14465 results for "PLOS+ONE+Pennsylvania+German+ACS+language+code+pdc+open+access+study"

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• scCRISPRi/a-seq Control and IFN treated iPS derived human GPC/OPCs

  Datasets consists of 2 batches of human glial progenitors (iPS), cells were sequenced as controls and IFN treated. Using the 10Genomics platform from the samples 2 libraries were built forgene expression libraries (scRNA-seq) and captured guides sequencing library (gRNA) on a set of Multiple Sclerosis associated SNPs. Batch one includes KRAB and P300 perturbed cells in 2 rounds sequenced RNA libraries for Ctrl and IFN and 1 round of capture guides for Ctrl and IFN. Batch 2 includes 1 round of both RNA expresison library and captures guides for KRAB and P300 perturbations in Ctrl and IFN treated cells.

  Dataset EGAD50000002053

• WES and RNAseq of Simultaneous Bilateral Breast Cancer

  This dataset includes NGS profiling of 13 women with simultaneous bilateral breast cancer. Seven women have WES of untreated surgical resections and matched healthy tissue. The six other women have WES of healthy tissue, WES+RNAseq of pre-neoadjuvant tumor biopsies, and when residual disease was present (6 tumors in 4 patients), WES+RNAseq of residual disease from post-neoadjuvant therapy surgery. One patient from the WES+RNAseq cohort had multifocal bilateral disease at diagnosis so there are 2 pre-neoadjuvant biopsy samples from each breast.

  Dataset EGAD00001009987

• WES

  Exome Sequencing. 3 ug of genomic DNA from each lymph node sample were sheared and used for the construction of a paired-end sequencing library as described in the paired-end sequencing sample preparation protocol provided by Illumina. Enrichment of exonic sequences was then performed for each library using either the Sure Select Human All Exon 50 Mb or All Exon+UTRs v4 kits following the manufacturer’s instructions (Agilent Technologies). Exon-enriched DNA was pulled down by magnetic beads coated with streptavidin (Invitrogen), followed by washing, elution and 18 additional cycles of amplification of the captured library. Enriched libraries were sequenced in one lane of an Illumina GAIIx sequencer or in two lanes of a HiSeq2000 when using pools of eight samples.

  Dataset EGAD00001005424

• Comprehensive genetic analysis of uveal melanoma heterogeneity during metastatic progression

  Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Despite improvement of diagnosis and treatment of the primary tumor, there is no effective treatment of metastatic disease and approximately half of patients will die within one year or less following metastases detection. Tumor heterogeneity has been proposed as a key factor of drug resistance. However, it has been scarcely studied in UM. The present project aims searching for specific drivers of the metastatic progression, describing the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of metastatic UM, exploring tumor heterogeneity and investigating its role in drug resistance. Thus whole exome sequencing and transcriptomics have been performed on constitutional, primary tumor and metastatic samples from 28 UM patients.

  Dataset EGAD00001004554

• ICR96 exon CNV validation series

  A resource for assessment of exon CNV calling methods in targeted NGS data, we here present the ICR96 exon CNV validation series. The dataset includes high-quality sequencing data from a targeted NGS assay (the TruSight Cancer Panel) together with Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) results for 96 independent samples. 66 samples contain at least one validated exon CNV and 30 samples have validated negative results for exon CNVs in 26 genes. The dataset includes 46 exon CNVs in BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM and PTEN, giving excellent representation of the cancer predisposition genes most frequently tested in clinical practice. Moreover, the validated exon CNVs include 25 single exon CNVs the most difficult exon CNV to detect.

  Dataset EGAD00001003335

• Data Access Committee of CiRA Foundation

  The iPS Cell Stock Project promoted by the CiRA Foundation is intended to generate and distribute iPS cells for medical use so they can be effectively utilized for research and development of cell transplantation therapy and contribute to the advancement of regenerative medicine that may become a novel treatment for patients suffering from intractable diseases or trauma who are not expected to improve with conventional therapies. In order to achieve this objective, CiRA Foundation establish the DAC based on the basic policies and rules for handling analysis information including iPS cell stocks for the purpose of proper sharing of samples and analyzed data collected directly or indirectly from the donors of iPS cell stocks.

  Dac EGAC50000000128

• MIBC NAC2020 cohort RNA sequencing

  The dataset contains RNA sequencing data from N=48 transurethral resections of bladder tumours (TURBTs) from N=48 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy. All TURBTs originate from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue. We used the Illumina TruSeq RNA exome kit, previously known as the TruSeq RNA Access Library Prep Kit. This kit converts total RNA into template molecules of known strand origin, followed by sequence-specific capture of coding RNA. All samples were run in an Illumina NovaSeq6000 instrument. Paired FASTQ files from all 48 patients are provided.

  Dataset EGAD50000001025

• Test dataset with ligh-weight files

  This is a test dataset derived from public data of the 1000 Genomes Project. Its purpose is not to allow for any inference about cohort data or results, but to aid bioinformaticians in the technical development and testing of tools, as well as data consumers in learning how to access information. This dataset consists of 3 pairs of light-weight (sliced) files: BAM + BAI, CRAM + CRAI and VCF + TBI. These files can be downloaded directly through the EGA-download-client PyEGA3 (https://github.com/EGA-archive/ega-download-client). For any further questions, please contact the DAC (Helpdesk - email: helpdesk [at] ega-archive [dot] org).

  Dataset EGAD00001009826

• Whole Exome Sequencing data of glioma from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) project

  Glioma is the most common and aggressive brain cancer in adults. While primary glioma has been widely studied, molecular characterization of recurrent glioma is still rare. The high-quality sequencing data that we generated provides a useful resource for the community. The CGGA project contains over 2,000 samples from Chinese cohorts. It totally includes the whole-exome sequencing (286), DNA methylation (159), mRNA sequencing (1,018), mRNA microarray (301) and microRNA microarray (198) and matched clinical data. CGGA removes the barriers to researchers, providing rapid and convenient access to high-quality functional genomic data resources for biological research and clinical applications.

  Dataset EGAD00001006445

• Genetic regulation of RNA splicing in human pancreatic islets

  Here we provide access to newly generated RNA-seq data for 101 human islet samples used to map genetic effects on gene expression and alternative splicing (eQTLs and sQTLs) in a total of 399 human islets. We also make publicly available genotyping array data for 128 human islets, including the fraction of 101 human islet samples with existing RNA-seq data.

  Dataset EGAD00001009102

• PRDM9 loss of function follow up from Born-in-Bradford Autozygosity sequencing

  In the autozygosity exome sequencing of Born-in-Bradford samples of Pakistani origin there is a mother who is homozygous for an apparent truncating stop codon in PRDM9, the gene responsible for localising recombination during meiosis. We plan to deep sequence mother and child with X10, and physically phase the mother with PacBio sequencing. We will use this data to identify recombination locations, and test whether these are consistent with the known fine scale recombination map. Data Access is controlled by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute DAC and the Born In Bradford Executive Group.

  Dataset EGAD00001001686

• University of Pennsylvania CAR T Cell Responding and Non-responding Patients

  The adoptive transfer of autologous T cells genetically modified to express a CD19-specific, 4-1BB/CD3zeta-signaling chimeric antigen receptor (CAR; CTL019) has shown remarkable activity in patients with B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Similar therapy can induce long-term remissions for relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, but in only a small subset of subjects. The determinants of response and resistance to CTL019 therapy of CLL are not fully understood. We employed next generation sequencing of RNA (RNA-seq) to identify predictive indicators of response to CTL019 treatment. We performed RNA-seq on leukapheresis and manufactured infusion product T cells from patients with heavily pre-treated and high-risk disease. To characterize potency, we also performed RNA-seq on the cellular infusion product after CAR-specific stimulation. Our findings indicate that durable remission in CLL is associated with gene expression signatures of early memory T cell differentiation (e.g., STAT3), while T cells from poorly- or non-responding patients exhibited elevated expression of key regulators of late memory as well as effector T cell differentiation, apoptosis, aerobic glycolysis, hypoxia and exhaustion. These gene expression signatures, along with additional immunological biomarkers, may be used to identify which patients are most likely to respond to cellular therapies and suggest manufacturing modifications that might potentiate the generation of maximally efficacious infusion products. In a follow-up study, we report multiplex CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing on T cells in humans to test the hypothesis that disrupting genes encoding the endogenous T cell receptor (TCR), TCRα (TRAC) and TCRβ (TRBC), as well as PD-1 (PDCD1) would enhance the efficacy of autologous T cells engineered to express a transgenic NY-ESO TCR. We used single cell RNA-seq to comprehensively characterize the transcriptomic phenotype of this T cell product and its evolution over time in a patient with sarcoma. Notably, this patient's transferred T cells that persisted in vivo demonstrated increases in expression of genes associated with a central memory state (IL7R, TCF7). These findings may guide future trials involving administration of genetically redirected, genome -edited T cells.In this follow-up study, we investigated whether CRISPR-Cas9-mediated disruption of PDCD1 and/or CTLA-4 could restore CART dysfunction in healthy donors and/or CLL patients. We show that depletion of CTLA-4 rescues the function of T cells from leukemia patients that previously failed CART cell treatment. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing and characterized the transcriptomic landscape of CTLA-4 KO CART19 cells that showed higher proliferation and anti-tumor efficacy by permitting unopposed CD28 signaling and maintenance of CAR expression on the T cell surface under stress-test conditions of chronic antigen exposure. Our findings reveal that selective disruption of CTLA-4 invigorates dysfunctional patient T cells, providing a strategy for increasing patient responses to CART cell therapy.

  Study phs001707

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Genetics

  PCOS is a complex genetic disease reflecting the interplay of susceptibility genes and environmental factors. The cardinal reproductive feature of the syndrome, hyperandrogenemia, appears to play a direct role in the pathogenesis of the associated metabolic abnormalities. Male as well as female first-degree relatives have reproductive and metabolic phenotypes including increased prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome (MBS) and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Northwestern University (NU) investigators lead a team that has extensive experience in phenotyping PCOS and in the genetic analysis of complex diseases including genome-wide association study (GWAS). Together with an expert group of collaborators from the Hershey Medical Center, and The University of Chicago, we have conducted a GWAS to identify PCOS susceptibility alleles using a large cohort of extensively and consistently phenotyped PCOS cases. Population controls for this study come from the NUgene project described below. NUgene project: In 2002, Northwestern committed to the development of a DNA repository to serve as a platform for the identification and validation of genotype-phenotype associations that will impact healthcare. The NUgene Project is a repository with longitudinal medical information from participating patients at affiliated hospitals and outpatient clinics from the Northwestern University Medical Center. Participants' DNA samples are coupled with data from a questionnaire (2 versions were used, 1 before and 1 after February 2006, both are included) and continuously updated data from our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) representing actual clinical care events. Northwestern has a state-of-the art, comprehensive inpatient and outpatient EMR system of over 2 million patients. NUgene has broad access to participant data for all outpatient visits as well as inpatient data via a consolidated data warehouse. NUgene participants consent to distribution and use of their coded DNA samples and data for a broad range of genetic research by third-party investigators.

  Study phs000368

• Single-Gene vs. Panel Sequencing in Advanced HR+/HER2− Breast Cancer

  Background: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer, with biomarker-driven therapies improving outcomes. Liquid biopsies, which analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are increasingly essential in clinical management, offering a minimally invasive approach to assess somatic alterations and guide therapy decisions. However, the choice of assay directly affects clinical utility and global access to validated testing platforms remains inconsistent. To address these challenges, this study aimed to compare the performance of single-gene and panel-based sequencing for detecting PIK3CA mutations in HR+/HER2− breast cancer and evaluate the added value of broader genomic profiling in guiding treatment decisions. Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter study comparing our previously established SiMSen-Seq (SSS) assay, a single-gene method targeting PIK3CA hotspot mutations, with the AVENIO ctDNA Expanded assay, enriching for 77 clinically relevant cancer genes. Additionally, tumor fractions were estimated with mFAST-SeqS by assessing chromosomal aneuploidy. We analyzed 161 plasma samples collected from 146 patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer before starting a new line of palliative therapy. Results: High concordance (92.6%) was observed between SSS and AVENIO for PIK3CA mutation detection, with accurate variant allele frequency (VAF) quantification confirmed by Bland-Altman analysis and linear mixed-effects modeling. AVENIO identified additional PIK3CA mutations in 19% of samples as well as other actionable alterations, including ESR1 mutations (17.5%) and PI3K pathway alterations (40.6%). Panel sequencing improved the interpretation of negative liquid biopsy results by integrating tumor fraction and VAF metrics. Conclusions: Panel sequencing assays such as AVENIO provide broader genomic coverage, enhance the detection of actionable mutations and refine the interpretation of negative liquid biopsy findings. These findings support the integration of comprehensive ctDNA profiling into routine clinical practice for HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer while highlighting the need for improved assay accessibility and expanded genomic targets.

  Study EGAS00001008200

• RNA-seq study of human long-term and short-term hematopoietic stem cells from umblical cord blood with lentiviral overexpression of S1PR3

  To investigate the molecular and biological pathways altered by S1PR3OE in human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of LT- and ST-HSC 3 days after transduction with control or S1PR3 overexpression (OE) lentiviral vectors. LT-HSC and ST-HSC from 3 pool of CB lin- were FACS-purified, cells were prestimulated for 4 hours and transduced with lentiviral vectors. At day 3, 2000-5300 BFP+ cells were FACS-purified for RNA isolation with a PicoPure kit. We were able to isolate only 1600-1800 BFP+ cells from LT-HSC control samples as opposed to 4000-5400 BFP+ cells from S1PR3OE samples. Thus, we pooled all control BFP+ LT-HSC cells into one sample for RNA-seq analysis. BFP- LT-HSC from control vector transduction were purified from CB1 as an additional LT-HSC control. Nextera libraries generated from 10 ng RNA from 5 LT-HSC samples (2 controls, 3 S1PR3OE) and 6 ST-HSC samples (3 controls, 3 S1PR3OE) were subjected to 125 bp, paired-end RNA-sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 with an average of 50 million reads/sample at the Center for Applied Genomics, Sick Kids Hospital.

  Dataset EGAD00001006582

• 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

• Single Cell Analysis of Human Airways in Healthy and Asthma volunteers

  Bronchoscopies were collected from healthy and asthma volunteers. Cohort inclusion criteria for all subjects were: age between 40 – 65 years and history of smoking < 10 pack years. For the asthmatics, inclusion criteria were: age of onset of asthmatic symptoms ≤12 years, documented history of asthma, use of inhaled corticosteroids with(out) β2-agonists due to respiratory symptoms and a positive provocation test (i.e. PC20 methacholine ≤8mg/ml with 2-minute protocol). For the non-asthmatic controls, the following criteria were essential for inclusion: absent history of asthma, no use of asthma-related medication, a negative provocation test (i.e. PC20 methacholine >8 mg/ml and adenosine 5'-monophosphate >320 mg/ml with 2-minute protocol), no pulmonary obstruction (i.e. FEV1/FVC ≥70%) and absence of lung function impairment (i.e. FEV1 ≥80% predicted). Asthmatics stopped inhaled corticosteroid use 6 weeks prior to all tests. All subjects were clinically characterised with pulmonary function and provocation tests, blood samples were drawn, and finally subjects underwent a bronchoscopy under sedation. If a subject developed upper respiratory symptoms, bronchoscopy was postponed for ≥6 weeks. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was performed using a standardised protocol during conscious sedation. Six macroscopically adequate endobronchial biopsies were collected for this study, located between the 3rd and 6th generation of the right lower and middle lobe. Extracted biopsies were processed directly thereafter, with a maximum of one hour delay. The medical ethics committee of the Groningen University Medical Center Groningen approved the study, and all subjects gave their written informed consent.

  Dataset EGAD00001005064

• NHLBI TOPMed: The Cleveland Family Study (CFS)

  The Cleveland Family Study (CFS) is one cohort involved in the WGS project. The CFS was designed to provide fundamental epidemiological data on genetic and non-genetic risk factors for sleep disordered breathing (SDB). In brief, the CFS is a family-based study that enrolled a total of 2284 individuals from 361 families between 1990 and 2006. The sample was selected by identifying affected probands who had laboratory diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. All first degree relatives, spouses and available second degree relatives of affected probands were studied. In addition, during the first 5 study years, neighborhood control families were identified through a neighborhood proband, and his/her spouses and first degree relatives. Each exam, occurring at approximately 4 year intervals, included new enrollment as well as follow up exams for previously enrolled subjects. For the first three visits, data, including an overnight sleep study, were collected in the participants' homes while the last visit occurred in a general clinical research center (GCRC). Phenotypic characterization of the entire cohort included overnight sleep apnea studies, blood pressure, spirometry, anthropometry and questionnaires. The GCRC exam (n=735 selected individuals) included more comprehensive phenotype data on a focused subsample of the larger cohort, to permit linking SDB phenotypes with cardio-metabolic phenotypes, with an interest in identifying genetic loci that are associated with these related phenotypes. In this last round of data collection, a subset of 735 individuals was selected based on expected genetic informativity by choosing pedigrees where siblings had extremes of the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Participants underwent detailed phenotyping including laboratory polysomnography (PSG), ECG, spirometry, nasal and oral acoustic reflectometry, vigilance testing, and blood and urine collection before and after sleep and after an oral glucose tolerance test. A wide range of biochemical measures of inflammation and metabolism were assayed by a Core Laboratory at the University of Vermont. 994 individuals were sequenced as part of TOPMed Phase 1, including 507 African-Americans and 487 European-Americans. Among the sequenced individuals, 156 were probands with diagnosed sleep apnea, an additional 706 were members of families with probands, and 132 were from neighborhood control families. 298 individuals were sequenced as part of TOPMed Phase 3.5, including 169 African-Americans and 129 European-Americans. Among the newly sequenced individuals, 33 were probands with diagnosed sleep apnea, an additional 214 were members of families with probands, and 51 were from neighborhood control families. Please note: Phenotype and pedigree data are available through "NHLBI Cleveland Family Study (CFS) Candidate Gene Association Resource (CARe)", phs000284.

  Study phs000954

• High hyperdiploid ALL single cell whole genome sequencing

  This dataset was collected from viable bone marrow cells obtained at diagnosis from nine patients with high hyperdiploid ALL and one normal bone marrow sample. All samples were subjected to low pass single cell whole genome sequencing with the median sequencing coverage of 0.02x. Single nuclei in G0/G1 phase were isolated using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) cytometer. DNA libraries were constructed and associated next-generation sequencing was carried out by European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Further details regarding the DNA libraries construction are available by Bos et. al., 2019 (https://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-4939-8931-7_15).

  Dataset EGAD00001008988

• Preeclampsia InterPregGen Consortium: Whole Genome Sequencing of 100 unrelated Uzbeks (DNA samples from the Institute of Immunology, Uzbek Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Republic Specialized Scientific Practical Medical Centre of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tashkent, Uzbekistan)

  Whole genome sequencing of 100 unrelated Uzbeks in order to impute genotypes into PE cases and controls from Uzbekistan and to provide genetic data and infrastructure for future genetic studies in Uzbekistan and Central Asia more generally and to fill a gap in worldwide information as Central Asia is not adequately represented in available genomic data. This dataset is one component of the InterPregGen FP7 project. DNA samples for this component were collected by InterPregGen Consortium collaborators in Tashkent, Uzbekistan at the Institute of Immunology, Uzbek Academy of Sciences and at the Republic Specialized Scientific Practical Medical Centre of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

  Dataset EGAD00001005466

• ExomeSeq-EGAS00001001306

  Exome Sequencing. 3 μg of genomic DNA from each sample were sheared and used for the construction of a paired-end sequencing library as described in the paired-end sequencing sample preparation protocol provided by Illumina41. Enrichment of exonic sequences was then performed for each library using either the Sure Select Human All Exon 50 Mb or All Exon+UTRs v4 kits following the manufacturer’s instructions (Agilent Technologies). Exon-enriched DNA was pulled down by magnetic beads coated with streptavidin (Invitrogen), followed by washing, elution and 18 additional cycles of amplification of the captured library. Enriched libraries were sequenced (2 × 76 bp) in one lane of an Illumina GAIIx sequencer or in two lanes of a HiSeq2000 when using pools of eight samples.

  Dataset EGAD00001001464

• Targeted sequencing of healthy individuals, aged individuals and AML patients

  Targeted sequencing using BD Rhapsody with 462 mRNA and 97 antibodies of healthy young and aged adult as well as AML bone marrow mononuclear cells from iliac crest aspirations. Please note raw and integrated gene expression data, cell type annotation, metadata and dimensionality reduction are available as Seurat v3 objects through figshare. Access link is https://figshare.com/s/0fda29b169c719223ee3.

  Dataset EGAD00001008188

• Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health (RPGEH)

  The Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH) is a resource developed to facilitate research on genetic and environmental factors on common diseases and healthy aging. The RPGEH resource links biospecimens, health surveys, and comprehensive electronic medical records on broadly consented adult members of Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Plan, Northern California Region (KPNC). KPNC is an integrated health care delivery system with a membership of approximately 3.3 million people in northern California. The membership of KPNC is representative of the general population in the 14 county area in which facilities are located, although extremes of income are underrepresented. At the end of 2013, the RPGEH resource included: (1) demographic and behavioral surveys from over 430,000 participants; (2) biospecimens (DNA, serum, plasma, and/or saliva) from over 204,000 participants, including over 13,000 pregnant women; (3) genome-wide genotype data (70 billion SNP genotypes) on over 100,000 participants, including the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort; and (4) the longitudinal electronic medical records of the participants. The RPGEH was developed beginning in 2005 at the Division of Research of Kaiser Permanente Northern California by Catherine Schaefer (Director), Neil Risch (Co-Director), Lisa Croen, Eric Jorgenson, Lawrence Kushi, Charles Quesenberry, Sarah Rowell, Carol Somkin, Stephen Van den Eeden, Larry Walter, and Rachel Whitmer. Funding of the RPGEH was provided to C. Schaefer (PI) and N. Risch (co-PI) by the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, The Ellison Medical Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and the Kaiser Permanente National and Regional Community Benefit Programs. The GERA cohort was funded by a grant from NIH to RPGEH and UCSF (RC2 AG036607; C. Schaefer and N. Risch, PIs). At the time of the award of the RC2 project in late 2009, the RPGEH had established a cohort of about 140,000 individuals who had answered a detailed survey, provided saliva samples for extraction of DNA, and given broad consent for the use of their data in studies of health and disease. Survey and Cohort Recruitment. Initially, the RPGEH developed electronic disease registries to enable identification of phenotypes, using algorithms applied to EMR data. In 2007, the RPGEH mailed a four page survey to 1.9 million adult (≥ 18 years old) members of KPNC who had been members for two years or more, to obtain data on demographic and behavioral factors complementary to the clinical data in the EMR. The survey materials included a cover letter introducing the RPGEH, a two page list of Frequently Asked Questions, and the survey, which included questions on demographic factors such as education, race-ethnicity, income and marital status, dietary factors, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as reproductive history and reproductive health. Members whose electronic medical records indicated a preference for written communications in Chinese or Spanish received survey materials both in English and a Chinese or Spanish translation. Approximately 400,000 completed surveys were returned. Saliva Sample Collection. Beginning in July 2008, respondents to the survey were asked to sign and return a consent form and authorization for use and disclosure of protected health information. The consent form authorized broad use of biospecimens, survey data, and data from participants' electronic health records for use in studies of genetic and environmental influences on health and disease. Respondents who returned completed consent forms were mailed (Oragene) saliva collection kits; more than 132,000 saliva samples were collected in two years. Completed saliva kits were scanned and archived in a temporary biorepository at the KPNC Division of Research. In late 2009, the RPGEH began collection of saliva samples from the California Men's Health Study (CMHS), a cohort that had been previously assembled in 2002-2003 and had been excluded from the RPGEH survey mailing with the intent of later adding CMHS participants to the assembled RPGEH cohort. The CMHS was developed to facilitate research on prostate cancer and other conditions in older men; the study protocol is described in Enger, et al., 2006. It enrolled and surveyed more than 40,000 men in KPNC, ages 45-69 years, who were members of KPNC during 2002-2003. CMHS men completed two mailed surveys with demographic and behavioral data similar to that of the RPGEH. The data on analogous variables were reconciled and integrated with the data derived from the RPGEH cohort for use in the RPGEH resource. By 2011, RPGEH collected approximately 15,400 saliva samples from men participating in the CMHS. RPGEH Access and Collaborations Website and Procedures. The RPGEH maintains a web portal for inquiries and applications for collaboration and access to data. The url is: https://rpgehportal.kaiser.org/. RPGEH has an application process and an Access Review Committee that reviews applications for collaboration and use. For more information, please contact RPGEH through the website.

  Study phs000788

• Genetic Markers of Lipids in Indians: A Validation Study of Most Relevant Findings of Genome-Wide Association Studies

  We aimed to validate the GWAS loci (identified in European populations) related to serum lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)) in the Indian population originally recruited to examine the 20-year trend of cardiometabolic risk factors in rural and urban areas around National Capital region in India. Isolated DNA was processed for genotyping of 12 established GWAS variants using multiplex Sequenom Mass ARRAY technology. We examined the association of these genetic variants with different lipid levels and found association of eight variants for lipid levels. We also derived weighted genetic risk scores (wGRAS) using the validated variants. The wGRS for triglycerides and VLDL-C was derived based on four associated variants (rs174546 at FADS1, rs17482753 at LPL, rs2293889 at TRPS1, rs4148005 at ABCA8, rs4420638 at APOC1) which was associated with 36.31 mg/dL elevated triglycerides and VLDL-C (β=0.95, SE=0.16, pTRPS1 and rs4147536 at ADH1B) was associated with 40.62 mg/dL higher total cholesterol (β=1.01, SE=0.23, pTRPS1, rs4147536 at ADH1B, rs4420638 at APOC1 and rs660240 at CELSR2). The wGRS derived from five associated variants (rs174546 and FADS1, rs17482753 at LPL, rs4148005 at ABCA8, rs4420638 at APOC1 and rs7832643 at PLEC) was associated with 10.64 mg/dL lower HDL-C (β= -0.87, SE =0.14, pThe phenotypic and genotypic data will be made available on the dbGaP portal for access.

  Study phs003469

• Human genomic and phenotypic synthetic data for the study of rare diseases

  The purpose of this dataset is to facilitate development of technical implementations for rare disease data integration, analysis, discovery, and federated access. This synthetic dataset includes clinical and genomic data from 6 rare disease cases. It consists of 18 whole genomes (6 index cases with their parents) which have genetic background based on public human data sequenced in the context of the Illumina Platinum initiative (Eberle, MA et al. (2017)) and made available by the HapMap project (https://www.genome.gov/10001688/international-hapmap-project). In each of the cases, real causative variants correlating with the phenotypic data provided were spiked-in. The cases included in this synthetic dataset correspond to the following type of disorders: CASE 1- Congenital myasthenic syndrome (Autosomal Dominant -de novo variant) CASE 2- Macular dystrophy (Autosomal Dominant) CASE 3- Muscular dystrophy (Autosomal Recessive-compound heterozygous variants) CASE 4- Mitochondrial disorder (Autosomal Recessive-consanguineous case - homozygous variant) CASE 5- Breast cancer (Autosomal Dominant) CASE 6- Similar as case 1 for patient matchmaking tests: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (Autosomal Dominant-de novo variant) For each case you will be able to download the following data: clinical information (phenopackets per individual and pedigree per family), raw genomic data (FASTQ and BAMs) and processed genomic data (vcfs). When using the data, the following should be acknowledged: the RD-Connect GPAP (https://platform.rd-connect.eu/), EC H2020 project EJP-RD (grant # 825575), EC H2020 project B1MG (grant # 951724) and Generalitat de Catalunya VEIS project (grant # 001-P-001647).

  Study EGAS00001005702

• Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE): Epidemiologic Architecture for Genes Linked to Environment (EAGLE) - BioVU Cancer Project

  As part of Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology PAGE study (Phase I), the Epidemiologic Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (EAGLE I) project accessed both epidemiologic- and clinic-based collections. The epidemiologic-based collection of EAGLE I included the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES), ascertained between 1991-1994 (NHANES III), 1999-2002, and 2007-2008. NHANES is a population-based cross-sectional survey now conducted every year in the United States to assess the health status of Americans at the time of ascertainment and to assess trends over the years of survey. Genetic NHANES consists of 19,613 DNA samples linked to thousands of variables including demographics, health and lifestyle variables, physical examination variables, laboratory variables, and exposures. NHANES is diverse with almost one-half of the samples (46.4%) coming from self-reported Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks. In contrast to NHANES, BioVU is a clinic-based collection of >150,000 DNA samples from Vanderbilt University Medical Center linked to de-identified electronic medical records (EMRs). Approximately 12% of BioVU's overall DNA sample collection is from African American, Hispanic, and Asian patients. The overall goals of PAGE I and EAGLE I were broad and several-fold: Replicate genome-wide association study (GWAS)- identified variants in European Americans; Identify population-specific and trans-population genotype-phenotype associations; Identify genetic and environmental modifiers of these associations. NHANES is an excellent resource for the study of quantitative traits associated with common human diseases. However, given that the age range of NHANES spans childhood to late adulthood and not all diseases are surveyed, NHANES is less useful for the study of adult-onset diseases such as major cancers. Therefore, under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, EAGLE as part of PAGE I defined eight major cancers sites for genetic analysis in BioVU, Vanderbilt's biorepository linked to de-identified EMRs. The eight major cancers defined for this study included melanoma, breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal, lung, endometrial, and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Cancer cases were defined using a combination of ICD-9 codes and tumor registry entries. Controls include BioVU participants without cancer and encompassing the age and gender distributions of cancer cases. Targeted genotyping of GWAS-identified variants for these diseases (124 SNPs) and ancestry informative markers (128 AIMs) was performed by the Center for Human Genetics Research Vanderbilt DNA Resources Core. After quality control, a total of 116 cancer-associated SNPs and 122 AIMs were available for downstream analyses.

  Study phs000559

• NHLBI and NIDDK Sponsored GWAS in Benign Ethnic Neutropenia/Leukopenia (BEN) in African-Americans (age >45 yrs old) from the REGARDS

  Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN) is a clinical condition more commonly observed in African-Americans. It is characterized by a relative reduction in neutrophil count by about 1000 cells per microliter, leading to a decrease in total leukocyte count by similar decrement. Previous reports of this condition showed that there was neither higher frequency nor increased severity of infections in affected individuals. Bone marrow examinations showed normal white cell maturation; and ex vivo culture of marrow cells showed low normal or slightly reduced number of myeloid colonies. Under physiologic stress, the increases in neutrophil and leukocyte counts of BEN individuals are slightly lower, compared to normal African-Americans or Caucasians. These clinical observations suggest that BEN results from a lower 'set point' for cell number in the marrow. Additionally, case reports of familial BEN, the persistence of BEN over many decades in the US, UK, and Africa, and the recent report of Duffy antigen and chemokine receptor (DARC) being associated with neutropenia, all suggest a strong genetic association to neutropenia/leukopenia. Our initial look into microarray analyses in a pilot trial of subjects showed that there were no significant differences in mRNA signals between BEN and normal subjects. Therefore, we are now proposing a larger study, utilizing Illumina Omni Express chips, to look for genetic associations. We have partnered with the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study (REGARDS), where nearly half of the cohort are African-Americans. This will be one of the few GWAS being performed in only African-Americans, and will provide valuable genetic information to link with neutropenia and possibly other conditions/diseases. Genotyping was performed by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR). Quality control of the genotypic and phenotypic data was performed through a collaboration between CIDR and the Genetics Coordinating Center, Department of Biostatistics at the University of Washington, which is funded by a federal contract supported by 14 NIH Institutes (HHSN268200782096C).

  Study phs000507

• Nanopore sequencing enables allelic phasing of FLG loss-of-function variants, intragenic copy number variation and methylation status in atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris

  Loss-of-function (LoF) variants in the FLG gene are associated with ichthyosis vulgaris (IV) and atopic dermatitis (AD). IV and AD patients with two FLG LoF variants are reported to have a more severe disease course. However, subsets of compound heterozygous patients display phenotypic heterogeneity despite a prediction of a severe phenotype from their genotype. The underlying genetic mechanism of this phenotypic variability is unknown. One possibility is that two LoF FLG variants could be located in cis (on the same allele), thus altering the predicted gene dosage. To investigate the allelic contribution of compound heterozygous FLG LoF mutations to IV phenotypic variability, we employ long reads from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, utilising two methodologies to phase the entire coding region of FLG into parental alleles: an amplicon-sequencing approach and an adaptive-sampling strategy. We investigated the allelic phasing of FLG LoF variants and intragenic-repeat copy-number variations (CNV) of 21 subjects with known compound heterozygous genotypes and mixed IV severity. Our results suggest that IV severity is not linked to the presence of cis variants in our IV patient cohort. Nanopore reads enabled detection and accurate phasing of CNVs and LoF variants into parental alleles, providing a framework for future in-depth genetic analysis. These results highlight the usefulness of utilising long reads for interrogating the FLG gene and other highly repetitive genes for genetic stratification related to clinical phenotypes.

  Study EGAS50000000166

• The tissue origin of highly elevated cell-free DNA in patients with and without cancer

  Forty years ago, the first measurements of cell free DNA (cfDNA) from cancer patients revealed that its total concentration was often elevated compared to healthy controls. The basis for this increase, and in particular the source of the extra cfDNA in such patients, has never been determined. To address this issue, we assessed methylation patterns of cfDNA from 57 individuals, 34 of whom had unequivocally elevated cfDNA concentrations (i.e., >15 ng/mL of plasma). We found that the excess cfDNA in cancer patients did not come from either neoplastic cells or surrounding cells from the tumor's tissue of origin. Instead, 80% of the cfDNA was derived from neutrophils, B cells or T cells, with neutrophils accounting for ~2/3. B cells contributed more than T cells despite the great excess of T cells over B cells in the blood. To see if this result was generalizable to other clinical situations in which elevated cfDNA concentrations have been described, we evaluated nine patients before and one day following surgery. After surgical resection, cfDNA concentration increased by an average of 16.1-fold, as expected. The majority of this increase (55%) was contributed by leukocytes, though damaged hepatocytes contributed a substantial minority (31% of increase). These data suggest that the elevated concentrations of cfDNA in cancer patients, as with patients after surgery, arises largely from dying leukocytes—not from the neoplastic cells or the tissue of origin of the cancer.

  Study EGAS00001005400

• Cell-Free, Methylated DNA in Blood Samples Reveals Tissue-Specific, Cellular Damage from Radiation Treatment

  Radiation therapy is an effective cancer treatment, although damage to surrounding healthy tissues can also occur. Cell-type specific DNA methylation patterns can be used to decode the cellular origins of cell-free DNA fragments, allowing for minimally-invasive monitoring of tissue damage. To evaluate whether changes in cell-free DNA methylation can indicate damages to tissues in patients treated with radiation, we collected serum samples from 15 breast cancer patients at three timepoints during their standard-of-care radiation therapy after surgery. A baseline sample was taken for each patient before onset of radiation therapy and a second End-Of-Treatment (EOT) sample was taken 30 minutes after the last treatment fraction. Finally, a recovery sample was taken one month after completion of radiation therapy. From serum samples, cell-free DNA was isolated and bisulfite capture-sequencing DNA methylation data were generated. Bisulfite capture-sequencing DNA methylation data were also generated from buffy coat and tissue-specific endothelial gDNA samples as well as from serum/plasma samples of healthy controls. The analysis of serum samples from breast cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment revealed distinct tissue-specific epithelial and endothelial responses to radiation across multiple organs. In conclusion, as a proof of concept we show that cell-type specific methylation signatures can be applied to detect cellular injury from radiation treatment using minimally invasive cell-free DNA in blood samples.

  Study phs003290

• A New Pipeline to Predict and Confirm Tumor Neoantigens Predicts Better Response to Checkpoint Blockade

  Mutations that drive oncogenesis in cancer can generate neoantigens that may be recognized by the immune system. Identification of these neoantigens remains challenging due to the complexity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen and T-cell receptor interaction. Here we describe the development of a systematic approach to efficiently identify and validate immunogenic neoantigens. Whole exome sequencing of tissue from a melanoma patient was used to identify nonsynonymous mutations, followed by MHC binding prediction and identification of tumor clonal architecture. The top 18 putative class I neoantigens were selected for immunogenicity testing via a novel in vitro pipeline in HLA-A201 healthy donor blood. Naive CD8 T cells from donors were stimulated with allogeneic dendritic cells pulsed with peptide pools and then with individual peptides. The presence of antigen-specific T cells was determined via functional assays. We identified one putative neoantigen that expanded T cells specific to the mutant form of the peptide and validated this pipeline in a subset of patients with bladder tumors treated with durvalumab (N = 5). Within this cohort, the top predicted neoantigens from all patients were immunogenic in vitro. Finally, we looked at overall survival in the whole durvalumab-treated bladder cohort (N = 37) by stratifying patients by tertile measure of tumor mutation burden (TMB) or neoantigen load. Patients with higher neoantigen and TMB load tended to show better overall survival.

  Study phs002269

• Molecular Characterization of Hemimegalencephaly

  Somatic mutations, in which a fraction of the cells in the body have a deleterious mutation, are well recognized in cancer but only recently appreciated in neurological disease. Given a somatic mutation in a population of progenitor cells, all daughter cells inherit the mutation and are able to express the resultant phenotype as a function of the differentiation program. We recently identified the first de novo somatic mutations in the developing brain in the condition hemimegalencephaly (HME), a catastrophic focal epilepsy condition associated with a malformation of cerebral cortical development (MCD). HME is one of the most severe MCD syndromes, characterized by massive hamartomatous overgrowth of either of the two cerebral hemispheres. Cerebral hemispherectomy is a frequent treatment for refractory epilepsy, allowing the sampling of diseased tissue. By comparing DNA from a diseased brain with DNA from blood/saliva, we identified de novo somatic mutations in PIK3CA, AKT3 or MTOR, part of the mTOR pathway. Mutations were present in 8-40% of sequenced alleles in various brain regions sampled during surgery and in some codons known to activate proteins.• Population informationPatient samples were collected from multiple centers. The population is Caucasian and Hispanic• Molecular technologies employedWhole-exome sequencing• Principal findings of the studyWe were the first to describe mTOR-related and non-mTOR mutations causing hemimegalencephaly, and we described two-hit mutational models to explain the genetic pathogenesis of hemimegalencephaly

  Study phs002156

• Tumor-reactive heterotypic CD8 T cell clusters from clinical samples

  Emerging evidence suggests a correlation between CD8+ T cell-tumor cell proximity and anti-tumor immune response. However, it remains unknown whether these cells exist as functional clusters that can be isolated from clinical samples. By conventional and imaging flow cytometry, we show here that from 21/21 human melanoma metastases, we could isolate heterotypic clusters, comprising CD8+ T cells interacting with one or more tumor cells and/or antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed that T cells from clusters were enriched for gene signatures associated with tumor reactivity and exhaustion. Clustered T cells exhibited increased TCR clonality indicative of expansion, while TCR-matched T cells showed more exhaustion and co-modulation when conjugated to APCs than to tumor cells. T cells that were expanded from clusters ex vivo exerted on average 9-fold increased killing activity towards autologous melanomas, which was accompanied by enhanced cytokine production. Upon adoptive cell transfer into mice, T cells from clusters showed improved patient-derived melanoma control, which was associated with increased T cell infiltration and activation. Together, these results demonstrate that tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells are enriched in functional clusters with tumor cells and/or APCs and that they can be isolated and expanded from clinical samples. Typically excluded by single cell gating in flow cytometry, these distinct heterotypic T cell clusters serve as a valuable source to decipher functional tumor-immune cell interactions, while they may also be therapeutically explored.

  Study EGAS50000000785

• Whole Tumor spatial heterogeneity in metastatic melanoma

  Heterogeneous inter-tumoral responses, sustained periods of apparent clinical benefit despite lack of objective response to various therapies, and even spontaneous remission are well known within a subpopulation of advanced melanoma patients. The molecular and cellular dynamics facilitating long-term survival remain poorly defined, particularly in the current era ofexposure to multiple potentially active therapies. We studied an exceptional case of long-term survival in a patient with non-responding metastatic melanoma in order to characterize the clonal and microenvironmental factors.We performed immunogenomic analysis of 3 metachronous tumors, and of 67 intratumor sub-regions of one metastatic lesion, usingwhole exome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and T cell receptor sequencing. Longitudinal analysesidentified mutations in severalknownresistance genes affecting distinctmetastases. Intra-tumoral immune signatures revealed spatially-distinct pockets of immune activation and suppression throughout the metastasis. A specific T cell VBeta CDR3 rearrangement was identified as both dominant and recurrent not only across multiple spatial points within a single tumor mass, but also across metachronous tumors spanning the patient’s disease course. Immunophenotyping of this T cell population with single-cell sequencingsuggestedrepeatedT-cell priming events leading to the persistence of both activated and exhausted T cells bearing this same TCR-Beta at any given time.Our findings highlight genomic and immune heterogeneityin metastatic disease, extending to the intra-tumoral leveland provide a rationale for integrative spatiotemporal analysis of metastatic lesions in the context of immune checkpoint blockade.

  Study EGAS00001003292

• Persistent STAG2 mutation in recurrent pediatric glioblastoma

  Similar to their adult counterparts, the prognosis for pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas remains poor. At time of recurrence, treatment options are limited and remain without consensus. This report describes the genetic findings, obtained from whole exome sequencing of a pediatric patient with glioblastoma who underwent multiple surgical resections and treatment with standard chemoradiation, as well as a novel recombinant poliovirus vaccine therapy. Strikingly, despite the variety of treatments, there was persistence of a tumor clone, characterized by a deleterious STAG2 mutation, whose deficiency in pre-clinical studies can cause aneuploidy and aberrant mitotic progression, but remains understudied in the clinical setting. There was near elimination of an EGFR mutated and amplified tumor clone after gross total resection, standard chemoradiation, and poliovirus therapy, followed by the emergence of a persistently STAG2 mutated clone, with rare mutations in PTPN11 and BRAF, the latter composed of a novel deleterious mutation previously not reported in pediatric glioblastoma (p.D594G). This was accompanied by a mutation signature shift towards one characterized by increased DNA damage repair defects, consistent with the known underlying STAG2 deficiency. As such, this case represents a novel report following the clinical and genetic progression of a STAG2 mutated glioblastoma, including treatment with a novel and emerging immunotherapy. Although STAG2 deficiency comprises only a small subset of gliomas, this case adds clinical evidence to existing pre-clinical data supporting a role for STAG2 mutations in tumor formation and resistance to standard therapies.

  Study EGAS00001004340

• Exploiting evolutionary steering in cancer therapy

  Drug resistance, mediated by intra-tumour heterogeneity and clonal evolution, is arguably the biggest problem in cancer therapy today. However, evolving resistance to one drug may come at the cost of increased sensitivity to another due to so-called evolutionary trade-offs. This weakness can be exploited in the clinic using an approach called ‘evolutionary herding’ that aims at controlling the tumour cell population to delay or prevent resistance. However, model systems able to recapitulate cancer evolution experimentally are lacking and current in vitro techniques based on small populations, re-plating and escalating dose, are unsuitable to develop evolutionary herding strategies. We present a novel methodology for evolutionary herding in vitro and ex vivo using patient-derived organoids. Our approach is based on a combination of single-cell barcoding, very large populations of 108-109 cells grown without re-plating, realistic high drug doses, time-course monitoring of cancer clones, and mathematical modelling of tumour evolutionary dynamics. We demonstrate evolutionary herding in non-small cell lung cancer in vitro and in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids (PDO). We show that herding causes controlled evolutionary bottlenecks that lead to collateral sensitivity. Through genomic analysis, we were also able to determine the mechanisms that drive such sensitivity. Our approach allows modelling evolutionary trade-offs experimentally to test patient-specific evolutionary herding strategies that can be translated into the clinic to control treatment resistance.

  Study EGAS00001003200

• Targeted sequencing of candidate regions on chromosome 22q predisposing to multiple schwannomas

  Constitutional LZTR1 or SMARCB1 pathogenic variants have been found in ~86% of familial and ~40% of sporadic schwannomatosis cases. Hence, we performed massively parallel sequencing of the entire LZTR1, SMARCB1 and NF2 genomic loci in 35 individuals with schwannomas negative for constitutional first-hit pathogenic variants in the LZTR1/SMARCB1/NF2 coding sequences, however with 22q deletion and/or a different NF2 pathogenic variant in each tumor, including six cases with only one tumor available. Furthermore, we verified whether any other LZTR1/SMARCB1/NF2 (likely) pathogenic variant(s) could be found in 16 cases carrying a SMARCB1 constitutional variant in the 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR) c.*17C>T, c.*70C>T or c.*82C>T. As no additional variants were found, functional studies were performed to clarify the effect of these 3’-UTR variants on the transcript. The 3’-UTR variants c.*17C>T and c.*82C>T showed pathogenicity by negatively affecting SMARCB1 transcript level. Two novel deep intronic SMARCB1 variants, c.500+883T>G and c.500+887G>A, resulting in out-of-frame missplicing of intron 4, were identified in two unrelated individuals. Further resequencing of the entire repeat - masked genomics sequences of chromosome 22q in individuals negative for pathogenic variants in the SMARCB1/LZTR1/NF2 coding- and non-coding regions revealed five potential schwannomatosis-predisposing candidate genes, i.e. MYO18B, NEFH, SGSM1, SGSM3 and SBF1, pending further verification.

  Study EGAS00001005680

• A novel orthotopic patient-derived xenograft model of radiation-induced glioma following medulloblastoma

  Radiation-induced glioma (RIG) is a highly aggressive brain cancer arising as a consequence of radiation therapy. We report a case of RIG that arose in the brain stem following treatment for paediatric medulloblastoma, and the development and characterisation of a matched orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model (TK-RIG915). Patient and PDX tumours were analysed using DNA methylation profiling, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA sequencing. While initially thought to be a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) based on disease location, results from methylation profiling and WGS were not consistent with this diagnosis. Furthermore, clustering analyses based on RNA expression suggested the tumours were distinct from primary DIPG. Additional gene expression analysis demonstrated concordance with a published RIG expression profile. Multiple genetic alterations that enhance PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling were discovered in TK-RIG915 including an activating mutation in PIK3CA, upregulation of PDGFRA and AKT2, inactivating mutations in NF1, and a gain-of-function mutation in PTPN11. Additionally, deletion of CDKN2A/B, increased IDH1 expression, and decreased ARID1A expression were observed. Detection of phospho-S6, -4EBP1 and -ERK via immunohistochemistry confirmed PI3K pathway and ERK activation. Here, we report one of the first PDX models for RIG, which recapitulates the patient disease and is molecularly distinct from primary brain stem glioma. Genetic interrogation of this model has enabled the identification of potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in this currently incurable disease.

  Study EGAS00001004709

• Conserved features of TERT promoter duplications reveal an activation mechanism that mimics hotspot mutations in cancer

  Mutations in the TERT promoter are the single most common non-coding mutation in cancer and represent the genetic underpinnings of tumor cell immortality. Beyond the two most common point mutations, G228A and G250A, which selectively recruit the ETS factor GABP to activate TERT, the significance of other variants in the TERT promoter are unknown. We identified duplications of wildtype sequence within the core promoter region of TERT in 7 different cancer types that have strikingly similar features including size, insertion position, and inclusion of one of the native ETS motifs. Each duplication activates the TERT promoter to a similar level as G228A and G250A and is critically dependent on the insertion site. The GABP tetramer binds to the TERT duplicated promoter sequence by virtue of the native ETS motif and its duplicated version with precise spacing, and it is necessary for the transcriptional activation by all duplications tested. Spatiotemporal analysis in a multifocal glioblastoma shows the duplication is clonal and its activation of TERT is readily detectable at the single cell level and in bulk tumor tissue. We conclude that recurrent TERT promoter duplications of the native ETS sequence are functionally and mechanistically equivalent to the hotspot mutations that confer tumor cell immortality. The shared mechanism of these divergent somatic genetic alterations suggests a strong selective pressure for recruitment of the GABP tetramer to activate TERT.

  Study EGAS00001006118

• 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

• eMERGE Geisinger eGenomic Medicine (GeM) - MyCode Project Controls

  A research cohort of adult Geisinger Clinic patients was enrolled from community-based primary care clinics of the Geisinger Health System. Patients were eligible for enrollment if they were a primary care patient of a Geisinger Clinic physician and were scheduled for a non-emergent clinic visit. All participants provided written informed consent and HIPAA authorization. Consenting patient agreed to provide blood samples for broad biomedical research use, and permission to access data in their Geisinger electronic medical record for research. The enrollment rate was 90% of patients approached. The demographics of the cohort approximate those of the Geisinger Clinic outpatient population. Research blood samples were collected during an outpatient clinical phlebotomy encounter. Research blood samples are coded and stored in a central biorepository. Samples are linkable to clinical data in a de-identified manner for research via an IRB-approved data broker process. For genomic analysis, DNA is extracted from EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood. For the initial eMERGE Geisinger eGenomic Medicine (GeM) genotyping project, a subset of 1,232 unique samples were genotyped using Illumina HumanOmniExpress-12 v1.0 arrays, and used as population controls for other Geisinger Clinic case cohorts, including abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastric bypass surgery cases. These samples were selected from a larger subset of approximately 6,000 MyCode DNA samples using a partial matching algorithm that included age, sex, and body mass index as variables.

  Study phs000381

• Serrated Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Disease Subtype

  This dataset represents two combined study populations. Serrated Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Disease Subtype (called the Advanced Colorectal Cancer of Serrated Subtype Study or ACCESS Study) was a grant awarded to investigate a newly-recognized, biologically-distinct subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC) called “serrated CRC.” The objective of this project was to characterize factors related to the genetic predisposition, clinical presentation, and prognosis of serrated CRC. The study recruited incident invasive CRC cases diagnosed between April 2016 and December 2018, aged 20-74 years at diagnosis. Cases were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry serving 13 counties in western Washington State. Eligibility for all individuals was limited to those who were English-speaking and could consent. Participation included completing a baseline epidemiologic questionnaire shortly after diagnosis, optional donation of a saliva sample for genetic analysis, and optional consent to release of medical records and tissue specimens related to their diagnosis. Tumor specimens were tested for serrated CRC-defining molecular characteristics. Further, we have vital status on all participants and cause of death on those that have died since enrollment. Hormones and Colon Cancer: Epigenetic Subtypes, Risks, and Survival (called the Post-Menopausal Hormones Study or PMH Study) was a grant awarded to investigate the impact of post-menopausal hormone use on colon cancer risk, tumor molecular characteristics, and outcomes. Eligible cases were females, newly diagnosed with invasive colorectal adenocarcinoma between October 1998 and February 2002, aged 50 to 74 years. Cases were residents of 10 out of the 13 counties in western Washington State served by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry. Eligibility for all individuals was limited to those who were English-speaking with available telephone numbers, in which they could be contacted. Unrelated population-based controls were randomly selected according to age distribution (in 5-year age intervals) of the eligible cases by using lists of licensed drivers from the Washington State Department of Licensing (for individuals aged 50 to 64 years) and rosters from the Health Care Financing Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, for individuals older than 64 years). Participation included completing a baseline epidemiologic questionnaire, optional donation of a saliva sample for genetic analysis, and (for cases only) optional consent to release of medical records and tissue specimens related to their diagnosis. Tumor specimens were tested for epigenetic and other molecular characteristics. The ACCESS study was supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NCI/NIH) (R01CA196337, PI: Newcomb, PA), as was the PMH Study (R01CA076366, PI: Newcomb, PA). Additional support for the PMH Study came from the Seattle site of the Colon Cancer Family Registry (SCCFR) (U01CA167551, PI: Jenkins, M, and U01/U24CA074794, PI: Newcomb, PA). Additional support for case ascertainment was provided by the Cancer Surveillance System of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, which is funded by Contract Number HHSN261201300012I; NCI Control Number: N01 PC-2013-00012; Contract Number HHSN261201800004I; and NCI Control Number: N01 PC-2018-00004 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute with additional support from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the State of Washington. This research was also supported by the Genomics and Bioinformatics, Comparative Medicine, Specialized Pathology, Collaborative Data Services, and Experimental Histopathology Shared Resources of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium (P30 CA015704).Tumor marker testing was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded diagnostic tumor tissue specimens, and DNA extracted from those specimens. Testing for microsatellite instability (MSI) was based on either a 10-gene panel (BAT25, BAT26, BAT40, MYCL, D5S346, D17S250, ACTC, D18S55, D10S197, BAT34C4) or a 4-marker immunohistochemistry panel of DNA mismatch repair proteins (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2). CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) testing was based on a validated quantitative DNA methylation assay using a five-gene panel (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3, SOCS1) or eight-gene panel (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3, SOCS1, MLH1, CRABP1, CDKN2A). Somatic p.V600E BRAF mutation status was tested for using a fluorescent allele-specific PCR assay. KRAS mutations in codons 12 and 13 were also assessed through forward and reverse sequencing of amplified tumor DNA. DNA was extracted from blood/saliva samples using conventional methods. The genotyping panel completed was the Build37 OncoArray500K-C, including 1%-6% blinded duplicates to monitor the quality of the genotyping. Quality control procedures were performed to 1) make sure that there were no patterns of missing data by batch, study, or plate, 2) check for gender discrepancies and kinship, 3) complete Principal Component Analysis, and 4) test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Samples were excluded based on call rate, heterozygosity, unexpected duplicates, gender discrepancy, and unexpectedly high identity-by-descent or unexpected genotypic concordance (>65%) with another individual. In addition, variants were excluded based on call rate (98%), lack of HWE in controls (P

  Study phs002171

• 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

• CSER: Clinical Implementation of Carrier Testing Using Next Generation Sequencing (NextGen)

  We will investigate the clinical implementation of genome sequencing (GS) for carrier screening to aid reproductive decision-making in adults. The study is organized into three inter-related Projects. The study population will include women and their partners who receive pre-conception testing. In Project 1, we will conduct a Randomized Clinical Trial to test clinical implementation of WGS compared with usual care. We will integrate WGS results with the electronic medical record (EMR), and measure outcomes from patient and physician perspectives. In Project 2, we will perform whole genome sequencing, including validation and interpretation of the identified variants to identify "actionable variants", meaning variants deemed worthy of reporting. This will include a robust approach using a Return of Results Committee (RORC) for determination of reportable results. In Project 3, we will evaluate the ethical and psychosocial implications of expanded carrier screening using WGS for the return of carrier status and secondary findings, and measure the impact on downstream healthcare utilization and cost. Two groups of women are identified through the electronic medical record. The first group has a clinical carrier screening test, usually Cystic Fibrosis (CF), ordered and completed as part of a preconception planning visit. The second group has a carrier screening test, usually CF, performed during pregnancy, they have delivered their baby and are planning a future pregnancy. Eligible women are randomized to either usual care or genome sequencing (GS). Women randomized into the usual care arm have already received their clinical genetic test. These women will not receive genome sequencing. Women in the GS arm will receive their carrier status results for about 700 gene/condition pairs approximately three months after randomization. If there are results to return, women come in for a genetic counseling session. If there are no results, a letter is sent in the mail. Incidental findings (IF) are returned about one month later. As with the carrier status results, all IF are returned in person, and if there are no results a letter is sent in the mail. If a participant is found to be a carrier of an autosomal recessive condition, her male partner is then eligible and invited to participate in the study and receive GS.

  Study phs000927

• Single Cell RNA Sequencing of Tendon Scar Tissue (Tenolysis)

  This human tenolysis sample was collected as a control (non-diabetic sample) as part of larger study described below.The purpose of the larger study is to define the cellular and molecular environment in tendons, pulleys, synovial sheath, tendon scar tissue, and palmar fascia samples. The samples are isolated from discarded tissues from patients who undergo lower limb amputation surgery, dupuytren's disease, trigger finger release, tenolysis surgery, tenosynovitis surgery, distal biceps tendon repair, common extensor debridement and repair, common flexor debridement and repair, or proximal long head of the biceps tenodesis.The dramatic increase in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) as part of the obesity epidemic is one of the most pressing health challenges facing the U.S. Type II diabetes results in systemic inflammation and is characterized by metabolic dysfunction including elevated plasma glucose levels (hyperglycemia). There is a clear link between T2DM and musculoskeletal pathologies; T2DM accelerates the progression of osteoarthritis, and increases fracture risk. Moreover, T2DM impairs tendon homeostasis and repair, and increases the risk and severity of tenosynovitis (infection of the tendon and sheath), however there remains a paucity of information regarding the molecular mechanisms of diabetes-induced changes in tendon function. Flexor and extensor tendons facilitate digit range of motion (ROM) and movement of the hand. Tendon gliding can be impaired by tendon fibrosis and an inability to fit within the surrounding synovial sheath, or due to the formation of fibrous adhesions between the tendon and synovial sheath during healing. Fibrosis and increased disorganization of the extracellular matrix are hallmarks of the diabetic hand phenotype observed in T2DM patients. T2DM dramatically affects the baseline function of tendons; up to 50% of diabetic patients experience impaired hand function, including increased rates of tenosynovitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition to decrements in tendon gliding function, deficits in mechanical properties are also observed, rendering diabetic tendons more susceptible to rupture. Considering that the complication rate of primary flexor tendon repairs is as high as 40% in non-diabetic patients, and that T2DM further impairs tendon healing, it is imperative to understand the cellular and molecular components of diabetic tendinopathy. The study will define the overall cellular and molecular environment in tendon pulleys, palmar fascia, synovial sheath tissue, and scar tissue (tenolysis and tenosynovitis samples) as a function of type II diabetes.

  Study phs004076

• Identification of intronic sequences promoting natural skipping of ABCA4 exon 15 using long-read transcriptomics and midigene assays

  Stargardt disease is an inherited retinal disease that leads to progressive loss of vision, and is caused by biallelic variants in the ABCA4 gene. A significant proportion of ABCA4 variants of variable penetrance affect pre-mRNA splicing. Previously, we observed the exclusion of certain ABCA4 exons into the final transcript in the absence of any disease-causing variants. In this study, we explored this phenomenon that we coined natural exon skipping (NES) for the entire ABCA4 transcript, using targeted RT-PCR analysis as well as long-read transcriptome sequencing of control retina samples. For the most abundant NES event, which is skipping of ABCA4 exon 15, overlapping ABCA4 deletion constructs were employed to identify responsible cis-regulatory sequence motifs. Subsequently, antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) were designed and tested to reverse NES and restore fully-spliced ABCA4 mRNA. We identified intronic regions on each side of exon 15 that, when deleted, increased the inclusion of exon 15 in the final transcripts. Interestingly, these motifs appear to work in a synergistic manner. Further fine-mapping of these regions revealed several cis-regulatory motifs that may be responsible for inducing NES, on each side of the exon. AONs targeting these motifs unfortunately did not decrease the skipping of exon 15. In conclusion, we discovered an intriguing phenomenon that, in the absence of disease-causing variants, results in the skipping of one or more exons in the ABCA4 transcript. These NES events appear to be regulated by cis-regulatory motifs within the flanking introns. This work captured the extend of NES throughout ABCA4 transcript and the role of cis-regulatory motifs in pre-mRNA splicing.. The use of AONs targeting cis-regulatory motifs is an innovative strategy for splicing modulation, suitable for complementing future variant-specific splicing modulation therapies in ABCA4 retinopathies.

  Study EGAS50000000071

• Metagenomic Analysis to Identify Novel Infectious Agents in Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

  Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Risk of systemic ALCL is markedly increased among immunosuppressed people, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or solid organ transplant recipients. This increased risk in immunosuppressed populations suggests a viral etiology, given similar elevations for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Burkitt lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma (caused by Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]) and other virus-related cancers in immunosuppressed individuals. EBV might be a plausible candidate, but most reported ALCL tumors are EBV-negative. Therefore, we conducted a metagenomic analysis of microbial associations with ALCL to determine whether a known or novel pathogen is associated with the tumor. We obtained archived formal fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) ALCL tumor tissue from the Iowa cancer registry and an additional case from an immunosuppressed individual infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Controls included 3 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) in transplant recipients (shown to be related to Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] by in situ hybridization) and 3 breast cancers (no known viral etiology). RNA was extracted from FFPE specimens, and total RNA libraries were prepared using the KAPA RNA HyperPrep Kit (Roche). Five samples (IA01, IA53, IA57, IA07, and IA17) were sequenced on a NextSeq 500 (Illumina) and the remainder on a NovSeq 6000 (Illumina). Using novel computational approaches, we eliminated human reads and aligned residual non-human reads to known microbial references using GATK-PathSeq or conducted de novo assembly of unassigned reads using virID pipeline. Although EBV was detected in the 3 DLBCL controls, we did not detect EBV or any novel pathogen in ALCL tumors or in the breast cancers. Our study had a modest sample size and only one case arising in HIV-infected individual. Therefore, further studies are required to characterize the metagenome of systemic ALCLs, especially cases arising in immunosuppressed people.

  Study phs002064

• Structure and Diversity of Urinary Cell-Free DNA Informative of Host-Pathogen Interactions in Human Urinary Tract Infection

  The risk of acquiring urinary tract infection (UTI) is very high for patients who have received kidney transplants; nearly half will develop bacteriuria and an eighth viruria via BK polyomavirus in the first three years following transplantation. Current methodology for diagnosing viral and bacterial infections, while well practiced, is often limited in scope. The advent of next generation sequencing of cell-free DNA has shown promise in its ability to capture multiple perspectives of human health from discovering the origin of cell-free DNA in plasma; such a diagnostic has not been readily applied to urinary cell-free DNA. In this study, we selected 141 urine samples from a cohort of kidney transplant patients, which were collected and stored at Weill Cornell Medical College - New York Presbyterian Hospital. Of these samples, 43 samples were determined to be culture positive (> 10,000 CFU) for one or more bacterial species, including E. coli, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Haemophilus, and Raoultella. A separate 23 samples were confirmed for BK virus nephropathy, with presence of BK polyomavirus confirmed via qPCR. We also included 29 samples from 14 patients who did not develop UTIs in the first three months following transplantation, and 11 samples that were negative for BK virus nephropathy. For a full description of samples, please see the Supplementary Data 1 in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29925834/. From these urine samples, we aimed to capture and sequence urinary cell-free DNA using a single-stranded library preparation. In addition, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to 170 plasma samples collected from 27 hematopoietic cell transplant patients who developed graft-versus host disease and BK polyomavirus infection. We also performed Sample-Intrinsic microbial DNA Found by Tagging and sequencing (SIFT-seq) on 196 cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples (154 plasma and 42 urine) collected from five groups of subjects. For a full description of samples, please see publications in PMID: 35864089 and PMID: 35058359.

  Study phs001564

• Precision High Intensity Training Through Epigenetics (PHITE)

  Exercising regularly promotes health, but these benefits are complicated by acute inflammation induced by exercise. A potential source of exercise-induced inflammation is cell-free DNA (cfDNA), yet the cellular origins, molecular causes, and immune system interactions of exercise-induced cfDNA are unclear. To study these, 10 healthy individuals were randomized to a 12-week exercise program of either high-intensity tactical training (HITT) or traditional moderate-intensity training (TRAD). Blood plasma was collected pre- and post exercise at weeks 0 and 12 and after 4 week of detraining upon program completion. Whole-genome enzymatic methylation sequencing (EM-seq) with cell-type proportion deconvolution was applied to cfDNA obtained from the 50 plasma samples and paired to concentration measurements for 90 circulating cytokines. Acute exercise increased the release of cfDNA from neutrophils, dendritic cells (DCs), and macrophages proportional to exercise intensity (HITT > TRAD). Exercise training reduced cfDNA released in HITT participants but not TRAD and from DCs and macrophages but not neutrophils. For most participants, training lowered mitochondrial cfDNA at rest, even after detraining. Using a sequencing analysis approach we developed, we concluded that rapid extracellular traps (ETosis) was the likely source of cfDNA, demonstrated by enrichment of nuclear DNA. Further, several cytokines were induced by acute exercise, such as IL-6, IL-10, and IL-16, and training attenuated the induction of only IL-6 and IL-17F. Cytokine levels were not associated with cfDNA induction, suggesting that these cytokines are not the main cause of exercise-induced cfDNA. Overall, exercise intensity and training modulated cfDNA release and cytokine responses, contributing to the anti-inflammatory effects of regular exercise. One additional subject was also used in the methyl-seq data as a control for comparing bisulfite-sequencing to enzymatic methyl sequencing. DNA methylation for MPO gene was found to be significantly different as well, in line with interpretation that neutrophils are primarily undergoing ETosis.

  Study phs003873

• Emirati Genome Project subset of 43,608 WGS samples for population-scale variant discovery and allele frequency mapping.

  Here, we present a comprehensive genomic characterization of a cohort of 43,608 Emirati genomes sequenced as part of the Emirati Genome Program (EGP). This study identified more than 421 million single nucleotide variants and indels and more than 600 million copy number- and structural variants. Small variants had 756 million molecular effects annotated. Of the identified variants, 69.04% were observed with more than one allele. Of 7.7 million polymorphic variants having an allele frequency (AF) of more than 5% in EGP, 1,348 have a predicted deleterious effect on a protein. Characterization of global variation reveals that EGP represents a genetic continuum encompassing the range of African, Asian, and European populations. It is best described by two Arabian, an Eurasian, and an African component, with the predominant Arabian component linked to mitochondrial haplogroups J and T, which are commonly attributed to the Middle East. Various aneuploidies of sex chromosomes were detected in 93 individuals overall and of chromosome 21 in 41 individuals. The median inbreeding coefficient and cumulative runs of homozygosity (ROHs) lengths were increased due to extensive consanguinity, being largest in the groups with Arabian main ancestry components and higher than reported for Qatar. Families were identified based on genetic relatedness and classified into 264 families with unrelated parents and 247 families with third- and fourth-degree consanguineous parents. Representative consanguineous pedigrees of families in EGP were outlined. Cumulative ROHs were affected by the main ancestry component and significantly increased in offspring of consanguineous parents, with a pronounced difference between 3rd and 4th-degree relatedness. Investigation of cumulative AFs of variants causing Mendelian diseases highlighted genes related to alpha- and beta-thalassemia (HBB, HBA2). It showed a high burden of variants causing severe recessive diseases, metabolic and retinal disorders, and hearing loss. In summary, EGP represents a landmark effort in characterizing the genetic diversity of the Emirati population, leveraging the largest Middle Eastern cohort reported to date.

  Study EGAS50000001071

• Integrated copy number and expression analysis identifies profiles of whole-arm chromosomal alterations and subgroups with favorable outcome in ovarian clear cell carcinomas

  Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) is generally associated with chemoresistance and poor clinical outcome, even with early diagnosis; whereas high-grade serous carcinomas (SCs) and endometrioid carcinomas (ECs) are commonly chemosensitive at advanced stages. Although an integrated genomic analysis of SC has been performed, conclusive views on copy number and expression profiles for CCC are still limited. In this study, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism arrays in 57 (31 CCCs, 14 SCs, and 12 ECs) and expression microarrays in 55 epithelial ovarian cancers (25 CCCs, 16 SCs, and 14 ECs), and then evaluated PIK3CA mutations and ARID1A expression in CCCs. SNP array analysis classified 13% of CCCs into a cluster with high frequency and focal range of copy number alterations (CNAs), significantly lower than for SCs (93%, P < 0.01) and ECs (50%, P = 0.017). The ratio of whole-arm to all CNAs was higher in CCCs (46.9%) than SCs (21.7%) (P < 0.0001). SCs with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of BRCA1 (85%) also had LOH of NF1 and TP53, and LOH of BRCA2 (62%) coexisted with LOH of RB1 and TP53. Microarray analysis classified CCCs into three clusters. One cluster (CCC-2, n = 10) showed more favorable prognosis than the others (CCC-1and CCC-3) (P = 0.041). Coexistent alterations of PIK3CA and ARID1A were more common in CCC-1 and CCC-3 (7/11, 64%) than in CCC-2 (0/10, 0%) (P < 0.01). Being in cluster CCC-2 was an independent favorable prognostic factor in CCC. In conclusion, CCC was characterized by a high ratio of whole-arm CNAs; whereas CNAs in SC were mainly focal, but preferentially caused LOH of well-known tumor suppressor genes. As such, expression profiles might be useful for sub-classification of CCC, and might provide useful information on prognosis.

  Study JGAS000022

• Na?ve Treg-specific genomic DNA hypomethylation for autoimmune disease susceptibility

  Naturally occurring regulatory T (Treg) cells, which are specifically expressing the transcription factor FOXP3, CD25 and CTLA-4, are indispensable for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. Mutations of the FOXP3, CD25 and CTLA4 genes compromise the function of natural FOXP3+CD25+CD4+ Treg cells and cause severe autoimmune diseases showing Mendelian inheritance. Also, altered Treg-specific epigenetic changes, such as DNA hypomethylation and enhancer activation, impair the expression of these molecules in developing Treg cells, causing autoimmune diseases. It is obscure, however, whether Treg cells significantly contribute to the development of polygenic common autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis), which afflict ~10% of the population. Recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) of common autoimmune diseases has revealed many autoimmune disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in enhancer regions of immune cells, for example, in non-coding regions of T cell activation-associated genes such as CD25 and CTLA4. These findings, especially the involvement of common T-cell genes in the functions of both Treg cells and effector T cells, prompt one to ask whether autoimmune disease-associated causative SNPs impact on the functions of either disease-causing effector T cells or disease-suppressing Treg cells. Here, we have explored epigenetic profiles of human Treg and conventional T (Tconv) cells in na?ve or activated states, and found that autoimmune disease-associated SNPs are predominantly enriched in Treg-specific CpG demethylated regions (Treg-DRs), which were mostly included in Treg-specific super-enhancers. Treg-DRs are developmentally established in na?ve Treg cells before antigenic stimulation, distinct from activation-induced CpG hypomethylation in Treg or Tconv cells, and highly associated with Treg cell-specific transcriptional and epigenetic changes. Taken together, genetic variants affecting endogenous development of natural Treg cells and their Treg-intrinsic functions are causative of common autoimmune diseases, indicating natural Treg cells as a key target for their treatment and prevention.

  Study JGAS000145

• Characterization of genetic intratumor heterogeneity in colorectal cancer and matching patient-derived spheroid cultures.

  Patient-derived in vitro cultures of colorectal cancer (CRC) may help guide treatment strategies prior to patient treatment. However, most previous studies have been performed on a single biopsy per tumor. The purpose of this study was to analyze multiple spatially distinct biopsies from CRCs and see how well intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) was recapitulated in matching patient-derived spheroids. Three to five biopsies were collected from six CRC tumors. Each biopsy was split in two; one half was used for spheroid culturing, the other half was used for direct DNA and RNA purification. For two of the patients, lymph node metastases were analyzed. Somatic mutations were called from whole exome sequencing data. Each tumor contained multiple mutations shared across all biopsies and spheroids, including major CRC drivers such as APC, KRAS, and TP53. At the same time, all tumors exhibited ITH on both mutation and copy number level. The concordance between biopsies and spheroids ranged between 40-70% for coding mutations. For three of the patients the biopsy and spheroid from matching areas clustered together, meaning that the spheroid resembled the area of origin more than the other areas. However, all biopsies and spheroids contained private mutations. Thereby, multiple cultures from spatially distinct sites of the tumor increase the insight into the genetic profile of the entire tumor. RNA sequencing based molecular subtyping was stable and seemed independent of genetic ITH. In conclusion, all examined CRC tumors contained genetic ITH on mutation and copy number level. Spheroid cultures partly reflected this ITH, meaning that multiple cultures from distinct sites of the tumor improved the representation of the different genetic subclones in the primary tumor. This should be taken in to account when establishing patient-derived models for drug screening.

  Study EGAS00001002684

• ctDNA quantification in Ewing sarcoma patients

  Background. Treatment stratification and response assessment in pediatric sarcomas has relied on imaging studies and surgical/histopathological evidence of vital tumor cells. Such studies and evidence collection processes often involve radiation and/or general anesthesia in children. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection in blood plasma is one available method of so-called liquid biopsies that has been shown to correlate qualitatively and quantitatively to some extent with the existence of vital tumor cells in the body. Our clinical observational study focused on the utility and feasibility of ctDNA detection in pediatric Ewing sarcoma (EWS) as a marker of minimal residual disease (MRD). Patients and Methods. We performed whole genome sequencing to identify the exact breakpoints in tumors known to carry the EWS-FLI1 fusion gene. Patient-specific fusion breakpoints were tracked in peripheral blood plasma using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) before, during, and after therapy in six consecutive children and young adults with EWS. Presence and levels of fusion breakpoints were correlated with clinical disease courses. The genetic changes in the tumors were defined, and inter- and intra-individual changes in the tumor DNA copy loads were observed over time. Results. We show that the detection of ctDNA in the peripheral blood of EWS patients i) is feasible in the clinical routine and ii) allows for the longitudinal real-time monitoring of MRD activity in children and young adults. Although changing ctDNA levels correlated well with clinical outcome within patients, between patients, a high variability was observed (inter-individually) for the six patients described here. Conclusions. ctDNA detection by ddPCR is a highly sensitive, specific, feasible, and highly accurate method that can be applied in EWS for follow-up assessments as an additional surrogate parameter for clinical MRD monitoring and, potentially, also for treatment stratification in the near future.

  Study EGAS00001006433

• Genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing identifies epigenetic perturbations in the upper airways under long-term exposure to moderate levels of ambient air pollution

  While the link between exposure to high levels of ambient particulate matter (PM) and increased incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases is widely recognized, recent epidemiological studies have shown that low PM concentrations are equally associated with adverse health effects. As DNA methylation is one of the main mechanisms by which cells regulate and stabilize gene expression, changes in the methylome could constitute early indicators of dysregulated signaling pathways. So far, little is known about PM-associated DNA methylation changes in the upper airways, the first point of contact between airborne pollutants and the human body. Here, we focused on cells of the upper respiratory tract and assessed their genome-wide DNA methylation pattern to explore exposure-associated early regulatory changes. Using a mobile epidemiological laboratory, nasal lavage samples were collected from a cohort of 60 adults that lived in districts with records of low (Simmerath) or moderate (Stuttgart) PM10 levels in Germany. PM10 concentrations were verified by particle measurements on the days of the sample collection and genome-wide DNA methylation was determined by enzymatic methyl sequencing at single-base resolution. We identified 231 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between moderately and lowly PM10 exposed individuals. A high proportion of DMRs overlapped with regulatory elements, and DMR target genes were involved in pathways regulating cellular redox homeostasis and immune response. In addition, we found distinct changes in DNA methylation of the HOXA gene cluster whose methylation levels have previously been linked to air pollution exposure but also to carcinogenesis in several instances. The findings of this study suggest that regulatory changes in upper airway cells occur at PM10 levels below current European thresholds, some of which may be involved in the development of air pollution-related diseases.

  Study EGAS00001007374

• Genome-Wide Predictors of Treatment-Related Toxicities in SWOG S0221 Trial

  When undergoing treatment for breast cancer, many women experience severe side effects, some of which result in treatment-related death and some that can persist for years. Little is understood regarding factors that may predict drug toxicities. Pharmacogenetics, the investigation of variants in candidate genes in drug metabolism pathways, has been used to determine susceptibility to treatment-related toxicities, as well as to cancer recurrence. Although there have been some strong and important findings using this approach, such as identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that predispose to side effects associated with thiopurines and irinotecan, there has been less progress in assessment of genetic variants that predispose to toxicities resulting from the multi-drug regimen commonly used to treat breast cancer, anthracyclines (A), cyclophosphamide (C), and taxanes (T). These difficulties in identification of key gene variants may be due to the complex metabolic pathways of these drugs, the lack of rate limiting enzymes in the processes, or the limitations of single SNP analysis, rather than capturing all of the variability across the genes. In addition to drug metabolism pathways, however, there may be a number of constitutional factors or other processes that affect damage to normal tissues in the course of chemotherapy, some known or hypothesized, such as DNA repair and oxidative stress pathways, and others not yet discovered. However, there have been no clear candidate genes that account for a large part of the variation in drug or treatment response, and there are likely important genes that influence sensitivity of cells to chemotherapy through unknown pathways which have not yet been identified or hypothesized. The present technological capabilities to screen the entire genome for variants that discriminate populations allows the opportunity to identify these as yet unknown pathways, and open the doors to exciting new avenues of research into mechanisms that had not been previously considered. We conducted a genome-wide scan (GWAS) in a clinical trial (S0221), in which women with high risk breast cancer were treated with different dosing schedules of C, A and T. Blood specimens were collected and banked, and DNA extracted for genotyping on the Illumina OMNI 1M platform. The GWAS data were used to examine genetic variants significantly associated with grades 3 and 4 toxicities, including peripheral neuropathy recorded during the T segment. In S0221, toxicities were graded according to the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). The neurotoxicity is predominantly a distal sensory neuropathy, which is characterized by pain, numbness, tingling, and reduced functional capacity in the extremities. Other symptoms include parasthesias, ataxia, impaired vibration and joint position sense, and loss of tendon reflexes. By using a GWAS approach, it is likely that important pathways not previously considered can be revealed as important in susceptibility to treatment-related toxicities, identifying those at greatest risk for alternate drugs or dose reduction, and opening new areas of research for prevention of taxanes-related neuropathy among patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

  Study phs001428

• Single cell transcriptomic data of human gut macrophages

  Cellular suspensions (∼15000 cells, with expected recovery of ∼7500 cells) of sorted CD45+ HLA-DR+ CD14+ macrophages from colonic mucosa and muscularis propria were loaded on the 10X Chromium Controller instrument (10X Genomics) according to the manufacturer’s protocol using the 10X GEMCode proprietary technology. All samples from individual patients were loaded in one batch. The Chromium Single Cell 3´ v2 Reagent kit (10X Genomics) was used to generate the cDNA and prepare the libraries, according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The libraries were then equimolarly pooled and sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq500 using HighOutput flow cells v2.5. A coverage of 400M reads per sample was targeted, in order to obtain 50 000 reads per cell. The raw data were then demultiplexed and processed with the Cell Ranger software (10X Genomics) v2.1.1.

  Dataset EGAD00001007765

• Disease specific alterations in the olfactory mucosa of patients with Alzheimer’s disease

  The sample AD_Library_1, AD_Library_2 and Control_Library were run on a Chromium Chip B with the Chromium Single Cell 3′ Library &amp; Gel Bead Kit v3 kit (10x Genomics, CA, USA) . The 3’ gene expression libraries were sequenced at an approximate depth of 50,000 reads per cell using the NovaSeq 6000 S1 (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) flow cells. Cell Ranger v.3.0.2 was used to analyze the raw base call files. FASTQ files and raw gene-barcode matrices were generated and aligned human genome GRCh37 (hg19). The samples were integrated in R v.4.0.3 and generated Seurat objects, two related to AD samples and one to control samples, were analyzed using the Seurat package v.4.0.3 to perform downstream analysis, clustering of the cells and differential expression.

  Dataset EGAD00001008560

• Myeloma Genome Project Targeted Sequencing Panel - Oxford Data

  This dataset comprises the BAM files from targeted genome sequencing of CD138+ selected myeloma tumour samples from 21 individuals. In 5 cases there is only one tumour sample, but in the other 16 cases there are sequential samples, spanning treatment relapses. There are denoted Tumor A, B C etc. Therefore there are a total of 48 myeloma tumour samples. For each individual there is also a germline control samples, obtained either from peripheral blood or from CD138-selected bone marrow cells.

  Dataset EGAD00001008735

• Clonal origin of lineage switch leukemia following CAR-T cell and blinatumomab therapy

  Children with ALL treated with anti-CD19 therapy occasionally develop a phenotypically distinct AML. However, the precise clonal origin of such class switch leukemias remains unresolved. Here, we reconstructed the evolution of leukemia in a child with primary ALL, two ALL relapses and AML after treatment with anti-CD19 CAR-T and blinatumomab through whole-genome sequencing. The phylogeny revealed that the AML was a monoclonal outgrowth descending from the initial ALL and harbored biallelic loss of CDKN2A, PAX5 and TP53. However, none of the ALL or AML relapses directly descended from one another, suggesting the presence of a reservoir of persistent clones. Our findings suggest anti-CD19 treatment selects pre-existing clones, with many key genetic alterations underpinning the lineage switch detectable prior to treatment.

  Dataset EGAD00001009161

• Exome sequences of AL amyloidosis (ALA), multiple myeloma (MM) and ALA+MM hematological malignancies

  DNA was isolated from aberrant plasma cells (aPCs) and peripheral blood of 12 ALA, 10 ALA+MM and 29 MM individuals. DNA from aPCs was amplified using REPLI-g Mini Kit (Qiagen). Totally, we analyzed 51 patients, 102 samples. One batch of exome libraries (paired tumor-normal samples from 12 ALA, 10 ALA+MM and 6 MM) was prepared using SureSelect Human All Exon V5 Kit (Agilent Technologies) and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform, 100 cycles. Second batch (23 MM samples; IDs ARK01-ARK26) was prepared using SureSelect Human All Exon V5 + IGH, IGK, IGL, MYC (Agilent Technologies) library preparation kit and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform in paired-end settings, 75 cycles. The reads were mapped using BWA-MEM on human genome GRCh38 without alternate loci.

  Dataset EGAD00001006047

• Bulk-tissue RNA-sequencing paired nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of anterior prefrontal cortex, cerebellar cortex and putamen tissues from 4 post-mortem neuropathologically-confirmed control individuals ( anterior prefrontal cortex &amp; cerebellar cortex – 4 individuals, putamen- 3 individuals)

  Profiling of paired nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of anterior prefrontal cortex, cerebellar cortex and putamen samples by bulk-tissue RNA-sequencing. Samples were derived from 4 post-mortem neuropathologically-confirmed control individuals ( anterior prefrontal cortex – 4 individuals, cerebellar cortex – 4 individuals, putamen- 3 individuals). Paired-end FASTQ files for each of the human samples are provided. Fastp (v 0.20.0), a fast all-in-one FASTQ pre-processor, was used for adapter trimming, read filtering and base correction. Fastp default settings were used for quality filtering and base correction. Further details on parameters used are available here: https://github.com/RHReynolds/RNAseqProcessing .

  Dataset EGAD00001009264

• RNA-seq BAM files from newborn screening dried blood spot samples

  Paired-end RNA-seq BAM files from 21 newborn screening dried blood spot (DBS) samples. These DBS samples were obtained from extremely low gestional age newborns, where 10 of them were affected by a fetal inflammatory response (FIR) before birth, and 11 were unaffected. Total RNA was sequenced using an Illumina NextSeq-500 instrument. The sample preparation protocol included the depletion of rRNA and globin mRNA using the Globin Zero Gold rRNA Removal Kit from Illumina. Libraries were prepared using the NebNext Ultra TM II Directionl RNA LIbrary Prep Kit (New England Biolabs). There is one BAM file per sample and there is an additional BAM file, corresponding to sample BS13, which was downsampled to 1/4 of its original depth (see BS13_README file for details).

  Dataset EGAD00001005009

• The Natural History of Human Prostate Cancer

  Whole genome DNA sequencing was used to decrypt the phylogeny of multiple samples from distinct areas of cancer and morphologically normal tissue taken from the prostates of 3 men. For each of three different prostates, multiple tumour samples (4, 5, and 3 depending on the case) and one normal tissue sample were whole genome sequenced with a matched blood sample using the Illumiuna HiSeq platform. Tumour samples were sequenced to a target depth of 50X and normals and blood to a target depth of 30X. As of September 2020, some of the studies using these data include: Cooper et al, Nature Genetics 2015 (PMID: 25730763) Wedge et al, Nature Genetics 2018 (PMID: 29662167) Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes, Nature 2020 (PMID: 32025007)

  Dataset EGAD00001000689

• Bulk RNAseq FASTQ files of three PDAC organoid lines treated with LGK974 or DMSO for 24h

  This dataset contains raw FASTQ files from bulk RNA sequencing of three patient-derived pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) organoid lines (P28, P40, P47). Each organoid line was treated with either the WNT secretion inhibitor LGK974 or DMSO for 24 hours, with three biological replicates per treatment condition. RNA was extracted using the Qiagen QiaSymphony SP system, and libraries were prepared with the Illumina Truseq stranded polyA kit. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq2000 platform using single-end 50bp reads. Quality control was conducted with FastQC, and reads were trimmed with TrimGalore as appropriate. Data are controlled-access and intended for transcriptomic analysis of WNT pathway perturbation in PDAC organoid models.

  Dataset EGAD50000002219

• Germline and somatic variants in myelodysplastic syndrome and therapy-related myeloid neoplasms

  Somatic mutation frequencies in patients with therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (129 patients, 181 samples including bone marrow, mesenchymal stromal cells and hair DNA) and primary myelodysplastic syndrome (108 patients, 215 samples including bone marrow, mesenchymal stromal cells and hair DNA) is assessed by deep sequencing of selected genes, using a Fluidigm Access Array, a Nimblegen capture panel and an Ion AmpliSeq panel. The dataset consists of paired fastq files obtained by either Hiseq (2x101bp) or Nextseq (2x150bp) Illumina sequencing. The mutational burden is found to be similar in both, however the distribution of variants is different. Correlation of the mutational spectrum with prognosis is also observed.

  Dataset EGAD00001004861

• NHLBI TOPMed: Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium (PCGC)'s Congenital Heart Disease Biobank

  The Pediatric Cardiovascular Genetics Consortium (PCGC) proposes to define genetic causes for congenital heart defects (CHD) as part of the TOPMed Program are the most common form of heart disease in childhood and are also the most prevalent form of birth defects, occurring in 2-3% of live births. The PCGC has recruited and clinically characterized = 10,000 CHD probands and parents (CHD trios). From whole exome sequencing (WES) of &gt;2800 CHD trios, we identified a substantial enrichment of damaging de novo mutations in genes important for cardiogenesis, particularly implicating histone modifier enzyme gene defects. Analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 350 probands with CHD unexplained by WES and their parents preliminarily implicated de novo mutations in enhancers of genes previously shown to cause CHD in mouse knock out models. Sequencing of RNA (RNAseq) from discarded cardiac tissues from CHD probands has revealed likely causal allele-specific expression (ASE) as well as biallelic loss of expression (LOE). We have also discovered de novo epimutations, differentially methylated regions (DMRs), some with underlying de novo DNA variation, that are detectable in peripheral blood leukocytes and appear to underlie 10% of CHD. Of note, these assorted 'omic' approaches have enabled one another, both for attributing causality and assessing functional impact. Based on these extensive preliminary data, we hypothesize that PCGC probands with uninformative exomic analyses (WES-negative) harbor de novo genetic and/or epigenetic mutations in critical regulatory elements that participate in developmental expression of cardiac genes. To identify these etiologies, we propose analyses of WGS in 1000 WES-negative CHD trios, prioritizing those with probands with banked CHD tissues (n=78), one damaging variant in a recessive CHD gene, and older fathers (age&gt;45). We also request WGS for 230 probands, for whom we have cardiac tissues but not parental DNAs. We request RNAseq for 308 cardiac tissues. For DNA methylation, which TOPMed will offer through the Illumina 850k array platform, we are requesting analysis of DNAs from peripheral blood leukocytes for all probands for whom WGS will be performed (1000 from trios, 230 singletons) as well as DNAs from cardiac tissues (n=308) to pair with the WGS, RNAseq and blood DNA methylation data. We will use existing resources and capabilities of the PCGC to confirm relevant mutations and those of its companion consortium in the Bench to Bassinet Program, the Cardiovascular Development Consortium, to inform analyses of non-coding mutations as well as to perform confirmatory functional genomics studies using cell and animal models. We expect that the studies resulting from data generated through TOPMed will provide novel insights into the molecular basis for CHD and fundamental knowledge about genes and pathways involved in cardiac development. Aside from being relevant to CHD, we anticipate that our findings will inform the understanding of later-onset cardiovascular diseases, including some arising in adulthood.

  Study phs001735

• The Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) Tissue Biopsy Study

  The Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) study is a long-term effort to identify genetic variants that predispose to type 2 diabetes (T2D) or that impact the variability of T2D-related quantitative traits (QTs). Most of the variants associated with T2D and related traits (glucose and insulin, anthropometrics, lipids) through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) occur in non-coding regions, suggesting a strong regulatory component to disease susceptibility. Regulatory element activity is often tissue-specific, which further complicates discovery of the causal/functional variation. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify the appropriate cell type, regulatory elements, target genes, and causal variants(s) in T2D-relevant tissues. We hypothesize that a subset of T2D and related variants alter gene expression regulation in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue - two major insulin target tissues and play key roles in insulin resistance. To that end, our study contains a comprehensive survey of genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue from individuals with glucose tolerance categories ranging from normal to T2D.For this FUSION Tissue Biopsy Study, we obtained RNA-Seq, microRNA (miRNA)-Seq, and DNA methylation (methyl)-Seq data on biopsy samples from 331 individuals from across the range of glucose tolerance: 124 normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 77 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 44 impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and 86 newly-diagnosed T2Ds. Participants completed two study visits, two weeks apart. First visits comprised most of the clinical phenotyping, including four-point OGTT (fasting, and 30, 60, and 120 minute post-load); BMI, WHR; lipids; blood pressure; and many other variables. Participants also completed FUSION health history, medication, and lifestyle questionnaires. On the second visit, we obtained ~250mg vastus lateralis skeletal muscle, ~750mg abdominal subcutaneous adipose, and a ~5x15mm section of abdominal skin. Visits were completed in March 2013. RNA isolation is ongoing in the Collins laboratory at the NIH, RNA and miRNA sequencing at the NIH Intramural Sequencing Center (NISC), and genotyping at the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR). Individual-level data is available here for the 306 individuals who consented to data deposit. To focus on evaluation of gene expression and its regulation in skeletal muscle, we analyzed mRNA extracted from vastus lateralis skeletal muscle obtained from 271 of the 331 individual subjects from Finland, along with genome-wide genotypes. Individual-level data is available here for the 250 subjects who consented to the use of their data.Release phs001048.v2.p1 adds muscle data for an additional 42 subjects and data from adipose tissue for 276 subjects. Total RNA was isolated using Trizol extraction in the Collins laboratory at the NIH. The mRNA was poly-A selected, 24-plex libraries were generated using the Illumina TruSeq directional mRNA-seq library protocol and RNA sequencing was performed on HiSeq2000 sequencers using 101bp paired-end reads at NISC. miRNA libraries were prepared from total RNA from 296 muscle and 270 adipose samples, pooled and sequenced 50bp single-end reads on Illumina HiSeq2500. Data for 272 muscle and 251 adipose samples are available here for individuals with consent for data deposit. DNA was extracted from blood in the Collins laboratory, and genotyping on the Illumina Omni2.5M array was performed at CIDR. Genotypes were imputed using the HRC 2016 reference panel. In order to assess regions of open chromatin in skeletal muscle, we obtained muscle tissue from a commercial provider to perform ATAC-seq; these samples were sequenced at the University of Michigan DNA Sequencing Core.Release phs001048.v3.p1 adds single-nucleus (sn) RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data in 287 skeletal muscle samples out of the original 331 individuals. Individual-level data is available here for the 265 subjects who consented to the use of their data. The frozen tissue biopsy samples were processed in ten batches, each consisting of 40-41 samples. These batches were organized using a randomized block design to protect against experimental contrasts of interest including cohort, age, sex, BMI among others. Samples in each batch were pulverized, pooled together followed by nuclei isolation. The nuclei were processed on the 10X Genomics Chromium platform separately for snATAC-seq and snRNA-seq (v. 3.1 chemistry for snRNA-seq).Release phs001048.v4.p1 adds additional phenotypes and provides some corrections to several previous phenotypes.

  Study phs001048

• Disease Variant Landscape of a Large Multiethnic Population of Moyamoya Patients by Exome Sequencing

  We report a significant advance in Moyamoya disease (MMD) research through our unique access to a large MMD patient population combined with high depth exome sequencing and bioinformatics. We confirm a reported RNF213 founder mutation (FM), provide evidence for its ethnic specificity and identify novel variants in other genes that associate with Caucasian and non-RNF213 FM MMD. This work has a broader impact in vascular research by highlighting novel genetic aspects of cerebrovascular disease. Moyamoya Disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder characterized by unilateral or bilateral progressive stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery, with frequent involvement of the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Fragile collateral vessels subsequently develop and are particularly prone to hemorrhage. MMD patients are usually diagnosed angiographically following presentation of developmental delays, seizures, migraines, ischemia, and/or hemorrhage. The most common approach to re-establish normal blood flow is bypass surgery. While some progress has been made in identifying disease-associated genes, the underlying disease biology is not well understood. Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disease. Our unique access to a large MMD patient population combined with high depth exome sequencing and bioinformatics has led to a significant advance in the field. We confirm a reported RNF213 founder mutation (FM), provide evidence for its ethnic specificity and identify novel variants in other genes that associate with Caucasian and non-RNF213 FM MMD. This work has a broader impact in vascular research by highlighting novel genetic aspects of cerebrovascular disease. The 125 ethnically diverse, unrelated MMD patients were matched based on sex and broad ethnic category to 125 controls. Control DNA from the 1000 Genomes project was used to design a control Library by Personalis. 125 controls were selected from this Personalis Control DNA Library for our study. (The 1000 Genomes Project Consortium 2012). Genomic DNA was extracted using the Gentra Puregene kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Libraries were prepared from approximately 3 &#181;g of high quality genomic DNA (50-200 ng/&#181;l) using Illumina TruSeq Genomic DNA High throughput Sample Prep Kits (Illumina, San Diego, CA) and exome enrichment (targeting 62Mb) was accomplished using the TruSeq Exome Target Enrichment kit (Illumina, San Diego, CA), all according to manufacturer&#39;s protocols. Target enrichment validation was confirmed by determining the concentration of the library by PicoGreen-based quantitation. Library yields ranged from 100-1000ng of DNA, a portion of which was run on the Bioanalyzer HS DNA chip (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA), with an average size of 300-550nt for DNA fragments. Exome Sequencing. Sequencing was performed using Illumina Hiseq2000 or HiSeq2500 sequencers with single lane, paired-end 2X100bp reads. DNA fragments were generated and amplified using Clonal Single Molecule Array technology (Illumina, San Diego, CA). The sequences were determined using the Clonal Single Molecule Array and Sequencing-by-Synthesis using Illumina&#39;s instrumentation and Reversible Terminator Chemistry. Each sequencing lane interrogated the DNA sequences of a pool of 3 individual sample libraries each carrying a unique index. Sequencing reads of at least 2x100bp in length for a total of approximately 8 Gb of sequence data were generated for each sample.

  Study phs001700

• Phase II Study of Cryoablation and Post-Progression Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Metastatic Melanoma

  Percutaneous cryoablation guided by imaging is a well-established, minimally invasive treatment for oncological conditions. We posited that cryoablation could alter the immune microenvironment by directly influencing the tumor, potentially eliciting an anti-tumor response in cases resistant to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). In this non-randomized phase II single-center study (NCT03290677), individuals with unresectable melanoma experiencing progression on ICI underwent cryoablation in a single progressing metastasis, while ICI was continued for at least two additional cycles. The main objectives were to assess safety and feasibility and to evaluate tumor response in non-ablated lesions. Between May 2018 and July 2020, 17 patients participated in the study. The treatment regimen proved safe, revealing an objective response rate of 23.5% and a disease control rate of 41% (comprising 4 partial responses and 3 stable diseases). In our investigation into the factors influencing response to cryoablation therapy in ICI-resistant melanoma, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) using both 10x Genomics and Smart-seq2 technologies on biopsies from metastatic sites of 15 patients. We collected pre-treatment samples from all patients and post-treatment samples from 5 patients, totaling 20 samples. After quality control, excluding cells specific to anatomical sites or rare cell types (e.g., alveolar type II, neurons), and batch correction, we analyzed 49,071 single cells spanning melanocyte, endothelial, stromal, T, myeloid, and B/plasma cell lineages. Differential gene expression (DGE) analysis between myeloid cells identified the genes MARCKS and IL10, two genes involved in anti-inflammatory responses that can inhibit macrophages activation to be associated with failed response. Moreover, DGE analysis of T cells identified the gene TXK, which acts as a Th1 transcription factor, and the gene CMKLR1 (chemerin-like-receptor-1), which triggers migration of CD8 T-cells to be upregulated in patients who benefited from cryoablation treatment. In contrast, MTHFD2 and GGH, two genes involved in one-carbon metabolism and the folate cycle, were upregulated in T cells from patients who did not respond to therapy. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in B/plasma cells in patients who responded positively to the therapy combination, along with an enrichment of oxidative phosphorylation in T cells among non-responsive patients with progressive disease. These findings advocate for further investigation into this innovative and synergistic therapeutic approach.

  Study phs003579

• NHLBI Cleveland Family Study (CFS) Candidate Gene Association Resource (CARe)

  The Cleveland Family Study is the largest family-based study of sleep apnea world-wide, consisting of 2284 individuals (46% African American) from 361 families studied on up to 4 occasions over a period of 16 years. The study was begun in 1990 with the initial aims of quantifying the familial aggregation of sleep apnea. NIH renewals provided expansion of the original cohort (including increased minority recruitment) and longitudinal follow-up, with the last exam occurring in February 2006. Index probands (n=275) were recruited from 3 area hospital sleep labs if they had a confirmed diagnosis of sleep apnea and at least 2 first-degree relatives available to be studied. In the first 5 years of the study, neighborhood control probands (n=87) with at least 2 living relatives available for study were selected at random from a list provided by the index family and also studied. All available first degree relatives and spouses of the case and control probands also were recruited. Second-degree relatives, including half-sibs, aunts, uncles and grandparents, were also included if they lived near the first degree relatives (cases or controls), or if the family had been found to have two or more relatives with sleep apnea. Blood was sampled and DNA isolated for participants seen in the last two exam cycles (n=1447). The sample, which is enriched with individuals with sleep apnea, also contains a high prevalence of individuals with sleep apnea-related traits, including: obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and HTN. Phenotyping data have been collected over 4 exam cycles, each occurring ~every 4 years. The last three exams targeted all subjects who had been studied at earlier exams, as well as new minority families and family members of previously studied probands who had been unavailable at prior exams. Data from one, two, three and four visits are available for 412, 630, 329 and 67, participants, respectively. In the first 3 exams, participants underwent overnight in-home sleep studies, allowing determination of the number and duration of hypopneas and apneas, sleep period, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels; anthropometry (weight, height, and waist, hip, and neck circumferences); resting blood pressure; spirometry; standardized questionnaire evaluation of symptoms, medications, sleep patterns, quality of life, daytime sleepiness measures and health history; venipuncture and measurement of total and HDL cholesterol. The 4th exam (2001-2006) was designed to collect more detailed measurements of sleep, metabolic and CVD phenotypes and included measurement of state-of-the-art polysomnography, with both collection of blood and measurement of blood pressure before and after sleep, and anthropometry, upper airway assessments, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, and ECG performed the morning after the sleep study. Data have been collected by trained research assistants or GCRC nurses following written Manuals of Procedures who were certified following standard approaches for each study procedure. Ongoing data quality, with assessment of within or between individual drift, has been monitored on an ongoing basis, using statistical techniques as well as regular re-certification procedures. Between and within scorer reliabilities for key sleep apnea indices have been excellent, with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) exceeding 0.92 for the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Sleep staging, assessed with epoch specific comparisons, also demonstrate excellent reliability for stage identification (kappas&gt;0.82). There has been no evidence of significant time trends-between or within scorers- for the AHI variables. We also have evaluated the night-to-night variability of the AHI and other sleep variables in 91 subjects, with each measurement made 1-3 months apart. There is high night to night consistency for the AHI (ICC: 0.80), the arousal index (0.76), and the % sleep time in slow-wave sleep (0.73). We have demonstrated the comparability of the apnea estimates (AHI) determined from limited channel studies obtained at in-home settings with in full in-laboratory polysomnography. In addition to our published validation study, we more recently compared the AHI in 169 Cleveland Family Study participants undergoing both assessments (in-home and in-laboratory) within one week apart. These showed excellent levels of agreement (ICC=0.83), demonstrating the feasibility of examining data from either in-home or in-laboratory studies for apnea phenotyping. Data collected in the GCRC were obtained, when possible, with comparable, if not identical techniques, as were the same measures collected at prior exams performed in the participants&#39; homes. To address the comparability of data collected over different exams, we calculated the crude age-adjusted correlations ~3 year within individual correlations between measures made in the most recent GCRC exam with measures made in a prior exam and demonstrated excellent levels of agreement for BMI (r=.91); waist circumference (0.91); FVC (0.88); and FEV1 (0.86). As expected due to higher biological and measurement variability, 149 somewhat lower 3-year correlations were demonstrated for SBP (0.56); Diastolic BP (0.48); AHI (0.62); and nocturnal oxygen desaturation (0.60). NHLBI Candidate-gene Association Resource. The NHLBI initiated the Candidate gene Association Resource (CARe) to create a shared genotype/phenotype resource for analyses of the association of genotypes with phenotypes relevant to the mission of the NHLBI. The resource comprises nine cohort studies funded by the NHLBI: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC), Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), Cleveland Family Study (CFS), Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA), Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD), Framingham Heart Study (FHS), Jackson Heart Study (JHS), Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), and the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS). A database of genotype and phenotype data will be created that includes records for approximately 50,000 study participants with approximately 50,000 SNPs from more than 1,200 selected candidate genes. In addition, a genome wide association study using a 1,000K SNP Chip will be conducted on approximately 9,500 African American participants drawn from the 50,000 participants in the nine cohorts. Some relevant CARe publications CARe Study: PMID 20400780 CVD Chip Design: PMID 18974833

  Study phs000284

• OpACIN-neo – A Multicenter Phase 2 Study to identify the Optimal neo-Adjuvant Combination scheme of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab – Whole exome sequencing

  The outcome of patients with macroscopic stage III melanoma is poor. Neoadjuvant treatment with ipilimumab plus nivolumab at the standard dosing schedule induced pathological responses in a high proportion of patients in two small independent early-phase trials. However, toxicity of the standard ipilimumab plus nivolumab dosing schedule was high, preventing its broader clinical use. The aim of the OpACIN-neo study (NCT02977052) to identify a dosing schedule of ipilimumab plus nivolumab that is less toxic but equally effective. 86 patients with macroscopic stage III melanoma were randomised to one of three dosing schedules: arm A, two cycles of ipilimumab 3 mg/kg plus nivolumab 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks; arm B, two cycles of ipilimumab 1 mg/kg plus nivolumab 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks; or arm C, two cycles of ipilimumab 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks directly followed by two cycles of nivolumab 3mg/kg once every 2 weeks. Within the first 12 weeks, grade 3–4 immune-related adverse events were observed in 12 (40%) of 30 patients in group A, six (20%) of 30 in group B, and 13 (50%) of 26 in group C. Pathological responses occurred in 24 (80%) patients in group A, 23 (77%) in group B, and 17 (65%) in group C. The 2-year estimated relapse-free survival was 84% for all patients, 97% for patients achieving a pathologic response and 36% for nonresponders (p&lt;0.001). High tumor mutational burden (TMB) and high interferon-gamma-related gene expression signature score (IFN-γ score) were associated with pathologic response and low risk of relapse; pathologic response rate (pRR) was 100% in patients with high IFN-γ score/high TMB, patients with high IFN-γ score/low TMB or low IFN-γ score/high TMB had pRRs of 91% and 88%; while patients with low IFN-γ score/low TMB had a pRR of only 39%. These data demonstrate long-term benefit in patients with a pathologic response and show the predictive potential of TMB and IFN-γ score.

  Study EGAS00001004832

• OpACIN-neo – A Multicenter Phase 2 Study to identify the Optimal neo-Adjuvant Combination scheme of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab – RNA sequencing

  The outcome of patients with macroscopic stage III melanoma is poor. Neoadjuvant treatment with ipilimumab plus nivolumab at the standard dosing schedule induced pathological responses in a high proportion of patients in two small independent early-phase trials. However, toxicity of the standard ipilimumab plus nivolumab dosing schedule was high, preventing its broader clinical use. The aim of the OpACIN-neo study (NCT02977052) to identify a dosing schedule of ipilimumab plus nivolumab that is less toxic but equally effective. 86 patients with macroscopic stage III melanoma were randomised to one of three dosing schedules: arm A, two cycles of ipilimumab 3 mg/kg plus nivolumab 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks; arm B, two cycles of ipilimumab 1 mg/kg plus nivolumab 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks; or arm C, two cycles of ipilimumab 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks directly followed by two cycles of nivolumab 3mg/kg once every 2 weeks. Within the first 12 weeks, grade 3–4 immune-related adverse events were observed in 12 (40%) of 30 patients in group A, six (20%) of 30 in group B, and 13 (50%) of 26 in group C. Pathological responses occurred in 24 (80%) patients in group A, 23 (77%) in group B, and 17 (65%) in group C. The 2-year estimated relapse-free survival was 84% for all patients, 97% for patients achieving a pathologic response and 36% for nonresponders (p&lt;0.001). High tumor mutational burden (TMB) and high interferon-gamma-related gene expression signature score (IFN-γ score) were associated with pathologic response and low risk of relapse; pathologic response rate (pRR) was 100% in patients with high IFN-γ score/high TMB, patients with high IFN-γ score/low TMB or low IFN-γ score/high TMB had pRRs of 91% and 88%; while patients with low IFN-γ score/low TMB had a pRR of only 39%. These data demonstrate long-term benefit in patients with a pathologic response and show the predictive potential of TMB and IFN-γ score.

  Study EGAS00001004833

• DAC for Central African ancient demography processes NGS dataset

  Title DAC Ancient tree-topologies and gene-flow processes among human lineages in Africa Contacts: Paul Verdu +33144057317 paul.verdu@mnhn.fr CNRS-MNHN-Université de Paris UMR7206 Eco-anthropology Short description The Data Access Committee for acess to genotype and sample information used in the article "Ancient tree-topologies and gene-flow processes among human lineages in Africa" by Gwenna Breton et al. 2025 ensures that data-access requests comply with the Informed Consent provided by donors, and with ethical and deontological guidelines with respect to privacy. DNA samples from individuals were collected with the subjects’ informed consent following the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines and approved by the following Ethics committees: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD, France); Cameroon Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology; Central African Republic Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique; France Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation (Comité de Protection des Personnes DC-2016-2740); French Commission Nationale Informatique et Liberté CNIL (declaration n°1972648); Uganda National Council for Science and Technology; Institutional Review Board of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago Hospitals (protocol number 16986A); Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects of the Trustees of Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (protocol number 22410); Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Protocol Numbers: M980553, M050902, M090576, M10270, M180654); Working Group of Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa (WIMSA); South African San Council (SASC); and the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Dnr 2019-05174). Requests for accessing all or part of the Central African data used in the article "Ancient tree-topologies and gene-flow processes among human lineages in Africa", by Gwenna Breton et al. 2024 (doi - PENDING), should be addressed to the DAC providing: 1) Data can only be used to explore human genetic evolution, evolutionary ecology and population history 2) The research institution where data will be stored and were analyses will be conducted. 3) The detailed coordinates of the researcher responsible for data storage and analyses. 4) A description (max 20 sentences) of the scientific finality and context of the project and classes of methodological analyses that will be performed to achieve it using the requested data. 5) When applicable, mention also other previously published data sets that will be used jointly with the requested datas et For accessing any or all the Central African genetic data used in the article "Ancient tree-topologies and gene-flow processes among human lineages in Africa", by Gwenna Breton et al. 2024 (doi - PENDING), the requester hereby ensures that: 1) Individual donor privacy should be respected at all times. Data cannot be made publicly available under any circumstances. 2) Data cannot be shared nor transferred to a third party without re-applying for eGA access to the DAC. 3) No direct or indirect commercial use of the data can be made 4) No individual medical genetics or disease diagnostics can be performed with the data 5) No medical or legal forensic investigations can be conducted with the data 6) No genealogical research can be conducted with the data (e.g. no paternity nor maternity testing, no genetic identification, no search of relatives using other datasets) 7) Appropriate citation of the article and data set used for any scientific communication using the data 8) Data is destroyed after the completion of the project. Any further re-use of the data is subject to a novel application to the DAC.

  Dac EGAC50000000447

• California Pacific Medical Center Research Breast Health Cohort

  Description of Cohort: The California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) Breast Health Cohort is a cohort study based at CPMC and is linked to the San Francisco Mammography Registry, one of the sites of the NCI-funded Breast Cancer Screening Consortium (U01CA063740). CPMC is a community hospital in San Francisco, which has one of the highest volumes for mammography in San Francisco. Between September 2004 and June 2007, &gt;90,000 mammograms were performed at CPMC. The CPMC breast health cohort collects demographic and risk factor data on women receiving mammography through participation in the San Francisco Mammography Registry, as part of the Breast Cancer Screening Consortium (U01CA063740). The SFMR database collects information from all sources, including a questionnaire on demographic and risk factor information, the clinical results of the breast examination, the measures of breast density by Dr. John Shepherd and the women who agreed to donate a blood sample. By merging these various sources of information we have very efficiently developed a large sample of women who have donated blood and have had a measure of mamographic density. Blood Collection: Dr. Steve Cummings is leading an effort to collect and archive blood samples from women who are receiving mammography screening. All women who are sent for a screening mammogram at CPMC are considered eligible. Since the cohort began collecting blood samples in July 2004 until June 2007, samples have been collected from over 11,000 women. Measurement of Breast Density: Dr. John Shepherd is currently measuring breast density in a large fraction of the cohort using an automated approach with single X-ray absorptiometry. Dr. Shepherd has established a link with the CPMC mammography center that allows him to collect routine digital mammography information. Using the data from the mammogram, Dr. Shepherd and his group have developed the single X-ray absorptiometry (SXA) technique for measuring density which is described in more detail below. The table demonstrates the distribution of demographic variables and some breast cancer risk factors of women who donated blood and had a breast density measurement in the CPMC breast health cohort. Nearly 80% of the participants are Caucasian and most of the women are post-menopausal with a median age of ~52. Since it will be difficult to accrue a large enough sample from each ethnic group, our study will focus only on Caucasian women. Table: Demographic variables, reproductive history and family history of breast cancer among 2962 women participating in the CPMC cohort study who contributed blood samples between 1994-1997. Variable Median/Percentage Age (Median/IQR) 52 (46-59) Ethnicity Caucasian/White 0.76 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.141 Hispanic 0.029 Mixed Race/Ethnicity 0.039 African American/Black 0.022 American Indian 0.001 Other 0.009 First degree relative with breast cancer 0.17 Age at first birth Nulliparous 0.39 Age&lt;20 0.043 Age&gt;40 0.032 Age&lt;30, &#8805;20 0.251 Age&gt;30, &#8804;40 0.282 Measurement of Breast Density in Cohort: Measurement of breast density is accomplished using an automated technique for all mammograms obtained by Dr. Shepherd using Single X-Ray absorptiometry (SXA). SXA measurement of breast density is done on approximately 30% of all screening mammograms. Below we describe the method for measurement of breast density by SXA by Dr. Shepherd&#39;s group and its validation and association with breast cancer. As we demonstrate below, breast density, as measured by SXA, is an automated, highly reproducible measure of the density of breast tissue and is associated with breast cancer risk. SXA for Quantifying Breast Density: Single x-ray absorptiometry (SXA) was initially developed for measuring bone density. SXA can determine the fraction of each of two densities simultaneously using the fact the sample is a constant thickness, the thickness in known, and the total attenuation is known. In applying this technique to breast density, we assume a two compartment model: fat and non-fatty (fibroglandular tissue). We use a reference material composed of various concentrations of two materials: one which is the same density as fat and another which is the same density as fibroglandular tissue. The reference material (phantom) is placed in the X-ray field with each mammogram. We have been able to implement this in a way that is unintrusive to the patient and technologist at CPMC. Assuming this two-compartment model and a constant known breast thickness, we can then calculate the percent density at any region of the breast based on the assumption that % pixel grey-scale is proportion to the mass fractions of breast fat and lean tissue. If reference materials (a phantom) of fat and fibroglandular tissue are imaged with the patient&#39;s breast and the reference materials have the same thickness as the patient&#39;s breast, then the breast&#39;s grey-scale values can be converted to fat/fibroglandular mass fractions by interpolating between those two references. The total percent density is found by averaging the volume fraction over all breast pixels. The phantom being used for breast density assessment at CPMC began to be used in September 2004. The phantom does not have to be manipulated by the technologist and stays attached on the mammography device during standard craniocaudal (CC) views. Thus it creates minimal to no interference with the clinical mammogram. Reproducibility of breast density measures: Traditional measures of mammographic density require some human interpretation. A human reader outlines the area perceived to be dense and a computer then calculates the percent area outlined as a percent of the entire image. Thus, while traditional mammographic density is associated with breast cancer risk, it has some limitations. In a study by Drs. Shepherd, Kerlikowske, et al., the correlation coefficient (Pearson&#39;s R) between different readers was 0.8-0.9. In contrast to the traditional mammographic density measurement, the SXA measurement is fully automated and, therefore, the reproducibility of the measurement is higher. Dr. Shepherd and colleagues have performed a replication study of SXA as a measurement of breast density. They have estimated the correlation coefficient of the SXA measurement of breast density to be &gt;0.98. Thus, as expected for an automated measure, SXA is a highly reproducible measure of mammographic breast density. Drs. Shepherd and Kerlikowske have recently analyzed the association between breast cancer risk and breast density as measured by SXA (Shepherd et al., Cancer Epi Biomarkers and Prev, 2011, PMID: 21610220). They found that women in the highest quintile of % volumetric density had an odds ratio of 4.1 (95% CI: 2.3 - 7.2) for breast cancer risk compared to women in the lowest quintile of volumetric density. Thus volumetric density appears to be a highly reproducible, automated measure of breast cancer.

  Study phs000395

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

  Initially, the ICPCG focused largely on high-risk prostate cancer pedigrees using linkage analysis. However, association studies have also been informative to find prostate cancer susceptibility variants in the genome. We hypothesize that genome-wide (GW) association studies of familial cases of prostate cancer will have the power to identify rarer and perhaps less penetrant risk variants associated with prostate cancer than have been identified to date. Our approach will be to examine evidence for association in selected, independent cases from high-risk pedigrees; we hypothesize that they represent a more homogeneous set of cases with potentially different associations. Use of the 5M plus exome SNP platform will allow us to include in our search more rare variants in our search than have ever been investigated for prostate cancer. Aim 1. Identify a set of independent prostate cancer cases selected from ICPCG high-risk prostate cancer pedigrees that have 3 or more related prostate cancer cases and have an average age at diagnosis &#8804; 75 years. Identify appropriate matched controls from participating ICPCG groups/ populations. Aim 2. Perform GW SNP genotyping with the Illumina 5M plus exome SNP set on the set of independent prostate cancer cases and controls described in Aim 1. Aim 3. Perform association analyses appropriately matching controls for different ICPCG populations and groups. There will be a two-stage design for confirmation. Aim 4. Test reported associations using the extensive sample set available to us by collaboration with the PRACTICAL consortium that has access to 50 000 DNA samples from 34 groups internationally (over 7,000 of whom are positive for prostate cancer family history).

  Study phs000733

• Bulk RNAseq FASTQ files of WNT7B reporter PDAC organoids (P28 and P40) sorted by mNeonGreen high and low

  This dataset contains raw FASTQ files from bulk RNA sequencing of two patient-derived PDAC organoid lines (P28 and P40) carrying a WNT7B reporter knock-in. Organoids were sorted into mNeonGreen high (WNT-high) and low (WNT-low) populations, with three biological replicates per sorted population. RNA was extracted using the Qiagen QiaSymphony SP system, and libraries were prepared with the Illumina Truseq stranded polyA kit. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq2000 platform using single-end 50bp reads. Quality control was conducted with FastQC, and reads were trimmed with TrimGalore as appropriate. Data are controlled-access and intended for transcriptomic analysis of WNT7B expression-dependent transcriptional programs in PDAC organoids.

  Dataset EGAD50000002218

• Single cell RNAseq FASTQ files of three PDAC organoid lines (P28, P40, P47) using SORT-seq

  This dataset contains raw FASTQ files from single cell RNA sequencing of three patient-derived pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) organoid lines (P28, P40, P47) cultured under standard conditions. For each line, single cells were FACS sorted into 384-well capture plates, with each well containing a 50nl droplet of barcoded primers. Plates were processed following an adapted SORT-seq protocol, and cDNA libraries were generated using CEL-Seq2 with TruSeq small RNA primers (Illumina). Sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq500 platform using paired-end reads (read 1: 26 cycles, index read: 6 cycles, read 2: 60 cycles). Data are controlled-access and intended for single cell transcriptomic analysis of PDAC organoid heterogeneity and WNT pathway activity.

  Dataset EGAD50000002220

• Data upcycling, powered by EGA

  In 2012 a collaborative effort headed by the teams of Carlos Caldas in Cambridge, UK and Samuel Aparicio, Canada, produced a pivotal study aimed at defining the mutational landscape of breast cancer. They gathered a collection of over 2000 breast cancer samples (METABRIC) associated with long-term clinical follow-up. They delineated an array of inherited and somatically acquired genetic variants and associated them to gene expression. This led to the identification of putative cancer-driving events and improved stratification of breast cancer patients. The study elicited huge attention and was tackled as herculean effort by fellow researchers. Cristina Curtis and her colleagues deposited the data in the EGA archive (EGAS00000000083). What they probably could not foresee is that their data would be reused more than 100 times, becoming one of the most downloaded datasets at EGA. In 2015, Frederik S. Varn and colleagues accessed the above-mentioned data from the New Hampshire, USA, to correlate it to transcriptional programs of hematopoietic cells infiltrated in breast tumours and found that those can influence patients' prognosis. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, improved the understanding of the interplay between immune system and cancer. Again, in 2017 the dataset was downloaded by an Italian/Polish collaboration and used to corroborate their mechanistic study that demonstrate how a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is aberrantly localized into the chromatin, where it modulates oncogenic isoforms expression, thus contributing to breast cancer. To date, the METABRIC dataset has been reused to contribute to 147 publications. Its impact on breast cancer research is incalculable, and it even spread beyond that, with recent contributions to the understanding of pan-cancer mechanisms and features. Some of the publications are translating into improvements in diagnosis and treatment of different types of breast cancer. This is just an example of how data upcycling can amplify the potential of any dataset, well past the scope of its creation, the imagination of its owners and any geographical border. At EGA, we are proud to empower such fruitful worldwide cycles of knowledge, providing a platform that enables safe sharing of sensitive genetic data.

  Blog data-upcycling-powered-by-ega

• NIDA Genetic Epidemiology of Opioid Dependence in Bulgaria (GEODB)

  The study was conducted in Bulgaria as a collaboration between the Molecular Medicine Center (Medical University, Sofia), the Bulgarian Addictions Institute (Sofia), the Initiative for Health Foundation (Sofia) and Washington University School of Medicine (Saint Louis, MO, USA). This is a case-population control study. Participants (N=2,499 interviews; N=1,995 with GWAS data) in our study are primarily active heroin users (78%) aged 18 and over, with a median 8.9 years of daily heroin use (minimum of 12 months). Virtually all participants (99.1%) qualified for a lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of dependence, symptom endorsement probabilities ranging from 77% to 99.3%; and 61% endorsing all symptoms. 85% were heroin injectors and 97% reported using (or having used) heroin daily. Anonymized, population-representative control samples (no phenotypic data, N = 1,062 with GWAS data) were drawn from the MMC repository. Unlike other studies, where samples are clinically ascertained (e.g., from ORT programs), our participants are primarily untreated. PTSD, major depression, suicidality, mania, alcohol, nicotine and substance dependence (separating heroin and opioids) were assessed using the MAGIC (Todd et al., 2003, PMID: 14627881), a broad semi-structured psychiatric assessment tool with good reliability and prospective stability. The onset of (any) illicit drug use in this sample is not particularly remarkable (age~16), but the age of onset of heroin use is much lower than in the USA: 25% by age 16; 50% by age 19, with no differences between ethnicities or gender. This is consistent with findings from other studies in Bulgaria. In contrast, in 2008, SAMHSA estimated an average age of 23.4 for new heroin initiates in the USA. Further, progression from first use to regular use appears to be more rapid, with the majority of participants reporting onset of dependence problems within one year of initiation. Another unique aspect of this study population are the comparatively low levels of polysubstance use (outside of nicotine and alcohol). This early-use, fast-transition and monosubstance heroin pattern stands in sharp contrast to what is reported in many studies in the Western World. In our study, 47% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 66% of Roma used only opioids, even years after the onset of drug use. 15.4% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 66.2% of Roma reported heroin as the very first illicit drug used. Lifetime, 12.5% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 52.8% of Roma report never having used another illicit drug other than heroin more than five times. While both Roma and Ethnic Bulgarians certainly experiment with other drugs, abuse/dependence rates for these drugs are low in Ethnic Bulgarians (from 8.4% for inhalants to 28% for stimulants) and in the Roma population (from 1.3% for hallucinogens to 11.2% for stimulants).

  Study phs001804

• Pharmacological improvement of CFTR function rescues airway epithelial homeostasis and host defense in cystic fibrosis children

  Rationale: Recent clinical trials have shown that elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) provides significant benefit to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) by improving CFTR function. Despite these promising clinical findings, the specific effects on the airway inflammatory status leading to structural damage and impaired lung function, remain elusive. Objectives: We investigated the transcriptional changes at the single cell level of airway epithelial and immune cells that underlie the clinical improvement by ETI therapy in children with CF. Methods: Nasal swabs from thirteen children with CF and at least one F508del allele aged 6 to 12 years were collected at baseline and three months after initiation of ETI and subjected to scRNA-seq. In addition, we collected nasal swabs from 12 age- and sex-matched controls. Sweat chloride concentrations, spirometry and multiple breath washout were used for clinical evaluation of CF children. Measurements and main results: ETI significantly reduced sweat chloride concentrations (-52.2 ± 14.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and improved the lung clearance index (-1.3 ± 1.8, P < 0.05). Single cell transcriptomics revealed an impaired interferon signalling in epithelial cells of CF children at baseline, which was partially restored by ETI in conjunction with an ETI-induced increase in expression of MHC I and II encoding genes similar to control levels. Additionally, ETI markedly reduced the inflammatory phenotype of immune cells, particularly of neutrophils and macrophages. Conclusions: Improvement of CFTR function by ETI restores epithelial homeostasis and reduces immune cell inflammatory responses in the upper airways of children with CF, highlighting the potential of early initiation of ETI therapy.

  Study EGAS50000000128

• Rb and p53-Deficient Myxofibrosarcoma and Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma Require Skp2 for Survival

  Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) are highly genetically complex soft tissue sarcomas. Up to 50% of patients develop distant metastases, but current systemic therapies have limited efficacy. MFS and UPS have recently been shown to commonly harbor copy number alterations or mutations in the tumor suppressor genes RB1 and TP53. As these alterations have been shown to engender dependence on the oncogenic protein Skp2 for survival of transformed cells in mouse models, we sought to examine its function and potential as a therapeutic target in MFS/UPS. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) confirmed that a significant fraction of MFS and UPS patient samples (n=94) harbor chromosomal deletions and/or loss-of-function mutations in RB1 and TP53 (88% carry alterations in at least one gene; 60% carry alterations in both). Tissue microarray (TMA) analysis identified a correlation between absent Rb and p53 expression and positive expression of SKP2. Downregulation of SKP2 or treatment with Skp2 Inhibitor C1 revealed that Skp2 drives proliferation of patient-derived MFS/UPS cell lines deficient in both Rb and p53 by degrading p21 and p27. Inhibition of Skp2 using the neddylation-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor pevonedistat decreased growth of Rb/p53-negative patient-derived cell lines and mouse xenografts. These results demonstrate that loss of both Rb and p53 renders MFS and UPS dependent on Skp2, which can be therapeutically exploited and could provide the basis for promising novel systemic therapies for MFS and UPS.

  Study phs001982

• Breast Cancer Family Registry

  The Breast Cancer Family Registry (BCFR) is a multi-center prospective cohort, comprised of over 30,000 women and men from nearly 12,000 families from the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our BCFR resource has been used, and continues to be used, by breast cancer researchers around the world in order to find new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. The BCFR provides an extensive and diverse range of resources, expertise, and specialized skills, and has several unique strengths: 1) the collection of a large number of individuals and families across a wide spectrum of breast cancer risk, including both affected and unaffected individuals; 2) the large collection of families with early-onset breast cancer; 3) the large collection of racial/ethnic minority families not replicated elsewhere; 4) the extensive molecular characterization performed to date; and 5) active follow-up of both probands and family members. Thus, the BCFR comprises a unique cohort of probands and family members at familial/genetic risk of breast cancer that will continue to facilitate a wide range of research studies, such as gene discovery, examination of cancer-related outcomes and risk factors in high-risk subjects, investigation of novel behavioral interventions, and cancer prevention trials among at-risk family members. Consequently, the BCFR Cohort, as one of the few cohorts available worldwide with biospecimens and extensive molecular and genetic characterization, combined with epidemiologic data and long-term follow up, will be an invaluable resource for translational research in the genetic epidemiology of breast cancer.

  Study phs002835

• Genome, epigenome and RNA sequences of monozygotic twins discordant for multiple sclerosis

  Monozygotic (MZ) twins have been widely employed for dissection of the relative contributions of genetics and environment in disease. In multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune demyelinating disease that commonly causes neurodegeneration and disability in young adults, disease discordance in MZ twins has been interpreted to indicate environmental importance in pathogenesis. However, genetic and epigenetic differences between MZ twins have been described, challenging the accepted experimental paradigm in disambiguating effects of nature and nurture. Here, we report the genome sequences of one MS-discordant MZ twin pair and messenger RNA (mRNA) transcriptome and epigenome sequences of CD4+ lymphocytes from three MS-discordant, MZ twin pairs. No reproducible differences were detected between co-twins among ~3.6 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or ~0.2 million insertion-deletion polymorphisms (indels). Nor were any reproducible differences observed between siblings of the three twin pairs in HLA haplotypes, confirmed MS-susceptibility SNPs, copy number variations, mRNA and genomic SNP and indel genotypes, or expression of ~19,000 genes in CD4+ T cells. Only two to 176 differences in methylation of ~2 million CpG sites were detected between siblings of the three twin pairs, in contrast to ~800 differences in methylation between T cells of unrelated individuals and several thousand differences between tissues or normal and cancerous tissues. In the first systematic effort to estimate sequence variation among MZ co-twins, we did not find evidence for genetic, epigenetic or transcriptome differences that explained disease discordance. These are the first female, twin and autoimmune disease genome sequences reported.

  Study phs000239

• eMERGE: Genetics of Complex Pediatric Disorders from the Center for Applied Genomics

  The Center for Applied Genomics (CAG) is a specialized Center of Emphasis at the Children&#39;s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with the primary goal of translating basic research findings to medical innovations. The mission of CAG is to develop new and better ways to diagnose and treat children affected by rare and complex medical disorders. We aim to discover genetic causes for the most prevalent diseases of childhood including asthma, autism, diabetes, epilepsy, obesity, schizophrenia, pediatric cancer, and a range of rare diseases. Ultimately, our objective is to generate new diagnostic tests and to guide physicians to the most appropriate therapies. The CAG is one of the world&#39;s largest genetics research programs in pediatrics, and the only center at a pediatric hospital to have established a large-scale biobank of genotyped samples. The electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network is a consortium of 9 clinical sites with EMR linked DNA biobanks, including Northwestern University and its NUgene biobank, funded by the NHGRI (National Human Genome Research Institute) to investigate the use of electronic medical record systems for genomic research. The goal of eMERGE is to conduct genome-wide association studies in approximately 100,000 individuals using EMR-derived phenotypes and DNA from linked biorepositories. Using electronic phenotyping methods, the consortium has been and is using DNA samples from all participating sites to explore the genetic determinants of approximately 80 phenotypes, including both diseases and traits, for which the electronic phenotyping algorithms have or are being published on PheKB.org.

  Study phs001165

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Exome sequencing in SCID

  Analysis of the molecular etiologies of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has led to important insights into the control of immune cell development. Most cases of SCID result from either X-linked or autosomal recessive inheritance of mutations in a known causative gene. However, in some cases, the molecular etiology remains unclear. To identify the cause of SCID in a patient known to lack the protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45, we utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) arrays and whole exome sequencing. The patient&#39;s mother was heterozygous for an inactivating mutation in CD45, while the paternal alleles lacked mutations. The patient exhibited a single CD45 mutation identical to the maternal allele. Patient SNP array analysis revealed no change in copy number but loss of heterozygosity for the entire length of chromosome 1 (Chr1), indicating that disease was caused by uniparental disomy (UPD) with isodisomy of the entire maternal Chr1 bearing the CD45 mutation. Non-lymphoid blood cells and other mesoderm and ectoderm-derived tissues retained UPD of the entire maternal Chr1 in this patient who had undergone successful bone marrow transplantation. Exome sequencing revealed mutations in 7 additional genes bearing nonsynonymous SNPs predicted to have deleterious effects. These findings represent the first reported case of SCID caused by UPD and suggest UPD should be considered in SCID and other recessive disorders, especially when the patient appears homozygous for an abnormal gene found in only one parent. Evaluation for alterations in other genes affected by UPD should also be considered in such cases.

  Study phs000479

• Transposable Elements in FTLD-TDP and ALS-TDP

  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease involving the rapid and progressive loss of motor neurons. While a number of inherited mutations have been identified as causing ALS, the vast majority of cases are sporadic with no family history of disease. This has led to the model that ALS may be a complex syndrome with an unknown number of causal molecular pathways. However, nearly all ALS patient tissues display aggregates of the RNA binding protein TDP-43 (TARDBP/TAR DNA-binding protein), and mutations in the gene encoding this protein are known to cause ALS. We show that one of the normal functions of TDP-43 is to bind and regulate retrotransposons, repetitive sequences in the genome that are normally silent, due in part to the function of TDP-43. Furthermore, we demonstrate that many ALS patients with TDP-43 pathology also display de-silencing of retrotransposon RNAs, consistent with a loss of normal TDP-43 function. Those ALS patients that exhibit high levels of retrotransposon expression form a distinct subset of ALS subjects that also show other correlated alterations to the transcriptome. Using unsupervised machine learning algorithms, we identified three distinct molecular subtypes from the whole genomes and transcriptomes of a large cohort of 148 ALS patient samples. The retrotransposon re-activated subset formed 20% of ALS samples; two additional groups displayed signatures of oxidative stress (61%), and glial dysfunction (19%), respectively. Together these results demonstrate that retrotransposon re-activation is common in a subset of ALS patients with TDP-43 pathology.

  Study phs001889

• Lactate metabolism in cancer stem cell fate regulation

  Tumors arise as a result of uncontrolled cell proliferation driven by mutations in the signaling pathways that regulate the balance between cell division and differentiation. Despite of that, in the tumor, cancer stem cells seem to retain their capability to differentiate, which can lead to differential chemotherapy response. We previously showed that intestinal stem cells and differentiated cells display specific metabolic features and that they interact through metabolites. Moreover, we found that altering mitochondrial metabolism is sufficient to lead and define stem cell differentiation. In cancer, cellular metabolism is highly derailed. However, how metabolic changes in the cancer cell contribute to cell fate decisions remains unknown. Recently, the crosstalk between metabolism and epigenetics has emerged as one of the players in tumor development. Here we aim to address the impact of the altered metabolism of cancer cells on their epigenome as a regulatory axis of cell identity and fate. We use human-derived tumor organoids where we introduce genetic encoded fluorescent-based reporters to visualize cell identity and metabolism at single cell level. We combine 4D live imaging with a recently developed machine learning method to re-construct cell-lineages, trace stem cell state and metabolic changes during tumor organoid development. We find that, mimicking the tumor metabolic microenvironment (Warburg effect-driven low-glucose high-lactate) leads to changes cellular metabolism and histone acetylation. Strikingly, these alterations provoke profound changes in tumor development by increasing the population of cancer stem cells and their proliferation and differentiation dynamics.

  Study EGAS50000000063

• Single Chromatin Fiber Profiling in the Human Brain

  We developed a human postmortem brain-applicable &#8216;Fiber-seq' protocol for genome-scale, PCR-free single molecule sequencing of on average 8-10kb long chromatin fibers, to map nucleosome positioning and nucleosome-depleted regions which include, for example, active promoters and enhancers. We generated two Fiber-seq reference sets, one from sorted non-neuronal NeuN- prefrontal cortex (PFC) nuclei from a 32 year old female donor, with total of 11,143,795 reads/fibers, and median of 30-fold genomic coverage. The other reference set was generated on sorted prefrontal NeuN+ neurons, from two 24 year old brain donors (1 female/1 male), with a combined total read/fiber count of 4,749,556 and median of 20-fold genomic coverage. Each of the peaks in the Fiber-seq libraries seq signal correlated with the ATAC peak levels in the neuronal and non-neuronal ATAC-seq libraries, respectively (promoters, clusters 1, 3; NeuN+, r = 0.574; NeuN-, r=0.683, PHowever, Fiber-seq detected 19,978 highly significant peaks which, while showing some non-significant/near-background ATAC-Seq alignments, lacked a corresponding site-specific enrichment in conventional short-read ATAC- and ChIP-seq datasets. However, 60% of these peaks were in repetitive DNA elements. Therefore, long read single chromatin fiber sequencing, which exceed the base pair length of conventional short-read libraries by two orders of magnitude, could capture many actively regulated repeat elements at the site of specific gene loci, that otherwise would remain unmappable by conventional ATAC-, and histone- ChiP-seq.

  Study phs003771

• Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis in ERBB2-Amplified Colorectal Cancer: Biomarker Analysis of the MyPathway Trial

  Combination of two HER2-directed antibodies, pertuzumab and trastuzumab (P+T), has antitumor activity in HER2-positive colorectal cancer (CRC). Although liquid biopsies are increasingly being used in clinical oncology, the association between tumor and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) ERBB2 status and ctDNA monitoring for early response and resistance are unknown. Eighty-five patients with ERBB2-amplified and/or overexpressed CRC were treated with P+T in the MyPathway trial; 42 had ctDNA testing at Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1), and 38 had longitudinal plasma tested for ctDNA. We analyzed the ctDNA vs tissue ERBB2 concordance, genomic co-alterations, and ctDNA dynamics and association with response. Forty-one (98%) of 42 patients had genomic alterations detected in ctDNA at C1D1, and 29 (69%) had ERBB2 amplification in ctDNA. There was a strong correlation between ERBB2 copy number on next-generation sequencing in tissue and C1D1 ERBB2 ctDNA copy number. Thirty-seven percent achieved a molecular response by C3D1 on P+T, which was associated with prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). CDKN2A and KRAS mutations were associated with shorter OS, and a trend was seen with PIK3CA mutations. Several emerging co-alterations were identified in ctDNA at progression, including in the MAPK and PI3K pathways and other tyrosine receptor kinases. ctDNA can detect ERBB2 amplification in many, but not all, patients with ERBB2 amplification detected in tumor samples. ctDNA molecular response was associated with better survival, and ctDNA co-alterations may offer insights into mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance.

  Study EGAS50000000916

• Oncogenome of Kaposi Sarcoma

  Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is an aggressive cancer caused by the Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8). Individuals with immunodeficiencies, exemplified by HIV, have an elevated risk of developing KS. However, understanding of the genetic factors contributing to KS progression is still limited. To explore potential genetic alterations in KS that could offer biological or therapeutic insights, whole exome sequencing was performed on 78 KS tumors and matching normal skin samples from 59 adults with KS (46 with HIV-associated KS and 13 with HIV-negative KS) receiving treatment at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala, Uganda. Results showed a very low mutational burden in all samples except one (median = 11 mutations), which is the smallest number of mutations found across all 33 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). No recurrent mutations were identified. Mutational signatures included impaired DNA mismatch repair and smoking. There was no evidence suggesting that multiple tumors from the same patient originated from a single clone. The number of genome copy alterations per genome was higher in tumors from individuals without HIV and those with advanced-stage disease. This suggests that lesions that take longer to develop may accumulate more alterations, although the overall number of alterations remains low compared to other cancers. These findings suggest that KS pathogenesis differs from other cancers, with KSHV viral infection and the expression of viral oncogenes being the primary drivers of carcinogenesis, rather than clonal oncogenic transformation arising from genetic alterations of cancer-related cellular genes.

  Study phs003897

• Frequent post-treatment monitoring of colorectal cancer using individualized ctDNA validated by multi-regional molecular profiling

  Purpose: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis has been proposed as an approach for prediction of post-treatment patient outcomes. However, whether a single platform will provide optimal information in all patients or alternatively a patient-specific monitoring approach based on assessment of mutations in the primary tumor from that patient remains an urgent question. Experimental Design: We conducted multiregional sequencing of 42 specimens of 14 colorectal tumors (Stage III and more) from 12 patients, including two double cancer cases, to identify the full spectrum of mutational heterogeneity and identify aberrations that could be used to develop personalized ctDNA assays. Results: ?Founder? mutations that occur in all regions of the sample were identified in 12/14 (85.7%) tumors. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of each tumor showed that 12/14 tumors (85.7%) carried at least one ?truncal? mutation. Most founder and truncal mutations exhibited higher variant allele frequency (VAF) than ?non-founder? and ?branch? mutations. In addition, both founder and truncal mutations were more likely to be detected as ctDNA than non-founder and branch mutations. Synchronized ctDNA dynamics of multiple mutations suggested those mutations from the same clonal origin. For 10/12 patients (83.3%) with nearly 1,000 days of post-operative observation, the validity of frequent personalized ctDNA monitoring was confirmed in terms of early relapse prediction, treatment efficacy, and non-relapse corroboration. Conclusions: Personalized ctDNA monitoring based on aberrations with a high VAF in the primary tumor site should be explored in larger prospective clinical trials to determine the full clinical validity.

  Study JGAS000243

• 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

• Gene expression of human Th17 cells before and after activation

  Although gene expression of human Th17 clones has been studies, to date, molecular mechanisms for human Th17 development remain unclear. We have analyzed gene expression of human Th17 cells before and after activation. Th17-cell clones from peripheral blood CD4 T cells cultured with LPS-stimulated dendritic cells derived from monocytes stimulated by TNF were established by a limited dilution method. One of the Th17 clones was proliferated significantly, and high percentages (>70%) of Th17 cells in the cultured cells were maintained by addition of monocytes, IL-1b, and IL-15. CD161+CXCR3- cells (CD161+Th17) in the cultures were sorted and purified up to approximately 97% of IL-17-producing cells after treatment with PMA/ionomycin. Furthermore, these cells were treated with TCR-stimuli, IL-1b, and IL-23 for 2 days, and IL-17-producing Th17 cells (active-Th17) detected by IL-17-catch-up antibodies were sorted. Total RNA sampled from 1x 106 CD161+Th17, active-Th17, na?ve CD4 T cells, or CXCR3+ Th1 cells from combined CD4 T and dendritic cell cultures was used for SAGE. SAGE was performed by using SOLID TM SAGETM kit with barcoding adaptor molecules (Applied Biosystems). DNA sequence was analyzed by using AB5500 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems), and gene expression was analyzed by using SOLID? SAGETM software (Applied Biosystems). Our data shows high levels of IL-17A-mRNA expression by active-Th17; however, but only slight expression by CD161+Th17. Therefore, the data could provide alteration of gene expression by Th17 cells before and after stimulation.

  Study JGAS000005

• Identification of driver oncogenes in scirrhous-type gastric cancer cell lines

  Scirrhous type gastric cancer (SGC) is one of the most intractable cancer subtypes in human, and its therapeutic targets have been rarely identified to date. Exploration of somatic mutations in the SGC genome with the next generation sequencers has been hampered by low tumor contents by the markedly increased fibrous tissues. Thus, SGC cell lines may be useful resources to search for novel oncogenes in. Here we have conducted whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing on two SGC cell lines, OCUM-8 and OCUM-9. Interestingly, most of the mutations thus identified have not been reported. In OCUM-8 cells, a novel CD44-IGF1R fusion gene is discovered, the protein product of which ligates the amino-terminus of CD44 to the transmembrane and the tyrosine-kinase domains of IGF1R. Further, both of CD44 and IGF1R are markedly amplified in the OCUM-8 genome and abundantly expressed. CD44-IGF1R has a transforming ability, and the suppression of its kinase activity leads to rapid cell death of OCUM-8. On the other hand, OCUM-9 seems to possess multiple oncogenic events in its genome. The MET gene is highly amplified, and the treatment of OCUM-9 with crizotinib, a MET inhibitor, results in cell death. Further, a novel BORCS5-ETV6 fusion gene is identified in the OCUM-9 genome. BORCS5-ETV6 possesses oncogenic activity, and suppression of its message partially inhibits cell growth. Prevalence of these novel fusion genes among SGC awaits further investigation, but we validate the significance of cell lines as appropriate reagents for detailed genomic analyses of SGC.

  Study JGAS000179

• Microsatellite data show recent demographic expansions in sedentary but not in nomadic human populations in Africa and Eurasia.

  The transition from hunting and gathering to plant and animal domestication was one of the most important cultural and technological revolutions in human history. According to archeologists and paleoanthropologists, this transition triggered major demographic expansions. However, few genetic studies have found traces of Neolithic expansions in the current repartition of genetic polymorphism, pointing rather toward Paleolithic expansions. Here, we used microsatellite autosomal data to investigate the past demographic history of 87 African and Eurasian human populations with contrasted lifestyles (nomadic hunter-gatherers, semi-nomadic herders and sedentary farmers). Likely due to the combination of a higher mutation rate and the possibility to analyze several loci as independent replicates of the coalescent process, the analysis of microsatellite data allowed us to infer more recent expansions than previous genetic studies, potentially resulting from the Neolithic transition. Despite the variability in their location and environment, we found consistent expansions for all sedentary farmers, while we inferred constant population sizes for all hunter-gatherers and most herders, which could result from constraints linked to a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle and/or competition for land between herders and farmers. As an exception, we inferred expansions for Central Asian herders. This might be linked with the arid environment of this area, which may have been more favorable to nomadic herders than to sedentary farmers. Alternatively, current Central Asian herders may descent from populations who have first experienced a transition from hunter-gathering to sedentary agropastoralism, and then a second transition to nomadic herding.

  Study EGAS00001000652

• Circumventing intratumoral heterogeneity to identify potential therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma. Details please contact lifuqiang@genomics and zhaoxin@genomics.cn.

  Background and aims: Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) challenges identifying mutations with target therapy potential whereas circulating cell-free DNAs (cfDNAs) could reflect nearly the entire mutation spectrum in given tumors. We investigated how to minimize the limit of ITH for profiling hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods: Thirty-two multi-regional HCC samples from five patients were subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES) and targeted deep sequencing (TDS). ITH extent was measured by the average percentage of non-ubiquitous mutations (present in parts of tumor regions). Matched cfDNAs were also analyzed by WES and TDS. Profiling efficiencies of single tumor specimen and cfDNA were compared and the one better depicted mutational landscape was selected to screen therapeutic targets.Results: We found variable extents of ITH in HCCs and observed branched and parallel evolution patterns. ITH level decreased at higher sequencing depth of TDS than that measured by WES (28.1% vs 34.9%, P &lt; 0.01) but it remained unchanged upon additional samples analyzed. TDS of single tumor specimen detected an average of 70% the total mutations in HCC. Although more mutations were detected in cfDNA under TDS than WES, an average of 47.2% total HCC mutations uncovered by cfDNA suggested tissue outperform cfDNA and the latter may serve as alternative in profiling HCC genome. Consequently, TDS of single tumor tissue in 66 patients and cfDNAs in four unresectable HCCs identified 38.6% (26/66 and 1/4) patients bearing therapeutic targets.Conclusions: TDS of single tumor specimen could largely circumvent ITH to uncover mutations indicative of target therapy in HCC.

  Study EGAS00001002207

• Genomic consequences of aberrant DNA repair mechanisms stratify ovarian cancer histotypes

  Aberrant DNA repair processes are a hallmark of human tumours. How these deficiencies variously impact the genomes of ovarian cancer between and within histotypes remains unknown. We studied the whole genome pointmutation and structural variation patterns of 133 tumours (59 high grade serous (HGSC), 35 clear cell (CCOC), 29 endometrioid (ENOC), and 10 adult granulosa cell tumours (GCT)) as a substrate for class discovery in ovarian cancer. Ab-initio clustering of integrated point mutation and structural variation signatures revealed seven novel subgroups, comprising between and within histotype stratification. Prevalence of fold-back inversions (FBI) co-localised with high level amplification events divided HGSC into two prognostically significant subgroups. This finding was recapitulated in two additional independent cohorts (total n=576 cases), and transcended gene based mutation status and gene expression as prognostically relevant features of HGSC. CCOC were divided into one group harbouring a signature reflective of active genome editing via APOBEC enzymes (26%) and a complementary group with an age-relatedmutational signature. ENOC were divided intomicrosatellite instable (MSI) cases (28%) with a distinctmismatch repairmutation signature and an outlying mutation rate, with the remainder of cases distributed amongst the remaining six groups. We suggest the FBI, MSI, and APOBEC groups represent biologic strata that could direct treatment strategies. Taken together, our work establishes the efficacy of the somatic genome as a biomarker to stratify ovarian cancers, simultaneously identifying patients that may benefit from emerging therapeutics and distinct subgroups within classic ovarian cancer histotypes.

  Study EGAS00001002390

• Immunodeficiency syndrome caused by LCP1 mutations

  Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) is characterized by neutropenia, recurrent infections and an increased leukemia risk. Multiple genetic defects underlying SCN have been identified, but a genetic diagnosis is still lacking in a significant proportion of patients. Here, we report three independent pedigrees with autosomal dominant variants in LCP1. Variants c.740-1G&gt;T and c.740-20_744del resulted in the same alternatively spliced RNA product, causing an in-frame deletion (p.A247_E254del). Variant c.509C&gt;T in the third pedigree resulted in p.S170L. Variant carriers suffer from neutropenia, poor or complete lack of response to G-CSF treatment, and variable degrees of lymphopenia. Patients with A247_E254del presented with tetraploid cells in the bone marrow, indicative of disturbed cytokinesis. In one of these kindreds, two individuals developed acute leukemia. G-CSF non-responsiveness and defective cell cycling were repaired upon correction of the LCP1 A247_E254del variant in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, supporting the monogenic origin of the disease. Indicative of their gain-of-function, both A247_E254del and S170L variants increased F-actin bundling and formation of abnormal protrusions. Single-cell transcriptome analysis of A247_E254del bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) showed deregulation of signaling pathways controlling mitosis in multi-lineage and lymphoid-primed HSPC subsets. We conclude that activating LCP1 variants cause a new autosomal dominant hematopoietic disorder. Depending on the consequences of the LCP1 variants for protein structure, patients may suffer from G-CSF refractory severe neutropenia, lymphopenia, defective cytokinesis and predisposition to leukemia.

  Study EGAS00001008293

• Molecular classification improves risk assessment in adult B-lineage ALL: Patients on the international UKALLXII-ECOG2993 trial.

  Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults is a rare disease with outcomes that remain significantly inferior to those of children with ALL. While genomic classification of pediatric B-lineage ALL (B-ALL) has led to improved risk assignment and therapeutic paradigms, similar advances in adults have been lacking. The international UKALLXII/E2993 (NCT00002514) trial accrued over 2000 adult (17-64 years old) patients over 13 years, including 1229 BCR/ABL negative B-ALLs. While 93% of B-ALL achieved a remission, 41% relapsed at a median time of 13 months (Range) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 42% (CI). Older age and higher white blood cell (WBC) count at presentation negatively affected OS. Patients with a sibling donor assigned to allogeneic transplantation had superior OS compared to patients without donor. Randomization of patients without a donor showed an advantage of chemotherapy over autologous transplantation in first remission. Transcriptome sequencing of 94% of E2993 patients enabled genomic subtyping. We found that one-third of patients belonged to favorable genotypes (DUX4-rearranged, ETV6-RUNX1, TCF3-PBX1, PAX5 P80R, high hyperdiploidy). Of 63.4% of patients classified as high-risk based age and WBC count at diagnosis, almost 40% harbored subtype-defining genetic associations associated with favorable- or intermediate outcomes. These patients did significantly better than expected from their protocol-defined risk assignment. Our data in a large adult B-ALL cohort treated on a single international trial show the important prognostic value of genomic analysis and the potential benefit for many of the novel genotypes.

  Study EGAS00001004638