7296 results for "canc*"

in 18.49 milliseconds.

• Genomic landscapes of endometrioid and mucinous ovarian cancers and morphologically similar tumor types

  While endometrioid and mucinous ovarian cancers represent nearly a quarter of ovarian cancers, their molecular characteristics and pathologic origins are poorly understood. To characterize the genomic and epigenomic alterations of these ovarian cancer subtypes and evaluate links to morphologically similar tumors from other sites, we performed sequence, copy number, mutation signature, rearrangement, and methylation analyses from tumor samples and matched normal tissues of 133 patients. These analyses included patients with ovarian endometrioid (n=44), ovarian mucinous (n=43), uterine endometrial (n=15), and gastrointestinal mucinous cancers (n=31). In addition to identifying genes previously known to be involved in these tumors, we identified alterations in RAD51C, NOTCH4, SMARCA1/4 and JAK1 in ovarian endometrioid, ESR1 in uterine endometrioid, and SMARCA4 in ovarian mucinous cancers. Whole genome sequencing revealed rearrangements involving PTEN, NF1, and NF2 in ovarian endometrioid tumors, and NF1 and MED1 in ovarian mucinous cancers. The number of alterations and affected genes in ovarian and uterine endometrioid cancers were similar as were genome-wide methylation profiles, suggesting that these tumors may have a similar tissue of origin. By contrast, methylation patterns in ovarian mucinous cancers were more similar to other gastrointestinal mucinous cancers, including mucinous cancers of the stomach, colon, and pancreas. These analyses provide insights into the genomic landscapes and origins of mucinous and endometrioid ovarian carcinomas, providing new avenues for early clinical intervention and management of patients with these cancers.

  Study EGAS50000000523

• The evolutionary steps from primary to metastatic prostate cancer are largely uncharted, and the ability to use DNA present in body fluids as correlates of aggregate metastatic status is under-examined. We reconstructed phylogenies in ten prostate cancer patients with fatal disease using deep targeted sequencing of the prostate, adjacent and distant organs, as well as plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid at various time points. A total of 163 samples are studied.

  The evolutionary steps from primary tumor to metastasis in prostate cancer are largely uncharted, and the ability to use serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid as a correlate of aggregate metastatic tumor genomic status has not been tested. We used deep targeted sequencing to reconstruct tumor evolution in ten prostate cancer patients with fatal disease encompassing examination of the prostate and adjacent and distant organs, as well as plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid at various time points. We show that there is substantial evolution from a common ancestor within the prostate that results in branching to multiple lineages which form an intermixed multi-clonal primary tumor mass. After the occurrence of key driver aberrations, one of these lineages will metastasize to multiple sites in a sequential fashion. These metastatic sites are then susceptible to being populated by cells from other intra-prostatic lineages or from other metastases. Genomic representation of metastases in body fluids is not uniform. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis can detect lineages not detected in circulating DNA, suggesting possible clinical utility.

  Study EGAS00001003848

• Study assessing the efficacy and safety of durvalumab plus olaparib plus fulvestrant in selected metastatic or locally advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients.

  This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of olaparib, durvalumab, and fulvestrant for the treatment of patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with BRCA gene alterations or alterations of genes involved in HRR or MSI status, in terms of the progression-free survival rate (PFSR) at 24 weeks.

  Study EGAS50000001166

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

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

  Study EGAS50000001165

• NOUS-209 off-the-shelf immunotherapy has the potential to hit primary and metachronous colorectal and urothelial cancer in Lynch syndrome

  Lynch syndrome is an inherited cancer predisposition characterized by the development of microsatellite-instable tumors, most commonly colorectal and urothelial cancers. These cancers harbor recurrent frameshift mutations (FSMs) that generate shared neoantigens, creating opportunities for targeted immunotherapy. NOUS-209 is a viral-vector–based cancer vaccine encoding 209 of these shared neoantigen peptides. This study investigated the presence and evolution of NOUS-209 target FSMs in Lynch syndrome–associated tumors, revealing their persistence across primary and metachronous cancers and supporting the rationale for NOUS-209 as a preventive immunotherapy.

  Study EGAS50000001336

• Liquid biopsy to identify taxane resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients

  Taxanes are life-prolonging treatments for patients with advanced prostate cancer. However, treatment resistance and lethal disease invariably develops. We here used liquid biopsies to identify and characterize resistance to cabazitaxel using a targeted sequencing panel (PCF-SELECT).

  Study EGAS50000001292

• HNSCC Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade

  HNSCC Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade

  Study EGAS50000001175

• Sequencing of an organoid biobank for childhood kidney cancers that captures disease and tissue heterogeneity.

  Kidney tumors are among the most common solid tumors in children, comprising several distinct subtypes differing in many aspects, including cell-of-origin, genetics, and pathology. Pre-clinical cell models capturing the disease heterogeneity are currently lacking. Here, we describe the first pediatric cancer organoid biobank. It contains tumor and matching normal organoids from over 50 children with different subtypes of kidney cancer, including Wilms tumors, malignant rhabdoid tumors, renal cell carcinomas, and congenital mesoblastic nephromas. The malignant rhabdoid tumor organoids represent the first organoid model for tumors of non-epithelial origin. The tumor organoids retain key properties of native tumors, useful for revealing patient specific drug vulnerabilities. We further demonstrate that organoid cultures derived from Wilms tumors consist of multiple different cell types, including epithelial, stromal and blastemal-like. Our organoid biobank captures the cellular heterogeneity of pediatric kidney tumors, providing a representative collection of well-characterized models for basic cancer research, drug-screening, and personalized medicine.

  Study EGAS00001003853

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

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

  Study EGAS00001008126

• A Unifying Paradigm for Transcriptional Heterogeneity and Squamous Features in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

  Pancreatic cancer expression profiles largely reflect a classical or basal-like phenotype. The extent to which these profiles vary within a patient is unknown. We integrated evolutionary analysis and expression profiling in multiregion sampled metastatic pancreatic cancers, finding that squamous features are the histologic correlate of an RNA-seq defined basal-like subtype. In patients with coexisting basal/squamous and classical/glandular morphology, phylogenetic studies revealed that squamous morphology represented a subclonal population in an otherwise classical/glandular tumor. Cancers with squamous features were significantly more likely to have clonal mutations in chromatin modifiers, intercellular heterogeneity for MYC amplification, and entosis. These data provide a unifying paradigm for integrating basal-type expression profiles, squamous histology, and somatic mutations in chromatin modifier genes in the context of clonal evolution of pancreatic cancer.  

  Study EGAS00001003974

• Integration of intra-sample contextual error modeling for improved detection of somatic mutations

  Study EGAS00001003806

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

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

  Study EGAS50000001027

• Organoid cultures of early-onset colorectal cancers reveal distinct and rare genetic profiles

  Sporadic early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) has bad prognosis, yet is poorly represented by cell line models. We examine the key mutational and transcriptomic alterations in an organoid biobank enriched in EOCRCs. We established paired cancer (n=32) and normal organoids (n=18) from 20 patients enriched in microsatellite-stable EOCRC. Exome and transcriptome analysis was performed. We observed a striking diversity of molecular phenotypes, including PTPRK-RSPO3 fusions. Transcriptionally, RSPO fusion organoids resembled normal colon organoids and were distinct from APC mutant organoids, with high BMP2 and low PTK7 expression. Single cell transcriptome analysis confirmed the similarity between RSPO fusion organoids and normal organoids, with a propensity for maturation on Wnt withdrawal, whereas the APC mutant organoids were locked in progenitor stages. CRISPR/Cas9 engineered mutation of APC in normal human colon organoids led to upregulation of PTK7 protein and suppression of BMP2, but less so with an engineered RNF43 mutation. The frequent co-occurrence of RSPO fusions with SMAD4 or BMPR1A mutation was confirmed in TCGA database searches. RNF43 mutation was found in organoid from a leukaemia survivor with a novel mutational signature; and organoids with POLE proofreading mutation displayed ultramutation. The cancer organoid genomes were stable over long culture periods, while normal human colon organoids tended to be subject to clonal dominance over time. These organoid models enriched in EOCRCs with linked genomic data fill a gap in existing CRC models and reveal distinct genetic profiles and novel pathway cooperativity.

  Study EGAS00001004063

• Shifted assembly and function of mSWI/SNF family subcomplexes underlie targetable dependencies in endometriod carcinomas

  The mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) family of chromatin remodelers govern cell type-specific chromatin accessibility and gene expression and assemble as three distinct complexes: canonical BAF (cBAF), Polybromo-associated BAF (PBAF), and non-canonical BAF (ncBAF). ARID1A and ARID1B are paralog subunits that specifically nucleate the assembly of cBAF complexes and are frequently dual deleted in highly aggressive differentiated endometrial carcinomas (DECs). Here, in cellular models and primary human tumors, we find that ARID1A/B-mediated cBAF loss results in increased ncBAF and PBAF biochemical abundance and function genome-wide to maintain the DEC oncogenic signature. Further, treatment of ARID1A/1B-mutant cell lines and PDX models in vivo with a clinical-grade SMARCA4/2 ATPase inhibitor, FHD-286, markedly attenuates cell proliferation and tumor growth, and synergizes with carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Taken together, these findings reveal the oncogenic contributions of shifted of mSWI/SNF family complex abundance and chromatin-level gene regulatory functions and suggest therapeutic utility of mSWI/SNF complex small molecule inhibitors in dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma and other cBAF-disrupted cancer types.

  Study EGAS50000001004

• Re-evaluation of human mitochondrial DNA methylation reveals signals consistent with technical artifacts

  The existence and functional relevance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation remain controversial. We assessed 5mC and 5hmC in human brain, blood, and related cancers using both enzymatic and native DNA sequencing. While nuclear DNA exhibited expected methylation patterns, mtDNA consistently showed negligible methylation levels, indistinguishable from technical noise. Elevated methylation in nuclear-embedded mitochondrial sequences demonstrates a clear potential to confound mtDNA methylation measurements. Furthermore, technical discrepancies in mtDNA methylation were observed, underscoring the need for careful evaluation when interpreting data generated using earlier sequencing workflows. Our findings provide evidence against the presence of 5mC or 5hmC in mtDNA under the physiological and pathological conditions studied.

  Study EGAS50000001186

• BE_screens_of_WRN_gene_in_MSI_models

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

  Study EGAS00001006872

• Establishment and characterization of circulating tumor cells-derived organoids from metastatic breast cancer patients.

  Over the last decade, molecular stratification and associated therapies have greatly improved the treatment options and prognosis of patients diagnosed with breast cancer. However, metastatic disease remains incurable. Breast cancer cells mainly spread to the lung, liver, bone and brain and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that migrate in the lymphatics or blood have been implicated as the cellular source of metastasis. Detailed molecular and functional characterization of patient CTCs remains poor due to their low number in patient’s bloodstream. In addition, CTCs are difficult to culture and expand ex vivo. Here we have established a novel method for culturing and unlimitedly expanding breast cancer patient-derived CTCs in CTC-derived organoids (CDOs). Our platform can serve as a foundation for serial longitudinal isolation and expansion of breast cancer cells from peripheral blood. This may enable the identification and functional validation of therapy resistance mechanisms during disease progression, which can be used for new approaches in precision medicine.

  Study EGAS00001007582

• Early evolutionary branching across spatial domains predisposes to clonal replacement under chemotherapy in neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most lethal childhood cancers due its propensity to treatment resistance. By spatial mapping of subclone geographies before and after chemotherapy across 89 tumor regions from 12 NBs, we find that densely packed territories of closely related subclones present at diagnosis are replaced under effective treatment by islands of distantly related survivor subclones, originating from a different most recent ancestor compared to lineages dominating before treatment. Conversely, in tumors that progressed under treatment, ancestors of subclones dominating later in disease are present already at diagnosis. Chemotherapy treated xenografts and cell culture models replicates these two contrasting scenarios and shows branching evolution to be a constant feature of proliferating NB cells. Phylogenies based on whole genome sequencing of 505 individual NB cells indicate that a rich repertoire of parallel subclones, emerges already with the first oncogenic mutations and lays the foundation for clonal replacement under treatment.

  Study EGAS00001007650

• Targeted and shallow whole genome sequencing identifies therapeutic opportunities in p53abn endometrial cancers

  Purpose: Shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS) can detect copy number (CN) aberrations. In high-grade serous ovarian (HGSOC) sWGS identified CN signatures such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) to direct therapy. We applied sWGS with targeted sequencing to p53abn endometrial cancers (ECs) to identify additional prognostic stratification and therapeutic opportunities. Experimental Design: sWGS and targeted panel sequencing was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded p53abn ECs. CN alterations, mutational data and CN signatures were derived, and associations to clinicopathologic and outcomes data were assessed. Results: In 187 p53abn ECs, 5 distinct CN signatures were identified. Signature 5 was associated with BRCA1/2 CN loss with features similar to HGSOC HRD signature. 22% potential HRD cases were identified, 35 patients with signature 5, and 8 patients with BRCA1/2 somatic mutations. Signatures 3 and 4 were associated with whole genome duplication, and CCNE1, ERBB2 and MYC amplifications, with mutations in PIK3CA enriched in signature 3. We observed improved overall survival (OS) for patients with signature 2 and worse OS for signatures 1 and 3. 28% of patients had CCNE1 amplification and this subset was enriched with carcinosarcoma histotype. 34% of patients, across all histotypes, had ERBB2 amplification and/or HER2 overexpression on immunohistochemistry, which was associated with worse outcomes. Mutations in PPP2R1A (29%) and FBXW7 (16%) were among the top 5 most common mutations. Conclusions: sWGS and targeted sequencing identified therapeutic opportunities in 75% of p53abn EC patients. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of treatments targeting these identified pathways within p53abn ECs.

  Study EGAS00001007661

• Rapid response of APC/TP53/KRAS mutated stage IV colorectal cancer under FOLFIRI + Bevacizumab detected by liquid biopsy: a case report

  In our non-interventional liquid biopsy study, a male patient in his fifties diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer and polytope liver metastases rapidly progressed after completing chemotherapy and deceased 8 months after diagnosis. Retrospective cell free DNA testing showed that the APC/TP53/KRAS major clone responded quickly after 3 cycles of FOLFIRI + Bevacizumab. Retrospective exome sequencing of pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy tissue samples including metastases confirmed that the APC/TP53/KRAS and other major clonal mutations (GPR50, SLC5A, ZIC3, SF3A1 and others) were present in all samples. After the last chemotherapy cycle,

  Study EGAS00001004088

• Evolutionary Origins of Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer

  Surgery is the only curative option for patients with Stage I/II pancreatic cancer, nonetheless most patients will recur after surgery and die of their disease. To identify novel opportunities for management of recurrent pancreatic cancer we performed whole exome or targeted sequencing of 10 resected primary cancers and their matched intrapancreatic recurrences or distant metastases. We identified that recurrent disease develops from a monophyletic or polyphyletic origin, and this distinction has potential clinical relevance. In all patients, treatment induced genetic bottlenecks led to a modified genetic landscape and subclonal heterogeneity for driver gene alterations in part due to intermetastatic seeding. In one patient what was believed to be recurrent disease was an independent (second) primary tumor. These findings strongly advocate for routine post-treatment sampling in the management of recurrent pancreatic cancer.

  Study EGAS00001004097

• Noninvasive detection of cancer-associated genome-wide hypomethylation and copy number aberrations by plasma DNA bisulfite sequencing

  Noninvasive detection of cancer-associated genome-wide hypomethylation and copy number aberrations by plasma DNA bisulfite sequencing

  Study EGAS00001000566

• NGS_based_viability_screening_using_haploid_cell_line

  Identification of human deubiquitylating enzymes whose knock out result in hypersensitivity to DNA damaging agents, by comparing the sequence reads of ‘barcode region’ from mixed cell culture.

  Study EGAS00001001095

• Adult granulosa cell tumor WGS data cohort with corresponding reference germline WGS data

  Adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs) harbor a somatic FOXL2 c.402C>G mutation in ~95% of cases and are mainly surgically removed due to limited systemic treatment effect. In this study, potentially targetable genomic alterations in AGCTs were investigated by whole genome sequencing on 46 tumor samples and matched normal DNA. Copy number variant (CNV) analysis confirmed gain  of chromosome 12 and 14, and loss of 22. Pathogenic TP53 mutations were identified in three patients with highest tumor mutational burden and mitotic activity, defining a high-grade AGCT subgroup. Within-patient tumor comparisons showed 29-80% unique somatic mutations per sample, suggesting tumor heterogeneity. FOXL2-wildtype AGCTs had DICER1, TERT(C228T) and TP53 mutations and similar CNV profiles as FOXL2-mutant tumors. Our study confirms that absence of the FOXL2 c.402C>G mutation does not exclude AGCT diagnosis. The lack of overlapping variants in targetable cancer genes, indicates the need for personalized treatment for AGCT patients 

  Study EGAS00001004249

• Evaluation of the ERa binding region activity in breast and endometrial cancer

  Evaluate the activity of ERa binding site activity in breast and endometrial cancer.

  Study EGAS50000000009

• MSI_Cancer_Models___RNAseq

  The study will use RNAseq to aid in define determinants of WRN dependency in MSI Cell lines.

  Study EGAS00001004180

• Pseudogene_RNAseq

  RNA sequencing to validate findings of somatic pseudogenes acquired during cancer development

  Study EGAS00001000606

• Evaluation of triple negative breast cancer with heterogeneous immune infiltration

  Identification of potential RNA markers fir TILs infiltration in patients with triple negative breast cancer with heterogeneous immune infiltration.

  Study EGAS00001007159

• A cycling, progenitor-like cell population at the root of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor subtype differentiation trajectories

  Study EGAS00001008123

• Comprehensive NGS Profiling to Enable Detection of ALK Gene Rearrangements and MET Amplifications in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  We evaluate the analytical performance of the PGDx™ elio™ tissue complete assay, a 505 gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) tissue-based assay, that has now been FDA-cleared for use by physicians to help guide treatment decisions for cancer patients, using a NSCLC cohort of 38 patients.

  Study EGAS50000000010

• Clonal hematopoiesis in metastatic urothelial and renal cell carcinoma

  This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical relevance of clonal hematopoiesis in metastatic urothelial and renal cell carcinoma.

  Study EGAS50000000870

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

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

  Study EGAS50000000873

• Perturb-seq on CRC

  Systematic, genome-wide Investigation of enhancer regions in colorectal cancer. We used scRNA-seq with CRISPRi/dCas9 inhibition of 12,117 regions.

  Study EGAS50000000256

• Tissue-specific cell-free DNA degradation quantifies circulating tumor DNA burden

  Profiling of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may offer a non-invasive approach to monitor disease progression. Here, we developed a quantitative method, exploiting local tissue-specific cell-free DNA (cfDNA) degradation patterns, that accurately estimates ctDNA burden independent of genomic aberrations. Nucleosome-dependent cfDNA degradation at promoters and first exon-intron junctions was strongly associated with differential transcriptional activity in tumors and blood. A quantitative model, based on just 6 regulatory regions, could accurately predict ctDNA levels in colorectal cancer patients. Strikingly, a model restricted to blood-specific regulatory regions could predict ctDNA levels across both colorectal and breast cancer patients.

  Study EGAS00001004657

• Umbrella Study of MASTER/H021 data (not to be released, pool)

  Study EGAS00001004338

• Cambridge Neoadjuvant Cancer of the Prostate (CANCAP03): A Window Study into the Effects of Olaparib ± Degarelix in Primary Prostate Cancer.

  Study: Cambridge Neoadjuvant Cancer of the Prostate (CANCAP03): A Window Study into the Effects of Olaparib ± Degarelix in Primary Prostate Cancer. EudraCT Number: 2014-004417-86 Clinicaltrials.gov Number: NCT02324998 Purpose: Investigate combined PARP and androgen inhibition in primary prostate cancer. Aim: To understand the biological mechanism(s) underlying clinical efficacy, especially in the absence of mutations in homologous recombination (HR) repair pathways. Dataset: Single-nuclear RNA sequencing data from post-treatment radical prostatectomy tissue cores for six patients, 3 from each of olaparib and olaparib and degarelix cohorts. Samples were processed for nuclear isolation and extraction, prior to single-nuclear RNA sequencing. 10x libraries were constructed using the 10x supplied protocol, briefly: individual nuclei were trapped into droplets with a single bead, and poly A transcripts were barcoded during reverse transcription. Complementary DNA was amplified, and libraries were prepared for sequencing on NovaSeq 6000 using S4 flow cell (100k reads per cell). FASTQ files were processed using CellRanger pipeline (10X Genomics). Outputs from the CellRanger pipeline were analysed using the Seurat package (v4.9.9.9049) in R (v4.2.0). Processed data is provided as a Seurat object.

  Study EGAS50000000880

• Degradation of Cyclin K/CDK12 is a druggable vulnerability of colorectal cancer (H012)

  Study EGAS00001004517

• Bone marrow breakout lesions act as key sites for tumor-immune cell diversification and exhaustion in multiple myeloma

  Multiple myeloma is a disease characterized by the expansion of cancerous plasma cells in the bone marrow. The bone marrow microenvironment plays a pivotal role in supporting myeloma growth and modulating tumor immunity. As the disease progresses, myeloma cells may become independent of the bone marrow environment, leading to extramedullary disease associated with poor prognosis. However, the early processes associated with bone marrow independence and its implications for disease and immune control remain poorly understood. Here, we employed comprehensive single-cell and spatial mapping to identify the disruption of the cortical bone and subsequent expansion of myeloma cells in breakout lesions as a key event in multiple myeloma pathogenesis and tumor immunity. Breakout lesions harbor an adapted niche and a unique immune microenvironment conferred by sustained immune-tumor interactions. In particular, tumor-reactive T cells with a highly exhausted phenotype, alongside unique NK cell and macrophage subtypes, specifically expanded in breakout lesions. Spatially-resolved genomic, transcriptomic and cellular analyses uncovered extensive intra-lesion heterogeneity, suggesting a divergent co-evolution of genomic variation and locally confined T cell responses in distinct subregions. Ultra-high plex imaging revealed that tumor-reactive T cells, together with other immune-regulatory cells and dendritic cells, co-expand and exhaust upon sustained tumor interactions in locally confined immune islands. In contrast, immune-regulatory macrophage and NK cell subsets operate spatially separated within myeloma cell deserts. Jointly, our analyses uncover bone marrow breakout lesions as a hotspot for tumor-immune cell interactions, diversification and exhaustion, representing a key event in myeloma pathogenesis with significant therapeutic implications.

  Study EGAS50000000304

• Ultrasensitive Detection and Monitoring of Circulating Tumor DNA using Structural Variants in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

  Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection has an emerging role in the management of breast cancer, offering a non-invasive means to monitor disease status and detect recurrence. This study demonstrates that longitudinal monitoring of tumor-specific structural variants - frequent alterations observed across many tumor types including all subtypes of breast cancer derived from Whole Genome Sequencing data - allows for ctDNA detection in nearly all participants in this cohort with untreated early breast cancer prior to starting neoadjuvant therapy. On-treatment ctDNA monitoring enabled the early identification of patients at high risk of recurrence and ctDNA was detected prior to relapse in participants across all receptor subtypes. These findings demonstrate the clinical validity of this assay approach for ultrasensitive ctDNA monitoring.

  Study EGAS50000000799

• Hofer et al., A specific subpopulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes resistance to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer by upregulating G0S2 protein

  Chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but the mechanisms of chemoresistance remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the chemotherapy response of TNBC, by combining in vivo analyses of TNBC patients with ex vivo cancer modeling, using tumor-on-chip (ToC) technology. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the proportion of a specific CAF population, the extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts (ECM-myCAFs), is reduced after chemotherapy in chemo-sensitive, but not in chemo-resistant TNBC patients. In ToC devices, primary ECM-myCAFs promoted TNBC cell survival under Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel treatment. The mechanism of chemoresistance was elucidated by using single-cell RNA sequencing, advanced cell imaging and functional assays: ECM-myCAFs upregulate the G0/G1 switch 2 (G0S2) protein in TNBC cells, via activation of SRC family kinases. Altogether, our work identifies G0S2 as a new player in CAF mediated chemotherapy resistance in TNBC.

  Study EGAS50000000886

• 16S rRNA Rectal Mucus

  16S rRNA sequencing of rectal mucus samples from patients suspected to have colorectal cancer. This is 1 of 4 sequencing experiments on the same sample type.

  Study EGAS50000001262

• Long-read and short-read isoform sequencing in breast cancer

  The goal of this project was to perform long-read RNA sequencing (LR-seq, PacBio) in combination with short-read RNA-seq for systematic characterization of the isoform diversity in primary breast tumor samples. We sequenced the full-length transcriptomes of 26 breast tumors and 4 normal breast samples.

  Study EGAS00001004819

• SDR-seq_06_BCL

  Multiomic targeted scDNA-scRNA-seq (SDR-seq) of primary B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Aim is to link genomci variants to gene expression in single cells. Profiled two follicular lymphoma (FL) primary patient samples and one germinal center subtype diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GCB) primary patient sample.

  Study EGAS50000000374

• Clonal hematopoiesis in rheumatoid arthritis

  To evaluate the clinical impact of CHIP on RA phenotypes and outcomes, we collected DNA samples from four distinct RA patient cohorts of newly diagnosed, previously untreated, RA patients without hematologic malignancies. A total of 573 RA patients and 163 healthy controls underwent targeted NGS sequencing using a sequencing panel consisting of 65 genes recurrently mutated in myeloid malignancies.

  Study EGAS50000000890

• Subgroup-specific gene expression profiles and mixed epistasis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (HIPO, H005)

  Study EGAS00001006361

• MEMORI WES bams

  This project stores bam files from deep whole exome sequencing from oesophageal adenocarcinoma at different timepoints during neoadjuvant treatment (prior, during, post treatment), which were used to analyse evolutionary and phenotype dynamics in oesophageal adenocarcinoma during neoadjuvant treatment.

  Study EGAS50000000240

• Metastatic_Prostate_Follow_Up_2

  Validation/deeper sequencing for metastatic prostate cancer samples

  Study EGAS00001000756

• Colon adenomas and adenocarcinomas and matched mucosae

  Whole exome sequencing in sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) and advanced adenomas (Ad-As), and their paired healthy mucosa, for a deeper understanding of the biology of this cancer.

  Study EGAS00001007255

• Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database materials

  The Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database data. These data contain necessary clinical tables to reproduce the previous PLSD papers using the clinical tables for individual level cancer incidence by age, sex and MMR gene affected. The tables contain the demographics, individual cancers at given age, and therapeutic and prophylactic surgeries removing total or partial organs.

  Study EGAS50000001715

• Expressed_fusion_transcripts_in_rare_bone_tumours

  mRNA-Seq on total RNA from primary osteoblastomas and phosphaturic mesenchymal tumours, focussing on fusion transcript expression

  Study EGAS00001000763