Search Results - EGA European Genome-Phenome Archive

Gut Microbiome and Types of Colorectal Polyps

Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease arising from at least two precursors-the conventional adenoma and the serrated polyp. This dataset was used to test the relationship of the gut microbiota to specific colorectal polyp types. We included samples from two independent study populations based at colonoscopy clinics: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Study of In-home Tests for Colorectal Cancer (SIT), and the New York University (NYU) Human Microbiome and Colorectal Tumor study. Gut microbiota were assessed in 667 colonoscopy-screened adults by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples, of which 540 were included in our analysis. Participants were categorized as conventional adenoma cases, serrated polyp cases, or polyp-free controls. CA cases were further classified as proximal or distal and as non-advanced or advanced. Serrated polyp cases were further classified as hyperplastic polyp or sessile serrated adenoma. Our results show associations between gut microbiome composition and presence of conventional adenomas, including reduced diversity and alterations in taxon abundance.

Study phs001381

Medulloblastoma exome sequence analysis

Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in children. Identifying and understanding the genetic events that drive these tumors is critical for the development of more effective diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies. Recently, our group and others described distinct molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma based on transcriptional and copy number profiles. Here, we utilized whole exome hybrid capture and Illumina sequencing to identify somatic mutations across the coding regions of 92 primary medulloblastoma/normal pairs. Overall, medulloblastomas exhibit low mutation rates consistent with other pediatric tumors, with a median of 0.35 non-silent mutations per megabase. We identified twelve genes mutated at statistically significant frequencies, including previously known mutated genes in medulloblastoma such as CTNNB1, PTCH1, MLL2, SMARCA4 and TP53. Recurrent somatic mutations were identified in an RNA helicase gene, DDX3X, often concurrent with CTNNB1 mutations, and in the nuclear co-repressor (N-CoR) complex genes GPS2, BCOR, and LDB1, to our knowledge novel findings in medulloblastoma and all cancer. We show that mutant DDX3X potentiates transactivation of a TCF promoter and enhances cell viability in combination with mutant but not wild type beta-catenin. Together, our study reveals the alteration of Wnt, Hedgehog, histone methyltransferase and now N-CoR pathways across medulloblastomas and nominates the RNA helicase DDX3X as a component of pathogenic beta-catenin signaling in medulloblastoma. "Reprinted from 'MEDULLOBLASTOMA EXOME SEQUENCING UNCOVERS SUBTYPE-SPECIFIC SOMATIC MUTATION', with permission from Nature"

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Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm Z1A

The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm Z1A is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with NRAS mutations are treated with Binimetinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

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Genome-Wide Association Study of Lung Cancer Susceptibility in Never-Smoking Women in Asia

To learn about the etiology of lung cancer among never-smoking women in Asia, we formed the Female Lung Cancer Consortium in Asia (FLCCA), which includes studies of lung cancer in Eastern Asia and conducted a GWAS. We analyzed a total of 5510 lung cancer cases and 4544 controls and identified 3 novel loci (Lan et al., 2012). Of these study subjects, 4922 lung cancer cases and 3959 controls are available for posting. Lan et al.., Genome-wide association analysis identifies new lung cancer susceptibility loci in never-smoking women in Asia. Nat Genet. 2012 Dec;44(12):1330-5. doi: 10.1038/ng.2456. Epub 2012 Nov 11. PubMed PMID: 23143601.

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Whole Exome Sequencing Analysis of Carfilzomib-Related Cardiotoxicity in Multiple Myeloma Patients

This study investigated the contribution of germline genetic variants in protein-coding genes in carfilzomib-related cardiovascular adverse events among patients with multiple myeloma using whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis. We analyzed 247 patients with multiple myeloma who had been treated with carfilzomib at the Moffitt Cancer Center. We identified a missense mutation in the TMSB10/TRABD2A locus that appeared to be associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular adverse events in these patients. In this submission, we will provide all the genotype data along with the phenotype data of whether or not a patient developed cardiovascular adverse events after carfilzomib treatment and all the covariates used in this analysis.

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Whole Genome and Exon Capture Sequencing of Bladder Cancers

One primary bladder cancer and paired peripheral blood sample were subjected to whole genome sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. This technology was utilized to investigate the genetic basis of a durable remission of metastatic bladder cancer in a patient treated with everolimus, a drug that inhibits the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway. Among the somatic mutations found was a loss-of-function mutation in TSC1 (Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1), a regulator of mTOR pathway activation. Targeted sequencing using an exon capture and sequencing assay was performed on 13 tumors derived from patients on the same everolimus trial as the index patient and the sequencing data from these tumors is included. TSC1 mutation status was correlated with response to everolimus. The index patient responder tumor and peripheral blood DNA were also subjected to exon capture and sequencing.

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Follow-up of Ovarian Cancer Genetic Association and Interaction Studies (FOCI)

(Excerpted/paraphrased from original grant application): FOCI seeks to expand our understanding of epithelial ovarian cancer through a coordinated and comprehensive approach. Project 1 will focus on discovery, expansion, and replication. By pooling GWAS, we expect to identify new associations and achieve independent replication, explore whether there are risk variants specific for histologic subtypes, and evaluate structural polymorphisms - copy number variants - as risk factors. Finally, Project 1 will leverage the GWAS data to correlate DNA variants with a new endpoint - survival. Project 2 will focus on biological studies designed to help inform interpretation of findings from Project 1. This will include efforts to identify the functional consequences of variants and improve understanding of biological mechanisms. Project 3 will include epidemiologic studies of gene by gene interaction, gene by environment interaction, and development of risk prediction models. The collective effort builds upon the strengths and history of collaboration inherent in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC), a multidisciplinary group comprised of epidemiologists, genetic epidemiologists, statistical geneticists, molecular and cell biologists and clinicians that was formed in 2005. The FOCI Cohort is utilized in the following dbGaP sub-studies. To view genotypes, other molecular data, and derived variables collected in these sub-studies, please click on the following sub-studies below or in the "Sub-studies" box located on the right hand side of this top-level study page phs001133 FOCI Cohort. phs001131 Affymetrix Exome Chip phs001132 GWAS Meta Analysis phs001142 Mayo Omni Express phs001150 Mayo 2 5M

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CCDG CVD: VIRGO - Variation in Recover-Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Patients

The VIRGO study is a four year research project funded by the NHLBI to study young women and men with heart attacks. A total of 2,000 women who are 18 - 55 years of age and a smaller comparison group of 1,000 similarly aged men will be enrolled in this multi-site observational study from approximately 120 different hospitals across the country. Young women have a much greater risk of dying after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than similarly aged men. Their mortality risk is markedly higher than that of young men, and limited data on young minority women suggest that they may have the highest risk of any young subgroup. Findings from the small number of published studies of young women with ischemic heart disease suggest that the biology, epidemiology, care, and outcomes of this group are distinct from those of men. To date, there have been no large studies of this population, even as the death toll is comparable to that from breast cancer in this country. This study will help researchers identify key factors that influence recovery from a heart attack and potentially improve the care and outcomes of young women and men with AMI. Specific Aims: To investigate the excess risk in young women with AMI and to identify key demographic, clinical, metabolic, psychosocial, health care delivery, and biological determinants of prognosis, we propose a national, prospective, observational study of 2,000 women who are 55 years or younger with AMI and a smaller comparison group of 1,000 men. Our prior work and preliminary studies indicate that the sex differences are most prominent in this age group and suggest that by 1 year after discharge, there are substantial sex differences in outcomes. We will also develop risk stratification tools that will help clinicians to identify young women with the highest and lowest risk. Specific Aim 1: Determine sex differences in outcomes following AMI. Specific Aim 2: Determine sex differences in the prevalence and prognostic importance of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial risk factors. Specific Aim 3:Determine sex differences in quality of care. Specific Aim 4: Determine sex differences in the prevalence and prognostic importance of selected biochemical biomarkers following AMI. These samples have been whole genome sequenced as part of the NHGRI's Center for Common Disease Genetics at the Broad Institute.

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National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEHS) Sciences Study of Somatic Mutation Load in Clones of Single Human Cells

Accumulation of genetic changes with time and proliferation of cells is inevitable. We report here the genome-wide magnitude and spectra of mutations accrued in skin fibroblasts over the lifetime of healthy humans. We found that every cell contains at least one somatic chromosomal rearrangement and 600 - 13,000 base substitutions, similar to the median mutation load in human cancers. The mutation spectra and correlation of changes with epigenomic features also resemble many human cancers. Interestingly, the magnitude of ultraviolet light-characteristic mutations, representative of environmental mutagenesis, in sun-exposed skin was comparable to the number of mutations attributed to endogenous DNA damage estimated in unexposed cells. Our methodology allows delineating the precise contributions of environmental and endogenous factors to the accrual of genetic changes in the human body. This is fundamental to understanding the etiology, and improving the prognosis and prevention of cancers and other genetic diseases.

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CPTAC: Molecular Dissection of Chemotherapy Response in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Sporadic Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) represents 10-15% of breast cancers (BC) worldwide. Non-specific chemotherapy remains the standard of care as there are no targeted agents. In 50% of cases, pathological complete response (pCR) is not achieved, and these individuals experience poor survival. Predictive markers for chemotherapy have proved elusive, and patients can receive up to five different chemotherapy agents to optimize outcomes. Microscaled proteogenomics (PMID: 31988290) is a discovery technique that integrates DNA and RNA sequencing with mass spectrometry based proteomics. This approach was applied to snap-frozen biopsies obtained before TNBC treatment on a clinical trial of carboplatin and docetaxel. Proteogenomic profiling included whole exome sequencing (WES), RNA-seq, and tandem mass tag based proteomics and phosphoproteomics.The study was approved by the IRB at both participating sites: Washington University in St. Louis and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), and followed the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. The protocol and informed consent documents were approved by Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) and BCM.

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The genomic complexity of sporadic and inherited retinoblastoma with a matched orthotopic xenograft

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

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A Genome-Wide Association Study in Patients Experiencing Breast Events While Receiving Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitors for Early Breast Cancer on NCIC CTG Trial MA.27

Source of patients:The source of the patients for this genome-wide case-control study was MA.27, which was conducted as a multi-cooperative group effort under the auspices of the NCI Breast Cancer Intergroup of North America. The NCIC Clinical Trials Group (CTG) serves as the coordinating group, with participation by the NCI-sponsored North Central Cancer Treatment Group, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), Southwest Oncology Group, and Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). MA.27 involved postmenopausal women with histologically confirmed and completely resected invasive breast cancer with surgical margins clear of invasive carcinoma in the following TMN categories (AJCC Version 6): pT1, pT2, pT3; pNx, pN0, pN1, pN2, pN3 (only when the sole basis is presence of 10 or more involved axillary nodes); MO. The primary tumor must have been estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor positive. Patients were stratified by lymph node status at diagnosis, prior adjuvant chemotherapy, and trastuzumab use and were randomized to 5 years of adjuvant therapy with anastrozole or exemestane. The trial was activated on May 26, 2003, and reached its accrual objectives on July 31, 2008, after the randomization of 6827 North American patients, with the majority (79%) providing DNA and consent for genetic testing. Non-North American patients were also entered by the International Breast Cancer Study Group but they did not contribute DNA. From 2003 to December 21, 2004, patients also underwent a second randomization to celecoxib 400 mg twice daily or placebo but, after the entry of 1,622 patients, this treatment was discontinued because of reports of increased cardiovascular risk associated with celecoxib. The final results of this study have been published, see Goss et al., 2013 (23358971). The patients in this analysis came from three cohorts: Cohort 1 consisted of 870 patients genotyped on the Illumina Human610-Quad BeadChip studied in a GWAS with the phenotype of musculoskeletal adverse event, see Ingle et al., 2010 (20876420), Cohort 2 consisted of 882 patients genotyped on the Illumina OmniExpress platform studied in a GWAS with the phenotype of fragility fractures, see Liu et al., 2014 (25148458), and the remaining 2913 patients were genotyped with the Illumina OmniExpressExome platform.

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Detection of Enhancer-Associated Rearrangements Reveals Mechanisms of Oncogene Dysregulation in B-cell Lymphoma

Lymphomas are a prevalent and heterogeneous family of cancers arising in cells of the immune system. Drivers of lymphomagenesis include genomic rearrangements that juxtapose active regulatory elements with specific oncogene targets, as well as mutations affecting specific transcription factors and chromatin regulatory proteins. This study seeks to combine genome-wide genetic and epigenetic datasets to better understand mechanisms of oncogene dysregulation across distinct lymphoma types.

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Inhibiting DNA Methylation Causes an Interferon Response in Cancer via dsRNA Including Endogenous Retroviruses

We show that DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) upregulate immune signaling in cancer through the viral defense pathway and re-expression of epigenetically silenced endogenous retrovirus. In melanoma patients treated with an immune checkpoint therapy, high viral defense signature expression in tumors significantly associates with durable clinical response and DNMTi treatment sensitizes to anti-CTLA4 therapy in a pre-clinical melanoma model.

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Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Complementation Group C, (XPC) and Non-XPC Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) Mutation Rate Study

Base mutations occur at higher frequencies within heterochromatin and late-replicating DNA. In this study, we show that regional differences in mutation frequency are absent in portions of the genome that are not transcribed within cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) with an XPC-\- genetic background. The XPC-\- genetic background predicates a loss of global genome nucleotide excision repair (GG-NER), thus our data shows that regional differences in mutation frequency are a result of differential access of DNA repair protein. Unexpectedly, we also note that greater transcription reduces mutations on both strands of genes in heterochromatin, and only to those levels observed in euchromatin, in a XPC-dependent fashion. Therefore, transcription likely reduces mutation prevalence by increasing access to DNA repair proteins. This tripartite relationship between DNA repair, transcription, and chromatin state shows a new cancer risk factor in human populations.

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The Genetics of Lung Cancer Susceptibility in Smokers

Over 85% of all patients diagnosed with lung cancer report a history of tobacco use, though only 10% of tobacco smokers eventually develop lung cancer. Epidemiologic studies have shown that family members of patients with lung cancer have a higher risk of developing lung cancer than controls. In an effort to identify variants associated with tobacco induced lung cancer, we have sequenced germline DNA from affected and unaffected members of families with strong histories of tobacco related lung cancer.

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Epigenetic Profiling of Human Colorectal Cancer

DNA methylation, together with chromatin modifications, constitute the epigenome that functions to regulate gene expression and genome integrity. DNA methylation alterations are ubiquitous in human cancers, as many genes acquire DNA methylation in a cancer-specific manner. DNA methylation at these sites in the genome of cancer cells not only serves as a marker for tumor identification, but together with gene mutation and gene expression data, can also be used to describe subsets of tumors of the same organ source. We have previously shown distinct human colorectal cancer subtypes based on DNA methylation differences. Correlating these DNA methylation differences with clinical co-variates will serve to further understand how these distinct subtypes are generated. We have collected 100 colorectal tumor tissues (for which clinical information is known) and have obtained (unprotected) genome-wide DNA methylation and chromatin modification information for each sample for the purposes of identifying and classifying unique tumor subtypes of colorectal cancers. In addition, we have determined mutations of key genes relevant to colorectal cancer as well as gene expression profiles. We will use the clinical data for each de-identified sample to correlate with the DNA methylation, mutation and gene expression information so as to understand the driving forces behind these distinct colorectal subtypes. We have selected the most promising tumors for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing using next-generation sequencing technology to obtain complete maps of colon cancer methylomes. Researchers will be unable to identify the subjects because the samples and associated information have been de-identified and anonymized by the tissue source site. In addition, upon receipt by the USC Epigenome Center, we have assigned new random identifiers for each sample. The data generated using these new codes are not traceable to the patient identity.

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Identification of Somatic Changes in Tumors from Fanconi Anemia Patients

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

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Genome-Wide Pleiotropy Scan Across Multiple Cancers

A whole-exome sequencing (WES) study was conducted in 3,233 cases diagnosed with multiple primary cancers and 3,229 matched cancer-free controls (90% non-Hispanic white, 3% African-American, 3% East Asian, and 4% Latino) selected from individuals in the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank (KPRB) who were members of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) health plan. Cancer-free controls were matched to cases on age at specimen collection (within 2 years), sex, genotyping array (which matched on self-reported race/ethnicity), closest distance using the first two principal components for genetic ancestry, and reagent kit. Cases and controls were drawn from two prospective KPRB cohorts: the Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health (RPGEH) and the ProHealth study. Participants were sequenced by the Regeneron Genetics Center using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform, and sample preparation and quality control were performed using a high-throughput, fully-automated system [PMID: 33087929]. Reads were aligned to the GRCh38 reference genome, and variants were called using WeCall [PMID: 33087929]. Participants with sex discordance, 20x coverage at less than 80% of targeted sites, and/or contamination greater than 5% were excluded. After quality control, we retained n = 6,247 (3,111 cases, 3,136 controls) individuals for downstream analyses. Among participants selected for this WES study, n = 5,432 (2,299 cases; 3,133 controls) consented to deposition of data to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).Further quality control was applied to filter low quality variants. Genotype calls with low depth of coverage (DP) were updated to missing (DP < 7 for SNPs and DP < 10 for indels), after which sites with low allele balance (AB) - variants without at least one sample having AB ≥ 15% for SNPs or AB ≥ 20% for indels - were removed. Lastly, variants with missingness > 10% and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium p-value < 10-15 were excluded. Further description of quality control and downstream single-variant and gene-based analyses is available in Cavazos et al, 2022 [medRxiv].

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Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) Brown Lab CLL Sequencing Study

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a hematological malignancy characterized by accumulation of CD5+CD19+ B cells in peripheral lymphoid organs, bone marrow and blood. In this study we analyze matched whole genome sequencing and RNA-seq data from CLL patients to characterize the mutational processes operative throughout tumor evolution. Source of tumor and normal DNA used is patient PBMC or B cells and saliva respectively.

Study phs000879

Identification of Cancer Predisposition Genes in Breast Cancer Families

Breast cancer has a significant genetic component. The strongest epidemiologic risk factor is family history of the disease. Familial studies have identified a number of genes contributing to increased risk. Of these, the highly penetrant BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for the majority of families in whom disease-causal mutations have been identified. However, mutations in other genes have been associated with predisposition to breast or breast and ovarian cancer including (CHEK2, ATM, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D). Together these genes account for less than 20% of excess familial breast cancer risk and do not explain ~50% of high-risk families referred for genetic testing. This significant gap in our understanding of the genetic basis of breast cancer poses a significant barrier to our ability to identify women at increased risk, who would benefit greatly from appropriate clinical management. To identify additional breast cancer predisposition genes whole exome sequencing of familial high-risk breast cancer patients was undertaken. DNA samples from 50 pairs of breast cancer patients from high-risk breast cancer families with no pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer predisposition genes were subjected to whole exome sequencing. The goal was to select candidate predisposition genes for further validation studies based on sharing of putative protein inactivating mutations among both members of each family and/or the frequency of inactivating mutations among the 50 families.

Study phs000480

MAP Kinase-Mutant Hematologic Malignancies and Their Therapeutic Resistance

The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway has been critically important in understanding pathology and developing targeted therapy for many cancers, but high frequency mutations in this pathway in hematopoietic malignancies were unknown until a series of sequencing studies from our group and others revealed a high frequency of activating mutations in BRAF (GeneID:673), MAP2K1 (GeneID:5604), and other key components of the MAPK pathway in two groups of rare and poorly studied blood cancers: hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and the systemic histiocytoses (SH). Although HCL and the SH both share common gene mutations in BRAF (BRAFV600E) and MAP2K1, these are distinct blood cancers with different clinical behaviors; however, their actual developmental cellular origins, genomic, and pathogenic differences are poorly understood, which led to our project goal of determining how BRAFV600E, MAP2K1, and other MAPK pathway mutations contribute to the pathogenesis of distinct blood cancers and affect their clinical responses to MAPK pathway inhibitors. This study proposal seeks to advance our understanding of the actual cells of origin of cancer-causing MAPK mutations in HCL and the SH, to determine why BRAFV600E and MAP2K1 mutations can cause two distinct blood cancers, and to understand how these mutations in HCL and SH influence responses to MAPK pathway inhibitor drugs and other receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors such as RET and ALK inhibitors that could potentially become effective therapy for these poorly understood blood cancers.

Study phs001864

Single-Cell Analysis of Somatic Mutations in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells in Relation to Aging and Smoking

While lung cancer risk among smokers is dependent on smoking dose, it remains unknown if this increased risk reflects an increased rate of somatic mutation accumulation in normal lung cells. Here we applied single-cell whole genome sequencing of proximal bronchial basal cells from 33 subjects, aged between 11 and 86 years, with smoking histories varying from never smoking to 116 pack years. We found an increase in the frequency of single-nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions with chronological age in never-smokers, with mutation frequencies significantly elevated among smokers. However, when plotted against smoking pack-years, mutations were found to follow the linear increase in cancer risk only until about 23 pack years, after which no further increase in mutation frequency was observed, pointing towards individual selection for mutation avoidance. Known lung cancer-defined global mutation signatures tracked with both age and smoking. Within study power limits, no significant enrichment for somatic mutations in lung cancer driver genes was observed.

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Use of Whole Genome Sequencing for Diagnosis and Discovery in the Cancer Genetics Clinic

Despite the potential of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to improve patient diagnosis and care, the empirical value of WGS in the cancer genetics clinic is unknown. We performed WGS on members of two cohorts of cancer genetics patients: those with BRCA1/2 mutations (n = 176) and those without (n = 82). Initial analysis of potentially pathogenic variants (PPVs, defined as nonsynonymous variants with allele frequency < 1% in ESP6500) in 163 clinically-relevant genes suggested that WGS will provide useful clinical results. This is despite the fact that a majority of PPVs were novel missense variants likely to be classified as variants of unknown significance (VUS). Furthermore, previously reported pathogenic missense variants did not always associate with their predicted diseases in our patients. This suggests that the clinical use of WGS will require large-scale efforts to consolidate WGS and patient data to improve accuracy of interpretation of rare variants. While loss-of-function (LoF) variants represented only a small fraction of PPVs, WGS identified additional cancer risk LoF PPVs in patients with known BRCA1/2 mutations and led to cancer risk diagnoses in 21% of non-BRCA cancer genetics patients after expanding our analysis to 3209 ClinVar genes. These data illustrate how WGS can be used to improve our ability to discover patients' cancer genetic risks. "Reprinted from doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2014.12.003, with permission from EBioMedicine."

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Analysis of Recurrently Protected Genomic Regions in Urine Cell-Free DNA

This study investigated fragmentation patterns in urine and plasma cell-free DNA and evaluated the relevance of such analysis for cancer diagnostics using urine samples. Specifically, we performed whole-genome sequencing at variable depths and evaluated genome-wide coverage in urine and plasma samples, relative to known genome annotation features. Tumor/germline exome sequencing data included was used to identify genome-wide copy number changes and their effect on cfDNA fragmentation in corresponding genomic regions in urine samples. Data included in this submission is whole-genome sequencing of urine and/or plasma cell-free DNA from healthy volunteers and/or cancer patients, and whole-exome sequencing of tumor DNA and germline DNA (peripheral blood cells) from cancer patients. 

Study phs002273

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