14970 results for "cancer studies using rna-seq"

in 23.86 milliseconds.

• Whole exome sequencing on primary retinoblastoma tissues and matching lymphocyte DNA.

  Retinoblastoma is a rare childhood cancer initiated by RB1 mutation or MYCN amplification, while additional alterations may be required for tumor development. However, the view on single nucleotide variants is very limited. To better understand oncogenesis, we determined the genomic landscape of retinoblastoma. We performed exome sequencing of 71 retinoblastomas and matched blood DNA. Next, we determined the presence of single nucleotide variants, copy number alterations and viruses. Aside from RB1, recurrent gene mutations were very rare. Only a limited fraction of tumors showed BCOR (7/71, 10%) or CREBBP alterations (3/71, 4%). No evidence was found for the presence of viruses. Instead, specific somatic copy number alterations were more common, particularly in patients diagnosed at later age. Recurrent alterations of chromosomal arms often involved less than one copy, also in highly pure tumor samples, suggesting within-tumor heterogeneity. Our results show that retinoblastoma is among the least mutated cancers and signify the extreme sensitivity of the childhood retina for RB1 loss. We hypothesize that retinoblastomas arising later in retinal development benefit more from subclonal secondary alterations and therefore, these alterations are more selected for in these tumors. Targeted therapy based on these subclonal events might be insufficient for complete tumor control.

  Study EGAS00001001690

• Comparison of structural variations from 10X Genomics linked-reads and conventional Illumina short-reads sequencing

  Structural variations (SVs) are large genomic rearrangements that can drive many diseases. Conventional short-reads whole genome sequencing (cWGS) allows their identification with base-pair resolution, but suffers from high false discovery rate. cWGS taps in short-range information from short-reads while linked-reads sequencing (10XWGS) utilizes long-range information. 10XWGS allows linkage of short-reads originating from the same large DNA molecule with a unique barcode captured in a gel bead in emulsion. This mitigates alignment-based artefacts from cWGS especially in repetitive regions. However, the false discovery rate of this technology is unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of different type and size of SVs predicted from these two technologies. The SVs common between both technologies were found to be highly specific by PCR and Sanger sequencing while validation rate dropped for uncommon events. Further, we propose a novel enrichment approach for filtering out false positive calls from both the technologies independently. To this end, we trained a machine learning model for respective technologies and used it to characterise SVs from MCF7 cell line and a primary breast cancer tumor with high precision. This approach would be valuable in understanding true mechanisms driven by SVs in various diseases.

  Study EGAS00001004093

• Inhibiton of the GABPB1L-containing GABP tetramer is sufficient to reverse replicative immortality in TERT promoter mutant glioblastoma cells.

  Over 50 types of cancer acquire TERT promoter mutations. These single point mutations reactivate telomerase, allowing for indefinite maintenance of telomere length and enabling cellular immortalization. The transcription factor binding site created by the point mutations specifically recruit the ETS factor GABP, a multimeric transcription factor composed of the GABPα and GABPβ subunits. GABP can form two functionally independent transcription factor species – a dimer or a tetramer – depending on which of the structurally distinct GABPβ isoforms is incorporated into the complex. In this study, we show that genetic disruption of GABPβ1L, a tetramer forming isoform of GABPβ that is dispensable in normal development, results in TERT silencing in a TERT promoter mutation dependent manner. Failure to activate TERT expression by GABPβ1L culminates in telomere dysfunction, DNA damage, and mitotic cell death exclusively in TERT promoter mutant cells. Furthermore, exogenous expression of TERT is sufficient to prevent telomere degradation and loss of cell viability in GABPβ1L-reduced lines bearing the mutant TERT promoter. Orthotopic injection of tetramer-deficient mutant TERT promoter GBM cells rendered lower tumor burden and prolonged the overall survival of the tumor-bearing mice. These results highlight the potentially widespread role of GABPB1L in enabling replicative immortality of TERT promoter cancers.

  Study EGAS00001002582

• Everything you need to know about Federated EGA Affiliates: Q&A

  Addressing common questions about Federated EGA (FEGA) Affiliates and providing answers. FEGA Affiliates have recently been defined as the third tier within the newly approved “Federated EGA Structure and Organisation” document, alongside Central EGA (CEGA) and the FEGA Nodes. In this blog post, we aim to answer the questions that may arise on this topic. For more general information about FEGA Affiliates, you can refer to this blog post. Let's now start with the questions and answers! What is the difference between a FEGA Affiliate and a FEGA Node? FEGA Nodes A FEGA Node is a national-level service that accepts submissions and provides archiving and access services within a single country's jurisdiction. Nodes provide end-to-end services for submitters in that jurisdiction, including submission support, processing, permissions management, and distribution. FEGA Affiliates A FEGA Affiliate is not a national submission service. Instead, it archives data from its own legal entity and/or selected partner institutions (for example, consortium partners). Affiliates are designed for organisations and consortia that need to keep data stewardship and access decisions within their own governance model, while still enabling discovery through the broader FEGA ecosystem. What do Affiliates commit to? Here is a practical checklist of the core expectations for a FEGA Affiliate. FEGA Affiliate checklist Discovery and metadata Submit non-personal metadata to CEGA to obtain EGA accessions and enable discovery (with metadata validation handled by the CEGA Helpdesk). Operations and resilience Maintain a data storage system and a defined backup/recovery approach. Ensure operational capacity (personnel and infrastructure) to deliver Affiliate services. Maintain systems and practices that support local data security and align with EGA best-practices. Access and user support Provide data distribution or access (e.g in a trusted research environment) to authorised users to datasets hosted at the Affiliate. Provide permissions management for datasets archived by the Affiliate (the CEGA DAC (Data Access Committee) Portal is always at your disposal to use). Provide a minimal helpdesk with sufficient capacity to support relevant DACs and approved users. Membership term Commit to a minimum membership term of four years. Governance and participation (lightweight by design) Affiliates integrate into the FEGA network operationally, but without the committee obligations associated with Nodes. When is becoming an Affiliate the right fit? Consider the Affiliate tier if: You host (or plan to host) controlled-access datasets that must be managed under your organisation’s or consortium’s governance, you want studies to be discoverable through EGA, but need access control and/or distribution to remain local, and you are not aiming to operate a national submission service tier.. What if a FEGA Node already exists in my jurisdiction? We encourage any potential Affiliate to reach out to their national FEGA Node to explore collaboration at the national level. Why? Federated models within a country already exist in FEGA, where a national Node operates like a Central EGA for their country. FEGA Nodes can also represent the interests of any Affiliates within their jurisdiction at the FEGA Committees. FEGA Nodes have experience and can support you on your FEGA journey. Ready to join as a FEGA Affiliate? We’re excited to open this formally defined pathway for organisations and consortia to participate in the federation. If you think the FEGA Affiliate tier fits your needs, start by assessing: Your scope (organisation/consortium-held data rather than public external submissions), Your ability to provide the core services (permissions, distribution/access, helpdesk, monitoring), and Your readiness to submit non-personal metadata to CEGA for accessioning and discovery. To express interest, please contact us here, and we'll help you understand the onboarding steps and how Affiliates integrate into the FEGA network.

  Blog fega-affiliates-q&a

• Robust detection of translocations in lymphoma FFPE samples using Targeted Locus Capture-based sequencing

  Chromosomal translocations with immunoglobin (IG) loci are the classic drivers in a large subset of B-cell lymphomas. Detection of these translocations is important for confirmation of diagnosis and for prognosis and therapy decisions. Currently, molecular diagnosis of translocations in lymphomas is not addressed well by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The standard method for detection of translocations is Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH), which is labor-intensive, and can be difficult to interpret. There is a need for a robust technology that can be standardized. Targeted Locus Capture (TLC) selectively enriches and sequences entire genes based on the crosslinking of physically proximal sequences, and thereby enables complete sequencing of genes of interest, including detection of large structural variants. Because the technology is based on the crosslinking and fragmenting of DNA, it has particular advantages in the analysis of Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples, in which DNA is inherently crosslinked and fragmented. In order to validate the FFPE-TLC technology as a novel approach for translocation detection in lymphoma samples, we have developed a panel assay containing genes with frequent translocations (MYC, BCL2, BCL6, IG loci). With this assay we have analyzed >140 lymphoma and control FFPE samples of variable input amounts and qualities that had previously been analyzed with FISH, and a subset also with standard targeted NGS. Good concordance with FISH results was observed for both translocation positive and negative samples. In 10 cases for which FFPE-TLC detected a relevant fusion and FISH had been called negative, discordance could be explained by higher sensitivity of FFPE-TLC or by inconclusive FISH results. In a specific case, FFPE-TLC detected a small-distance rearrangement on chromosome 3 that caused a BCL6 fusion but led to insufficient and therefore undetectable break-apart with FISH. Secondly, the FFPE-TLC approach was tested on a set of 19 B-cell lymphoma FFPE samples that had previously been analyzed using standard targeted NGS and FISH and was enriched for discordant results between these methods. FFPE-TLC-based NGS enables more robust translocation calling as the detection relies on broad sequencing coverage across the translocation partner rather than on breakpoint sequences only. In 3 cases, FFPE-TLC could proof false negative calls in standard targeted NGS due to breakpoints located in regions difficult to capture or to sequence. In 1 case, standard targeted NGS had made a false positive call on a breakpoint sequence that was shown to be caused by a small insertion rather than a genuine translocation. This study shows that FFPE-TLC promises to be a robust alternative for FISH analysis and standard targeted NGS procedures in lymphoma diagnostics and possibly in other cancers with frequent structural variants. The FFPE-TLC approach enables a single, DNA-based NGS test detecting both small mutations and translocations.

  Study EGAS00001004760

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project Steering Committee

  Dac EGAC00001000044

• Somatic mutations, clonal architecture and genomic evolution in multiple myeloma

  Multiple myeloma is an incurable plasma cell malignancy whose molecular pathogenesis is incompletely understood. We used whole exome sequencing, copy number profiling and cytogenetic to analyses 84 samples from 67 patients with myeloma. In addition to known myeloma genes, we identify new candidate genes, including truncations of SP140, ROBO1 and FAT3 and clustered missense mutations in EGR1. We find oncogenic mutations in cancer genes not previously implicated in myeloma, including SF3B1, PI3KCA and PTEN. We define diverse processes contributing to the mutational repertoire, including kataegis and somatic hypermutation. Most cases have at least one cluster of subclonal variants, including subclonal driver mutations, implying on-going tumor evolution. Serial samples revealed diverse patterns of clonal evolution, including linear evolution, differential clonal response and branching evolution. Our findings reveal the myeloma genome to be heterogeneous across patients and, within individual patients, to exhibit diversity in clonal admixture and dynamics in response to therapy.

  Dataset EGAD00001000339

• Shallow Whole Genome Sequencing of Patient Derived Xenografts

  Chemotherapy is the standard-of-care treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and benefits some patients, but what distinguishes responders from non-responders is unclear. In this study, we leveraged a comprehensive collection of 27 molecularly annotated patient-derived xenografts to uncover functional predictors of response to 5-FU and irinotecan combination therapy (FOLFIRI) in mCRC. Genetic analyses revealed that treatment sensitivity was marked by genomic scars indicative of BRCAness, suggesting homologous recombination (HR) deficiency as a key determinant. Accordingly, we surveyed a manually curated panel of 44 genes with a documented role in HR for the potential presence of pathogenic mutations. We did not observe a specific enrichment of HR gene mutations based on response to FOLFIRI. This result, combined with the absence of widespread biallelic inactivation of the analyzed genes and the predominance of mutations categorized as variants of unknown significance, suggests that FOLFIRI sensitivity is not primarily governed by underlying mutations in HR genes responsible for mitigating the genotoxic effects of this therapeutic regimen.

  Dataset EGAD50000000277

• A tumor focused approach to resolving the etiology of DNA mismatch repair deficient tumors classified as suspected Lynch syndrome

  Routine screening of tumors for DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency (dMMR) in colorectal (CRC), endometrial (EC) and sebaceous skin (SST) tumors leads to a significant proportion of unresolved cases classified as suspected Lynch syndrome (SLS). A tumor-focused testing approach reclassified 86.9% of SLS into Lynch syndrome, sporadic dMMR or MMR-proficient cases. These findings support the incorporation of tumor sequencing and alternate MLH1 methylation assays into clinical diagnostics to reduce the number of SLS patients and provide more appropriate surveillance and screening recommendations.

  Study EGAS50000000021

• Genome-wide NanoRCS of cfDNA from plasma of healthy individuals

  Levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in liquid biopsies may serve as a sensitive biomarker for real-time, minimally-invasive tumor diagnostics and monitoring. However, detecting ctDNA is challenging, as much fewer than 5% of the cell-free DNA in the blood typically originates from the tumor. To detect lowly abundant molecules, extremely sensitive sequencing methods are required. We adapted a new technique, NanoRCS, which is based on Oxford Nanopore sequencing of concatenated copies of a single DNA molecule for genome-wide sequencing, and applied this to plasma of healthy controls.

  Study EGAS50000000695

• Clonal evolution of metastatic colorectal cancer under anticancer therapies

  To investigate the clonal evolution of metastatic CRC at the single-cell level, we performed WGS in 58 clonal organoids and 18 fresh-frozen (FT) bulk-tissue samples from surgically resected primary and metastatic tumors before and after anticancer therapies in 6 patients. This approach enabled detailed phylogenetic reconstruction of individual clones. We discovered the timing and burden of treatment-related mutations as well as the heterogeneous evolution in driver mutations and genomic rearrangements in late-stage clonal evolution under anticancer therapies in metastatic CRC.

  Study EGAS50000001023

• Establishment of an integrated database for clinical and genomic data in cancer

  In this study, to clarify the genomic varieties of MM in Asian population, we planned to investigate the genomic features in Japanese population, represented as an Asian cohort, and preformed the comprehensive genomic analysis of MM cells with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) by means of targeted capture sequencing (TCS) method. In our TCS assay, MM cells are subjected to the detection of following genomic abnormalities; IG rearrangements, IG associated translocations, CNAs, and somatic mutations from 340 genes related to the pathogenesis and therapeutic agent of MM.

  Study JGAS000206

• Molecular analysis of circulating tumour cells identifies distinct profiles in chemosensitive and chemorefractory patients with small cell lung cancer

  In a search for profiles that distinguish chemosensitive versus chemorefractory SCLC disease, we examined copy number aberrations (CNA) in circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from pre-treatment SCLC blood samples. A CNA classifier was generated from 88 CTCs isolated from 13 patients (training set) then verified in 18 additional patients (112 CTC samples) (testing set) and in six SCLC patient-derived CTC explants explant tumours. These data highlight the potential utility of CTCs for molecular profiling and stratification of SCLC patients in future clinical trials.

  Study EGAS00001001951

• Myelodysplastic_syndrome_whole_genomes

  Wholegenome libraries will be prepared from at least two serial samples reflecting different stages of disease progression and matched constitutional DNA for 30 Myelodysplastic syndrome patient samples. Five lanes of Illumina HiSeq sequencing will be performed on each of the tumour samples and four lanes for each of the constitutional DNA. Sequencing data will mapped to build 37 of the human reference genome and analysis will be performed to characterize the spectrum of somatic variation present in these samples including single base pair mutations, insertions, deletions as well as larger structural variants and genomic rearrangements.

  Study EGAS00001000291

• Myeloproliferative_Disease_Whole_Genomes

  Wholegenome libraries will be prepared from at least two serial samples reflecting different stages of disease progression and matched constitutional DNA for 30 Myeloproliferative Disease samples. Five lanes of Illumina HiSeq sequencing will be performed on each of the tumour samples and four lanes for each of the constitutional DNA. Sequencing data will mapped to build 37 of the human reference genome and analysis will be performed to characterize the spectrum of somatic variation present in these samples including single base pair mutations, insertions, deletions as well as larger structural variants and genomic rearrangements.

  Study EGAS00001000290

• Sebaceous carcinoma tumor/normal exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing of

  Sebaceous carcinomas (SeC) are cutaneous malignancies that, in rare cases, metastasize and prove fatal. Here we report whole exome sequencing on 32 SeC, revealing distinct mutational classes that explain both cancer ontogeny and clinical course. A UV-damage signature predominated 10/32 samples, while 9 were instead defined by microsatellite instability (MSI) mutations. UV-damage SeC exhibited poorly differentiated, infiltrative histopathologycompared to MSI signature SeC (p = 0.003), features previously associated with dissemination. Strikingly, UV-damage SeC transcriptomes and anatomic distributionclosely resembling those of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), implicating sun-exposed keratinocytes as a cell of origin. Like SCC, this UV-damage subclass harbors a high somatic mutation burden with >50 mutations/Mb, predicting immunotherapeutic response. In contrast, ocular SeC acquire far fewer mutations without a dominant signature, but show frequent truncating mutations in the ZNF750 epidermal differentiation regulator. Our data exemplify how different mutational processes convergently drive histopathologically related but clinically distinct cancers.

  Dataset EGAD00001004016

• The_Causes_of_Clonal_Blood_Cell_Disorders_Study___SCOR_Custom

  We took a bone marrow aspirate and peripheral blood samples from a healthy patient aged around 60, and use flow cytometry to isolate 100 HSCs, 50 MEPs, and 50 GMPs. We grew these up into colonies, then whole genome sequenced each colony. Somatic mutations act as a unique barcode for each clone. We have designed a panel for targeted resequencing of the mutations that we find. We are now looking for these mutations in the peripheral blood, to see the dynamics of how HSCs contribute to the peripheral blood in health.

  Study EGAS00001002257

• Genome-wide search for higher order epistasis as modifiers of treatment effects on bone mineral density in childhood cancer survivors

  Survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) exposed to curative treatments that adversely affect BMD (age- and sex-adjusted BMD Z-scores, measured via QCT). Specifically, after SNP QC and annotation, we considered 75523 autosomal SNPs mapped to putative promoter or enhancer regions to restrict our search to 3-way SNP interactions that potentially reflect gene regulation events that influence BMD. We replicated 3-SNP interactions as modifiers of treatment effects in a cohort of adult survivors of non-ALL pediatric cancers (N=1428).

  Study EGAS00001002645

• Comparison of single/pooled CTCs and bulk exome sequencing

  Single cell technologies allow the interrogation of tumor heterogeneity, providing insights into tumor evolution and treatment resistance. To better understand whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs) could complement metastatic biopsies for tumor genomic profiling, we characterized 11 single CTCs and 10 pooled CTC samples at the mutational and copy number aberration (CNA) levels, and compared these results with matched synchronous tumor biopsies from 3 metastatic breast cancer patients with triple-negative (TNBC), HER2-positive and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) tumors. Similar CNA profiles and the same patient-specific driver mutations were found in bulk tissue and CTCs for the HER2-positive and TNBC tumors, whereas different CNA profiles and driver mutations were identified for the ER+ tumor, which presented two distinct clones in CTCs defined by mutations in ESR1 Y537N and TP53, respectively. Furthermore, de novo mutational signatures derived from CTCs described patient-specific biological processes. These data suggest that tumor tissue and CTCs provide complementary clinically relevant information to map tumor heterogeneity and tumor evolution.

  Dataset EGAD00001009052

• DERMATLAS: Hidradenoma papilliferum_RNAseq

  Virtually no other tumour type is associated with so many different forms as skin cancer. Histologically, tumours of the skin may arise from epithelium, including epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous or sweat gland, melanocytes, dermal-associated mesenchymal structures or tissue resident immune cells, making for a diversity of clinical presentations. Importantly, many skin tumour types have an extremely poor prognosis. Many skin tumour subtypes have never undergone molecular profiling, or if they have, targeted sequencing has been used and the number of cases analyzed has been so limited that deriving firm conclusions about the profile of driver genes, DNA mutational signatures and germline alleles has not been possible.For 70 key skin tumour subtypes defined by the World Health Organization, that have not undergone extensive genetic analysis previously, we propose to perform whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, from a range of body sites, to build a genomic atlas of dermatological tumours, including detailed maps of SNVs, copy number alterations, genome-wide methylation and expression profiles.

  Dataset EGAD00001015480

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

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

  Dataset EGAD00001015447

• DERMATLAS: Hidradenoma papilliferum_WES

  Virtually no other tumour type is associated with so many different forms as skin cancer. Histologically, tumours of the skin may arise from epithelium, including epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous or sweat gland, melanocytes, dermal-associated mesenchymal structures or tissue resident immune cells, making for a diversity of clinical presentations. Importantly, many skin tumour types have an extremely poor prognosis. Many skin tumour subtypes have never undergone molecular profiling, or if they have, targeted sequencing has been used and the number of cases analyzed has been so limited that deriving firm conclusions about the profile of driver genes, DNA mutational signatures and germline alleles has not been possible.For 70 key skin tumour subtypes defined by the World Health Organization, that have not undergone extensive genetic analysis previously, we propose to perform whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, from a range of body sites, to build a genomic atlas of dermatological tumours, including detailed maps of SNVs, copy number alterations, genome-wide methylation and expression profiles.

  Dataset EGAD00001015481

• Melanoma PEACE Dataset

  Dataset for the initial melanoma PEACE paper in Cancer Discovery, March 2023.

  Dataset EGAD00001010877

• A Genome-Wide Association Comparative Analysis of Response of AF Patients to Rate Control Therapy; A Collaboration between the NIH Pharmacogenomics Research Network and the RIKEN Yokohama Institute Center for Genomic Medicine

  The goal of this study was to identify genetic predictors of response to rate control therapy in patients with AF. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) focusing on subjects with a history of atrial fibrillation. Rate control therapy for AF uses a range of drugs (beta-adrenergic receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digitalis) to depress conduction through the AV node, thereby preventing rapid rates and minimizing symptoms. In large groups of patients, such as the Vanderbilt AF Registry (a clinical and genetic repository with over 1200 patients with ECG-confirmed AF) from which these study subjects were drawn, approximately 5% display failure of aggressive AV nodal-blocking therapy to control ventricular rate. In these patients, interruption of the AV node by ablation and pacemaker implantation are necessary for adequate rate control. Study cases were individuals who underwent AV node ablation and pacemaker implantation after combined therapy with 3 AV nodal-blocking agents was ineffective in rate control. Controls for this study were individuals who met standardized rate-control efficacy criteria (as described in AFFIRM study, Wyse et al, NEJM 2002; PMID: 12466506) for optimal rate control with 2 or fewer AV nodal-blocking agents. Two additional groups were genotyped by RIKEN: An additional group of patients with AF as well as subjects undergoing cardiac surgery in whom AF did not occur post-operatively. All study participants were recruited and treated/evaluated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This study was conducted by the Pharmacogenomics of Arrhythmia Therapy subgroup of the Pharmacogenetics Research Network, a nationwide collaboration of scientists studying the genetic contributions to drug response variability. Genotyping was performed by the RIKEN research institute in Japan using the Illumina 610 Quad Beadchip platform.

  Study phs000439

• Phenotypic and Genotypic Study of Keratoconus

  Keratoconus, a disease in which the cornea is abnormally steep and thin, affects approximately 1 in 2000 individuals and usually begins in the second decade of life. Keratoconus is a progressive disorder that results in loss of vision that cannot be alleviated by contact lenses or glasses alone and is a leading indication for corneal transplantation in developed countries (Udar et al., 2006, PMID: 16877401). Keratoconus has a strong genetic component, and while several causative genes are clearly suspected, the underlying pathogenic processes have not yet been identified. The goal of our research is to identify genes that harbor mutations contributing to keratoconus and underlying biochemical processes relevant to keratoconus pathogenesis and to develop a better understanding of the etiology of keratoconus, leading to improved detection, treatment, and management. We will enroll isolated keratoconus along with familial cases and unaffected relatives when available. The subject population will consist of individuals diagnosed with keratoconus and unaffected relatives in families. Individuals/families will be ascertained through support groups and clinical collaborators. The identities of the study participants will be known only to Dr. Chakravarti, the study coordinator, physicians in the team and the post-doctoral fellow(s) working directly on the project. DNA, lymphocytes, and lymphoblastoid cell lines may be prepared from the blood samples for future use. Molecular analyses using markers and sequencing and statistical analyses of these data will be used to identify regions of human chromosomes where putative keratoconus disease genes reside. Analyses of coding DNA sequences within genes from keratoconus subjects will be compared to published control sequences to identify disease specific variants. Additionally, to understand disease pathogenesis, subsets of patients may be asked to provide tear samples. Study subjects will not directly benefit from participation and results will not be disclosed to participants nor their health care providers, unless medically relevant.

  Study phs003168