symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD); reciprocally, about 40% of FTD patients show motor neuron deficits, and approximately 15% develop overt ALS. The clinical overlap between ALS and FTD means that the two conditions are thought to represent a disease spectrum (ALS/FTD). In recent years, the identification of several genetic causes of ALS/FTD has contributed significantly to our understanding of disease pathogenesis. Unfortunately, one-third of the underlying genetic causes of familial cases and ~90% of sporadic cases of ALS/FTD remain unexplained. As such, there is a dire need to identify additional genetic factors contributing to ALS/FTD. Such studies require huge cohorts of harmonized whole genome sequencing (WGS) data sets from cases and controls. Currently, there are several major ongoing sequencing efforts for ALS patients. Numerous centers lead to inefficiency, especially in terms of overall costs. At a minimum, this includes the cost of high-performance computing, the storage of large data files, and the duplication of effort between groups. This lack of data harmonization between groups precludes sharing of genetic information and weakens collaborative efforts. The cost and logistics are also a barrier to attracting talented investigators to the ALS/FTD field. To overcome this unmet need, we have founded the ALS Compute project. We are centralizing the storage of ALS/FTD WGS data from every significant sequencing effort in the United States and beyond within a single Cloud environment. This approach will facilitate data harmonization and improve accessibility to the data. To accomplish this, we have made the data and the computational infrastructure available via the Terra platform hosted by NHGRI's Genomic Data Science Analysis, Visualization, and Informatics Lab-Space (AnVIL). This will allow researchers worldwide to access this wealth of data, develop new theories of the disease, and yield breakthroughs in our understanding of ALS/FTD.

  Study phs003184

• P647 Targeted resequencing project

  In collaboration with Dr Robert Semple we have identified a family harbouring an autosomal dominant variant, which leads to severe insulin resistance (SIR), short stature and facial dysmorphism. This family is unique within the SIR cohort in having normal lipid profiles, preserved adiponectin and normal INSR expression and phosphorylation. DNA is available for 7 affected and 7 unaffected family members across 3 generations. All 14 samples have been genotyped using microsatellites and the Affymetrix 6.0 SNP chip. Linkage analysis identified an 18.8Mb haplotype on chromosome 19 as a possible location of the causative variant. However, Exome sequencing of 3 affected and 1 unaffected family members has not identified the causative variant suggesting the possibility of an intronic or intergenic variant in this region or elsewhere in the genome. We propose to conduct whole genome sequencing of 5 members of the pedigree at a depth of 20X. The chosen samples are two sets of parents plus one member of an unaffected branch of the pedigree who shares the risk haplotype on chromosome 19. Sequencing of the two sets of parents will be used along with the genome-wide SNP data to impute 4 affected children giving an effect sample size of 6 affected individuals.

  Dataset EGAD00001000383

• The Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) - NeuroLINCS

  The NeuroLINCS Center is part of the NIH Common Fund's Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) program, which aims to characterize how a variety of human cells, tissues and the entire organism respond to perturbations by drugs and other molecular factors. As Part of the LINCS program, the NeuroLINCS study concentrates on human brain cells, which are far less understood than other cells in the body. Our initial focus is to produce diseased motor neurons from patients by utilizing high-quality induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients in addition to unaffected normal healthy controls. Using state-of-the-art OMICS methods (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics), we intend to create a wealth of cellular data that is patient-specific in the context of their baseline genetic perturbations and in the presence of other genetic and environmental perturbagens (e.g. endoplasmic reticulum stress). The primary data will be used to build cell signatures that convey the key features that distinguish the state of a cell and determine its behavior. Ultimately, the analysis of these datasets will lead to the identification of a network of unique signatures relevant to each of these motor neuron diseases. The datasets represented in this study are generated from assays interrogating RNA expression (RNA-seq), chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) and whole genome sequencing.

  Study phs001231

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) Adding Hispanics to Ongoing GWAS in Colorectal Cancer

  Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been instrumental in identifying a number of common susceptibility loci in Non Hispanic (NH)-White populations, and a NCI priority is to extend GWAS findings to other populations to address racial/ethnic disparities in cancer susceptibility. Currently, GWA studies of CRC in NH-Whites, Japanese and African-Americans are ongoing. We propose a complementary study to address this critical research area in Hispanics. Hispanics represent the fastest growing ethnic population in the U.S. and have been largely understudied in terms of genetic susceptibility to cancer. There are noted differences in incidence, survival and mortality in CRC by ethnic/racial groups. Hispanics often present with CRC at a younger age and have a significantly greater incidence of stage IV tumors or metastatic disease compared to NH-Whites. We propose to conduct a large, cost-efficient, population-based GWAS in Hispanics by building upon existing NIH-funded resources, the Colon Cancer Family Registry (Colon CFR) and the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC). We plan to recruit 2,500 Hispanic men and women diagnosed with CRC between 01/2008 to present using cancer registries in California, physican referrals and familial referrals. Risk factor/diet questionnaires, pathology reports, Oragene saliva samples (for genotyping), optional blood samples (for genotyping and biometric analysis) and tumor blocks (for MSI testing) will be collected using methodologies developed in the Colon CFR/MEC. Cases of CRC in the MEC (currently 473; anticipated 600 at end) will also be included. Population-based Hispanic individuals without a diagnosis of CRC participating in other GWA studies in the MEC (n=3,900, U01HG004726, Haiman) will be used as controls. We will genotype all 3,100 cases using the Illumina 1M array and use available genotype and epidemiologic data collected on 3,900 controls. Our statistical analyses will include: single-SNP and haplotype effects, gene-environment interactions and heterogeneity by MSI, tumor subtype and family history of CRC. We will replicate findings in a second-stage using CRC cases and controls from Mexico (1,000 cases and 1,000 controls, EU FP7 funding, CHIBCHA, Carvajal-Carmona/Tomlinson). We will also examine heterogeneity of the risk estimates by ethnicity/race by leveraging GWA data on NH-Whites (2,142 cases, 1,909 controls, U01 CA122839, Casey), (4,000 cases, 6,000 NH-White controls, UK-CHIBCHA, Tomlinson), Colombians (2,000 cases and 2,000 controls, CHIBCHA), Japanese (1,000 cases and 1,000 controls) and African-Americans (1,500 cases and 1,500 controls, R01CA126895, Le Marchand). We will genotype replicated significant SNPs in our main and combined analysis in several Hispanic populations (note: studies funded by EU or NIH for data collection but not GWAS), including 800 Puerto Ricans, 2,000 Brazilians, 2,000 Argentineans and 3,000 Spanish/Portuguese, to assess generalizability of findings. We will examine the differences in inflammatory gene transcription dynamics in leukocytes (from blood sample collection) by fatigue level (as assessed from study questionnaire data). This study will have a high impact by addressing the key question of racial/ethnic disparities related to genetic susceptibility to CRC, will provide translational guidelines on biological mechanisms during the cancer survivorship period to increase quality of life among cancer survivors, and will enable further growth and investment into research among Hispanics by providing a resource of genetic data and biospecimens, which is lacking.

  Study phs001193

• Fixed single-cell transcriptomic characterization of human radial glial diversity

  The human neocortex is created from diverse intermixed progenitors in the prenatal germinal zones. These progenitors have been difficult to characterize since progenitors - particularly radial glia (RG) - are rare, and are defined by a combination of intracellular markers, position and morphology. To circumvent these problems we developed a method called FRISCR (Fixed and Recovered Intact Single Cell RNA) for transcriptome profiling of individual fixed, stained and sorted cells. We developed and validated FRISCR on human embryonic stem cells. We then profiled primary human RG (96 - 132 days post conception) that constitute only 1% of the mid-gestation cortex. These RG could be classified into ventricular zone-enriched RG (vRG) that express ANXA1 and CRYAB, and outer subventricular zone-localized RG (oRG) that express HOPX. Our study identifies the first markers and molecular profiles of vRG and oRG cells, and provides an essential step for understanding molecular networks driving the lineage of human neocortical progenitors. Reprinted from Thomsen et. al. Nature Methods (2015), with permission from Nature Publishing. Human embryonic stem cell data may be obtained through NCBI's GEO database, using accession number GSE71858. Raw data from one human sample that was not consented to be released to dbGaP may be obtained directly from the authors of Thomsen et. al., 2015.

  Study phs001016

• Multimodal plasma and urinary cell-free DNA profiling improves risk stratification in newly diagnosed prostate cancer

  Prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease, impeding early detection and risk stratification. Liquid biopsies (LBx) enable minimally invasive tumor profiling, but circulating tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA) detection remains difficult, particularly in early-stage PCa. We developed a multimodal LBx approach combining genomic and epigenomic cell-free DNA (cfDNA) features in plasma and urine from newly diagnosed PCa patients to improve early characterization of PCa and risk stratification of aggressive disease. Plasma and urine samples from 55 localized PCa (lPCa) patients, 18 advanced PCa (aPCa) patients, and 36 cancer-free controls were subjected to low-coverage whole-genome sequencing and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing to assess fragmentation, chromosomal instability, and methylation in cfDNA. This complementary approach yielded a 45% ctDNA detection rate in newly diagnosed PCa. Major differences were observed between aPCa and controls, reflecting increasing signals with tumor progression. Epigenomic cfDNA features differentiated lPCa from aPCa, and ctDNA was detected in 46% of PCa patients with prostate-specific antigen <10 ng/ml, suggesting potential for risk stratification. This study highlights the value of multimodal LBx approaches for early characterization of primary PCa and identification of aggressive disease at initial diagnosis. Integration into clinical workflows could complement diagnostics and support personalized decision-making tailored to patients’ PCa risk profiles. 

  Study EGAS00001008195

• Characterization_of_genomic_landscape_of_Peripheral_T_cell_Lymphomas__not_otherwise_specified__PTCL_NOS_

  Peripheral T-cell lymphomas not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) represent a heterogeneous group of nodal and extra-nodal mature T-cell lymphomas, with a low prevalence in Western countries. PTCL-NOSs account for about 25% of all PTCLs and are currently diagnosed based on exclusion criteria, as this lymphomas lack unifying morphological, phenotypic and genomic features. Cytogenetic and FISH analysis of PTCL-NOS samples have not revealed recurrent pathogenetic abnormalities, while gene expression profiling has shown only partial ability to segregate cases representing homogeneous clinic-pathological entities. This underscores the need to look at PTCL-NOS with innovative and high-throughput approaches to identify recurrent genetic lesions that could further our understanding of the biology of this heterogeneous group of diseases, provide better diagnostic tools and perhaps new targets for innovative treatments. Our aim is to study ~15 patients affected by PTCL-NOS. Out study will be funded by a private, non-profit Italian cancer research fund (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro, www.airc.it) based on a grant owned by Anna Dodero and Cristiana Carniti, hematologists at INT. Samples will be analysed by whole genome sequencing using Illumina X10 machines, on a 150bp-PE protocol. Data will be analysed using the pipeline available in Team 78, under the supervision of Peter Campbell, the WTSI faculty who will oversee the project, and by Francesco Maura, visiting scientist at the WTSI.

  Study EGAS00001002057

• Control of Focal Adhesion Kinase Activation by RUNX1-regulated miRNAs in high-risk AML

  We recently described a 16-gene expression signature for improved risk stratification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients called the AML Prognostic Score (APS). A subset of APS high-risk AML patients showed increased levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), encoded by the Protein Tyrosine Kinase 2 (PTK2) gene, which was correlated with RUNX1 mutations. RUNX1 mutant cells are more sensitive to PTK2 inhibitors. As we were not able to detect RUNX1 binding sites in the PTK2 promoter, we hypothesized that RUNX1 might regulate micro(mi)RNAs that repress PTK2, such that loss-of-function RUNX1 mutations would result in reduced miRNA expression and derepression of PTK2. Examination of paired RNA-seq and miRNA-seq data from 301 AML cases revealed two miRNAs that positively correlated with RUNX1 expression, contained RUNX1 binding sites in their promoters and were predicted to target PTK2. We show that the hsa-let7a-2-3p and hsa-miR-135a-5p promoters are regulated by RUNX1, and that PTK2 is a direct target of both miRNAs. Even in the absence of RUNX1 mutations, hsa-let7a-2-3p and hsa-miR-135a-5p regulate PTK2 expression, and reduced expression of these two miRNAs sensitizes AML cells to PTK2 inhibition. These data explain how RUNX1 regulates PTK2, and identify potential miRNA biomarkers for targeting AML with PTK2 inhibitors.

  Study EGAS00001006491

• Framingham Cohort

  Startup of Framingham Heart Study. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and serious illness in the United States. In 1948, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) -- under the direction of the National Heart Institute (now known as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NHLBI) -- embarked on a novel and ambitious project in health research. At the time, little was known about the general causes of heart disease and stroke, but the death rates for CVD had been increasing steadily since the beginning of the century and had become an American epidemic. The objective of the FHS was to identify the common factors or characteristics that contribute to CVD by following its development over a long period of time in a large group of participants who had not yet developed overt symptoms of CVD or suffered a heart attack or stroke. Design of Framingham Heart Study. In 1948, the researchers recruited 5,209 men and women between the ages of 30 and 62 from the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, and began the first round of extensive physical examinations and lifestyle interviews that they would later analyze for common patterns related to CVD development. Since 1948, the subjects have returned to the study every two years for an examination consisting of a detailed medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, and in 1971, the study enrolled a second-generation cohort -- 5,124 of the original participants' adult children and their spouses -- to participate in similar examinations. The second examination of the Offspring cohort occurred eight years after the first examination, and subsequent examinations have occurred approximately every four years thereafter. In April 2002 the Study entered a new phase: the enrollment of a third generation of participants, the grandchildren of the original cohort. The first examination of the Third Generation Study was completed in July 2005 and involved 4,095 participants. Thus, the FHS has evolved into a prospective, community-based, three generation family study. The FHS is a joint project of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Boston University. Research Areas in the Framingham Heart Study. Over the years, careful monitoring of the FHS population has led to the identification of the major CVD risk factors -- high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity -- as well as a great deal of valuable information on the effects of related factors such as blood triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels, age, gender, and psychosocial issues. Risk factors have been identified for the major components of CVD, including coronary heart disease, stroke, intermittent claudication, and heart failure. It is also clear from research in the FHS and other studies that substantial subclinical vascular disease occurs in the blood vessels, heart and brain that precedes clinical CVD. With recent advances in technology, the FHS has enhanced its research capabilities and capitalized on its inherent resources by the conduct of high resolution imaging to detect and quantify subclinical vascular disease in the major blood vessels, heart and brain. These studies have included ultrasound studies of the heart (echocardiography) and carotid arteries, computed tomography studies of the heart and aorta, and magnetic resonance imaging studies of the brain, heart, and aorta. Although the Framingham cohort is primarily white, the importance of the major CVD risk factors identified in this group have been shown in other studies to apply almost universally among racial and ethnic groups, even though the patterns of distribution may vary from group to group. In the past half century, the Study has produced approximately 1,200 articles in leading medical journals. The concept of CVD risk factors has become an integral part of the modern medical curriculum and has led to the development of effective treatment and preventive strategies in clinical practice. In addition to research studies focused on risk factors, subclinical CVD and clinically apparent CVD, Framingham investigators have also collaborated with leading researchers from around the country and throughout the world on projects involving some of the major chronic illnesses in men and women, including dementia, osteoporosis and arthritis, nutritional deficiencies, eye diseases, hearing disorders, and chronic obstructive lung diseases. Genetic Research in the Framingham Heart Study. While pursuing the Study's established research goals, the NHLBI and the Framingham investigators has expanded its research mission into the study of genetic factors underlying CVD and other disorders. Over the past two decades, DNA has been collected from blood samples and from immortalized cell lines obtained from Original Cohort participants, members of the Offspring Cohort and the Third Generation Cohort. Several large-scale genotyping projects have been conducted in the past decade. Genome-wide linkage analysis has been conducted using genotypes of approximately 400 microsatellite markers that have been completed in over 9,300 subjects in all three generations. Analyses using microsatellite markers completed in the original cohort and offspring cohorts have resulted in over 100 publications, including many publications from the Genetics Analysis Workshop 13. Several other recent collaborative projects have completed thousands of SNP genotypes for candidate gene regions in subsets of FHS subjects with available DNA. These projects include the Cardiogenomics Program of the NHLBI's Programs for Genomics Applications, the genotyping of ~3000 SNPs in inflammation genes, and the completion of a genome-wide scan of 100,000 SNPs using the Affymetrix 100K Genechip. Framingham Cohort Phenotype Data. The phenotype database contains a vast array of phenotype information available in all three generations. These will include the quantitative measures of the major risk factors such as systolic blood pressure, total and HDL cholesterol, fasting glucose, and cigarette use, as well as anthropomorphic measures such as body mass index, biomarkers such as fibrinogen and CRP, and electrocardiography measures such as the QT interval. Many of these measures have been collected repeatedly in the original and offspring cohorts. Also included in the SHARe database will be an array of recently collected biomarkers, subclinical disease imaging measures, clinical CVD outcomes as well as an array of ancillary studies. The phenotype data is located here in the top-level study phs000007 Framingham Cohort. To view the phenotype variables collected from the Framingham Cohort, please click on the "Variables" tab above. The Framingham Cohort is utilized in the following dbGaP substudies. To view genotypes, analysis, expression data, other molecular data, and derived variables collected in these substudies, please click on the following substudies below or in the "Substudies" section of this top-level study page phs000007 Framingham Cohort. phs000342 Framingham SHARe phs000282 Framingham CARe phs000363 Framingham SABRe phs000307 Framingham Medical Resequencing phs000401 Framingham ESP Heart-GO phs000651 Framingham CHARGE-S phs000724 Framingham DNA Methylation phs001610 Framingham T2D-GENES phs002558 Framingham ADSP phs002559 Framingham BRIDGET phs002560 Framingham Cholesterol phs002611 Framingham Post-Mortem Brain Tissue phs002938 Framingham Molecular QTL The unflagging commitment of the research participants in the NHLBI FHS has made more than a half century of research success possible. For decades, the FHS has made its data and DNA widely available to qualified investigators throughout the world through the Limited Access Datasets and the FHS DNA Committee, and the SHARe database will continue that tradition by allowing access to qualified investigators who agree to the requirements of data access. With the SHARe database, we continue with an ambitious research agenda and look forward to new discoveries in the decades to come.

  Study phs000007

• SLCO1B1 Variants and Methotrexate Clearance

  Methotrexate plasma concentration is related to its clinical effects. To identify the genetic basis of interindividual variability in methotrexate pharmacokinetics in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we performed a genome-wide analysis (GWAS) of 500,568 germline single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 434 children with ALL who received 3,014 courses of methotrexate at 2 to 5 g/m2. SNPs were validated in an independent cohort of 206 patients. Adjusting for age, race, sex, and methotrexate regimen, the most significant associations were with SNPs in the organic anion transporter polypeptide, SLCO1B1 (rs11045879 (P = 1.7 x 10-10) and rs4149081 (P = 1.7 x 10-9) (Trevino et al, PMID: 19901119). To test whether rare variants in SLCO1B1 could alter its function, we genotyped SLCO1B1 exons in a slightly larger group of 699 children with ALL who received methotrexate and identified 93 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We found several common and rare non-synonymous (NS) SNPs associated with methotrexate clearance. NS SNPs predicted to be functionally damaging (common or rare) were more likely to be found among patients with the lowest adjusted methotrexate clearance (lowest 10%) than patients with high clearance (highest 10%). Four SLCO1B1 haplotypes were associated with reduced methotrexate clearance and we verified that these haplotypes have lower function with in vitro transport assays. We were able to quantitatively account for a third of the population variability in clearance of methotrexate with clinical and genetic covariates. This data set includes the dependent variable of methotrexate clearance and all of the SNP data available from arrays, sequencing, and genotyping.

  Study phs000426

• Common Variation in Candidate Genes in the Diabetes Prevention Program

  The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was a multicenter controlled clinical trial examining the efficacy of an intensive lifestyle intervention or metformin to prevent or delay the development of diabetes in a population selected to be at high risk due to the presence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and obesity. Development of diabetes, defined by 1997 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria, was the primary outcome while cardiovascular disease and its risk factors were important secondary outcomes. The pharmacological intervention was double blinded and placebo controlled. After randomization, participants had quarterly clinical evaluations and had, in addition, a fasting plasma glucose at semi-annual visits and a 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test at annual visits. Volunteers were recruited from populations known to be at particularly high risk for impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes including the following: persons with a family history of NIDDM, the elderly, overweight individuals, women with a history of diabetes during pregnancy ("gestational diabetes"), and minority populations including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Island Americans, and Native Americans. The primary focus of the genetic investigations have been on candidate genes, including candidates derived from GWAS of diabetes, lipid and glycemia-related phenotypes. Please note more phenotype data for the DPPG cohort is available through the NIDDK Data Repository. Information on obtaining this phenotype data can be found by going to https://www.niddkrepository.org/studies/dppos/?query=DPP and https://www.niddkrepository.org/studies/dpp/?query=DPP. Data will need to be requested from both data sets. A linking file will be available to the NIDDK Data Repository.

  Study phs000681

• Detection of Clinically Relevant Genetic Variantsin Autism Spectrum Disorderby Whole-Genome Sequencing

  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) demonstrates high heritability and familial clustering, yet the genetic causes remain only partially understood as a result of extensive clinical and genomic heterogeneity. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) shows promise as a tool for identifying ASD risk genes as well as unreported mutations in known loci, but an assessment of its full utility in an ASD group has not been performed. We used WGS to examine 32 families with ASD to detect de novo or rare inherited genetic variants predicted to be deleterious (loss-of-function and damaging missense mutations). Among ASD probands, we identified deleterious de novo muta- tions in six of 32 (19%) families and X-linked or autosomal inherited alterations in ten of 32 (31%) families (some had combinations of mutations). The proportion of families identified with such putative mutations was larger than has been previously reported; this yield was in part due to the comprehensive and uniform coverage afforded by WGS. Deleterious variants were found in four unrecognized, nine known, and eight candidate ASD risk genes. Examples include CAPRIN1 and AFF2 (both linked to FMR1, which is involved in fragile X syndrome), VIP (involved in social-cognitive deficits), and other genes such as SCN2A and KCNQ2 (linked to epilepsy), NRXN1, and CHD7, which causes ASD-associated CHARGE syndrome. Taken together, these results suggest that WGS and thorough bioinformatic analyses for de novo and rare inherited mutations will improve the detection of genetic variants likely to be associated with ASD or its accompanying clinical symptoms.

  Study EGAS00001000850

• whole genome sequence data of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma

  Background & Aims: The differentiation of distinct multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): multicentric disease vs. intrahepatic metastases, in which the management and prognosis varies substantively, remains problematic. We aim to stratify multifocal HCC and identify novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by performing whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, as part of a multi-omics strategy Methods: A complete collection of tumour and somatic specimens (intrahepatic HCC lesions, matched non-cancerous liver tissue and blood) were obtained from representative patientswith multifocal HCC exhibiting two distinct postsurgical courses. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing with genotyping were performed for each tissue specimen to con-trast genomic alterations, including hepatitis B virus integrations, somatic mutations, copy number variations, and structural variations. We then constructed a phylogenetic tree to visualise individual tumour evolution and performed functional enrichment analyses on select differentially expressed genes to elucidate biological processes involved in multifocal HCC development. Multi-omics data were integrated with detailed clinicopathological information to identify HCC biomarkers, which were further validated using a large cohort of HCC patients (n = 174).Results: The multi-omics pro?ling and tumour biomarkers could successfully distinguish the two multifocal HCC types, while accurately predicting clonality and aggressiveness. The dual speci?city protein kinase TTK, which is a key mitotic checkpoint regulator with links to p53 signaling, was further shown to be a promising overall prognostic marker for HCC in the large patient cohort.Conclusions: Comprehensive multi-omics characterisation of multifocal tumour evolution may improve clinical decision-making, facilitate personalised medicine, and expedite identi?cation of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in HCC.

  Study EGAS00001002338

• Poly(A) RNA sequencing of hepatocellular carcinoma tumors and their matched noncancerous liver tissues

  Background & Aims: The differentiation of distinct multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): multicentric disease vs. intrahepatic metastases, in which the management and prognosis varies substantively, remains problematic. We aim to stratify multifocal HCC and identify novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by performing whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, as part of a multi-omics strategy Methods: A complete collection of tumour and somatic specimens (intrahepatic HCC lesions, matched non-cancerous liver tissue and blood) were obtained from representative patientswith multifocal HCC exhibiting two distinct postsurgical courses. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing with genotyping were performed for each tissue specimen to con-trast genomic alterations, including hepatitis B virus integrations, somatic mutations, copy number variations, and structural variations. We then constructed a phylogenetic tree to visualise individual tumour evolution and performed functional enrichment analyses on select differentially expressed genes to elucidate biological processes involved in multifocal HCC development. Multi-omics data were integrated with detailed clinicopathological information to identify HCC biomarkers, which were further validated using a large cohort of HCC patients (n = 174).Results: The multi-omics profiling and tumour biomarkers could successfully distinguish the two multifocal HCC types, while accurately predicting clonality and aggressiveness. The dual specificity protein kinase TTK, which is a key mitotic checkpoint regulator with links to p53 signaling, was further shown to be a promising overall prognostic marker for HCC in the large patient cohort.Conclusions: Comprehensive multi-omics characterisation of multifocal tumour evolution may improve clinical decision-making, facilitate personalised medicine, and expedite identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in HCC.

  Study EGAS00001002337

• A proof-of-concept study of sequential treatment with the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat following BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAFV600 mutated melanoma

  "Purpose: Development of resistance limits the clinical benefit of BRAF and MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) in BRAFV600 mutated melanoma. It has been shown that short-term treatment (14 days) with vorinostat was able to initiate apoptosis of the resistant tumor cells. We aimed to assess the anti-tumor activity of sequential treatment with vorinostat following BRAFi/MEKi in patients with BRAFV600 melanoma who progressed after initial response to BRAFi/MEKi. Patients and Methods: Patients with BRAFi/MEKi resistant BRAFV600 melanoma were treated with vorinostat 360 mg QD for 14 days followed by BRAFi/MEKi. The primary endpoint was an objective response rate of progressive lesions of at least 30% according to RECIST 1.1. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety, pharmacokinetics of vorinostat and translational molecular analyses using ctDNA and tumor biopsies. Results: Twenty-six patients with progressive BRAFi/MEKi resistant BRAFV600 mutated melanoma received treatment with vorinostat. Twenty-two patients were evaluable for response. The ORR was 9% (one complete response for 31.2 months and one partial response for 14.9 months. Median PFS and OS were 1.4 and 5.4 months, respectively. Common adverse events were fatigue (23%) and nausea (19%). ctDNA analysis showed emerging secondary mutations in NRAS and MEK in eight patients at time of BRAFi/MEKi resistance. Elimination of these mutations by vorinostat treatment was observed in three patients. Conclusions: Intermittent treatment with vorinostat in patients with resistant BRAFV600 mutated melanoma is well tolerated. Although the primary endpoint of this study was not met, durable anti-tumor responses were observed in a minority of patients (9%). "

  Study EGAS00001007709

• Breast cancer women lack normal lifelong immune response after full-term pregnancies

  Immunological tolerance during pregnancy is necessary for women’s bodies to accept the semi-allogenic fetus. Interestingly, “immune evasion”, which consists of some similar immunological changes, was recently proposed as a hallmark of cancer. Looking at these results, it seems paradoxical that increasing number of full-term pregnancies (FTP) reduces the risk of breast cancer in women. Our aim was to use a systems epidemiology approach to investigate this paradox by modelling breast cancer incidence as a function of parity in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) cohort, then testing the mathematical model using gene expression from blood in a subcohort of these women: the NOWAC postgenome cohort. Lastly, we undertook a gene set enrichment analysis for immunological gene sets. A linear trend nicely fitted the dataset showing an 8% decrease in risk for each FTP, independent of stratification on other risk factors and lasting for decades after a woman’s last FTP. However, when we looked at gene expression we found that hundreds of genes showed linear trends in cancer-free controls, but this was not the case in /any/ of the samples from breast cancer cases. In the gene set enrichment analysis, samples consisted of human blood or cord blood and mouse bone marrow or spleen. We found more adaptive gene sets than expected in humans and more innate gene sets than expected in mice. None of the gene sets provided information about the long-term effects of immunological tolerance during pregnancy, but the lack of relevant reductionist experiments hampers our interpretation. We suggest that, after resolution at birth, the immunological tolerance induced by pregnancy augments immune response to cancer development.

  Study EGAS00001002616

• A catalog of the genetic causes of Hereditary Angioedema in the Canary Islands (Spain)

  Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease where known causes involve C1 inhibitor dysfunction or dysregulation of the kinin cascade. The updated HAE management guidelines recommend performing genetic tests to reach a precise diagnosis. Unfortunately, genetic tests are still uncommon in the diagnosis routine. Here, we characterized for the first time the genetic causes of HAE in affected families from the Canary Islands (Spain). Whole-exome sequencing data was obtained from 41 affected patients and unaffected relatives from 29 unrelated families identified in the archipelago. The Hereditary Angioedema Database Annotation (HADA) tool was used for pathogenicity classification and causal variant prioritization among the genes known to cause HAE. Manual reclassification of prioritized variants was used in those families lacking known causal variants. We detected a total of eight different variants causing HAE in this patient series, affecting essentially SERPING1 and F12 genes, one of them being a novel SERPING1 variant (c.686-12A>G) with a predicted splicing effect which was reclassified as likely pathogenic in one family. Altogether, the diagnostic yield by assessing previously reported causal genes and considering variant reclassifications according to the American College of Medical Genetics guidelines reached 66.7% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 30.1-91.0) in families with more than one affected member and 10.0% (95% CI: 1.8-33.1) among cases without family information for the disease. Despite the genetic causes of many patients remain to be identified, our results reinforce the need of genetic tests as first-tier diagnostic tool in this disease, as recommended by the international WAO/EAACI guidelines for the management of HAE.

  Study EGAS00001006547

• Spatial Transcriptomics of Vaccine Therapy With or Without Cyclophosphamide in Treating Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Stage I or Stage II Pancreatic Cancer That Can Be Removed by Surgery

  Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a rapidly progressing cancer that responds poorly to immunotherapies. Intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) have been associated with rare long-term PDAC survivors, but the role of TLS in PDAC and their spatial relationships within the context of the broader tumor microenvironment remain unknown. Here, spatial transcriptomics data were generated from 16 pancreatic cancer patients treated with GVAX, whose tumors presented with induced intratumoral TLS. Resected tumor specimens were embedded in OCT media and freshly frozen. Sections were cut into 6.5 x 6.5 mm dimensions compatible with Visium spatial transcriptomics slides. TLS-positive tumor sections from 14 patients (14 tumor samples in total) and lymph nodes from remaining patients (2 lymph node samples in total) were selected by an expert pathologist for profiling. We used 4 Visium slides and covered the 16 capture areas with sections cut in a cryostat at 10 µm. The fresh frozen Visium protocol was followed according to manufacturer's recommendations (10x Genomics Spatial 3' v1). Tissue permeabilization and library construction was carried out according to the manufacturer's protocols. Permeabilization time was optimized to 30 minutes. The captured tissue sections were permeabilized to allow RNA to be captured onto the slide where it reverse-transcribed to cDNA. The cDNA was then amplified, and sequencing libraries were prepared using the 10x Genomics Visium Spatial Gene Expression Reagent Kit for Library Preparation. The libraries were then sequenced using an Illumina NovaSeq sequencer. The raw data obtained from the sequencing were processed using the SpaceRanger (spaceranger-1.2.0) pipeline for alignment onto the GRCh38-2020-A reference transcriptome quantification of gene expression. Unsupervised learning generated a TLS-specific spatial gene expression signature that significantly associates with improved survival in PDAC patients. These analyses demonstrate TLS-associated intratumoral B cell maturation.

  Study phs003862

• Immune-Related Adverse Events after Immune Checkpoint Blockade-Based Therapy are Associated with Improved Survival in Advanced Sarcoma

  Immune activation after immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) can lead to a unique group of adverse events (AEs), which have been associated with improved outcome in many carcinomas. The association between immune-related AEs (irAEs) and outcome in patients with sarcoma is not well studied. This study has two components: (1) a retrospective clinical study of irAEs among 131 patients treated with ICB at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and (2) an analysis of a subset of these patients who have whole transcriptome sequencing available for analysis. In the clinical study portion, we reviewed a cohort of patients with advanced sarcoma treated on prospective clinical trials utilizing ICB-based therapy between April 2017 and January 2020. The objectives were to pool the safety data from each trial, identify irAEs, and correlate them with best overall response by RECIST 1.1, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Association of irAEs with response and survival was assessed using a Cox regression model. A total of 131 patients were included. Forty-two (32%) had at least one irAE of any grade and 16 (12%) had at least one Grade ≥ 3 irAE. On Cox analysis adjusting for clinical covariates that were significant in the univariate setting, the hazard ratio (HR) for an irAE (HR 0.662, 95% CI 0.421 - 1.041) approached, but did not reach statistical significance for PFS (P = 0.074), while patients had a significantly lower HR for OS (HR 0.443, 95% CI 0.246 – 0.798; P = 0.007) compared to those without or before an irAE. Tumor samples with available RNA sequencing data were stratified by presence of an irAE to identify patterns of differential gene expression. In total, 71 unique patients had RNA sequencing available for analysis. The transcriptomes of 31 of these patients have been previously uploaded to dbGaP (phs002852), leaving 36 unique transcriptomes that have not been previously publicly shared. Three patients did not agree for their sequencing to be publicly shared. Therefore, 33 unique patient samples will be uploaded to this dbGaP study. Overall, this study found that gene expression profiling on baseline tumor samples from patients who had an irAE had higher numbers of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, and regulatory T cells as well as upregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways.

  Study phs003284