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• Genetic Determinants of EGFR-Driven Lung Cancer Growth and Therapeutic Response In Vivo

  Oncogenic alterations in EGFR frequently co-occur with additional genetic alterations in EGFR-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but how specific combinations of mutations affect tumor phenotypes and responses to targeted therapy is yet unknown. We leveraged a genetically engineered mouse model of EGFR mutant/Trp53-deficient LUAD to study the consequences of inactivating 10 different tumor suppressor genes on the fitness and tyorosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitivity of these tumors. We found that loss of Keap1 is associated with a reduced response to therapy. In patients, we found that mutations in the KEAP1/NFE2L2/CUL3 pathway are associated with a significantly shorter time to treatment failure for EGFR TKI therapy compared to matched patients with wild-type KEAP1/NFE2L2/CUL3 tumors. We also analyzed whole exome sequencing data from tumor specimens before TKI treatment and at the time of treatment resistance for mutations in the KEAP1 pathway and these data are being submitted here.  

  Study phs002334

• Clonal Evolution of Pre-Leukemic Hematopoietic Stem Cells Precedes Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive clonal malignancy of the bone marrow that is the direct result of sequential acquisition of mutations in a single lineage of cells. In this study, we investigate a model in which this mutational acquisition occurs serially in long-lived self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells eventually resulting in frank acute myeloid leukemia. Coding mutations in multiple AML patients were identified using exome sequencing followed by sanger sequencing validation. The level of these mutations was then assessed in residual hematopoietic stem cells from each patient using targeted deep sequencing. These population-level estimates of mutant allele burden were then validated in single cell assays targeted to the identified mutations. This allowed for determination of the order of acquisition of the mutations that preceded the development of the leukemia. The results of this study identify pre-leukemic hematopoietic stem cell clones that could contribute to patient relapse and outcome.

  Study phs000549

• 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. We completed a genome-wide association scan on 1161 T2D cases and 1174 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) controls. Individual-level data is available for the 919 T2D cases and 787 NGT controls who reconsented to the use of their data or are deceased (phs000100). In addition, we selected these 919 T2D cases and a matched set of 919 NGT controls (774 overlapping with GWAS) for targeted sequencing of 78 genes associated with glucose, insulin, and/or lipids. 400 of these T2D cases were also chosen for whole-exome sequencing (phs000702).

  Study phs000867

• Prospective Analysis of Genotypes in Adults Undergoing Therapy for Lung Cancer (Paclitaxel Cohort)

  Lung cancer is frequently treated with paclitaxel in combination with several other agents; however, paclitaxel treatment is often ineffective or limited by treatment-related toxicities. Heritable variants in genes associated with absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination may predict paclitaxel clinical outcome and toxicity. We designed a prospective multi-institutional study that recruited 546 patients receiving therapy with a 5-year follow up. All patients were genotyped using the Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters (DMET) platform, which ascertains 1931 genotypes in 235 genes. Genotypes were compared to the progression-free survival of paclitaxel therapy and clinically-significant paclitaxel toxicities. Seven genetic variants were associated with paclitaxel PFS (in ABCB11, ABCC3, ABCG1, CYP8B1, NR3C1, FMO6P, and GSTM3), whereas four genetic variants (in VKORC1, SLC22A14, GSTA2, and DCK) were associated with paclitaxel toxicities. The present SNPs have limited clinical utility but suggest that certain genes are related to important paclitaxel pathways in lung cancer.

  Study phs001660

• Nasopharynx Cancer Whole Exome Sequencing

  Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive head and neck cancer characterized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and dense lymphocyte infiltration. The scarcity of NPC genomic data hinders the understanding of NPC biology, disease progression, and rational therapy design. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 111 micro-dissected EBV-positive NPCs, with 15 cases subjected to further whole-genome sequencing (WGS), to determine its mutational landscape. We identified enrichment for genomic aberrations of multiple negative regulators of the NF-kB pathway in a total of 41% of cases including CYLD, TRAF3, NFKBIA and NLRC5. Functional analysis confirmed novel inactivating CYLD mutations as drivers for NPC cell growth. The EBV oncoprotein latent member protein 1 (LMP1) functions to constitutively activate NF-kB signaling, and we observed mutual exclusivity among somatic NF-kB pathway aberrations and LMP1-overexpression, suggesting that NF-kB activation is selected for by both somatic and viral events during NPC pathogenesis.

  Study phs001244

• Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations - Psychosis (NeuroGAP-Psychosis)

  The NeuroGAP-Psychosis study was conducted in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia as a response to the lack of genetic diversity in large genomic studies of psychiatric disorders. The study aims to expand knowledge of the genetic and environmental risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders in Africa through large-scale sample collection and analysis. The initial design is a case-control study in which cases are individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and controls are age, sex and ancestry matched with individuals from the same geographic location. Cases are patients who are recruited from clinical facilities, both inpatient and outpatient. Controls are people who present for treatment for general medical conditions at health facilities. Data on phenotype, mental disorders, history of physical health problems, substance use and history of past traumatic events was collected from all participants. Additionally, a sample of saliva is collected for DNA extraction. DNA samples were sent to the Broad Institute for genotyping using Illumina Infinium Global Screening Array.  

  Study phs002528

• A Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) of Risk for Osteosarcoma

  This is a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of osteosarcoma, the most common primary bone malignancy. Osteosarcoma typically occurs in adolescents and young adults. It occurs at increased frequency in several inherited cancer predisposition syndromes but the genetic contribution to sporadic osteosarcoma is largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to identify genetic risk factors for osteosarcoma by conducting a genome-wide association study. We developed collaborations with multiple institutions in order to attain the necessary sample size required to discover novel loci in the genome associated with osteosarcoma using the GWAS approach. Genomic DNA (either blood or buccal in source) derived from osteosarcoma cases was obtained from each participating institution or research group. De-identified blood or buccal cell DNA samples from osteosarcoma cases were derived from existing biobanks at the collaborative institutions. Control subjects were derived from existing NCI cohorts and matched by gender and ethnicity.

  Study phs000734

• Kids First: Genomic Analysis of Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistulas and Associated Congenital Anomalies

  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. Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a rare and complex aerodigestive congenital anomaly with an estimated incidence of 1 in 2500 to 1 in 4000 live births. We propose to elucidate the underlying genomic architecture of EA/TEF by performing whole genome sequencing to characterize new clinical syndromes associated with EA/TEF to provide more accurate clinical prognostic information.

  Study phs002161

• The Microbial Ecology of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Fine Scale Resolution Metagenomic Analysis

  Archived self-collected vaginal swabs were utilized from a pilot study of vaginal douching cessation (NIH/NIAID R03-AI061131). Thirty-nine non-pregnant, reproductive-age women who reported the use of vaginal douche products in the two months prior to screening were enrolled. Thirty-three of these successfully completed the 16-week longitudinal study. Participants self-collected vaginal swabs and smears twice weekly. We report sequences based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences amplified from whole genomic DNA isolated from the swabs. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is defined by Gram's stain of vaginal fluid (Nugent's score =7). The large body of information generated will facilitate understanding of vaginal microbial community dynamics, the etiology of BV, and drive the development of better diagnostic tools for BV. Furthermore, it is hoped that the information will enable a more personalized treatment of BV and ultimately, prevent adverse sequelae associated with BV.

  Study phs000261

• Genetic Study of Vascular Anomalies

  Vascular anomalies are malformations or tumors of the vasculature that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Vascular anomalies are caused by germline or post-zygotic pathogenic variants in genes that regulate cell growth and vascular development. Complex or extensive vascular anomalies are often intractable despite interventions such as sclerotherapy, embolization, or surgery. In recent years, targeted therapy has played an increasingly crucial role in the management of these diseases. Identification of the molecular causes of vascular anomalies is essential to provide efficacious therapy; however, genetic profiling is often limited by difficulty obtaining affected tissues and limited sequencing depth. The lack of this information limits treatment options and the precision of targeted therapy, especially for primary complex lymphatic anomalies. To address these limitations, we have applied novel techniques, including analysis of unconventional samples such as endothelial cells isolated from lymphatic fluid and cell-free DNA, deep coverage exome sequencing, and unique molecular identifier ultra-deep targeted sequencing, in the molecular profiling of these diseases.

  Study phs003197

• Rare Disease Susceptibility Alleles in Children with Crohn Disease

  The overall goal of this proposed project is to identify rare genetic variants contributing to childhood onset-Crohn disease. Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract of unclear etiology and no known cure. Affected children suffer from diarrhea, abdominal pain, growth disturbances, and an impaired quality of life. The identified Crohn disease susceptibility alleles have improved our understanding of Crohn disease pathogenesis. However, the identified susceptibility alleles do not account for the observed heritability, nor have disease-causing alleles in many genomic regions been identified. For the proposed studies, we will use 1) existing DNA samples collected from high-risk Crohn kindreds identified using the extensive genealogical records available only in Utah, 2) existing DNA samples obtained from very young children with Crohn disease and their parents, and 3) existing DNA samples obtained from healthy controls that are free of a personal or family history of autoimmune disorders.

  Study phs000926

• RNA-Seq of PBMC's from rUTI Patients and Healthy Controls

  Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are a major health burden worldwide, with history of infection being a significant risk factor. While the gut is a known reservoir for uropathogenic bacteria, the role of the microbiota in rUTI remains unclear. We conducted a year-long study of women with and without history of rUTIs, from whom we collected urine, blood and monthly fecal samples for multi-omic interrogation. The rUTI gut microbiome was significantly depleted in microbial richness and butyrate-producing bacteria compared to controls, reminiscent of other inflammatory conditions, though Escherichia coli gut and bladder dynamics were comparable between cohorts. Blood samples revealed signals of differential systemic immunity, leading us to hypothesize that rUTI susceptibility is in part mediated through a syndrome involving the gut-bladder axis, comprising gut dysbiosis and differential immune response to bacterial bladder colonization, manifesting in symptoms. This work highlights the potential for microbiome therapeutics to prevent and treat rUTIs.  (Reprinted from medrxiv.org ) 

  Study phs002728

• Single-cell Profiling of an In Vitro Model of Human Interneuron Development Reveals Temporal Dynamics of Cell Type Production and Maturation

  GABAergic interneurons are essential for neural circuit function and their loss or dysfunction is implicated in human neuropsychiatric disease. In vitro methods for interneuron generation hold promise for studying human cellular and functional properties and ultimately therapeutic cell replacement. We used a protocol for generating cortical interneurons from hESCs and analyzed the properties and maturation timecourse of cell types using single-cell RNAseq (data available at GEO under: GSE93802 on March 10 2017). Transcriptomic profiles of the hESC-derived interneurons were compared to several different populations of cells from mid-gestation human neocortex that showed differing levels of PAX6 and SOX2 expression. For this study, 104 samples of 100 human neocortical cells each, have been sorted based on SOX2 and PAX6 expression, mRNA recovered from the fixed cells by FRISCR, and transcriptomic profiles generated by SmartSeq2. The RNA-seq data from the 104 100-cell samples is included in this dbGaP study.

  Study phs001276

• A Whole Genome Association Scan for Myopia and Glaucoma Endophenotypes using Twin Studies

  Myopia and glaucoma are highly prevalent ophthalmic disorders worldwide and contribute significantly to ocular morbidity. There is substantial evidence that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of non-syndromic myopia and glaucoma. We propose to perform mapping studies for well-characterized twin populations in the United Kingdom and Australia in order to ultimately identify implicated genes for these disorders and related ocular parameters. This will provide a fundamental molecular understanding of how these disorders develop, and may lead to directed physiologic (i.e. pharmacologic, gene therapy) interventions. Our aim is to dissect the genetic basis of the eye disorders myopia and glaucoma. Instead of limited analyses of the trait/disease in a dichotomous manner, we are using continuous phenotypes of measures of refraction and intermediate phenotypes of glaucoma to analyze quantitative traits in unselected population samples of volunteer twins. Achievement of this goal requires cooperative efforts and large sample sizes. Thus, we have created an international collaboration of large complementary studies.

  Study phs000142

• Hi-C Profiling of Solid Tumor Samples

  Structural variants, such as translocations, inversions, duplications, and deletions, have long been recognized as mutations that can contribute to the initiation and progression of cancer. This can occur through a variety of mechanisms, including changes in gene dosage and the generation of fusion genes. In recent years, it is becoming increasingly clear that these events also can alter how genomes are organized in 3D space in the nucleus and contribute to changes in enhancer-promoter regulation. However, it remains poorly understand how often 3D genome structural changes occur in cancers, what genes are affected by these events, and in which tumor types. This study is part of ongoing work to better characterize 3D genome structural changes across a variety of tumor types to better understand where and when 3D genome structure changes as the result of structural variation in cancer genomes and to characterize the genes and tumor types affected.

  Study phs003227

• Wisconsin Longitudinal Study on Aging

  The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) is a long-term study of a random sample of men and women, who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957, and their siblings. The WLS panel started out with a panel of 10,317 members from the class of 1957. Over time a second panel of 8,734 randomly selected siblings of the original graduate panel were recruited for the study. Of these combined panel members, 9,027 survived and contributed saliva for genetic analysis. Survey data were collected from the original respondents or their parents in 1957, 1964, 1975, 1992, 2004, and 2011, and from a selected sibling in 1977, 1994, 2005, and 2011. WLS data provide a detailed record of educational, social, psychological, economic, mental and physical health characteristics of a relatively homogeneous population that is almost entirely of Northern and Western European ancestry. Saliva was first collected in 2007-2008 by mail. Additional samples were collected in the course of home interviews that began in March 2010.

  Study phs001157

• DNA Methylation Studies in CREW Cohorts (URECA and COAST)

  Children's Respiratory Environment Workgroup (CREW) is an NIH-funded project consisting of 12 individual U.S. cohorts and three scientific centers working together to identify phenotypes and causes of childhood asthma. CREW includes data from a large number of children and their families, with broad diversity in terms of ethnicity, family characteristics, neighborhoods and geographic locations. In this study, we identified differentially methylated regions from whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) in nasal epithelial cells from 39 children of European or African ancestries, and with or without allergic asthma. Study participants were from two of the CREW cohorts: the Urban Environment and Childhood Asthma (URECA) cohort and the Childhood Origins of Asthma (COAST) cohort.The URECA children are also participants of a larger genetic study, in which DNA samples are derived from blood. That data is presented in the "Whole Genome Sequencing in the Inner City Asthma Consortium (ICAC) Cohorts - phs002921" study.

  Study phs003321

• NHLBI TOPMed: MWCCS: Sex Differences in the Role of Multi-Omics in HIV-Associated Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis

  The MACS-WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) is a multicenter prospective cohort study of men and women in the U.S. that aims to understand and reduce the impact of chronic health conditions, including heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) disorders that affect people living with HIV. MWCCS, which currently has over 5000 active study participants, is designed to investigate a spectrum of questions relating to the basic science, clinical science, and epidemiology of HIV infection in the U.S., with a focus on comorbidities among men and women living with HIV. The current substudy, nested within the MWCCS, integrates detailed metabolomics and proteomics data, among other "omics" measures, to improve the understanding of the etiology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in women and men with HIV, guide mechanistic studies, and provide insights to more efficient intervention strategies. Data on 374 men are included in the current substudy.

  Study phs003651

• Using NGS to Sequence Whole Genomes to Identify Genes Underlying ALS

  Our ALS Consortium - a partnership of clinicians, basic scientists, geneticists, and computational biologists from 48 institutions (4 of which are industry partners) across 5 countries - establishes a framework to apply whole genome sequencing (WGS) and functional genomics to the study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Because ALS-causing mutations tend to be of moderate impact and are relatively rare in the population (reviewed in Al-Chalabi et al., 2017, PMID: 27982040), identification of new mutations require several thousand samples, which need to be obtained from multiple sites (even the busiest ALS clinics see only 200-400 patients per year). ALS Consortium is using genomics technologies to study the causes and mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease, and the contribution of various cell types within the brain and spinal cord. Much of this work is done and continues to be done in collaboration with the members of the NYGC ALS Consortium.

  Study phs003067

• Role of Microglia Somatic Mutations in Neurodegenerative Diseases

  Somatic genetic heterogeneity resulting from post-zygotic DNA mutations is widespread in human tissues and can cause diseases, however few studies have investigated its role in neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Here we report the selective enrichment of microglia clones carrying pathogenic variants, that are not present in neuronal, glia/stromal cells, or blood, from patients with AD in comparison to age-matched controls. Notably, microglia-specific AD-associated variants preferentially target the MAPK pathway, including recurrent CBL ring-domain mutations. These variants activate ERK and drive a microglia transcriptional program characterized by a strong neuro-inflammatory response, both in vitro and in patients. Although the natural history of AD-associated microglial clones is difficult to establish in human, microglial expression of a MAPK pathway activating variant was previously shown to cause neurodegeneration in mice, suggesting that AD-associated neuroinflammatory microglial clones may contribute to the neurodegenerative process in patients.

  Study phs002213

• Xenodiagnosis of Lyme Disease

  Ixodes scapularis ticks are an important vector for at least six tick-borne human pathogens, including the predominant North American Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The ability for these ticks to survive in nature is credited, in part, to their ability to feed on a variety of hosts without excessive activation of the proinflammatory branch of the vertebrate immune system. While the ability for nymphal ticks to feed on a variety of hosts has been well-documented, the host-parasite interactions between larval I. scapularis and different vertebrate hosts is relatively unexplored. In our clinical trial, patients with prior Lyme disease who had completed antibiotic therapy were exposed to 25-30 laboratory-reared larval ticks. Skin biopsies were taken before tick placement and/or after ticks were allowed to feed to repletion and we examined the effects on the transcriptional profile of human skin after the larval tick bites. We note pronounced evidence of inflammation in humans.

  Study phs003314

• Healthy and FPD Bone Marrow Single Cell Sequencing

  Familial platelet disorder (FPD) is caused by germline RUNX1 mutations. Families inheriting the disease suffer from platelet dysfunction and consequently various bleeding disorders. The life long risk of developing leukemia increases in FPD individuals by 40% and the onset is at 29 years old. In order to understand the mechanism behind disease transformation, we performed single cell sequencing on mononuclear bone marrow cells from 10 FPD and 4 healthy control individuals. The participants were between 6 and 72 years of age at time of bone marrow collection and were not diagnosed with any leukemia. Following the established Ficoll paque assay, the mononuclear cells were used to perform 10x chromium single cell, the data was analyzed through Seruat packages, and further analysis was done to access differences between FPD and healthy. The most distinguished feature between FPD and healthy was the upregulation of inflammation and inflammatory related disease. These findings were further validated and used to design an inhibitory assay for reversal of FPD phenotype.

  Study phs003508

• MP2PRT-MNG: Identifying Novel Molecular Markers of Response to Radiotherapy in Meningiomas Using Samples from the RTOG-0539 (NCT00895622)

  The Molecular Profiling to Predict Response to Treatment (MP2PRT) program is part of the NCI's Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The aim of this program is the retrospective characterization and analysis of biospecimens collected from completed NCI-sponsored trials of the National Clinical Trials Network and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program. NRG RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group)-0539, which was a nonrandomized phase II cooperative group trial in 2009, was selected for inclusion in this program. NRG RTOG-0539 assigned patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of meningioma to 1 of 3 risk groups based on 2007 WHO grade, resection extent, and recurrence status, and radiotherapy was given per protocol to the intermediate- and high-risk cases. Under the MP2PRT program, DNA methylation profiling, RNA sequencing, and whole exome sequencing were performed on clinical trial cases with available tissue for molecular analyte extraction and subsequent sequencing. Raw molecular data with metadata are available for this study.

  Study phs003707

• Risk-Stratified Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Down Syndrome

  Study ID: Children's Oncology Group (COG) - AAML1531NCT Number: NCT02521493Trial Title: Risk-Stratified Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Down SyndromeSubmitted in collaboration with the NCTN/NCORP Data ArchiveData presented in the following publication(s): 34320162 Disease type(s): Hematopoietic Neoplasm/Leukemia - Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Hematopoietic Neoplasm/Leukemia - Myelodysplastic SyndromeDataset(s) included:NCT02521493-D1: There are 2 datasets associated with PMID 34320162, NCT02521493-D1 through NCT02521493-D2. The NCT02521493-D1 dataset is a patient level dataset (single row per patient) containing patient characteristics, laboratory findings, and outcome for eligible myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome (ML-DS) enrolled on the AAML1531 clinical trial.NCT02521493-D2: There are 2 datasets associated with PMID 34320162, NCT02521493-D1 through NCT02521493-D2. The NCT02521493-D2 dataset is an adverse event level dataset (single row per adverse event, period, and patient) containing information of the micro-organisms associated with adverse events by period in the AAML1531 clinical trial.

  Study phs004081

• INCLUDE: Down Syndrome Early Post-Natal Brain Multiome

  Neurodevelopmental deficiencies and neuronal dysfunction contribute to cognitive impairment in individuals with Down syndrome, but what molecular pathways underlie the defects that lead to intellectual disability remain unclear. Human brain development is precisely choreographed through tightly regulated transcriptional programs. Proper regulation of these transcriptional programs is necessary for developing the numerous functionally distinct regions, cell types, and connections of the brain, and forming the basis for human-specific social, cognitive, and motor abilities. These data establish a reference of molecular features of the DS developing brain. Such foundational information will provide not only a reference for any existing and future models, but also a basis for understanding disrupted neural development and impaired cognition in DS.Dataset 1 contains single-nucleus RNAseq and ATACseq from frozen postmortem human basal forebrain tissue. Dataset 2 contains single-nucleus RNAseq and ATACseq from frozen postmortem human dorsolateral prefrontal tissue. Dataset 3 contains single-nucleus RNAseq and ATACseq from frozen postmortem human caudate nucleus tissue.

  Study phs004098

• Efficient prediction of a spatial transcriptomics profile better characterizes breast cancer tissue sections without costly experimentation

  Spatial transcriptomics is an emerging technology requiring costly reagents and considerable skills, limiting the identification of transcriptional markers related to histology. Here, we show that predicted spatial gene-expressions in unmeasured regions and tissues can enhance biologists��� histological interpretations. We developed the Deep learning model for Spatial gene Clusters and Expression, DeepSpaCE and confirmed its performance using the spatial-transcriptome profiles and immunohistochemistry images of consecutive human breast cancer tissue sections. For example, the predicted expression patterns of SPARC, an invasion marker, highlighted a small tumor-invasion region that is difficult to identify using raw data of spatial transcriptome alone because of a lack of measurements. We further developed semi-supervised DeepSpaCE using unlabeled histology images and increased the imputation accuracy of consecutive sections, enhancing applicability for a small sample size. Our method enables users to derive hidden histological characters via spatial transcriptome and gene annotations, leading to accelerated biological discoveries without additional experiments.

  Study JGAS000290

• Variant allele frequency changes in TP53 predict pembrolizumab response in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma

  Prognoses for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) have strikingly improved with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), but clinical benefits are limited to a subset of patients. Therefore, a non-invasive biomarker to predict pembrolizumab response is urgently required. We retrospectively examined genomic alterations in 25 plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) samples using a targeted sequencing of 77 genes from 16 mUC patients during pembrolizumab treatment. Eleven (68.8%) patients had two or more genomic alterations, including TP53 mutations (as defined by ctDNA-positive status). The proportion of responders to pembrolizumab in the ctDNA-positive group was higher than the ctDNA-negative group (72.7% vs. 20.0%). Furthermore, among all detected genomic alterations, variant allele frequency decreases in TP53 during pembrolizumab treatment were mainly associated with therapeutic response. Collectively, we suggest that profiling of ctDNA in plasma, especially TP53, is useful for predicting and monitoring therapeutic responses to pembrolizumab in mUC patients.

  Study JGAS000622

• Kbtbd13 knock-down restores muscle function in a human-based mouse model of nemaline myopathy type 6

  Nemaline myopathy type 6 (NEM6) is caused by pathogenic variants in KBTBD13. Patients experience muscle weakness, excessive fatigue and impaired muscle relaxation which significantly impact their daily activities. NEM6 pathophysiology consist of abnormal protein aggregation in muscle cells and a predominance of slow-twitch myofibers, and most patients carry the Dutch founder variant in KBTBD13 (NP_001094832.1: p.Arg408Cys, referred to as KBTBD13R408C). Currently, no specific therapy is available. Here, we used a KBTBD13R408C knock-in mouse model and aimed to identify the molecular changes driving disease pathogenesis and to define a therapeutic window to test a therapeutic intervention. We revealed that the mouse model closely phenocopies the human phenotype at a morphological, functional, and transcriptional level and that the p.Arg408Cys variant causes mis-localization of KBTBD13 within the muscle sarcomere. Our natural history data in the Kbtbd13(R408C) mouse model showed that disease onset occurs between 1-3 months and plateaus by 9 months with little progression at 18 months.

  Study EGAS50000001678

• GEenetic landscape of hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  Hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive leukemia characterized by aneuploidy and poor outcome. The genetic basis of hypodiploid ALL is unknown. Here, using complementary genome-wide profiling approaches, we show that hypodiploid ALL comprises two subtypes that differ in the severity of aneuploidy, transcriptional profile and submicroscopic genetic alterations. Near haploid cases with 24-31 chromosomes frequently harbor alterations targeting receptor tyrosine kinase- and Ras signaling (71%) and IKZF3 (AIOLOS; 13%). In contrast, low hypodiploid ALL cases with 32-39 chromosomes are characterized by TP53 alterations, almost half of which are present in non-tumor cells, and have alterations of IKZF2 (HELIOS; 53%) and RB1 (41%). Both near haploid and low hypodiploid tumors exhibit activation of Ras and PI3K signaling pathways, and are sensitive to PI3K inhibition, indicating that these drugs should be explored as a new therapeutic strategy for this frequently lethal form of leukemia.

  Study EGAS00001000380

• Spatial Transcriptomics Uncovers Tumor Microenvironment-Based Subtypes in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

  Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histological subtype of breast cancer (BC); however, little is known about its tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we investigated the spatial architecture of 43 hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) primary ILC samples, using spatial transcriptomics and detailed morphological annotation. By integrating morphology, spatial, and single-cell data, we mapped TME-related cell types, exploring their proximity to tumor cells and their enrichment in specific compartments. Clustering of spatial transcriptomics spots revealed significant inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, identifying pathways and cell types linked with disease outcomes. Morphological and gene expression data were finally integrated with a multimodal approach, leading to the identification of 4 new ILC subtypes based on TME heterogeneity. By using derived, specific gene expression signatures, these subtypes were identified and validated in external bulk RNA-seq/microarray datasets (SCAN-B and METABRIC), where differences in prognosis emerged.

  Study EGAS50000001001

• A small cell lung cancer genome reports complex tobacco exposure signatures

  Cancer is driven by mutation. Worldwide, tobacco smoking is the major lifestyle exposure that causes cancer, exerting carcinogenicity through 60 chemicals that bind and mutate DNA. Using massively parallel sequencing technology, we sequenced a small cell lung cancer cell line, NCI-H209, to explore the mutational burden associated with tobacco smoking. 22,910 somatic substitutions were identified, including 132 in coding exons. Multiple mutation signatures testify to the cocktail of carcinogens in tobacco smoke and their proclivities for particular bases and surrounding sequence context. Effects of transcription-coupled repair and a second, more general expression-linked repair pathway were evident. We identified a tandem duplication that duplicates exons 3-8 of CHD7 in-frame, and another two lines carrying PVT1-CHD7 fusion genes, suggesting that CHD7 may be recurrently rearranged in this disease. These findings illustrate the potential for next-generation sequencing to provide unprecedented insights into mutational processes, cellular repair pathways and gene networks associated with cancer.

  Study EGAS00000000051

• Single-cell Analysis of Neoplastic Plasma Cells Identifies Myeloma Pathobiology Mediators and Potential Targets

  Multiple myeloma is a clonal plasma cell (PC) dyscrasia that arises from precursors and has been studied utilizing approaches focused on CD138+ cells. By combining single-cell (sc)RNA- with scB-cell receptor (BCR)-sequencing, we differentiate monoclonal/neoplastic from polyclonal/normal PCs, and find more dysregulated genes, especially in precursor patients, than by analyzing bulk PCs. To determine if this approach can identify oncogenes that contribute to disease pathobiology, MAD2L1 and MAT2A are validated as targets with drug-like molecules that suppress myeloma growth in pre-clinical models. Moreover, functional studies show a role of LAMP5, which is uniquely expressed in neoplastic PCs, in tumor progression and aggressiveness via interactions with c-MYC. Finally, a monoclonal antibody recognizing cell-surface LAMP5 shows efficacy as an antibody-drug conjugate and in a chimeric antigen receptor-guided T-cell format. These studies provide additional insights into myeloma biology and identify potential targeted therapeutic approaches that can be applied to reverse myeloma progression.

  Study EGAS50000000802

• Evolving epigenomics of immune cells in type 1 diabetes at single nuclei resolution

  The appearance of diabetes-associated autoantibodies is the first detectable sign of the disease process leading to type 1 diabetes (T1D). Evidence suggests that T1D is a heterogenous disease, where the type of antibodies first formed imply subtypes. Here, we followed 49 children, who subsequently presented with T1D and 49 matched controls, profiling single-cell epigenomics at different time points of disease development. Quantitation of cell and nuclei populations as well as transcriptome and open-chromatin states indicated robust, early, replicable monocyte lineage differences between cases and controls, suggesting heightened pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion early among cases. The order of autoantibody emergence in cases showed variation across lymphoid and myeloid cells, potentially indicating cellular immune response divergence. The strong monocytic lineage representation in peripheral blood immune cells before seroconversion and the weaker differential coordination of these gene networks close to clinical diagnosis emphasizes the importance of early life as a critical phase in T1D development.

  Study EGAS50000000863

• Initial leukemic epigenomic state determines hypomethylating agent response

  Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are a mainstay of therapy for myeloid cancers, but genetic biomarkers do not predict who will respond to treatment. Using a variety of single-cell sequencing approaches to define the epigenomic state of responder and nonresponder leukemic cells, we aim to demonstrate that leukemic stem cells (LSC) exist in at least two different epigenomic states: a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-or multipotent progenitor (MPP)-like state that is sensitive to HMAs, independent of genetic mutations, or a lymphoid-primed MPP (LMPP)-like nonresponder state. Additionally, we aim to demonstrate that hypomethylation and chromatin accessibility at ZNF143- and CTCF-binding sites result in activation of HOXB4, which defines the HSC/MPP-like state and HMA-sensitivity. Our study aims to provide evidence that the epigenomic state of the LSC is a major determinant of response to HMAs, and demonstrates that a routine clinical assay can identify patients who will respond.

  Study EGAS50000000936

• Liquid Biopsy Detection of Tumor-specific Structural Variants in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

  WGS Liquid Biopsy. Recurrence is frequent for most patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), even after effective chemotherapy induced remission. However, after achievement of complete clinical response, the minimal residual disease is often insufficient for genomic analysis. Therefore, methods to interrogate the clonal composition and molecular properties of minimal residual disease are needed to better understand the mechanisms of HGSOC relapse. To address this unmet need, we developed and validated a novel cfDNA-based approach for tracking disease burden using NGS-informed tumor specific structural variants (SVs). Methods: The optimization of the methodology was first performed using synthetic cfDNA generated by ultrasonication of gDNA from ovarian cancer cell lines. Following the optimized workflow, whole genome sequencing of multisite biopsies from pre-treatment HGSOC patients were performed and high confidence SVs were called by consensus of multiple published SV callers. Real-time PCR and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) were used for assays development.

  Study EGAS50000001044

• Multiomic spatial landscape of innate immune cells at central nervous system borders

  The innate immune compartment of the human central nervous system (CNS) is highly diverseand includes several immune cell populations such as macrophages that are frequent in the brain parenchyma (microglia) and less numerous at the brain interfaces as CNS-associated macrophages (CAMs).Due to their scantiness and particular location, little is known about the presence of temporally and spatially restricted CAM subclasses during development, health and perturbation. Here, we combined single-cell RNA-sequencing, time-of-flight mass cytometry and single-cell spatial transcriptomics with fate mapping and advanced immunohistochemistry to comprehensively characterize the immune system at human CNS interfaces. We also provide a comprehensive analysis of resident and engrafted myeloid cells in the brains of 15 individuals with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, revealing compartment-specific engraftment rates across different CNS interfaces... Our results highlight myeloid diversity at the interfaces of the human CNS with the periphery and provide insights into the complexities of the human brain’s immune system.

  Study EGAS50000000030

• Karyotype Evolution in Response to Chemoradiotherapy and Upon Recurrence of Esophageal Adenocarcinomas

  The genome of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is highly unstable and might evolve over time. Here, we track karyotype evolution in EACs in response to treatment and upon recurrence through multi-region and longitudinal analysis. To this end, we introduce L-PAC, a bio-informatics technique that allows inference of absolute copy number aberrations (CNA) of low-purity samples by leveraging information of high-purity samples from the same cancer. Quantitative analysis of matched absolute CNAs reveals that the amount of karyotype evolution induced by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is predictive for early recurrence and depends on the initial level of karyotype intra-tumor heterogeneity. We observe that CNAs acquired in response to CRT are partially reversed back to the initial state upon recurrence. CRT hence alters the fitness landscape to which tumors can adjust by adapting their karyotype. Together, our results indicate that karyotype plasticity contributes to therapy resistance of EACs.

  Study EGAS00001007711

• Tumor inflammation and mutational burden are differentially associated with response to nivolumab or nivolumab plus ipilimumab in metastatic colorectal cancer

  Nivolumab alone and in combination with ipilimumab demonstrated durable clinical benefit in patients with previously treated microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer in the phase 2 CheckMate 142 study. Exploratory biomarker analyses of tumor and microbiome samples from CheckMate 142 were performed to evaluate associations between various biomarkers and the efficacy of nivolumab monotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination in these patients. Higher expression of inflammation-related gene expression signatures was associated with improved response per investigator assessment and survival benefit with nivolumab monotherapy. In contrast, higher tumor mutational burden, tumor indel burden and degrees of microsatellite instability were associated with improved response per investigator assessment and survival benefit with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. While interpretation is limited by the exploratory nature of these analyses, they suggest that tumor antigenicity rather than baseline tumor inflammation might be important for the combinatorial efficacy. Validation of these findings in larger, randomized studies is necessary.

  Study EGAS50000000416

• Spatial atlas of human atherosclerosis highlights role of the microvasculature in disease

  Atherosclerosis is a pervasive contributor to ischemic heart disease and stroke. Despite the advance of lipid lowering-therapies and antihypertensive agents, the residual risk of an atherosclerotic event remains high and developing therapeutic strategies has proven challenging. This is due to the complexity of atherosclerosis with a spatial interplay of multiple cell types within the vascular wall. Here we generate an integrative high-resolution map of human atherosclerotic plaques combining single-cell RNA-seq from multiple studies and spatial transcriptomics data from 12 human specimens, with different stages of atherosclerosis. We show cell-type and atherosclerosis-specific expression changes and spatially constrained alterations in cell-cell communication. We highlight the possible recruitment of lymphocytes via ACKR1 endothelial cells of the vasa vasorum, the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells towards the lumen by transforming into fibromyocytes, and cell-cell communication in the plaque region, indicating an intricate cellular interplay within the adventitia and the subendothelial space in human atherosclerosis.

  Study EGAS50000000660

• Cancer genome scanning in plasma: detection of tumor-associated copy number aberrations, single nucleotide variants and tumoral heterogeneity by massively parallel sequencing

  Tumor-derived DNA can be found in the plasma of cancer patients. We explored the use of shotgun massively parallel sequencing of plasma DNA obtained from cancer patients to scan a cancer genome noninvasively. We achieved the profiling of copy number aberrations and point mutations, in a genomewide manner using this approach. By measuring the genomewide aggregated allelic loss and point mutations, we determined the fractional tumor-derived DNA concentrations in plasma and correlated these values with tumor size and surgical treatment. We have also demonstrated the application of this approach to monitoring a complex oncologic scenario, in a patient with two synchronous cancers. In particular, through the use of multi-regional sequencing of tumoral tissues and shotgun sequencing of plasma DNA, we have shown that plasma DNA sequencing is a valuable approach for studying tumoral heterogeneity. Shotgun plasma DNA sequencing is thus a powerful tool for cancer monitoring and research.

  Study EGAS00001000370

• Human Brain Small Extracellular Vesicles Contain Selectively-Packaged, Full-Length mRNA

  Brain cells release and take up small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) containing bioactive nucleic acids. sEV exchange is hypothesized to contribute to stereotyped spread of neuropathological changes in the diseased brain. We assessed mRNA from sEVs of non-diseased (ND) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) human postmortem brain, using short- and long-read sequencing. sEV transcriptomes were distinct from bulk tissue, showing enrichment for multiple genes including mRNAs encoding ribosomal proteins and L1Hs transposable elements. AD versus ND sEVs showed enrichment of inflammation-related and depletion of synaptic signaling mRNAs. sEV mRNA from cultured murine primary neurons, astrocytes, or microglia showed similarities with human brain sEVs and revealed cell-type specific packaging. Nearly 80% of human brain sEV transcripts sequenced using long-read sequencing were full-length. Motif analyses of sEV-enriched full-length isoforms revealed RNA-binding proteins that may be associated with sEV loading. Collectively, we show that mRNA in brain sEVs is selectively-packaged and altered by disease state.

  Study EGAS50000000029

• EATL-II STUDY

  Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), a rare and aggressive intestinal malignancy of intraepithelial T lymphocytes, comprises two disease variants (EATL-I and EATL-II) differing in clinical characteristics and pathological features. Here we report findings derived from whole exome sequencing of 15 EATL-II tumor-normal tissue pairs. The tumor suppressor gene SETD2 encoding a non-redundant H3K36-specific trimethyltransferase is altered in 14/15 cases (93%), mainly by loss-of-function mutations and/or loss of the corresponding locus (3p21.31). These alterations consistently correlate with defective H3K36 trimethylation. The JAK/STAT pathway comprises recurrent STAT5B (60%), JAK3 (46%) and SH2B3 (20%) mutations, including a STAT5B V712E activating variant. Additionally, frequent mutations in TP53, BRAF and KRAS are observed. Conversely, in EATL-I, no SETD2, STAT5B or JAK3 mutations are found, and H3K36 trimethylation is preserved. This study describes SETD2 inactivation as EATL-II molecular hallmark, supports EATL-I and -II being two distinct entities, and defines potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.

  Study EGAS00001001879

• Whole exome sequencing for gallbladder cancer in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine

  Patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), the most aggressive malignancy of the biliary tract, have a poor prognosis. Here, we report our identification of somatic mutations of GBCs in 57 tumor-normal pairs by use of a combination of exome sequencing and ultra-deep sequencing of cancer-related genes. The mutation pattern is defined by a dominative prevalence of C>T mutations at TCN sites. Genes with a significant frequency of non-silent mutations include TP53 (47.1%), KRAS (7.8%), and ERBB3 (11.8%). Moreover, ErbB signaling (including EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3, ERBB4 and their downstream genes) is the most extensively mutated pathway, affecting 36.8% (21 of 57) of the GBC samples. Multivariate analyses further reveal that patients with ErbB pathway mutations have a worse outcome (P = 0.001). These findings provide insight into the somatic mutational landscape in GBC and highlight the key role of the ErbB signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of GBCs.

  Study EGAS00001000853

• Transcriptome analysis in very preterm infants with chronic lung disease after birth

  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of prematurity and is characterized by impaired alveolar and vascular development. The aim of the study was to identify early BPD-relevant pathways by applying whole genome transcriptional profiling combined with protein measurements from umbilical arterial blood samples of preterm infants with and without BPD. Only newborn infants <32 weeks gestational age (GA) were prospectively included in this study. Blood was obtained from an indwelling umbilical artery catheter at birth and after 72 hours after birth and subjected to gene expression analysis using the Codelink Human I 10k Bioarray and the the Codelink Human Whole Genome Bioarray. The study reveals a monocyte-centered immune response at birth characterizing preterm infants later developing BPD. The findings provide potential markers for early risk stratification in the preterm infant with respect to the development of chronic pulmonary disease and may subsequently enable the development of new treatment strategies in this high risk patient cohort.

  Study EGAS00001002586

• The chromatin accessibility signature of human immune aging stems from CD8+ T cells

  Aging is linked to deficiencies in immune responses and increased systemic inflammation. To unravel the regulatory programsbehind these changes, we applied systems immunology approaches and profiled chromatin accessibility and the transcriptomein PBMCs, purified monocytes, and B and T cells. Analysis of samples from 77 young and elderly donors revealed a novel androbust aging signature in PBMCs, with simultaneous systematic chromatin closing at promoters and enhancers associated withT cell signaling and a potentially stochastic chromatin opening mostly found at quiescent and repressed sites. Combined analysesof chromatin accessibility and the transcriptome uncovered immune molecules activated/inactivated with aging andidentified the silencing of the IL7R gene and the IL-7 signaling pathway genes as potential biomarkers. This signature is borneby memory CD8+ T cells, which exhibited an aging-related loss in binding of NF-κB and STAT factors. Thus, our study providesa unique and comprehensive approach to identifying candidate biomarkers and provides mechanistic insights into aging-associatedimmunodeficiency.

  Study EGAS00001002605

• Genetic landscape of Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

  Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ETP ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of unknown genetic basis. We performed whole-genome sequencing of 12 ETP ALL cases and assessed the frequency of the identified somatic mutations in 94 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cases. ETP ALL was characterized by activating mutations in genes regulating cytokine receptor and RAS signalling (67% of cases; NRAS, KRAS, FLT3, IL7R, JAK3, JAK1, SH2B3 and BRAF), inactivating lesions disrupting haematopoietic development (58%; GATA3, ETV6, RUNX1, IKZF1 and EP300) and histone-modifying genes (48%; EZH2, EED, SUZ12, SETD2 and EP300). We also identified new targets of recurrent mutation including DNM2, ECT2L and RELN. The mutational spectrum is similar to myeloid tumours, and moreover, the global transcriptional profile of ETP ALL was similar to that of normal and myeloid leukaemia haematopoietic stem cells. These findings suggest that addition of myeloid-directed therapies might improve the poor outcome of ETP ALL.

  Study EGAS00001000348

• Whole genome sequencing of six ethnic groups from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Tanzania

  We conducted low-coverage (~10x) sequencing of six ethnic groups from three malaria-endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of characterising genetic diversity and improving imputation performance for genotyped samples in these populations. This data is part of a pre-publication release and is available under managed access. Please see https://www.malariagen.net/data/terms-use/human-gwas-data for more information on MalariaGEN data access policies. The purpose of the project was to support the discovery and understanding of genetic variants that influence human disease. Specifically defined goals were: a. the discovery of single nucleotide variants at frequencies of 1% or higher in diverse populations, b. even more comprehensive discovery (variants down to frequencies of 0.1 - 0.5%) in functional gene regions, and c. discovery of structural variants, such as copy number variants, other insertions and deletions, and inversions, including sequence-level understanding of breakpoints.

  Study EGAS00001003648

• Frequent alterations in cytoskeleton remodeling genes in primary and metastatic Chinese lung adenocarcinomas

  The landscape of genetic alterations in lung adenocarcinoma derived from Asian patients is largely uncharacterized. Here we present an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 335 primary lung adenocarcinomas and 35 corresponding lymph node metastases from Chinese patients. Altogether 13 significantly mutated genes are identified, including themost commonly mutated gene TP53 and novel mutation targets such as RHPN2, GLI3 and MRC2. TP53 mutations are furthermore significantly enriched in tumours from patients harbouring metastases. Genes regulating cytoskeleton remodelling processes are also frequently altered, especially in metastatic samples, of which the high expression level of IQGAP3 is identified as a marker for poor prognosis. Our study represents the first large-scalesequencing effort on lung adenocarcinoma in Asian patients and provides a comprehensive mutational landscape for both primary and metastatic tumours. This may thus form a basis for personalized medical care and shed light on the molecular pathogenesis of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.

  Study EGAS00001000982

• Genomic data from analysis of the human placenta, part of the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction study (POPs)

  The Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study is a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women attending the Rosie Hospital (Cambridge, UK) for their dating ultrasound scan. The study included 4512 women with a viable singleton pregnancy; study participants provided written informed consent and were recruited between January 2008 and July 2012. The POP study aimed both at evaluating performance of known biomarkers and serial ultrasonography in assessing maternal and fetal well-being, as well as identifying novel biomarkers. The study is sufficiently large to be powered for relatively uncommon adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women attended four study visits scheduled every 8 weeks, starting with the first trimester. Participants had blood taken during the dating/recruitment visit (at approximately 12 weeks gestation (wkGA)), as well as at three subsequent visits (at ∼20wkGA, ∼28wkGA and ∼36wkGA). For more detail, please visit: https://www.obgyn.cam.ac.uk/research/pops-2/.

  Study EGAS00001002205

• cfRRBS on cfDNA from pediatric cancer

  In the clinical management of pediatric solid tumors, histological examination of tumor tissue obtained by a biopsy remains the gold standard to establish a conclusive pathological diagnosis. The DNA methylation pattern of a tumor is known to correlate with the histopathological diagnosis across cancer types and is showing promise in the diagnostic workup of tumor samples. This methylation pattern can be detected in the cell-free DNA. Here, we provide proof-of-concept of histopathologic classification of pediatric tumors using cell-free reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (cf-RRBS) from retrospectively collected plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples. We determined the correct tumor type in 49 out of 60 (81.6%) samples starting from minute amounts (less than 10 ng) of cell-free DNA. We demonstrate that the majority of misclassifications were associated with sample quality and not with the extent of disease. Our approach has the potential to help tackle some of the remaining diagnostic challenges in pediatric oncology in a cost-effective and minimally invasive manner.

  Study EGAS00001004194

• HCA_Gonads_Foetal_EU_H2020_HUGODECA_RNA

  Cell Atlas of human fetal gonads The HUGODECA consortium brings together leading European academic and industrial experts (from 5 different EU countries). It includes active contributors and executives of the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) which will ensure complementarity with other ongoing HCA efforts. The overall HUGODECA concept is grounded on the integration of multiple synergistic expertise and technologies: Single cell profiling, spatial transcriptomic, 2D Mass cytometry and cyclic immunofluorescence and 3D imaging of optically cleared gonads. HUGODECA will implement novel tools, analytical and computational methods to process and integrate multidimensional OMICS and image data across different platforms. It will evaluate the accuracy of ex vivo culture models of human gonadal development and assess consequences of altering key signalling pathways. 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/

  Study EGAS00001004723

• Utility of ctDNA to support patient selection for early phase clinical trials: The TARGET Study

  Next generation sequencing (NGS) of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) supports blood-based genomic profiling but is not routinely implemented in the clinic. TARGET is a molecular profiling programme with the primary aim to match patients to early phase clinical trials based on analysis of both somatic mutations and copy number alterations (CNA) across a 641 cancer-associated gene panel in a single ctDNA assay. For the first 100 TARGET patients, ctDNA data showed good concordance with matched tumour and results were turned round within a clinically acceptable timeframe for Molecular Tumour Board (MTB) review. When applying a 2.5% Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) threshold actionable mutations were identified in 41/100 patients, with 11 of these patients going onto a matched therapy. These data support the application of ctDNA in an early phase trial setting where broad genomic profiling of contemporaneous tumour material enhances patient stratification to novel therapies and provides a practical template for bringing blood-based analyses to the clinic.

  Study EGAS00001003407

• Biallelic DICER1 mutations in sporadic pleuropulmonary blastoma

  Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is an extremely rare pediatric malignancy in the lung, whose pathogenesis is poorly understood, except for recent reports of frequent germline heterozygous DICER1 mutations. To investigate the genetic basis of PPB, we performed whole-exome sequencing in 7 representative PPB cases, followed by targeted deep sequencing in 12 cases with PPB. DICER1 mutations were found in 11/12 cases. Biallelic DICER1 mutations were common in PPB, in which RNase IIIb domain mutations were found in all cases with or without nonsense/frameshift mutations and were somatic in all evaluable cases. A majority of cases had mutated DICER1 alleles in germline with or without an additional somatic mutation in the remaining allele, while other cases had exclusively somatic mutations involving the RNase IIIb domain. TP53 deletions/mutations were detected in 8/12 cases. Our results highlight a unique role of the RNase IIIb domain mutations and TP53 inactivation in PPB pathogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001000662

• Myelodysplastic cells in patients re-program mesenchymal stromal cells to establish a transplantable stem cell-niche disease unit.

  Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of myeloid neoplasms with defects in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and possibly the HSPC niche. Here we show that patient-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MDS MSCs) display a disturbed differentiation program and are essential for the propagation of MDS-initiating lin-CD34+CD38- stem cells in orthotopic xenografts. Overproduction of niche factors such as N-Cadherin, IGFBP2, VEGFA and LIF is associated with the ability of MDS MSCs to enhance MDS expansion. These factors represent putative therapeutic targets to disrupt critical hematopoietic-stromal interactions in MDS. Finally, healthy MSCs adopt "MDS-MSC like" molecular features when exposed to hematopoietic MDS cells, indicative of an instructive remodeling of their microenvironment. This patient-derived xenograft model therefore provides functional and molecular evidence that MDS is a complex disease involving both the hematopoietic and stromal compartments. The resulting deregulated expression of niche factors may well also be a feature of other hematopoietic malignancies.

  Study EGAS00001000716

• Reference epigenomes generated as part of the International Human Epigenomics Consortium (IHEC)

  The Centre for Epigenome Mapping Technologies (CEMT) is an epigenome sequencing platform funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Genome BC as part of the Canadian Epigenetics, Environment and Health Research Consortium (CEEHRC). CEMT aims to produce 100 human reference epigenomes, each comprising the following datasets: whole genome; whole genome bisulfite and oxidative bisulfite; transcriptome; microRNA; and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq for the core chromatin marks (H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, H3K36me3, and H3K27ac).CEEHRC is a full member of the International Human Epigenomics Consortium (IHEC), which aims to coordinate the production of 1,000 reference maps of human epigenomes for key cellular states relevant to health and diseases. As such, all datasets submitted by the CEMT platform conform to IHEC assay standards and metadata guidelines.

  Study EGAS00001000552

• Genomic catastrophes frequently arise in esophageal adenocarcinoma and drive tumorigenesis.

  Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) incidence is rapidly increasing in Western countries. A better understanding of EAC underpins efforts to improve early detection and treatment outcomes. While large EAC exome sequencing efforts to date have found recurrent loss-of-function mutations, oncogenic driving events have been underrepresented. Here we use a combination of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism-array profiling to show that genomic catastrophes are frequent in EAC, with almost a third (32%, n=40/123) undergoing chromothriptic events. WGS of 22 EAC cases show that catastrophes may lead to oncogene amplification through chromothripsis-derived double-minute chromosome formation (MYC and MDM2) or breakage-fusion-bridge (KRAS, MDM2 and RFC3). Telomere shortening is more prominent in EACs bearing localized complex rearrangements. Mutational signature analysis also confirms that extreme genomic instability in EAC can be driven by somatic BRCA2 mutations. These findings suggest that genomic catastrophes have a significant role in the malignant transformation of EAC.

  Study EGAS00001000750

• RNA_seq_of_Toxoplasma_gondii_response_in_human_macrophages

  Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a ubiquitous protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which caninfect all mammal and bird species throughout the world. seroprevalence varies widely between countries. Studieshave estimated that between 7-34% of people in the UK have been infected with T. gondii. The vast majority of thesepeople will not have noticed any symptoms, however about 10% of people develop a mild to moderate self limitingflu-like illness. Following the acute active stage of the infection the parasite persists in the body in the form of cysts,particularly in heart and skeletal muscle and nervous system tissues, for many years, and usually for life. Inimmunocompetent persons these cysts do not pose a health risk. We will use RNA-seq to quantify the transcriptionalresponse of macrophages to T gondii infection.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/

  Study EGAS00001001708

• Inactivation of TGFβ receptors in stem cells drives cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma - 30 whole exomes

  Melanoma patients treated with oncogenic BRAF inhibitors can develop cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) within weeks of treatment, driven by paradoxical RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway activation. Here, we identify frequent TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 mutations in human vemurafenib-induced skin lesions and in sporadic cSCC. Functional analysis reveals these mutations ablate canonical TGFβ Smad signaling which is localised to bulge stem cells in both normal human and murine skin. MAPK pathway hyperactivation (through BrafV600E or KrasG12D knockin) and TGFβ signaling ablation (through Tgfbr1 deletion) in LGR5+ve stem cells enables rapid cSCC development in the mouse. Mutation of Tp53 (which is commonly mutated in sporadic cSCC) coupled with Tgfbr1 deletion in LGR5+ve cells also results in cSCC development. These findings indicate that LGR5+ve stem cells can act as cells of origin for cSCC and that RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway hyperactivation or Tp53 mutation, coupled with loss of TGFβ signaling, are driving events of skin tumorigenesis.

  Study EGAS00001001892

• Resequencing_candidate_genes_for_male_spermatogenic_impairment

  This study aims to identify novel candidate variants from human Y-chromosomal genes DAZ, BPY2 and CDY1 by resequencing the coding regions of these genes from male patients with spermatogenic impairment. The coding regions of the genes have been amplified by standard PCR, amplicon lengths range from 244 to 486 bp. A total of 61 amplicons were amplified for each of the 96 patients, totalling to approx. 25 kb per sample. Amplicons were quantified by gel electrophoresis and pooled in approx. equimolar concentrations per patient. For each of the 96 submitted samples, approx. 1 microgram of amplified DNA pool is provided in a total volume of 120 microlitres. The samples need to be indexed and libraries prepared for a PE250bp Illumina MiSeq run. 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/

  Study EGAS00001002157

• DONSON encodes a novel replication fork protection factor mutated in microcephalic dwarfism.

  To ensure efficient genome duplication, cells have evolved a multitude of factors that promote unperturbed DNA replication, and protect, repair and restart damaged forks. Here we identify DONSON as a novel fork protection factor, and report biallelic DONSON mutations in 29 individuals with microcephalic dwarfism. We demonstrate that DONSON is a component of the replisome that stabilises forks during normal genome replication. Loss of DONSON leads to severe replication-associated DNA damage arising from nucleolytic cleavage of stalled replication forks. Furthermore, ATR-dependent signalling in response to replication stress is impaired in DONSON-deficient cells, resulting in decreased checkpoint activity, and potentiating chromosomal instability. Hypomorphic mutations substantially reduce DONSON protein levels and impair fork stability in patient cells, consistent with defective DNA replication underlying the disease phenotype. In summary, we identify mutations in DONSON as a common cause of microcephalic dwarfism, and establish DONSON as a critical replication fork protein required for mammalian DNA replication and genome stability.

  Study EGAS00001002224

• Exome Sequencing of Gastric Cancer

  GASTRIC cancer (GC) is a heterogeneous disease with multiple environmental etiologies and alternative pathways of carcinogenesis. Beyond mutations in TP53, alterations in other genes or pathways account only for small subsets of the disease. We performed exome sequencing of 22 GCs and identified mutated genes and pathway alterations previously unreported: genes involved in chromatin modification were commonly mutated. A downstream validation study confirmed frequent inactivating mutations and/or protein deficiency of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex gene ARID1A in 83% of GCs with microsatellite instability, 73% of GCs with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and 11% of non-EBV microsatellite stable GCs. The mutation spectrum of ARID1A differs between molecular subtypes and the mutation prevalence is negatively associated with mutations in TP53. Clinically, ARID1A alterations were associated with better prognosis in a stage-independent manner. These results revealed the genomic landscape and highlighted the importance of chromatin remodeling in the molecular taxonomy of GCs.

  Study EGAS00001000153

• Molecular Subtype-specific Biomarkers Improves Colorectal Cancer Prognostication

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by major inter-tumor diversity that complicates the prediction of disease and treatment outcomes. Recent efforts help resolve this by sub-classification of CRC according to natural molecular subtypes, however, this strategy is not yet able to provide clinicians with improved tools for decision-making. We here present an extended framework for CRC stratification that specifically aims to improve patient prognostication. Using transcriptional profiles from 1,100 CRCs, including a novel set of >300 samples, we identify novel cancer cell and tumor archetypes and suggest the tumor microenvironment as a major prognostic determinant that can be influenced by the microbiome. Notably, our subtyping strategy allowed identification of novel archetype-specific prognostic biomarkers that provided information beyond and independent of UICC-TNM staging, MSI-status and consensus molecular subtyping. The results illustrate that our extended subtyping framework, combining subtyping and subtype-specific biomarkers, could contribute to improved patient prognostication and may form a strong basis for future studies.

  Study EGAS00001002376

• Orthotopic Patient-Derived Xenografts of Pediatric Solid Tumors

  Pediatric solid tumors arise from endodermal, ectodermal, or mesodermal lineages. Although the overall survival of children with solid tumors is 75%-80%, that of children with recurrent disease is below 30%. To capture the complexity and diversity of pediatric solid tumors and establish new models of recurrent disease, we developed a protocol to produce orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (O-PDXs) at diagnosis, recurrence, and autopsy. Tumor specimens were received from 168 patients, and 64 O-PDXs were established for 12 types of pediatric solid tumors. The origins of the O-PDX tumors were reflected in their gene-expression profiles and epigenomes. Genomic profiling of the tumors, including detailed clonal analysis, was performed to determine whether the clonal population in the xenograft recapitulated the patient’s tumor. We identified several drug vulnerabilities and showed that the combination of a WEE1 inhibitor (AZD1775), irinotecan, and vincristine can lead to complete response in multiple rhabdomyosarcoma O-PDX tumors in vivo.

  Study EGAS00001002528

• Association of Age at Diagnosis and Genetic Mutations in Patients with Neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastoma is diagnosed over a wide age range from birth through young adulthood, and older age at diagnosis is associated with a decline in survivability. We performed whole genome sequencing of DNA from diagnostic tumors and their matched germlines from 40 patients with metastatic neuroblastoma obtained between 1987 and 2009. To identify genetic lesions that are associated with age at diagnosis in patients with metastatic neuroblastoma. Age groups at diagnosis included infants (0-18 months), children (18 months-12 years), and adolescents and young adults (>12 years). To confirm the findings from this discovery cohort, validation testing using tumors from an additional 64 patients obtained between 1985 and 2009 was also performed. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was used for immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Telomere lengths were analyzed using the whole genome sequencing data, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent in situ hybridization

  Study EGAS00001000213

• Whole-exome sequencing reveals the origin and evolution of Hepato-Cholangiocarcinoma

  Hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (H-ChC) is a rare subtype of liver cancer with clinicopathological features of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). To date, molecular mechanisms underlying the co-existence of HCC and iCCA components in a single tumor remain elusive. Here we show that H-ChC samples contain substantial private mutations from WES analyses, ranging from 33.1% to 86.4%, indicative of substantive intratumor heterogeneity (ITH). However, on the other hand, numerous ubiquitous mutations shared by HCC and iCCA suggest the monoclonal origin of H-ChC. Mutated genes identify herein e.g. VCAN, ACVR2A and FCGBP are speculated to contribute to distinct differentiation of HCC and iCCA within H-ChC. Moreover, immunohistochemistry demonstrate that EpCAM is highly expressed in 80% of H-ChC implying the stemness of such liver cancer. In summary, our data highlight the monoclonal origin and stemness of H-ChC, as well as substantial intratumoral heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001002783

• CTCF/cohesin-binding sites are frequently mutated in cancer

  Cohesin is present in almost all active enhancer regions, where it is associated with transcription factors. Cohesin frequently colocalizes with CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor), affecting genomic stability, expression and epigenetic homeostasis. Cohesin subunits are mutated in cancer, but CTCF/cohesin-binding sites (CBSs) in DNA have not been examined for mutations. Here we report frequent mutations at CBSs in cancers displaying a mutational signature where mutations in A•T base pairs predominate. Integration of whole-genome sequencing data from 213 colorectal cancer (CRC) samples and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-exo) data identified frequent point mutations at CBSs. In contrast, CRCs showing an ultramutator phenotype caused by defects in the exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase ɛ (POLE) displayed significantly fewer mutations at and adjacent to CBSs. Analysis of public data showed that multiple cancer types accumulate CBS mutations. CBSs are a major mutational hotspot in the noncoding cancer genome.

  Study EGAS00001003010

• Single_cell_analysis_T_cell_activation

  We isolated naïve and memory T cells from healthy donors and cultured them in resting and stimulated conditions. We performed scRNA sequencing to assess T cell actiavtaion and perform sceQTL analysis. Major challenges for translating GWAS variants to function include identification of the disease relevant cell types in which the associated variants function. We have shown that immune-disease variants are functional in CD4+ T cell activation, and understanding how GWAS variants affect the activation efficiency is critical for development of new therapies. To perform sceQTL analysis of naïve and memory T cell activation, here we stimulated T cells and profiled single cell transcriptome at different time points following stimulation. We mapped sceQTLs affecting cell activation. 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/

  Study EGAS00001003479

• Genetic_profiling_of_mucosal_melanoma

  Primary mucosal melanomas (MMs) arise from melanocytes located in mucosal membranes lining the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. MMs frequently present late and have a poor prognosis; the 5-year survival rate is only 14%. MM makes up only ~1.4% of all melanomas and it is this rarity that makes knowledge of the genetic changes that contribute to its pathogenesis limited to a small number of exome/genome studies and other targeted studies. Thus to investigate the somatic alterations and mutation spectra in MM genomes, we have extracted genomic DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human MMs, and subjected them to whole exome sequencing. Given the propensity of MM to metastasize, we will also be sequencing metastatic MM lesions; primary and metastatic lesions from the same individual represent an excellent opportunity to identify potential drivers of metastasis in MM. Finally we will sequence ‘normal’ DNA from the same individual, where possible, to exclude germline variations.

  Study EGAS00001001115

• DIME study: Safety, dose-response and efficacy of treatment with Anaerobutyricum soehgenii on glucose metabolism in human subjects with metabolic syndrome

  The intestinal microbiota has been implicated in insulin resistance, although evidence regarding causality in humans is scarce. We herefore performed a phase I/II dose-finding and safety study on the effect of oral intake of the anaerobic butyrogenic Anaerobutyricum soehgenii on glucose metabolism in subjects with metabolic syndrome. We found that treatment with A. soehgenii was safe and observed an overall significant and dose-dependent increase in insulin sensitivity after 4 weeks in all treated subjects. This was accompanied by an altered microbiota composition and a change in bile acid metabolism. Finally, we show that metabolic response upon administration of A. soehgenii (defined as improved insulin sensitivity 4 weeks after A. soehgenii intake) is dependent on microbiota composition at baseline. These data in humans are promising and additional studies are needed to study long-term effects as well as modes of delivery.

  Study EGAS00001003498

• Preeclampsia InterPregGen Consortium: Large-scale GWAS meta-analysis of maternal preclampsia cases and controls from Europe and Central Asia. Plus extension of earlier European fetal preeclampsia GWAS meta-analysis (see EGAS00001001048) by adding Central Asian fetal preeclampsia cases and controls. Datasets provided under this study are GWAS meta-analysis summary statistics and individual level GWAS genotype data. Related InterPregGen Consortium data are also provided under studies EGAS00001000416 and EGAS00001000417 (whole genome sequence data for 100 unrelated Uzbeks and 100 unrelated Kazakhs) and EGAS00001001048 (European fetal preeclampsia GWAS summary statistics and genotype data

  Preeclampsia (PE) is a syndrome affecting pregnant mothers and fetus/babies characterised by hypertension and proteinuria, and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal death and of premature births worldwide. The InterPregGen Consortium was funded by a European Framework 7 (FP7) grant and grew out of the WTCCC3 GWAS comparing ~2000 UK PE mothers with ~6000 common UK controls. The EGAS00001001266 study includes two components the FP7 InterPregGen project: (a) GWAS case-control meta-analysis of maternal PE cases from Europe (UK, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan); (b) GWAS case-control meta-analysis of PE fetal (baby) cases from Europe (UK, Iceland, Norway, Denmark) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan)

  Study EGAS00001001266

• Physiological and genetic adaptations to diving in Sea Nomads

  Understanding the physiology and genetics of human hypoxia tolerance has important medical implications, but this phenomenon has thus far only been investigated in high-altitude human populations. Another system, yet to be explored, is humans who engage in breath-hold diving. The indigenous Bajau people (“Sea Nomads”) of Southeast Asia live a subsistence lifestyle based on breath-hold diving and are renowned for their extraordinary breath holding abilities. However, it is unknown whether this has a genetic basis. Using a comparative genomic study, we show that natural selection on genetic variants in the PDE10A gene have increased spleen size in the Bajau, providing them with a larger reservoir of oxygenated red blood cells. We also find evidence of strong natural selection specific to the Bajau on BDKRB2, a gene affecting the human diving reflex. Thus, the Bajau, and possibly other natural diving populations, provide a new opportunity to study human adaptation to hypoxia tolerance.

  Study EGAS00001002823

• Genomic landscape and PD-1 blockade in Natural-killer/T cell lymphoma

  Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) is an aggressive malignancy with a predilection for Asian, Mexican and South American populations. With the exception of Japan, it is the most common mature T-cell lymphoma in Asia. NKTL presents as extranodal disease and mostly affects the upper aerodigestive tract. Neoplastic cells are invariably infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and characterized by a cytotoxic phenotype. The genetic landscape of NKTL has been recently unraveled by discoveries describing recurring mutations altering the JAK-STAT pathway, epigenetic modifiers, the DDX3X gene and genetic predisposition in the HLA-DPB1 gene.The genomic landscape of NKTL has been interrogated by whole-exome sequencing, targeted sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism arrays, but has yet been studied with whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In this study, we will use a combination of WGS, targeted-capture sequencing (TCS) and RNA sequencing data to explore the genetic landscape and its relevance to immunotherapy in NKTL

  Study EGAS00001003828

• Single_cell_analysis_of_cytokine_induced_T_cell_states

  We isolated T cells from healthy platelet donors and cultured them in resting and stimulated conditions with addition of a range of cytokines. We performed scRNA sequencing to assess the variability of polarization in different cytokines treated cells. Cytokines affect T cell responses by polarising them to different phenotypes. Given that the inflammation and and autoimmune tissue distruction is driven by the local production of cytokines, we investigated cytokine induced changes in T cells by using a combination of immunological and genomics approaches. To characterize, the efficacy of cytokine induced porization, here we stimulated naive and memory CD4+ T cells in the presence of cytokine polarizing coctails and profiled single cell transcriptome five days following polarization. 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/

  Study EGAS00001003215

• Modulation of macrophage inflammatory function through selective inhibition of the epigenetic reader protein SP140

  SP140 is a bromodomain-containing protein expressed predominantly in immune cells. Genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications in the SP140 locus have been linked to Crohn’s disease (CD), suggesting a role in inflammation. We report the development of the first small molecule SP140 inhibitor (GSK761) and utilize this to elucidate SP140 function in macrophages. We show that SP140 is highly expressed in CD68+ CD mucosal macrophages and in in vitro-generated inflammatory macrophages. SP140 inhibition through GSK761 reduced monocyte differentiation into inflammatory macrophages and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory activation. SP140 preferentially occupies transcriptional start sites (TSS) in inflammatory macrophages, with enrichment at gene loci encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and inflammatory pathways. GSK761 specifically reduced SP140 binding and thereby expression of SP140-bound genes. GSK761 inhibited the spontaneous expression of cytokines, including TNF, by CD14+ macrophages isolated from CD intestinal-mucosa. This study identifies SP140 as a druggable epigenetic therapeutic target for CD.

  Study EGAS00001004460

• Genome-wide discovery of somatic coding and regulatory variants in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

  Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive cancer originating from mature B-cells. Prognosis is strongly associated with molecular subgroup, although the driver mutations that distinguish the two main subgroups remain poorly defined. Through an integrative analysis of whole genomes, exomes, and transcriptomes, we have uncovered genes and non-coding loci that are commonly mutated in DLBCL. Our analysis has identified novel cis-regulatory sites, and implicates recurrent mutations in the 3'UTR of NFKBIZ as a novel mechanism of oncogene deregulation and NFκB pathway activation in the activated B-cell (ABC) subgroup. Small amplifications associated with over-expression of FCGR2B (the Fcγ receptor protein IIB), primarily in the germinal centre B-cell (GCB) subgroup, correlate with poor patient outcomes suggestive of a novel oncogene. These results expand the list of subgroup driver mutations that may facilitate implementation of improved diagnostic assays and could offer new avenues for the development of targeted therapeutics.

  Study EGAS00001002936

• Fibroblast heterogeneity drives metastatic spread in breast cancer through distinct mechanisms

  The major cause of death among breast cancer patients is metastatic dissemination, suggesting that understanding the mechanisms driving this process remains an unmet medical need. Here, by concomitantly using 5 markers, we identify 4 Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts (CAF) subsets in primary tumors and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes (LN). Two CAF subsets, called CAF-S1 and CAF-S4, correlate with the proportion of cancer cells in invaded LN and exert distinct functions in tumor cell spread. CAF-S1 promote cancer cell migration and initiates an epithelial to mesenchymal transition through a CXCL12 / TGFb positive loop. For their part, the highly contractile CAF-S4 foster cancer cell motility and invasion in 3-dimensional matrix via Notch pathway activation. Finally, CAF-S1 and CAF-S4 accumulation in LN is a new prognostic factor at diagnostic, independent of breast cancer subtypes and LN status, strengthening the validity of our findings in human breast cancer pathophysiology.

  Study EGAS00001003238

• SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are primarily expressed in bronchial transient secretory cells

  The SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic affecting the human respiratory system severely challenges public health and urgently demands for increasing our understanding of COVID‐19 pathogenesis, especially host factors facilitating virus infection and replication. SARS‐CoV‐2 was reported to enter cells via binding to ACE2, followed by its priming by TMPRSS2. Here, we investigate ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression levels and their distribution across cell types in lung tissue (twelve donors, 39,778 cells) and in cells derived from subsegmental bronchial branches (four donors, 17,521 cells) by single nuclei and single cell RNA sequencing, respectively. While TMPRSS2 is strongly expressed in both tissues, in the subsegmental bronchial branches ACE2 is predominantly expressed in a transient secretory cell type. Interestingly, these transiently differentiating cells show an enrichment for pathways related to RHO GTPase function and viral processes suggesting increased vulnerability for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Our data provide a rich resource for future investigations of COVID‐19 infection and pathogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001004419

• Detection of cell-free DNA fragmentation and copy number alterations in cerebrospinal fluid from glioma patients

  Glioma is difficult to detect or characterise using current liquid biopsy approaches. Detection of cell-free tumor DNA (cftDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been proposed as an alternative to detection in plasma. We used shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS, at a coverage of < 0.4x) of cell-free DNA from the CSF of 13 patients with primary glioma to determine somatic copy number alterations and DNA fragmentation patterns. This allowed us to determine the presence of cftDNA in CSF without any prior knowledge of point mutations present in the tumor. We also showed that the fragmentation pattern of cell-free DNA in CSF is different from that in plasma. This low-cost screening method provides information on the tumor genome and can be used to target those patients with high levels of cftDNA for further larger-scale sequencing, such as by whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing.

  Study EGAS00001003255

• Molecular and functional profiling of plasmablastic lymphoma

  Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) represents a rare and aggressive lymphoma subtype frequently associated with immunosuppression. Clinically, patients with PBL are characterized by poor outcome. The current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis is limited. A hallmark of PBL represents its plasmacytic differentiation with loss of B-cell markers and, in 60% of cases, its association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Roughly 50% of PBLs harbor a MYC translocation. Here, we provide a comprehensive integrated genomic analysis using whole exome sequencing (WES) and genome-wide copy number determination in a large cohort of 96 primary PBL samples. We identify alterations activating the RAS-RAF, JAK-STAT, and NOTCH pathways as well as frequent high-level amplifications in MCL1 and IRF4. The functional impact of these alterations is assessed using an unbiased shRNA screen in a PBL model. These analyses identify the IRF4 and JAK-STAT pathways as promising molecular targets to improve outcome of PBL patients.

  Study EGAS00001004659

• Combined gene expression and digital pathology identifies molecular mediators of T cell exclusion and immune suppression in ovarian cancer

  Close proximity between cytotoxic T lymphocytes and tumour cells is required for effective immunotherapy. However, what determines the spatial distribution of T cells in the tumour microenvironment is not well understood. Coupling digital pathology and transcriptome analysis on a large ovarian tumour cohort, we develop a machine learning approach to molecularly classify and characterize tumour-immune phenotypes. Our study identifies two important hallmarks characterizing T cell excluded tumours: 1) loss of antigen presentation on tumour cells and 2) upregulation of TGFb and activated stroma. Furthermore, we identify TGFb as a key mediator of T cell exclusion. TGFb reduces MHC-I expression in ovarian cancer cells in vitro; TGFb also activates fibroblasts and induced extracellular matrix (ECM) production as a potential physical barrier to hinder T cell infiltration. Our findings indicate that targeting TGFb may represent a promising strategy to overcome T cell exclusion and improve clinical benefits of cancer immunotherapy.

  Study EGAS00001003487

• Molecular diagnosis of albinism (2018-03-14)

  Albinism is genetically heterogeneous rare genetic condition affecting 1:17000 in the Western world (but more frequent in Africa) whose main feature is a profound visual impairment, characterised by foveal hypoplasia, abnormal chiasmatic connections, nystagmus and photofobia. All these features result in severly altered visual acuity (<0,1), absent depth perception and poor night vision. People with albinism are primarily visually handicapped. In addition, for some types of albinism, the visual phenotype can be presented with partial or total hypopigmentation, hence resulting in a secondary phenotype which can lead to skin cancer if skin is not adequately protected. Recently a new syndrome has been described, FHONDA, with the same visual abnormalities of albinism but without pigment alteration. The traditional classification differentiates Oculoculatenous albinism (OCA), where hypopigmentation involves hair, skin and eyes versus Ocular Albinism (OA), where hypopigmentation only affects the eyes. These are non-sydrimic types of albinism. Some syndromic forms (Hermansky-Pudlak=HPS, Chediak-Higashi=CHS) affect cells beyond pigment cells, present in the lungs, immune system, platelets and intestines, resulting in more severe phenotypes that can be fatal. Mutations in at least 19 genes are assocaited with the corresponding types of albinism. Most hospitals will only diagnose the most frequent cases using traditional Sanger, MLPA approaches. Some will use CGH arrays. We aim to diagnose all cases of albinism through the Albinochip proposal, which combines a Sequenom first step of known mutations combined with subsequent NGS approaches. In some cases we fail to find a second mutation, these are good candidates for further full exome analyses. 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 2018-03-14.

  Dataset EGAD00001004039

• single cell sequencing of resting and Influenza-stimulated mononcluear phagocytes of African and Europeans with varying degree of ex-vivo susceptibility to Influenza

  There is considerable inter-individual immunological and clinical variability upon influenza A virus (IAV) infection in humans; yet, the factors underlying such heterogeneity remain elusive. Here, using an ex vivo cellular model that captures natural variation in the transcriptional responses of monocytes to IAV, we find significant differences in viral mRNA levels between individuals of African and European ancestry. Using single cell analyses, we show that the overall number of cells that will ultimately become infected, rather than the amount of viral transcript expression per cell, is the main driver of the surprisingly higher IAV mRNA levels detected in European cells. Finally, we identify 135 genes, including the interferon-stimulated genes IFITM3, MX1, and OAS3, for which basal mRNA expression levels associate with IAV mRNA levels post infection. Our findings reveal that basal differences in activation of IRF/STAT-induced antiviral mechanisms may contribute to individual and population disparities in susceptibility to IAV infection.

  Study EGAS00001005000

• GENOMIC MUTATION LANDSCAPE OF SKIN CANCERS FROM DNA REPAIR-DEFICIENT XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM PATIENTS

  Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in genes of the Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway (groups A-G) or in Translesion Synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase η (group V). XP is associated with an increased skin cancer risk, reaching, for some groups, several thousand-fold compared to the general population. Here, we analyzed 38 skin cancer genomes from five XP groups. We found that the activity of NER determines heterogeneity of the mutation rates across skin cancer genomes and that transcription-coupled NER extends beyond the gene boundaries reducing the intergenic mutation rate. Mutational profile in XP-V tumors revealed the role of polymerase η in the error-free bypass of (i) rare TpG and TpA DNA lesions, (ii) 3’ nucleotides in pyrimidine dimers, and (iii) TpT photodimers. Our study unravels the genetic basis of skin cancer risk in XP and provides insights into the mechanisms reducing UV-induced mutagenesis in the general population.

  Study EGAS00001006732

• Integrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes

  DNA methylation variations are prevalent in human obesity but evidence of a causative role in disease pathogenesis is limited. Here, we combine epigenome-wide association and integrative genomics to investigate the impact of adipocyte DNA methylation variations in human obesity. We discover extensive DNA methylation changes that are robustly associated with obesity (N=190 samples, 691 loci in subcutaneous and 173 loci in visceral adipocytes, P<1x10-7). We connect obesity-associated methylation variations to transcriptomic changes at >500 target genes, and identify putative methylation-transcription factor interactions. Through Mendelian Randomisation, we infer causal effects of methylation on obesity and obesity-induced metabolic disturbances at 59 independent loci. Targeted methylation sequencing, CRISPR-activation and gene silencing in adipocytes, further identifies regional methylation variations, underlying regulatory elements and novel cellular metabolic effects. Our results indicate DNA methylation is an important determinant of human obesity and its metabolic complications, and reveal mechanisms through which altered methylation may impact adipocyte functions.

  Study EGAS00001007118

• Transcriptomic classes of BCR-ABL1 lymphoblastic leukemia

  In BCR-ABL1 lymphoblastic leukemia, treatment heterogeneity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), especially in the absence of kinase domain mutations in BCR-ABL1, is poorly understood. Through deep molecular profiling, we uncovered three transcriptomic subtypes of BCR-ABL1 lymphoblastic leukemia, each representing a maturation arrest at a stage of B-cell progenitor differentiation. An earlier arrest was associated with lineage promiscuity, treatment refractoriness, and poor patient outcomes. A later arrest was associated with lineage fidelity, deep and durable leukemia remissions, and improved patient outcomes. Each maturation arrest was marked by specific genomic events that control different transition points in B-cell development. Interestingly, these events were absent in BCR-ABL1+ pre-leukemic stem cells isolated from patients regardless of subtype, which supports that transcriptomic phenotypes are determined downstream of the leukemia-initialing event. Overall, our data indicate that treatment response and TKI-efficacy is an unexpected outcome of the differentiation stage at which this leukemia transforms.

  Study EGAS00001007167

• Repli-seq data for 'Replication timing alterations are associated with mutation acquisition during tumour evolution in breast and lung cancer'

  The essential process of DNA replication timing during each cell cycle is highly regulated ensuring the correct duplication of the genome. The extent and importance of alterations in this process during malignant transformation has not been extensively explored. Here, we evaluate the impact of altered replication timing (ART) on cancer evolution by analysing replication-timing sequencing of cancer and normal cell lines and 952 whole-genome sequenced lung and breast tumours. We find 6%-18% of the cancer genome displays ART. Genomic regions with a change from early to late replication exhibit an increased mutation rate and distinct mutational signatures, while regions changing from late to early contain genes with increased expression and present a preponderance of APOBEC3-mediated mutation clusters and associated driver mutations. We demonstrate that ART is a relatively early event during cancer evolution and that ART may have a stronger correlation with mutation acquisition than alterations in chromatin structure.

  Study EGAS00001007773

• Neuroblastoma heterogeneity

  Neuroblastoma is a pediatric solid tumor characterized by strong clinical heterogeneity. Although certain complex genomic alterations, such as extrachromosomal DNA amplifications (ecDNA), are associated with adverse outcomes and have been recurrently detected in neuroblastomas, the mutational processes involved in their generation remain largely unclear. By examining the topography of complex rearrangements along with mutational signatures derived from all variant classes, we identify previously unrecognized co-occurring mutational footprints, which we termed mutational scenarios. We demonstrate that clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity is linked to differences in the processes driving these mutational scenarios. Whereas high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma genomes were characterized by signs of replication slippage and stress, homologous recombination-associated signatures defined high-risk non-MYCN-amplified patients. Non-high-risk neuroblastomas, on the other hand, were marked by footprints of chromosome missegregation and TOP1 mutational activity. This analysis provides a systematic perspective on the repertoire of mutational patterns that contribute to clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001007016

• Robust detection of translocations in lymphoma FFPE samples using Targeted Locus Capture-based sequencing - NGS targeted capture control cohort

  In routine diagnostic pathology, cancer biopsies are preserved by Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedding (FFPE) procedures for examination of (intra-) cellular morphology. Such procedures inadvertently induce DNA fragmentation, which compromises sequencing-based analyses of chromosomal rearrangements. Yet, rearrangements drive many types of hematolymphoid malignancies and solid tumors, and their manifestation is instructive for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Here, we present FFPE-Targeted Locus Capture (FFPE-TLC) for targeted sequencing of proximity-ligation products formed in FFPE tissue blocks, and PLIER, a computational framework that allows automated identification and characterization of rearrangements involving selected, clinically-relevant, loci. FFPE-TLC, blindly applied to 149 lymphoma and control FFPE samples, identifies the known and novel rearrangement partners. It outperforms fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in sensitivity and specificity, and shows clear advantages over standard capture-NGS methods, finding rearrangements involving repetitive sequences which they typically miss. FFPE-TLC is therefore a powerful clinical diagnostics tool for accurate targeted rearrangement detection in FFPE specimens.

  Study EGAS00001005325

• Sequence data for study: Mobilization of tissue-resident memory CD4+ T lymphocytes from bone marrow and their contribution to a systemic secondary immune reaction

  Resident memory T lymphocytes (TRM) of epithelial tissues and the bone marrow protect their host tissue. To what extent these cells are mobilized and contribute to systemic immune reactions is less clear. Here we show that in secondary immune reactions to the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, CD4+ TRM are mobilized into the blood within 16 to 48 hours after immunization. This mobilization of TRM is cognate: TRM recognizing other antigens are not mobilized, unless they cross-react with the vaccine. We also demonstrate through methylome analyses that TRM are mobilized from the bone marrow. These mobilized cells make significant contribution to the systemic immune reaction, as evidenced by their T-cell receptor Vβ clonotypes represented among the newly generated circulating memory T-cells, 14 days after vaccination. Thus, TRM of the bone marrow confer not only local, but also systemic immune memory.

  Study EGAS00001005475

• Gut metagenome associations with extensive digital health data in a volunteer-based EstMB cohort

  Microbiome research is starting to move beyond the exploratory phase towards interventional trials and therefore well-characterized cohorts will be instrumental for generating hypothesis and providing new knowledge. As part of the Estonian Biobank, we established the Estonian Microbiome Cohort which includes stool, oral and plasma samples from 2,509 participants and is supplemented with multi-omic measurements, questionnaires, and regular linkages to national electronic health records. In this study, we analyzed stool data from deep metagenomic sequencing together with rich phenotyping, including 71 diseases, 136 medications, 21 dietary questions, 5 procedures, and 19 other factors. The data revealed numerous relationships with different microbiome features. Additionally, the long-term antibiotic usage, independent from recent administration, has a significant impact on the microbiome composition, partly explaining the common associations between diseases. Overall, this study extends the understanding of microbiome–host interactions and facilitates the development of microbiome-related studies.

  Study EGAS00001005900

• Enhanced cortical neural stem cell identity through SMAD/WNT inhibition in human cerebral organoids facilitates emergence of outer radial glial cells

  Cerebral organoids exhibit broad regional heterogeneity accompanied by limited cortical cellular diversity despite the tremendous upsurge in derivation methods, suggesting inadequate patterning of early neural stem cells (NSCs). Here we show that a short and early dual-SMAD/WNT inhibition course is necessary and sufficient for establishing robust and lasting cortical organoid NSC identity, efficiently suppressing of non-cortical NSC fates, while other widely used methods are inconsistent in their cortical NSC specification capacity. Accordingly, this method selectively enriches for outer radial glia (oRG) NSCs, which cytoarchitecturally demarcate well-defined outer sub-ventricular (oSVZ)-like regions propagating from superiorly radially organized, apical cortical rosette NSCs. Finally, this method culminates in the emergence of molecularly distinct deep and upper cortical layer neurons, and reliably uncovers cortex-specific microcephaly defects. Thus, a short SMAD/WNT inhibition is critical for establishing a rich cortical cell repertoire that enables mirroring fundamental molecular and cytoarchitectural features of cortical development and meaningful disease modeling.

  Study EGAS00001006063

• RNA-seq on patient-derived, stage II, CRC cell lines

  The gut microbiome is a key player in the immunomodulatory and pro-tumorigenic microenvironment in colorectal cancer (CRC). It is well established that Fusobacterium’s virulence factors are responsible for its pro-tumorigenic properties, however the role of its metabolic cross-talk with the tumor remains unexplored. Here we use in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods to describe a novel microbe-host interaction keystone: formate. Omics data reveals molecular signatures, linking a metabolically driven CRC phenotype with Fusobacteria. We observed a metabolic shift towards increased F. nucleatum formate secretion in gut-on-chip model co-cultures with patient-derived CRC cells, along with an accelerated cancer glutamine metabolism. We show that high formate levels trigger AhR signaling, increase cancer stemness and cellular invasion. Finally, we observed an expansion of Th17 cells accompanying F. nucleatum-induced tumorigenesis. Moving beyond observational studies, we applied new experimental approaches for gaining ecosystem-level mechanistic understanding of F. nucleatum’s role in cancer pathogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001005948

• Phase 1 CX-5461 Trial (Canadian Cancer Trials Group Trial IND.231)

  CX-5461 is a G-quadruplex stabilizer that exhibits synthetic lethality in homologous recombination (HR) deficient models. In this multicentre Phase Ib trial in patients with solid tumors, 40 patients were treated across 10 dose levels (50 - 650 mg/m2) to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D), and evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics. Defective HR was explored as a predictive biomarker. CX-5461 was generally well tolerated, with a RP2D of 475 mg/m2 d1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks, and dose limiting toxicities of phototoxicity. Responses were observed in 10% of patients, primarily in patients with defective HR (ORR 14%). Reversion mutations in PALB2 and BRCA2 were detected on progression following initial response in germline carriers, confirming the underlying synthetic lethal mechanism. In vitro characterization of UV sensitization showed this toxicity is related to the CX-5461 chemotype, independent of G4 synthetic lethality. These results establish clinical proof-of-concept for this first-in class G4 stabilizer.

  Study EGAS00001006173

• Multi-omics identify falling LRRC15 as a COVID-19 severity marker and persistent pro-thrombotic signals in convalescence

  Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are at high risk of severe COVID-19. Here, we perform longitudinal blood sampling of ESKD haemodialysis patients with COVID-19, collecting samples pre-infection, serially during infection, and after clinical recovery. Using plasma proteomics, and RNA-sequencing and flow cytometry of immune cells, we identify transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of COVID-19 severity, and find distinct temporal molecular profiles in patients with severe disease. Supervised learning reveals that the plasma proteome is a superior indicator of clinical severity than the PBMC transcriptome. We show that a decreasing trajectory of plasma LRRC15, a proposed co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2, is associated with a more severe clinical course. Strikingly, we observe that two months after the acute infection, patients still display dysregulated gene expression related to vascular, platelet and coagulation pathways, including PF4 (platelet factor 4), which may explain the prolonged thrombotic risk following COVID-19.

  Study EGAS00001006778

• Early on-treatment changes in circulating tumor DNA fraction and response to enzalutamide or abiraterone in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

  On-treatment circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) quantification is touted as a surrogate biomarker for understanding metastatic cancer response to systemic therapy, but there is relatively little supporting data from standardized patient cohorts. Here, in a prospective observational cohort, we demonstrate that 4-week on-treatment changes in plasma ctDNA levels can accurately identify metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that will progress within 6 months of initiating first-line abiraterone or enzalutamide treatment. On-treatment ctDNA measurements outperformed existing clinical variables for predicting disease response and were also closely associated with differential overall survival. Although optimal timing of blood collections and thresholds for ctDNA detection will require further testing, our data highlights the potential for sequential ctDNA measurements to provide an early and reliable read-out for therapy response. The high accuracy of this information suggests that ctDNA could be useful for guiding clinical trials of therapy changes in initially non-responsive metastatic cancers.

  Study EGAS00001006856

• Study of complex rearrangements and mutational signatures in neuroblastoma heterogeneous risk groups.

  Neuroblastoma is a pediatric solid tumor characterized by strong clinical heterogeneity. Although certain complex genomic alterations, such as extrachromosomal DNA amplifications (ecDNA), are associated with adverse outcome and have been recurrently detected in neuroblastomas, the mutational processes involved in their generation remain largely unclear. By examining the topography of complex rearrangements along with mutational signatures derived from all variant classes, we identify previously unrecognized co-occurring mutational footprints, which we termed mutational scenarios. We demonstrate that clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity is linked to differences in the processes driving these mutational scenarios. Whereas high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma genomes were characterized by signs of replication slippage and stress, homologous recombination-associated signatures defined high-risk non-MYCN-amplified patients. Non-high-risk neuroblastomas, on the other hand, were marked by footprints of chromosome missegregation and TOP1 mutational activity. This analysis provides a systematic perspective on the repertoire of mutational patterns that contribute to clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001006983

• Neuroblastoma heterogeneity

  Neuroblastoma is a pediatric solid tumor characterized by strong clinical heterogeneity. Although certain complex genomic alterations, such as extrachromosomal DNA amplifications (ecDNA), are associated with adverse outcomes and have been recurrently detected in neuroblastomas, the mutational processes involved in their generation remain largely unclear. By examining the topography of complex rearrangements along with mutational signatures derived from all variant classes, we identify previously unrecognized co-occurring mutational footprints, which we termed mutational scenarios. We demonstrate that clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity is linked to differences in the processes driving these mutational scenarios. Whereas high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma genomes were characterized by signs of replication slippage and stress, homologous recombination-associated signatures defined high-risk non-MYCN-amplified patients. Non-high-risk neuroblastomas, on the other hand, were marked by footprints of chromosome missegregation and TOP1 mutational activity. This analysis provides a systematic perspective on the repertoire of mutational patterns that contribute to clinical neuroblastoma heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001007019

• 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

• Immune variation leads to diverse outcomes in human malaria (2020-01-15)

  Falciparum malaria is clinically heterogeneous and yet in most cases the risk of life-threatening disease dramatically declines after the first few infections of life because children rapidly acquire disease tolerance (resistance to severe malaria without improved control of parasite burden). Identifying the factors that determine clinical outcome in a malaria-naive host is therefore paramount to reduce malaria mortality. However, the relative contribution of disease-causing variants of the Plasmodium var gene family versus pathogenic inflammatory cytokine cascades remains fiercely debated - we sought to reconcile these conflicting arguments by studying their interaction in vivo. To this end, two human challenge models were used to reveal the parasite-host interactions that underpin variation in falciparum malaria. To capture the diversity of human immune responses, each individual was analysed independently by tracking dynamic changes in their whole blood transcriptome through time. And to uncover evidence of preferential expansion of disease-causing variants, var gene expression was tracked in vivo from the start to end of infection. In this way, we could show that group A var genes are always expressed upon liver egress but in a minority population that does not increase over 10-days of blood cycling; there is no selection of disease-causing variants in the naive host. In fact, parasites do not respond in any way to differences or changes in host environment. On the other hand, host-intrinsic variation determines the intensity of inflammation and progression to clinical malaria. And furthermore, regulation of the interferon signaling network controls host fate. These data emphasise the role of human immune decision-making in shaping course & outcome of infection. 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 2020-01-15.

  Dataset EGAD00001005790

• The clinicopathologic spectrum and genomic landscape of de-/trans-differentiated melanoma

  De- and trans-differentiation is a rare and only poorly understood phenomenon in cutaneous melanoma. To study this disease more comprehensively we have retrieved 11 primary cutaneous melanomas from our pathology archives showing biphasic features characterized by a conventional melanoma and additional areas of de-/trans-differentiation as defined by a lack of immunohistochemical expression of all conventional melanocytic markers (S-100 protein, SOX10, Melan-A and HMB-45). The clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical findings were recorded and follow-up was obtained. The patients were mostly elderly (median: 81 years; range: 42-86 years) without significant gender predilection, and the sun-exposed skin of the head and neck area was most commonly affected. The tumors were deeply invasive with a mean tumor thickness of 7 mm (range: 4-80 mm). The dedifferentiated component showed atypical fibroxanthoma-like features in the majority (7), while additional rhabdomyosarcomatous and epithelial transdifferentiation was noted histologically and/or immunohistochemically in two tumors each. The background conventional melanoma component was of desmoplastic (4), superficial spreading (3), nodular (2), lentigo maligna (1) or spindle cell (1) types. For the 7 patients with available follow-up data (median follow-up period of 25 months; range: 8-36 months), 2 died from their disease and 3 developed metastases. Next-generation sequencing of the cohort revealed somatic mutation of established melanoma drivers including mainly NF1 mutations in the conventional component (5 cases), which were also detected in the corresponding de-/trans-differentiated components. In summary, the diagnosis of de-/trans-differentiated melanoma is challenging and depends on the morphologic identification of the conventional melanoma component. Molecular analysis is diagnostically helpful as the mutated gene profile is shared between the conventional and de-/trans-differentiated components. Importantly, de-/trans-differentiation does not appear to confer a more aggressive behavior.

  Dataset EGAD00001007033