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• Knoll et al Identification of drug candidates targeting monocyte reprogramming in people living with HIV

  Introduction People living with HIV (PLHIV) are characterized by functional reprogramming of innate immune cells even after long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART). In order to assess technical feasibility of omics technologies for application to larger cohorts, we compared multiple omics layers. Methods Bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, flow cytometry, proteomics, chromatin landscape analysis by ATAC-seq as well as ex vivo drug stimulation was performed in a small number of blood samples derived from PLHIV and healthy controls from the 200-HIV cohort study. Results Single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed that most immune cells in peripheral blood of PLHIV are altered in their transcriptomes and that a specific functional monocyte state previously described in acute HIV infection is still existing in PLHIV while other monocyte cell states are only occurring acute infection. Moreover, a reverse transcriptome approach on a rather small number of PLHIV was sufficient to identify drug candidates for reversing the transcriptional phenotype of monocytes in PLHIV. Discussion These scientific findings and technological advancements for clinical application of single-cell transcriptomics form the basis for the larger 2000-HIV multicenter cohort study on PLHIV, for which a combination of bulk and single-cell transcriptomics will be included as the leading technology to determine disease endotypes in PLHIV and to predict disease trajectories and outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001007460

• ATRX mutant neuroblastoma is sensitive to EZH2 inhibition via modulation of neuronal differentiation.

  Mutations and structural alterations of the SWI/SNF-like chromatin remodeler ATRX have been reported at high frequency in a number of adult and pediatric tumors1. However, the consequences of ATRX (Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation, X-linked) mutations in cancer and their underlying epigenetic sensitivities remain ill defined. Particularly intriguing are the large N-terminal deletions of ATRX in neuroblastoma that generate in-frame fusion (IFF) proteins1–3 devoid of key chromatin interaction domains. Here we demonstrate that neuroblastoma cells harbouring ATRX IFFs have distinct gene expression programs compared to neuroblastoma cells that are wild type for ATRX. This is due in part to H3K27me3-mediated silencing of REST (RE1 Silencing Transcription Factor) target genes involved in neuronal differentiation. In turn, we find that ATRX IFF cells display exquisite sensitivity to EZH2 inhibition in both adherent and tumorsphere conditions, due in part to derepression of neurogenesis genes, including REST targets. Examination of the epigenomic landscape of a pediatric neuroblastoma tumor harboring an ATRX IFF revealed that H3K27me3 occupies a subset of REST target genes that are transcriptionally silenced, and are sensitive to EZH2 inhibition in our cell-based assays. Thus, our study greatly advances our understanding of indolent neuroblastoma and identifies EZH2 inhibition as a potential therapy for patients with ATRX mutant disease. Further, these studies may be applicable to other ATRX mutant pediatric malignancies, particularly those carrying similar structural alterations of ATRX.

  Study EGAS00001002507

• Capturing disease severity in LIS1-lissencephaly reveals proteostasis dysregulation in patient-derived forebrain organoids

  Lissencephaly is a developmental cortical malformation characterized by reduced to absent gyri and a disorganized cortex, often leading to severe impairments in affected individuals and a reduced life expectancy. Heterozygous mutations in the LIS1 gene, encoding a regulator of the microtubule motor dynein, cause lissencephaly with different clinical severities. While the clinical disease spectrum correlates with the degree of lissencephaly, location and type of mutation may not. We leveraged forebrain-type organoids from LIS1-lissencephaly patients, diagnosed with mild, moderate or severe lissencephaly to investigate, in a cytoarchitecture and multi-omics approach, how the severity degree in patients might relate to specific mutations in the LIS1 gene. We questioned which processes during cortical development might be differentially affected by severity grade, and whether they could be pharmacologically targeted. We found alterations in neurodevelopment often with a severity-dependent gradient. Specifically, we identified alterations of the cytoarchitecture, progenitor cell homeostasis and neurogenesis. Particularly important disease-linked molecular mechanisms were microtubule destabilization, WNT-signaling, and perturbed cadherin- and unfolded protein-binding. Some mechanisms exhibited a severity-dependent gradient, or were specific to a severe grade. We present strategies to reverse phenotypic changes in LIS1-patient organoids, and an in silico approach with therapeutic potential. Thus, we show that different LIS1-severity grades can be recapitulated in vitro, that there is a direct link between the phenotype and genotype, that organoid-based disease modeling can identify molecular underpinnings of malformations of cortical development and that organoids provide a valid platform to develop and test therapeutic strategies.

  Study EGAS00001008227

• Transcriptional profiling of tauopathies in human IPS-derived neurons (2019-08-21)

  This project is a pilot study, in collaboration with Maria Grazia Spillantini and Mariangela Iovino (Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair), to investigate the utility of IPS-derived neurons for the study of neurodegenerative disorders. Our aim is to characterise the transcriptional consequences of tauopathies using neurons derived from differentiated IPSCs as a model system. We will use IPS cells derived from six individuals, four with known mutations in the tau protein, 2 without. RNA will be extracted at Day 0 and Day 65 of differentiation by which time the neuronal tauopathy is apparent. RNA will be extracted and the transcriptome of each line characterised using RNAseq. We will then search for genes that are differentially expressed between the transcriptomes of individuals with tau mutations versus those in controls. My lab will analyse the RNAseq data, comparing both affected and controls and both time-points, to establish candidate genes. Darren Logan’s lab, along with our collaborators, will experimentally verify and further investigate these genes in additional lines and animal models. From this analysis we will generate a list of candidate genes that are differentially expressed between cases and controls. This study will not only help us understand the molecular basis of tauopathies, but also identify gene candidates for biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease. It will serve as a proof of principle for future planned studies into generating and transcriptomically analysing an allelic series of Tau mutations in IPSCs with a controlled genetic background. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/ . This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2019-08-21.

  Dataset EGAD00001005277

• Investigation of Brain Nitrogen Metabolism in Partial Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency (OTCD) Using 1H MRS, DTI, and fMRI

  This is a case controlled, observational study. This project studies cognitive and motor dysfunction in adult and pediatric patients who are female carriers of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) or are males with late onset presentation (outside of the newborn period) of OTCD, utilizing state of the art MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), a non-invasive technique. This project seeks to improve our understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms that contribute to metabolic, cognitive, sensory and motor abnormalities in urea cycle disorders, which although individually rare, collectively constitute a major cause of neonatal encephalopathy, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. As a result of this study, a greater understanding of the anatomic, cognitive, motor, and biochemical underpinnings of neurologic damage attributable to this metabolic disorder will be gained. Experimental approaches will combine sensory, cognitive and motor testing with structural, functional and molecular magnetic resonance imaging to study symptomatic and asymptomatic heterozygous female carriers of X-linked ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD), and late onset hemizygous males. Participants to be included in the studies ranged from ages 7-60 years and were compared to an age-matched typically developed (TD) comparison group. For our research, we use anatomic MRI, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to monitor brain activity. The technique of fMRI provides detailed maps of the brain areas underlying human mental activities. By using fMRI, we are able to observe how the brain is functioning while a person is performing a specific task, such as reading. We can not only observe differences in the structure of the brain, but can also measure differences in brain function and activity as well. This information will ultimately be used to provide a basis for designing more effective interventions and methods for early identification of learning disabilities in patients with OTCD and related disorders. We will also use MRS to study various brain chemicals such as glutamine using the non-invasive MRI imaging techniques.

  Study phs001296

• Successful BRAF/MEK-inhibition in a young patient with BRAF V600E-mutated extrapancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (HIPO-021)

  Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PAC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Treatment options for metastatic PAC are limited and often follow chemotherapeutic regimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although recurrent genomic alterations, such as BRAF fusions and defects in genes involved in homologous recombination DNA repair, have been described in PAC, data on the clinical efficacy of molecularly guided, targeted treatment are scarce. Here we describe the case of a 27-yr-old patient with BRAF V600E-mutated PAC who was successfully treated with a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. The patient presented to our clinic with abdominal pain and weight loss. Imaging showed extensive retroperitoneal disease as well as mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Because of elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and inconclusive histologic findings, a germ cell tumor was suspected; however, PEI chemotherapy was unsuccessful. A repeat biopsy yielded the diagnosis of PAC and treatment with FOLFIRINOX was initiated. Comprehensive molecular profiling within the MASTER (Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor Eradication Research) precision oncology program revealed a somatic BRAF V600E mutation and a germline PALB2 stop-gain mutation. Therapy was therefore switched to BRAF/MEK inhibition, resulting in almost complete remission and disease control for 12 mo and a remarkable improvement in the patient's general condition. These results indicate that BRAF alterations are a valid therapeutic target in PAC that should be routinely assessed in this patient population.

  Study EGAS00001004282

• Offspring Sex Impacts DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Placentae from Women with Diabetes during Pregnancy

  Exposure to diabetes in utero is known to increase the offspring's likelihood of developing metabolic disease in adulthood, but the mechanisms involved are unknown. It has been proposed that early exposure to hyperglycemia and elevated insulin levels may lead to malprogramming of the fetus leading to the subsequent development of diabetes and obesity. Epigenetic modifications of the genome including DNA methylation, provide a plausible mechanism that allows for permanent propagation of gene activity states from one generation of cells to the next. The placenta, a fetal tissue easily accessible for study, is a complex organ that is essential in regulating fetal growth. The changes in placental nutrient transport associated with diabetes during pregnancy (DDP) have significant effects on the developing fetus, indicating that the placenta plays a critical role in fetal programming. The aim of our study was to investigate whether exposure to DDP alters genome-wide DNA methylation in the placenta obtained from term pregnancies resulting in differentially methylated loci of metabolically relevant genes and downstream changes in RNA and protein expression.

  Study phs001535

• Clonal heterogeneity leads to secondary resistance in a melanoma patient after adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

  Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is effective in melanoma patients, although long-term responses seem restricted to patients with complete remissions. Many patients develop secondary resistance to TIL-ACT but involved mechanisms are unclear. Here, we describe a case of secondary resistance to TIL-ACT likely due to intratumoral heterogeneity and selection of a resistant tumor cell clone via transferred T cells. This is the first case of clonal selection of a pre-existing non-dominant tumor cell clone and demonstrates a new mechanism involved in secondary resistance to TIL-ACT and could potentially change current clinical practice, because it advocates for T cell collection from different tumor sites and analysis of tumor heterogeneity before the treatment with TIL-ACT.

  Study EGAS50000000279

• GenomeDenmark Phase 2 - whole genome variants called using BayesTyper

  Variants and genotypes called in 50 danish parent-offspring trios from 80x Illumina sequencing data using BayesTyper. Data was produced using different insert size libraries of the sizes 180, 500, 800, 2000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 bp. The sample IDs for the fathers and mothers are TrioID-01 and TrioID-02, respectively, and the IDs for the children are TrioID-0x, where x is a number between 3 and 7

  Dataset EGAD00001003188

• Repeated clinical malaria episodes are associated with modification of the immune system in children. (2019-01-17)

  Repeated clinical malaria episodes are associated with modification of the immune system in children.This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/. . This dataset contains all the data available for this study on 2019-01-17.

  Dataset EGAD00001004570

• Kids First Pediatric Research Study in Familial Predisposition to Hematopoietic Malignancies (SJFAMILY-HM)

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood tumor and a leading cause of cancer death in children, adolescents and young adults. Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are also important hematologic malignancies (HM) that occur in children. Each are genetic diseases with growing evidence for a germline predisposition of both familial and sporadic cases, however the inherited genetic basis of ALL/lymphoma are poorly understood. Such knowledge is essential to gain mechanistic insight into the basis of tumor formation, and to guide genetic counseling and genetic management. Here we have assembled a large collection of familial HM kindreds, and extended recurrence cohorts of ALL and HL which will be used to identify the genetic basis of familial HM, examine the frequency of germline variants in sporadic ALL and HL, and to integrate inherited and somatic genomic data. These studies have high potential to provide fundamental new insights into the inherited genetic basis of HM, to provide important information to guide clinical management, and to provide an invaluable public resource of genomic data.

  Study phs001738

• 1000 Genomes Used for Cloud Testing

  WARNING: This is a test data set. The phenotype data was not checked to match 1000 Genomes project. Use with caution.This study provides public access to a demonstration subset of 1000 genomes sequence data in dbGaP. It is intended to be used by software developers who design, implement and validate pipelines for dbGaP data. While this project distributes only public data, it uses dbGaP security mechanisms which include a project-specific security key and a decryption password. Since the data are public, the key and password for this project will be included by SRA into public demonstration packages that permit users to test and validate the security of their computational pipelines. Note that all public users of this data will be logged under the same project and account ID. The datasets attached to this project must be restricted to 1000 Genomes data identical to the project's public FTP site. To access these test data using SRA toolkit use prj_phs710EA_test.ngc.

  Study phs000710

• ADAGESIII: Contribution of genotype to glaucoma phenotype in African Americans

  Glaucoma results in vision loss due to damage of the optic nerve that is irreversible if undetected or untreated. The most common form of glaucoma is primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). While glaucoma affects all races, persons of African descent are disproportionately affected; studies show African-Americans (AAs) are about four to five times more likely than Caucasian Americans to develop the disease. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Americans of African descent, and the second leading cause in all Americans. The lack of understanding about the etiology of POAG impedes our ability to identify and treat it early in its development. Evidence of genetic contribution in the pathogenesis of POAG is well established. Since POAG tends to run in families, it is critical to identify the genetic basis of the disease in order to develop effective therapies for early intervention. While genome wide association studies (GWAS) for glaucoma have been completed for Caucasian populations, evidence from other studies suggests that a GWAS of glaucoma specific genes to the African-American population will yield unique and important findings for both this population and for glaucoma in general. A better understanding of the relationship among the stage of disease, the rate of change, ancestry, and other important risk factors being tracked in the ongoing African Descent and Glaucoma Study (ADAGES) will allow us to evaluate the relationship between genetics, visual loss and structural damage in this high-risk cohort. The scientific plan for this new study focuses on glaucoma in ∼2058 African-Americans by detailed phenotyping of new subjects, acquisition of samples from both new and established previously phenotyped study subjects for a repository, establishment of a data coordinating center, and genome wide association studies. The recruitment, enrollment, and phenotyping of both established and new subjects occurs at five clinical centers, University of California (UCSD), New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (Mt Sinai) and Columbia University Medical Center, a private practice in the Atlanta area, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Robert Cizik Eye Clinic in Houston, TX. UCSD is also the location for the Data Coordinating Center and the Repository with Robert N. Weinreb as Principal Investigator. LA BioMed at Harbor-UCLA did the genotyping with a GWAS panel of ∼1 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the Illumina MEGA array under the direction of Jerome Rotter, Ida Chen, and Kent Taylor.

  Study phs001673

• Study on the consequences of prenatal famine exposure on DNA methylation.

  The potential of the epigenome to undergo environmentally-induced changes during early development is central to its postulated role in human disease. Here, we report a genome-scale view of DNA methylation differences after early gestational malnutrition that was caused by the Dutch Hunger Winter, a severe famine at the end of World War II. We adopted an annotation guided analysis of reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing data generated in 24 middle-aged individuals who had been exposed to famine in utero and 24 unexposed sibling controls. We observed differential DNA methylation primarily at genomic regions with regulatory potential, including enhancers active during early development. In-depth annotation of 181 prenatally-induced differentially methylated regions (P-DMRs) showed that they were predominantly located in gene bodies and co-occurred with histone marks denoting an active state. In line with the early gestational timing of the exposure, the P-DMRs mapped to genes that were enriched for differential expression patterns during blastocyst development and early organogenesis. Validation and further explorative analyses of 6 P-DMRs mapping to SMAD7, CDH23, INSR, RFTN1, CPT1A and KLF13 highlighted the critical role of gestational timing, indicated that differential methylation extended along pathways involved in growth, development and metabolism, and suggested associations with birth weight and serum LDL cholesterol in adulthood and confirmed an enhancer function for the INSR and CPT1A P-DMRs. Our results point toward a link between prenatal malnutrition and epigenetic modulation of growth and lipid metabolism that may underlie the adverse metabolic phenotype of exposed individuals in later life.

  Study EGAS00001000668

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

  The Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM Genetics (FUSION) study is a long-term effort to identify genetic variants that predispose to type 2 diabetes (T2D) or that impact the variability of T2D-related quantitative traits. The initial effort involved linkage analysis of affected-sibling-pair (ASP) families based on over 5,000 individuals living in Finland, and association fine mapping based on these family members and additional T2D cases and controls. Recently we completed a genome-wide association scan on 1161 T2D cases and 1174 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) controls. Individual-level data is available here for the 919 T2D cases and 787 NGT controls who reconsented to the use of their data or are deceased. Version 3 adds individual-level data for additional phenotypic variables.

  Study phs000100

• Genome-wide association analysis on five isolated populations - Erasmus Rucphen Family (ERF) Study

  ERF is embedded in the Genetic Research in Isolated Population (GRIP) program. Genealogy of GRIP is available from its founding (1600-1650). For ERF, we selected 22 related (first and second degree, non-consanguineous) couples living in GRIP between 1850-1900, and having at least six children baptized in the community church. All living descendants of those couples were invited to participate in ERF1. About 4,000 relatives included in the study form a very complex pedigree, which consists of more than 23,000 members. The participants aged between 18-20 years constitute a unique single family spanning over 23 generations. Around 3,000 individuals have been extensively phenotyped for several psychiatric and somatic traits. All phenotyped individuals are genotyped on genome-wide genotyping arrays.

  Study EGAS00001001134

• Methylation biomarker study of magnesium deficiency and colorectal cancer

  Five US studies using the Mg tolerance test, the "gold standard" test of Mg status, indicated that >50% participants had Mg deficiency. In our ongoing US trial, we have found a similar result. In growing recognition of the importance of Mg in human health, very recently, Mg was selected by the US Federal Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) Committee to update the DRI. In US and other populations at high risk of Mg deficiency, high Mg intake has been linked to reduced risk of colorectal neoplasia, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Conversely, in populations not at high risk of Mg deficiency, high Mg intake has been related to increased risk of total mortality (e.g. total cancer, colorectal cancer, and CVD), particularly when calcium intake is low. These observations suggest that the associations between high Mg intake and disease risks may completely differ by the underlying Mg status. Due to major limitations, the Mg tolerance test is not used in conventional clinical practice and rarely used in research. Instead, serum Mg is used for clinical diagnosis. However, serum Mg performs very poorly at identifying those with Mg deficiency. There is a great need to develop implementable, sensitive, and specific biomarkers which can be easily used for identifying people with Mg deficiency. Without such a marker, it is impossible to develop effective strategies that minimize adverse effects by targeting those who, as a result of Mg deficiency, are at risk of common diseases. It is known that DNA methylation changes are inducible by environmental exposures, including nutrients, and reversible when the exposure disappears. There are two major types of cytosine modifications in DNA, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and 5-methylcytosine (5-mC). 5-mC is often associated with suppressed gene expression. 5-hmC, generated by the oxidation of 5-mC, is specifically enriched in expressed genes and plays a critical role in activating and/or maintaining gene expression. However, current epigenomic profiling platforms cannot distinguish 5-hmC from 5-mC. Just recently, our collaborator, Dr. Chuan He (HHMI Investigator), established a novel and state of the art technique, TAB-Seq and TAB-Array protocol, which can separate 5-hmC from 5-mC in the genome. Our pilot studies indicate that Mg intake or treatment significantly affects methylation capacity, 5-mC and 5-hmC biomarkers. Our findings suggest blood leukocyte 5-hmC/5-mC biomarkers may serve as more sensitive biomarkers to identify Mg deficiency than serum Mg. Thus, a comprehensive epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) may help to identify the most sensitive 5-hmC/ 5- mC biomarkers for Mg deficiency. We propose to identify 5-hmC/5-mC biomarkers for Mg deficiency by a 4- phase EWAS study in the "Personalized Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Trial [PPCCT, R01CA149633; PI, Dai and Yu]" with a total of 240 participants. Mg tolerance test will be used as the gold standard. Finally, using newly identified biomarkers, we will evaluate if 12-week Mg treatment reduces TRPM7 expression, essential in Mg homeostasis and colorectal carcinogenesis, in rectal tissues only among those with Mg deficiency.

  Study phs002037

• Structure and evolution of double minutes in diagnosis and relapse brain tumors

  Double minute chromosomes are extrachromosomal circular DNA fragments frequently found in brain tumors. To understand their evolution, we characterized the double minutes in paired diagnosis and relapse tumors from a pediatric high-grade glioma and four adult glioblastoma patients. We determined the full structures of the major double minutes using a novel approach combining multiple types of supporting genomic evidence. Among the double minutes identified in the pediatric tumor, only one carrying EGFR was maintained at high abundance in both samples, whereas two others were resent in only trace amounts at diagnosis but abundant at relapse, and the rest were found either in the relapse sample only or in the diagnosis sample only. For the EGFR-carrying double minutes, we found a secondary somatic deletion in all copies at relapse, after erlotinib treatment, but this was rare at diagnosis, suggesting potential resistance to the EGFR inhibitor. This mutation caused an in-frame RNA transcript to skip exon 16, a novel transcript absent in EST database and in about 700 brain tumors that we reviewed. We observed similar patterns involving longitudinal copy number shift of double minutes in another four pairs (diagnosis / relapse) of adult glioblastoma. Overall, in three of five paired tumor samples, we found that although the same oncogenes were amplified at diagnosis and relapse, they were amplified on different double minutes. Our results suggest that double minutes readily evolve, increasing tumor heterogeneity rapidly. Understanding patterns of double minute evolution can shed light on future therapeutic solutions to brain tumors carrying such variants.

  Study EGAS00001003212

• Development of Novel Histiocytic Sarcoma Organoid Model for Drug Discovery

  Histiocytic sarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive hematopoietic malignancy. Its pathogenesis remains poorly understood and effective treatments are lacking. We treated a patient with histiocytic sarcoma of soft tissue in Osaka International Cancer Institute and established an organoid culture from a resected tumor specimen using a modified air���liquid interface method. After serial passaging, the organoid was successfully xenografted into NOD-scid IL2Rgnull (NSG) mice. The established organoid retained key histological features and genetic characteristics of the original tumor. This organoid model offers a novel and reliable platform for studying the biology of histiocytic sarcoma and may contribute to the development of future therapeutic strategies.

  Study JGAS000807

• Demographically Diverse Substance Use Disorder Cohorts of Dr. Stanley H. Weiss

  The Demographically Diverse Substance Use Disorder Cohorts of Dr. Stanley H. Weiss, which constitute the Epidemiology of the Weiss Cohort Projects, consist of a series of inter-connected projects, building upon a set of cohort projects of various groups, mainly drug users from medication-assisted treatment programs, that Dr. Stanley H. Weiss first developed in the 1980’s plus several newer initiatives, each with an array of collaborators. Beginning in the 1980’s, Dr. Stanley H. Weiss started several long-term studies of persons who inject drugs (PWID) across the United States, ultimately enrolling over 10,000 participants through the early 1990’s with an average age then in their 30’s. About a quarter were enrolled from sites in New Jersey (NJ). These studies included the first testing of PWID for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV I and HTLV II). Cumulative past support (initiation thru ~ 1999) for these cohort studies included ~ $20 million from intramural resources from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), plus multiple grants and in-kind support from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) totaling ~ $1 million. The Weiss Cohort Projects include the first large AIDS-era cohorts to include women at high risk for HIV. A high percentage of subjects in these studies are black or Latino. Thus, this is an ethnically diverse US cohort, with a high proportion of women included. These subjects are at high risk of parenteral and sexual infection from both drug use and sexual practices. Samples from other studies conducted by Dr. Weiss, in which detailed interviews were conducted, are included as controls (persons documented by us not to have a history of opioid drug use). As one of our groups of subjects have many persons of Haitian ancestry, we specifically included some Haitians who had never used opioids as controls. Our documentation includes such ancestry. These cohorts demonstrated high rates of HIV and HTLV-II infection in PWIDs, including one study initiated in 1981 with confirmation in the later cohorts. In the first two decades of these studies, among numerous publications was the first study showing a very high rate of hepatitis C infection among PWIDs. An example of how the studies’ long-time horizon proved essential was that it first became possible to test whether a person had ever been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as how much HCV was in each person’s blood, many years after the specimens were collected. This allowed HCV amounts in blood to be compared for subjects who had died of liver disease early in the study versus those who survived. Then a sequence of published papers culminated in demonstrating, using a nested case-control design, that a high baseline HCV titer was predictive of early progression to death from end-stage liver failure. Outcomes related to HCV (end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma) remain under study. In the original cohort studies, the mean age at enrollment was ~ 33 years old, so that those still alive in 2022 are mainly now ~ 60 - 75 years old. Many participants have already died. The tincture of time has led to subjects reaching ages when many more are dying from a wide array of outcomes, including from many chronic diseases (including cancer) as well as from infectious agents (especially HIV, HCV) or drug overdose. Renewed collaboration with local drug treatment programs has led to new field-based studies, including examination of some currently evolving problems among drug users. Dr. Weiss joined the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Genetics Consortium (NGC) in 2017, and through the NIDA project officer has had access to NGC contract resources (see below). NIH Certificate of Confidentiality, CC-DA-16-214 (attached) protects these studies. Past arrangements related to data on our subjects leads to restrictions on the use of data emanating from our study, such as potential commercialization and restrictions on whom may access and use these data. NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC) resources further support these endeavors and will be used as part of the NGC analyses studying the genetics of substance use. Study participants signed informed consent for the information collected from them to be used with no time limit and for biologic specimens collected from them to be used without restriction in future research. Serum samples were collected from participants, and from many also plasma, white blood cells and/or urine samples. About 100,000 vials were stored. All specimens have been continuously preserved at sufficiently cold temperatures to prevent deterioration, and many subjects separated white blood cells were processed and frozen in such a way as to maintain viability. Detailed data from the participants has been accumulated over time, and in general, linkage has been retained in each sub-study in accordance with the consent forms and protocols. For some participants, specimens were collected at multiple times (that is, sequential specimens). Multiple specimens from a single person exist in this database, and efforts at de-duplication remain ongoing. Dr. Weiss should be contacted if an investigator requires unique individuals since: • Multiple phases of enrollment occurred, and as our prospective follow-up continues; Dr. Weiss may identify new instances of multiple enrollment. • Some persons are related to each other. • In general, in this dataset for dbGaP, only a single specimen/record form a given person is included. Advances in laboratory testing techniques now permit innovative new uses for our linked research biospecimen repository. The ongoing focus of an interdisciplinary research program based on these cohorts relates subjects’ diseases, behaviors, medical history, and outcomes with biological and exposure markers. Participants’ use of various substances was ascertained on study enrollments, many serially over time. Quantitative frequency of use data, also sometimes sequential over time, were ascertained. Active ascertainment of outcomes is being conducted, including matching to mortality and cancer databases. Investigators interested in collaborations on specific outcomes (which is not part of this dbGaP dataset) or in the use of our stored specimens are encouraged to contact the principal investigator, Dr. Weiss. The processing of the genomic data was done in conjunction with NIDA, and in accordance with some longstanding data cleaning steps used by NIDA in the NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC), a group to which we shall be contributing these data for collaborative analyses. Since there is the potential for these steps to introduce certain types of potential biases, we summarize these here. Under contract from NIDA, cryopreserved sera or plasma (-80 C) or cells (in liquid nitrogen) were used, with most stored having been stored for 30 to 40 years in our biorepository. In the case of serum or plasma, in which only (largely) cell-free DNA fragments were available, DNA was extracted and restored prior to amplification. Industry standard DNA amplification techniques were done on all samples prior to genotyping in accord with established protocols of the NIDA Genetics Consortium. Our genotype data were run and processed on the Illumina Infinium OmniExpress_v_1.3 array. This array has 714,238 SNPs, and was designed many years ago. There were 628 SNPs on the array that do not correspond to any chromosome position, and these were removed. Genotype data were submitted by NIDA’s contracted genotyping laboratory in six batches over time to NIDA’s contracted dbGaP data management group, which conducted quality control (QC) analyses. QC analysis included an assessment of batch effects on for five of the six batches. (One of the batches, with only 12 samples, was too small for QC analysis of batch effects.) Standard NIDA Genetic Consortium cleaning was performed. Samples with a call rate <.85 were removed. Only one sample per person was retained. When more than one specimen was genotyped from one subject, only the sample with the higher call rate was retained (provided, of course, that that call rate was ≥ 0.85). We have retained some people we know are related, including some found to have been related through genotyping; the pedigree file describes those relationships. In summary, key cleaning steps include: 1. Using PLINK to check gender discrepancy. 2. Using PREST-PLUS and KING (Kinship-based Inference for GWAS) to check relatedness. 3. Using PEDCHECK and PLINK to check/zero-out Mendelian error. 4. Using PLINK to perform sample QC, SNP QC, along with KING to perform chromosome X and chromosome Y QC. 5. SNP-QC: Batch-effect: 5 Batches were compared (one batch, with few samples, was not). These five batches were compared to each other in all ten possible pairs, one batch vs. another batch, examining SNP allele frequency discrepancies by population (from GRAF), Fisher Exact Allelic test, with the criterion of p<5e-8 for removal. 6. SNP-QC: discordant SNPs in QC duplicates. Compared 25 QC duplicated samples with call rate > 0.95, removed SNPs with 3+ discordance. 7. There were 1,056 SNPs that were monomorphic; these have been retained so they can be included in analyses in which our dbGaP data are combined with those from other cohorts (in the latter of which those SNPs may not be monomorphic). The final cleaned dataset submitted has 8,898 samples and 606,793 SNPs.

  Study phs002140

• A PROSTATE TUMORGRAFT PANEL TO ACCELERATE PRECISION MEDICINE

  The management of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) has strongly evolved in the last decade with the introduction of the next generation of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors which have considerably improved patient outcomes. Most recently, the investigation of genomic landscape has provided targetable molecular alterations such as homologous gene DNA repair defects correlated with response to PARP inhibitors. Despite these significant advances, while localized PCa is generally associated with favorable outcome, metastatic PCa is currently considered incurable. For further investigations in precision treatment, the development of preclinical models representing the complex prostate tumor heterogeneity are mandatory. Accordingly, we aimed to establish a resource of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that exemplify each phase of this multistage disease for accurate and rapid evaluation of candidate therapies.

  Study EGAS00001007033

• Inherited Genetic Variation and Predisposition to Testicular Germ Cell Tumor: UPenn Local TGCT Study

  Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common cancer in men ages 20-40. The incidence of TGCT has more than doubled over the past forty years, without clear etiology. Both genetic effects and environmental exposures, specifically during the pre-natal period, are likely to play an important role in determining TGCT susceptibility. TGCT is known to develop from primordial germ cells (PGCs). We hypothesize that variation in genes that impact upon the differentiation and maturation of PGCs will be important determinants of TGCT susceptibility and based on this hypothesis have selected three important pathways for study, i) male germ cell development, ii) androgen and estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism, and iii) IGF signaling. The proteins involved in early male germ cell development, normally only expressed in PGCs, are markers of and are overexpressed in TGCT. Markers of increased exposure to estrogen (or relatively decreased exposure to androgen) in utero and exogenous estrogen exposures, such as endocrine disruptors, have been associated with TGCT case status in multiple studies. IGF signaling is necessary for testis differentiation and maturation in mice and interacts synergistically with the estrogen signaling pathway. Additionally, we are interested in examining genetic factors predisposing to TGCT in an unbiased fashion, and thus will conduct a Genome Wide Association Study. As well disease susceptiblity, genetics are likely to play a role in disease progression, disease outcomes and response to treatement. We will also assess association of inherited genetics with these outcomes. We will analyze the contribution of genetic variants in these pathways to TGCT risk using a population-based case-control study in the Philadelphia metropolitian area. Our goal is the collection of 550 TGCT cases and 1100 age, race and cell phone use matched controls without a history of TGCT, which will yield 500 and 1000 white cases and controls, respectively, available for final analyses. All cases will be enumerated through the New Jersey and Pennsylvania state cancer registries. We will use a two-tiered approach for case recruitment: hospital clinic-based followed by registry-based. Hospital based cases will be identified within the Univeristy of Pennsylvania Health System and the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network. All cases identified through this mechanism will be recruited irregardless of diagnosis date. The remaining cases will be identified through the New Jersey and Pennsylvania cancer registries and contacted following their protocols. Controls will be identified through random digit dialing and address based sampling. Both cases and controls will complete a questionnaire addressing known, presumed, and hypothesized risk factors for TGCT and provide a biospecimen. Pathological slides will be reviewed to cases to confirm diagnostic sub-type of TGCT. Haplotypes and functional SNPs will be typed in the genes of interest, as well as throughout the genome. Analyses will be conducted for specific variants, common haplotypes, alone and in conjunction with each other and exposure data after appropriate adjustment for potential confounders. The findings from this study will greatly contribute to our understanding of determinants of TGCT susceptibility.

  Study phs001307

• University of Texas at Austin (UTA) Histone Modification and Gene Expression Profiling in 9 Primary Glioblastoma Multiforme, 2 Anaplastic Astrocytomas and Two Meningiomas

  The primary goal of this study was to collect and analyze genomic data from primary glioblastoma multiforme tumors. Our collaborators at St David's Medical Center (SDMC) obtained informed consent from patients undergoing surgery to remove a tumor in the brain. After consent was obtained, specimens were removed from the operating suite and flash frozen in liquid nitrogen. Tumors were analyzed if they were a grade III (anaplastic astrocytoma) or grade IV glioma (glioblastoma multiforme). Tumors were transported from SDMC to UT Austin, then weighed and homogenized. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed for 7 proteins in each tumor (histone modifications H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K9ac, H3K9me3, H3K27ac, H3K27me3, and the multifunctional insulator binding protein CTCF) and no-antibody input was also sequenced. An aliquot of tumor material was set aside for isolation of total RNA.

  Study phs001389

• Genetic Studies of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Hispanic Gastric Cancer

  Approximately 10% of gastric cancer cases show familial clustering and a hereditary cause is likely, however, only 1-3% cases result from known hereditary syndromes – which are predominantly associated with CDH1 and CTNNA1 genes. Hispanics are > 2 times more likely to be diagnosed and to die from gastric cancer compared to non-Hispanic whites. Not only does gastric cancer precision medicine lag behind other cancers – there is an urgent need to understand its etiology. Germline mutations in homologous recombination genes have been implicated as important risk factors for gastric cancer. The purpose of this study is to continue to generate knowledge to improve gastric cancer outcomes and disparities by 1) characterizing prevalence of germline mutations in homologous recombination genes and identify new genes associated with gastric cancer 2) perform molecular characterization of gastric tumors in Hispanic patients. Participants for germline analysis were enrolled from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay.Whole exome sequence capture was performed for all germline and somatic samples using Agilent SureSelect Human All Exon v7 Kit. All sequencing was performed on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000. Germline Analysis: Whole exome sequencing was performed on 536 Hispanic patients (290 males, 246 female)

  Study phs003251

• Genomic analysis of Smoothened inhibitor resistance in basal cell carcinoma

  Smoothened inhibitors are currently being investigated for the treatment of several cancers. Vismodegib is approved for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The majority of BCC patients treated with vismodegib experience significant clinical benefit, however, a small number of patients develop resistance. Knowledge of resistance mechanisms can generate predictive biomarkers and is critical for the design of additional therapeutic strategies aimed at circumventing resistance. To investigate mechanisms of resistance to vismodegib in BCC we sequenced and profiled biopsies from patients who initially responded to treatment and subsequently progressed on drug.We find that resistance is associated with re-activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway through diverse mechanisms, including concurrent copy number alterations in the downstream Hh pathway components SUFU and GLI2, as well as novel SMO mutations that reduce sensitivity to vismodegib. The latter fall into two classes: those that activate SMO and those that directly affect the vismodegib-binding pocket. Additionally, we observe evidence of clonal selection of SMO mutations and intra-tumor heterogeneity of resistance mechanisms, which implies diverse and combinatorial strategies are required to overcome resistance.

  Study EGAS00001000845