Search Results - EGA European Genome-Phenome Archive

The genetic footprint of the European Roma diaspora: Evidence from the Balkans to the Iberian Peninsula

Our genomic approach focuses on: (i) the internal genetic structure of Roma and its correlation with geography; (ii) the relationships between Iberian Roma and other non-Roma populations to explore possible contacts during the period of population upheaval following the Roma’s arrival on the Iberian Peninsula; (iii) estimation of the admixture events in the Iberian Roma before and after their arrival to the Iberian Peninsula; and (iv) the assessment of endogamy patterns and assortative mating of the European Roma. Our study provides a detailed analysis of the intricate population history of the Iberian Roma, offering insights from both micro-geographical and large-scale perspectives on the population history of European Roma.

Study EGAS50000000746

A Phase II Study: CRS207/GVAX Plus Anti-PD1 and Anti-CTLA4 Recruits Mesothelin- and KRAS-Specific T cells into PDAC

This study examined immunologic correlatives from a phase II study evaluating CRS207/GVAX vaccines in combination with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 in metastatic pancreatic cancer (NCT03190265). Arm A received CRS207/GVAX with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 therapy; Arm B received CRS207 with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 therapy. Patients undergoing treatment in this trial had peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor tissue biopsied serially at pre-treatment and on-treatment timepoints. Single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing was employed on PBMCs. Bulk RNA/TCR sequencing was employed on tumor tissues. We identified treatment-enriched inflammatory pathways as well as T cell repertoires.

Study phs003798

Biomarker Research for Anti EGFR Monoclonal Antibodies by Comprehensive Cancer Genomics

The purpose of this study is to explore new biomarkers for predicting the effectiveness of an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibody in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The investigation involves analyzing the entire exome, conducting a genome-wide association study (GWAS), and analyzing copy number variations (CNVs) using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. Genetic material from both cancerous and non-cancerous tissues, as well as blood samples from patients who received the antibody treatment, will be used. The goal is to identify genetic mutations and SNPs associated with treatment efficacy and adverse events, and to assess the correlation between their presence and treatment effectiveness using statistical methods.

Study JGAS000779

Integrated Single-Nucleus and Spatial Transcriptomics Elucidate Heterogeneity and Hypoxia-Driven Organization of Supratentorial Ependymoma

Supratentorial ependymomas are often life-threatening brain tumours that are characterised by significant molecular heterogeneity. In this study, single-nucleus (n = 63) and spatial transcriptomics (n = 30) was performed to delineate the cellular and spatial landscape of supratentorial ependymoma. This study characterises the transcriptional consensus programs of this entity and connects them to clinical outcome. Two previously undescribed programs – associated with the remodelling of the extracellular matrix and the ZFTA fusion identity – are shown to be related to highly unfavourable outcome and to be exclusive to ZFTA fusion-positive tumours. Also, Hypoxia is proposed as the potential driver of spatial organisation, which may affect treatment success.

Study EGAS50000001318

Long-read whole genome sequencing of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant health challenge globally, with a particularly high incidence in Asia, including Singapore. Understanding the genomic landscape of normal gastric and the different GC subtypes along with its precursor lesions such as intestinal metaplasia (IM) as well as GC metastatic sites is crucial for advancing diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics. Long-read sequencing technologies offer an opportunity to delve deeper into the genomic and epigenetic alterations underlying these conditions and to complement existing short-read omics data. By integrating these data with previously generated in-house multi-omics data (such as RNA sequencing and whole exome sequencing), we hope to better elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying GC initiation and progression.

Study EGAS50000001607

Whole-genome-Sequencing of adult medulloblastoma

Brain tumors constitute the childhood tumors with the highest mortality rates and survival is often associated with severe long-term sequelae due to intensive multimodal treatment regimens. Thus, the PedBrainTumor network aims at the identification of robust biomarkers for clinical management and novel molecular targets for therapeutic interventions. Using massively parallel whole-genome sequencing, and transcriptome and methylome sequencing for subsets of cases, we aim to decipher the molecular causes of medulloblastoma as well as low-grade astrocytoma, and to identify markers to stratify patients for specialized treatment. As the PedBrain network is affiliated with clinical trials in medulloblastoma and pilocytic astrocytoma, validation cohorts for the translation of key findings into clinical settings are readily available.

Study EGAS00001000393

Ashkenazi Jewish Leukoencephalopathy

Genetic leukoencephalopathies (gLEs) are a group of heterogeneous disorders with white matter abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS). Patients affected with gLEs have brain white matter defects that can be seen in MRI and exhibit variable neurologic phenotypes including motor impairment, hypotonia, pyramidal dysfunction, dystonia and/or dyskinesias, ataxia, seizures, cortical blindness, optic atrophy, and impaired cognitive development. The exact causes in half of gLEs are unknown. We studied three unrelated families affected with an undiagnosed gLE and discovered a homozygous germline mutation c.2536T>G in VPS11 by whole exome sequencing, a gene involved in membrane trafficking and fusion of the lysosomes and endosomes, as a novel cause of a new gLE syndrome.

Study EGAS00001001767

Identifying causative mutations for Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii

Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii is an inherited disorder that manifests itself with major limb skeletal abnormalities and low platelet count (and therefore a bleeding diathesis). The syndrome is well-characterised and defined phenotypically and there is a well-established database of UK-based families affected with ths disorder. The causative mutation for the disorder is yet to be identified. If known, it would allow for pre-natal screening and counselling avoiding life-long care for patients who are affected and are therefore severely disabled. We postulate that exon sequencing of 4 unrelated affected individuals would give enough power to narrow down potential candidate mutations which would thereafter be confirmed using DNA from other affected families.

Study EGAS00001000054

Tumor microenvironment study of ovarian granulosa cell tumors

Adult-type granulosa cell tumors (aGCT) are rare ovarian sex cord tumors with few 41 effective treatments for recurrent disease. The objective of this study was to compare global gene expression profiles and characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME) of primary and recurrent aGCTs in order to identify correlates of disease recurrence. Total RNA sequencing was performed on 24 pathologically confirmed, cryopreserved aGCT samples, including 8 primary and 16 recurrent tumors. A total of 31 differentially expressed genes were identified between primary and recurrent aGCT. TME analysis demonstrated significantly higher fractions of neutrophils and macrophages in recurrent tumors in conjunction with significantly lower fractions of cancer-associated fibroblasts and endothelial cells.

Study EGAS00001006478

Reliable assessment of telomere maintenance mechanisms in neuroblastoma

Telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) are a hallmark of high-risk neuroblastoma, and are conferred by activation of telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). However, detection of TMM is not yet part of the clinical routine, and consensus on TMM detection, especially on ALT assessment, remains to be achieved. We here propose a workflow to reliably detect TMM in neuroblastoma. We show that unambiguous classification is feasible following a stepwise approach that determines both, activation of telomerase and ALT. The workflow proposed in this study can be used in clinical routine and provides a framework to systematically and reliably determine telomere maintenance mechanisms for risk stratification and treatment allocation of neuroblastoma patients.

Study EGAS00001006510

Detection and genomic analysis of BRAF fusions in Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma through the combination and integration of multi-omic data

Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma (JPAs) are highly vascular tumors and show pervasive immune infiltration, which can lead to low tumor cell purity in clinical samples. In some instances, this results in gene fusions that are difficult to detect with conventional omics approaches including RNA-Seq. To this effect, we applied RNA-Seq as well as linked-read whole-genome sequencing and in situ Hi-C as new approaches to detect and characterize low-frequency gene fusions at the genomic, transcriptomic and spatial level. Overall, we demonstrate the power of integrating multi-omic datasets to identify low frequency fusions and characterize the JPA genome at high resolution.

Study EGAS00001006388

A standardised framework for robust fragmentomic feature extraction from cell-free DNA sequencing data

Fragmentomic features of cell-free DNA represent promising non-invasive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. However, a lack of systematic evaluation of biases in feature quantification has hindered the adoption of such applications. We compared features derived from whole-genome sequencing of ten healthy donors using nine library kits and ten data-processing routes, and validated them in 1,182 plasma samples from published studies. Our results clarify the variations resulting from library preparation and feature quantification methods. We designed the Trim Align Pipeline and the cfDNAPro R package as unified interfaces for data pre-processing, feature extraction, and visualisation, aiming to standardise multimodal feature engineering and integration for machine learning.

Study EGAS00001008051

comparing the snRNA-seq from placentas of mothers with or without obesity

Obesity poses risks to maternal health and increases the likelihood of short- and long-term adverse pregnancy outcomes in the offspring. The placenta, a key organ at the maternal-fetal interface, responds to maternal obesity and regulates fetal growth. To investigate the molecular features of physiological adaptation, we perform single-nuclei RNA-seq on human placentas and compared the transcriptomic profiles of women with obesity delivering appropriate- or large-for-gestational age (i.e., AGA and LGA) babies with those from normal-weight healthy controls with AGA babies. The snRNA-seq libraries were generated with Chromium Single Cell 3’ kit v3.1 (10X Genomics) and sequenced on Illumina NovaSeq 6000 at Novogene.

Study EGAS50000000834

Exome sequencing of UK Birth Cohorts - Born in Bradford

Birth cohort studies involve repeated surveys of large numbers of individuals from birth and throughout their lives. They collect information useful for a wide range of life course research domains, and biological samples which can be used to derive data from an increasing collection of omic technologies. This rich source of longitudinal data, when combined with genomic data, offers the scientific community valuable insights from population genetics to rare disease associations. Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)recruited 14,775 babies of predominantly White ethnicity in the Avon county of south-west England between 1991 and 1992. Born in Bradford (BiB) is similarly focused on a particular local area, the city of Bradford in the north of England, and recruited 13,858 babies between 2007 and 2011, of whom ~41% self-report as white British and ~59% as other ethnicities, predominantly Pakistani. Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) is a national cohort that recruited 18,827 children born between 2000 and 2002, intentionally over-sampling areas with high child poverty, large ethnic minority populations, and smaller UK nations (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) Available here is a subset of exome-sequenced parents and children from these studies (CRAMS and post-QC VCFs) as detailed in https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.22697 [doi.org]. Phenotypic data is also available by submitting an application to the corresponding cohort: https://borninbradford.nhs.uk/ [borninbradford.nhs.uk]

Dataset EGAD00001015370

SCI-MAP: Single Cell Microgel embedded iPS-cells to map molecular variability of cell differentiation using a systems biology approach

In the SCI-MAP project we will map cell states encountered across a previously established 49 day in vitro chondrogenic differentiation protocol. We do this to optimise the differentiation process for therapeutic and in vitro modelling ends. We collect epigenetic open chromatin and phenotypic transcriptome data to determine cell states and so performed single nucleus sequencing in two modalities: RNA- and ATAC-sequencing. Data was collected in a time series experiment at 7 points: Days 0, 3, 6, 8, 14, 21, and 49, starting with the first pilot data from day 21 (D21) then the actual experiment time series 1 (TS1) of days 0, 3, 6, 8, 14, and 49.

Study EGAS50000001756

Genetic Causes of Growth Disorders

Description of the disorder: A very common disorder presenting to pediatricians/pediatric endocrinologists is childhood growth failure. Sometimes the cause is evident, for example, growth hormone deficiency. In other children, the etiology remains unknown despite extensive evaluation, resulting in the unhelpful diagnosis of severe idiopathic short stature (SISS). These conditions are quite heterogeneous, including children with isolated growth failure and others who also have other abnormalities such as developmental delay or a constellation of congenital anomalies (syndromic short stature). Sometimes, the disorder appears to primarily affect the growth plate, which drives skeletal growth and thereby determines overall body proportions, whereas in other children, the disorder affects skeletal and non-skeletal tissues equally. Some cases of SISS have a polygenic inheritance while others appear to follow a Mendelian inheritance model, recessive, dominant or X-linked. Very recently, genome-wide analysis for copy number variants (CNVs) and whole-exome sequencing have begun to identify some of the molecular etiologies of these disorders.1 Identifying the molecular etiology of growth disorders has clinical and scientific value. Clinically, identifying a molecular cause prevents extensive further testing and may direct anticipatory care for associated medical problems. For example, we recently studied aggrecan (ACAN) gene mutations in families with autosomal dominant short stature and accelerated skeletal maturation. These mutations affect both growth plate cartilage, causing linear growth failure, and also articular cartilage, causing osteochondritis dissecans and early-onset osteoarthritis.1 Etiological classification of idiopathic growth failure allows more precise characterization of prognosis and response to treatment, which are currently highly imprecise because of the locus heterogeneity. In some cases, finding the genetic etiology points to a novel treatment approach that targets the specific molecular pathway involved. The proposed project is central to the main focus of our group, the Section on Growth and Development, NICHD. Our primary goal is to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms governing childhood growth and to gain insight into the many human genetic disorders causing childhood growth failure. The proposed project is well suited for the intramural program because it takes advantage of Clinical Center expertise to phenotype subjects with SISS. Study subjects: We will study subjects with SISS and nuclear family members. SISS will be defined by height SDS < -2.5 for age without evident cause after routine evaluation including: growth hormone axis evaluation; thyroid function testing; celiac disease screening; urinalysis; CBC; chemistry; karyotype (girls, for Turner syndrome); and testing for single gene defects based on the clinical evaluation (for example, SHOX or Noonan-associated genes). Candidate families will include isolated growth disorders and growth disorders that are accompanied by congenital anomalies, developmental delay, or other syndromic short stature. Strong preference will be given to subjects with a severe phenotype and a pedigree that indicates a Mendelian inheritance. Multiple independent families with the same phenotype will have priority. The pool of applicants for recruitment is large, and we receive many inquiries by emails and phone consultations from pediatric endocrinologists for advice regarding diagnosis and management of unusual growth disorders, including familial disease. Often these families are seeking further evaluation and are willing to participate in a research study. From this pool, we will be selecting pedigrees with very favorable Mendelian characteristics, for example de novo dominant occurrences where two normal parents have a child with SISS, and the child grows up to be an adult who passes this phenotype on to multiple grandchildren in the next generation. Subjects and family members will be brought to the NIH Clinical Center (NIHCC) for outpatient evaluation. Participants will be evaluated by pediatric endocrinology fellows (as part of our training program) and by senior staff to establish the clinical findings and construct a pedigree. Subjects will receive additional biochemical and imaging studies at the Clinical Center to complete the phenotyping and assign affected status. The growth abnormality will be evaluated by assessing body proportions, relative organ size, and skeletal imaging as indicated. Associated clinical abnormalities beyond altered growth will be characterized with the help of other Clinical Center subspecialists. Subjects and family members will be evaluated by SNP microarray and whole-exome sequencing. We anticipate 4-5 persons for each of 16-20 families, for a total of 72-90 whole-exome sequences. Half of the families will be recruited and studied within the first year and half in the second year. We will use freshly collected peripheral blood as the DNA source for SNP array and NextGen Sequencing. Analytic approach: The candidate genes will be chosen based on 1) inheritance state consistency, 2) population frequency in the ESP and UDP databases, and 3) predictions of deleteriousness. We will use VarSifter and the B road Institute Integrated Genome Viewer to filter and visualize these data. The genetic model will be dependent on the family's pedigree. For a simple trio, we will explore variants using genetic models including autosomal recessive, de novo (dominant), compound heterozygous, deletion/point mutation recessive, and X-linked (male only). The candidate variants will be identified using Boolean logic sets in VarSifter following intramural NHGRI/UDP methods. We will also use SNP microarray data to identify copy number variations, complete/single copy deletions, duplications, non-paternity, consanguinity for homozygosity mapping, uniparental isodisomy, mosaicism, and segregation patterns (bed file generation for use in VarSifter filter work). After a list of candidate sequence variants has been generated, annotation will include using the Exome Variant Server, Polyphen-2, MutationTaster, Sift, and CADD predictions of deleteriousness. Biological laboratory data will be included to prioritize candidate variants. Our group has expertise in the molecular mechanisms regulating both skeletal growth2,3 and growth of other tissues4,5, which may be helpful in this phase of the analysis. The most promising candidate mutations will be confirmed by Sanger sequencing and studied functionally, in vitro and/or in vivo. For mutations that affect skeletal growth, we will use experimental systems related to growth plate cartilage. For in vitro studies, we have experience transfecting chondrocyte cell lines, such as ATDC5, and primary chondrocytes. We will determine whether the mutation alters protein and/or cell function. In vivo studies can be used to explore pathophysiology. We have recently successfully used a new approach, the CAS9/CRISPR system to knockout multiple loci in mice (unpublished), which can be used again in the future to create mouse models efficiently. 1J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2014 (PMID: 24762113) 2J Mol Endocrinol, 2014 (PMID: 24740736) 3Hum Mol Genet, 2012 (PMID: 22914739) 4Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2013 (PMID: 23530192) 5Endocr Rev, 2011 (PMID: 21441345)

Study phs001617

Discovering the Genetic Basis of Human Neuroblastoma: A Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) Project

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. Children with disseminated neuroblastoma have a very high risk of treatment failure and death despite receiving intensified chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. The long-term goal of our research program is to ultimately improve neuroblastoma cure rates by first comprehensively defining the genetic basis of the disease. The central hypothesis to be tested here is that neuroblastoma arises largely due to the epistatic interaction of common and rare heritable DNA variation. Here we will perform a comprehensive whole genome sequencing of 563 quartets of neuroblastoma patient germline and diagnostic tumor DNAs and germline DNAs from both parents. The case series was recently collected through a Children's Oncology Group epidemiology clinical trial and is robustly annotated with complete demographic (age, sex, race, ethnicity), clinical (e.g. age at diagnosis, stage, risk group), epidemiologic (parental dietary and exposure questionnaire) and biological (e.g. tumor MYCN status and multiple other tumor genomic measures) co-variates. Subjects were consented for genetic research and DNA is immediately available for shipment for sequencing. We propose Illumina-based whole genome sequencing in the 593 "trio" germline samples (Aim 1; due to missing parent: 487 full neuroblastoma triads, 106 child-single parent dyads = 1673 whole genome sequences) and matched diagnostic tumor DNA (Aim 2; N=366) at 30x sequencing depth (N=2039 whole genome sequences). Also in Aim 2 we will perform whole exome (100x) and RNA sequencing on the 366 tumor DNA and 228 tumor RNA samples from this cohort. Finally, we propose a pilot study of structural variation using long-range sequencing in 10 non-overlapping tumor samples chosen based on potentially relevant chromosomal alterations discovered with conventional NGS. Thus, a total of 2277 individual samples and 2655 sequences will be generated. We will use our established analytic pipeline that is currently being used to study the germline genomes of all cases sequenced through the NCI supported Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments program. We plan a three-stage analytic approach, first focusing on classic de novo and inherited Mendelian damaging alterations. We will next integrate our extensive epigenomic data from human neuroblastoma cell lines and genome-wide association study data (N=5,703 neuroblastoma cases to date) to guide a comprehensive assessment of noncoding variants that influence tumor initiation with a recently established analytic pipeline. Finally, we will utilize the tumor DNA analyses to inform relevance via somatic gain or loss of function effects at the sequence and/or copy number levels. All data generated in this project will be immediately placed into the Genomic Data Commons (GDC) and we will compute within this environment by importing our analytic pipelines into the GDC. These data will be fully integrated into the Kids First Data Resource and freely shared with all academically qualified petitioners. This comprehensive data set derived from a large and richly phenotyped series of neuroblastoma DNA quartets will be integrated with existing germline and/or tumor genomic data from over 6,000 neuroblastoma subjects (but none with matched patient-parent germline sequencing data) to provide an unparalleled opportunity to comprehensively discover the genetic basis of neuroblastoma.

Study phs001436

Kids First: Genomics of Orofacial Cleft Birth Defects in Latin American Families

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). Both childhood cancers and structural birth defects are critical and costly conditions associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Elucidating the underlying genetic etiology of these diseases has the potential to profoundly improve preventative measures, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and https://kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. The Kids First study of nonsyndromic orofacial cleft (OFC) birth defects in Latin American families is a whole genome sequencing study of 283 Latin-American parent-case trios drawn from ongoing collaborations led by Dr. Mary L. Marazita of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, and including a collaboration with Dr. Lina Moreno Uribe and Dr. Andrew Lidral of the University of Iowa. All families were ascertained through the Clinica Noel where patients with OFCs receive care from the Antioquia University School of Dentistry in Medellin, Colombia (key on-site colleagues included Dr. Luz Consuelo Valencia-Ramirez and Dr. Mauricio Arcos-Burgos). Genetic studies have shown that this population is comprised of an admixture of immigrant male Caucasians (mainly Spaniards and Basques) and native Amerindian females. Every subject has had a genetic evaluation, including a pedigree analysis for a family history of clefting and other birth defects, a pregnancy history for environmental exposures, and a complete physical exam to rule out suspected or known syndromes or environmental phenocopies. Sequencing was done by the Broad Institute sequencing center funded by the Kids First program (grant number U24-HD090743). The case in each of the Kids First OFC trios has cleft lip (CL, Figure A below), cleft palate (CP, Figure B), or both (CL+CP, Figure C): OFCs are genetically complex structural birth defects caused by genetic factors, environmental exposures, and their interactions. OFCs are the most common craniofacial anomalies in humans, affecting approximately 1 in 700 newborns, and are one of the most common structural birth defects worldwide. On average a child with an OFC initially faces feeding difficulties, undergoes 6 surgeries, spends 30 days in hospital, receives 5 years of orthodontic treatment, and participates in ongoing speech therapy, leading to an estimated total lifetime treatment cost of about $200,000. Further, individuals born with an OFC have higher infant mortality, higher mortality rates at all other stages of life, increased incidence of mental health problems, and higher risk for other disorders (notably including breast, brain, and colon cancers). Prior genome-wide linkage and association studies have now identified at least 18 genomic regions likely to contribute to the risk for nonsyndromic OFCs. Despite this substantial progress, the functional/pathogenic variants at OFC-associated regions are mostly still unknown. Because previous OFC genomic studies (genome-wide linkage, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and targeted sequencing) are based on relatively sparse genotyping data, they cannot distinguish between causal variants and variants in linkage disequilibrium with unobserved causal variants. Moreover, it is unknown whether the association or linkage signals are due to single common variants, haplotypes of multiple common variants, clusters of multiple rare variants, or some combination. Finally, we cannot yet attribute specific genetic risk to individual cases and case families. Therefore, the goal of the current study is identify specific OFC risk variants in Latin American families by performing whole genome sequencing of parent-case trios.

Study phs001420

Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics (CCDG): Genetics of Orofacial Clefts and Related Phenotypes

The purpose of this study is to investigate the genetics of orofacial clefts (OFCs) in a large study population, and importantly, to incorporate subclinical phenotypic features into these studies. Orofacial clefts (OFCs) comprise a significant fraction of human birth defects (about 1/700 live births (Rahimov et al. 2012) and represent a major public health challenge, as individuals with these anomalies require surgical, nutritional, dental, speech, medical and behavioral interventions, thus imposing a substantial economic and personal burden (Berk and Marazita 2002*). The most common forms include OFCs of the lip alone (CL, Figure 1A), CL plus cleft palate (CL+CP, Figure 1B) or of the palate only (CP, Figure 1C). Individuals born with OFC may have their first surgical repair at age 3 months, but this initial surgery is just the beginning of a lifetime of health burdens. An individual born with an OFC has a hospital use rate increased for most ages (up to 233% increase for children ages 0-10 years and 16% for middle aged adults (Wehby et al. 2012). Healthcare costs for children with OFCs are estimated to be 800% greater compared with their unaffected peers (Boulet et al. 2009). Data from Denmark show that people born with CL with or without CP (CL/P) have an increased mortality up to age 55, which may be attributed to an increased risk of suicide and/or certain cancers (Christensen et al. 2004). The focus of most OFC genetic research has been CL and/or CP. Furthermore, the majority of OFC, i.e. about 70% of CL/P and 50% of CP is considered "nonsyndromic" (Jones 1988), i.e. isolated anomalies with no other apparent cognitive or structural abnormalities. Figure 1 Sample OFC Types A: Bilateral Cleft Lip; B:Cleft Lip plus Cleft Palate; C:Cleft Palate Alone The factors leading to the majority of nonsyndromic OFCs are still unclear, particularly at an individual family level. As is true for many complex traits, substantial progress in gene identification has occurred in the OFC field in the last two years (Dixon et al. 2011; Marazita 2012). Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and sequencing studies to date by our research team and others have focused on genetic risk factors for overt CL/P and CPO-and have been very successful. A major finding from this work is that OFCs exhibit significant genetic heterogeneity, i.e., multiple genetic regions have been implicated (Beaty et al. 2010; Ludwig et al. 2012). Thus, approaches are needed to understand this genetic heterogeneity. Are there GxG interactions at work? Are there subsets of families, each due to a different gene? Our research group has shown that a promising approach to dissect the etiology of OFC is to focus on subclinical phenotypic features within entire cleft families (not just in affected cases, but also in their non-cleft relatives). These subtle features are believed to represent mild manifestations of the same underlying genetic susceptibility responsible for OFCs; as such, their inclusion in case-control and family-based genetic studies can help to clarify and refine the relationship between genotype and phenotype. The study population comprises a large number of families and individuals (~12,000 individuals) from multiple populations worldwide (Caucasians from the US and Europe, Asians from China and the Philippines, Mixed Native American/Caucasians from South America, and Africans from Nigeria and Ethiopia). There are cases, case families (nuclear families and extended kindreds), as well as controls with no history of OFC nor other developmental defects. *Berk NW, Marazita ML (2002) Costs of Cleft lip and Palate: Personal and Societal Implications. In: Wyszynski DF (ed) Cleft Lip and Palate: From Origin to Treatment. Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, pp 458-467.

Study phs000774

Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) Tissue Feasibility Study

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies are being used for detection of somatic mutations in tumors and studies of germline variation. However, most NGS studies used DNA isolated either from whole blood or fresh frozen tissue specimens. Meanwhile, the tissue specimens available from most National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded cohorts and the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries (http://seer.cancer.gov/biospecimen) are primarily formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE). There are limited data, on a small number of FFPE tissue samples, which suggest NGS is feasible. Much less is known about the feasibility of these technologies for large scale studies or using older FFPE specimens (e.g. 5-30 years old). The SEER cancer registries cover approximately 28% of the United States population, providing high quality demographic, clinical, pathologic, and survival data. The SEER Residual Tissue Repository (RTR) program was established in 2003. The RTR maintains biospecimens obtained from three of SEER' population-based cancer registries: Iowa, Hawaii, and Los Angeles. Investigators at government, academic, and nonprofit institutions may apply to the program to obtain annotated FFPE tumor tissue specimens to study biomarkers, etiology, and other aspects with a population-based sample of cancer cases. The main objective of this project was to conduct a pilot study to determine whether the DNA obtained from archival FFPE tissue from 3 SEER Registries is of sufficient quality and quantity to conduct NGS. For Exome sequencing, sixty high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinomas from FFPE tissues which were between 7 and 31 years old were obtained from three SEER registries. DNA was extracted, quantified, quality assessed, and subjected to whole exome sequencing. DNA extraction (yields and quality) and whole exome sequencing (depths of coverage and exome coverage obtained) results from this study will be presented. For RNA-sequencing, sixty-seven high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinomas from FFPE tissues which were between 7 and 31 years old were obtained from three SEER registries. Total RNA was extracted, quantified, quality assessed, and subjected to whole transcriptome sequencing. Ultimately data derived from this analysis could serve as the basis for determining the utility of archival FFPE biospecimens for characterization and discovery projects utilizing NGS technologies instead of relying on frozen biospecimens.

Study phs000950

Genomics of Opioid Pharmacogenomics and Acute/Chronic Postsurgical Pain after Major Surgery in Children

Pain management after surgery is not optimal, partly due to great interindividual variability in pain perception and coping. This can lead to persistent pain beyond the healing period and disability. Up to two-thirds of the inter-individual variability results from genetic variations in pain perception as well as response to the pain medicine. The investigators aim to identify genomic (genetic/epigenetic), psychological and drug profiles contributing to this variability. Opioids are the mainstay for treatment of postoperative pain in children. Experience dictates that opioids have narrow therapeutic indices and large inter-patient variability in response. This leads to serious side effects like respiratory depression in up to 50% of children undergoing invasive surgery, which can be fatal. It is evident that there are particular children who are more susceptible to suffering side effects and having inadequate pain relief from opioids.It is hypothesized that much of the genetic variability can be explained by gene function which is modulated by a) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes that encode proteins involved in pain perception, opioid transport/metabolism (pharmacokinetics), and opioid receptor signaling (pharmacodynamics); b) epigenetics which modify gene expression without structural changes to the DNA, and c) genes that influence psychological factors.The purpose of this research study is to identify factors and genes that may be associated with acute and chronic post-surgical pain, and to develop pharmacometric models for response to opioids, like morphine and hydromorphone. While children undergoing different surgeries will be recruited for acute outcomes, children undergoing spine fusion will be followed for 10-12 months for evaluation of psychological and genomic factors affecting chronic post-surgical pain, with a goal of identifying genetic and epigenetic risk models for prediction of acute and chronic post-surgical pain. Although opioids are used every day, some children have bad reactions from their use, like breathing problems, sedation, etc. The investigators want to study factors that may be associated with pain sensitivity, opioid requirements after surgery, their metabolism, efficacy and their side-effects. The investigators expect that the information obtained in this research study will help to develop effective, safer, and tailored treatment options in the future.

Study phs002105

Genetic Discovery and Application in a Clinical Setting: Continuing a Partnership (eMERGE Phase II)

The electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network is a consortium of ten participating sites funded by the NHGRI to investigate the use of electronic medical record systems for genomic research. The goal of eMERGE is to conduct genome-wide association studies in approximately 19,000 individuals using EMR-derived phenotypes and DNA from linked Biorepositories. The eMERGE Network brings together researchers with a wide range of expertise in genomics, statistics, ethics, informatics, and clinical medicine from leading medical research institutions across the country. Each center participating in the consortium is uniquely situated to provide critical resources to this highly collaborative and productive network. Each site combines a biobank or study cohort with extensive genomic data and access to clinical data derived from electronic medical records. Sites are geographically dispersed and have diverse patient populations, including two sites focusing specifically on pediatrics. The eMERGE Network is comprised of 9 sites and one coordinating center. Each site maintains its own biorepository where DNA specimens are linked to phenotypic data contained within EMRs. Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, PI: Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD Cincinnati Children's Medical Center with Boston Children's Hospital, PI: John Harley, MD, PhD - CCHMC and Ingrid Holm, MD, MPH - BCH Geisinger Health System, PI: David Carey, PhD and Marc Williams, MD Group Health Cooperative with University of Washington, PI: Eric Larson, MD, MPH - GHC and Gail Jarvik, MD, PhD - UW Marshfield Clinic with Essentia Institute of Rural Health, PI: Catherine McCarty, PhD, MPH - Essentia and Murray Brilliant, PhD - Marshfield Mayo Clinic, PI: Christopher Chute, MD, DrPH and Iftikhar Kullo, MD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, PI: Erwin Bottinger, MD Northwestern University, PI: Rex Chisholm, PhD and Maureen Smith, MS Vanderbilt University, PI: Dan Roden, MD eMERGE Coordinating Center - Vanderbilt University, PI: Paul Harris, PhD Using electronic phenotyping methods, the consortium used DNA samples from all participating sites to explore the genetic determinants of red cell indices, white blood count (WBC) differential, diabetic retinopathy, height, serum lipid levels, specifically total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein), and triglycerides, and autoimmune hypothyroidism as well as using the phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) paradigm to replicate and discover relationships between targeted genotypes with multiple phenotypes.

Study phs000948

Genetic Testing to Understand and Address Renal Disease Disparities

People of African ancestry (Blacks) have increased risk of kidney failure due to numerous socioeconomic, environmental, and clinical factors. Two variants in the APOL1 gene (GeneID: 8542) are now thought to account for much of the racial disparity associated with hypertensive kidney failure in Blacks. One in 7 AAs carry this risk allele, but it is nearly absent in other populations; the variants protect against infection with African trypanosomiasis which is endemic to Africa. However, this knowledge has not been translated into clinical care to help improve patient outcomes and address disparities. It is unknown whether patient or clinician knowledge of genetic risk impacts patient care (i.e., renal surveillance, BP medication use/intensification) or outcomes such as BP control and CKD. GUARDD is a randomized trial to evaluate the effects and challenges of incorporating genetic risk information into primary care. Hypertensive, nondiabetic, adults with self-reported African ancestry, without kidney dysfunction, are recruited from diverse clinical settings and randomized to undergo APOL1 genetic testing at baseline (intervention) or at one year (waitlist control). Prior to enrolling their patients, providers are educated about genomics and APOL1. Guided by a genetic counselor, trained staff return APOL1 results to patients and provide low-literacy educational materials. Real-time clinical decision support tools alert clinicians of their patients' APOL1 results and associated risk status at the point of care. Our academic - community clinical partnership designed a study to generate information about the impact of genetic risk information on our primary outcome - patient care (renal surveillance by clinicians, of serum creatinine and/or urine albumin tests. with a sub-aim of reduction of systolic blood pressure). Secondary outcomes include impact on primary outcomes at 12 months, psycho-behavioral differences of patients between groups and over time, clinician knowledge, attitudes and beliefs at baseline and 12 months, and differences in outcomes between those tested and not tested. GUARDD will help establish the effective implementation of APOL1 risk informed management of hypertensive patients at high risk of CKD, and will provide a robust framework for future endeavors to implement genomic medicine in diverse clinical practices. It will also add to the important dialog about factors that contribute to and may help eliminate racial disparities in kidney disease.

Study phs001620

Exploring high-throughput drug sensitivity testing in neuroblastoma cell lines and patient-derived tumor organoids in the era of precision medicine

Despite druggable events in 80% of neuroblastoma patients within the Princess Máxima Center precision medicine program 'iTHER', clinical uptake of treatment recommendations has been low, and the clinical impact for individual patients remains hard to predict. This stresses the need for a method integrating genomics and transcriptomics with functional approaches into therapeutic decision making. We aimed to launch an online repository integrating genomics and transcriptomics with high-throughput drug screening (HTS) of nineteen commonly used neuroblastoma cell lines and fourteen generated neuroblastoma patient-derived organoids (NBL-PDOs) to improve identification of molecularly matched therapies and support clinical uptake. Cell lines, NBL-PDOs and their parental tumors were characterized utilizing (lc)WGS, WES and RNAseq. Cells were exposed to a ~200 compound library, and viability was assessed using CellTiterGlo or MTT. Molecular and HTS results were transferred to the R2 platform (http://r2platform.com/pmc_nb_drugs/), in which a comprehensive suite of visualizations and analysis options were implemented. As a result, a powerful reference set of cell lines is available, reflecting distinct known pharmacologic vulnerabilities, including resistance of TP53-inactivated lines to MDM2 inhibitor idasanutlin; ALK-inhibitor sensitivity in ALK-activated lines, and sensitivity of an ATM-deleted cell line to PARP- and CHEK1-inhibitors. Novel established NBL-PDOs retained molecular features of their parental tumor and again reflected established drug sensitivities. However, HTS also identified additional therapeutic vulnerabilities in vitro, such as a striking correlation between a positive mesenchymal signature and sensitivity to BCL2-inhibitor venetoclax. Finally, we explored personalized drug sensitivities within iTHER, demonstrating HTS can support genomic and transcriptomic results, thereby strengthening the rationale for clinical uptake. Furthermore, in vitro insensitivity may avoid ineffective treatments. Lastly, novel treatment options may be identified, as indicated by sensitivity to ponatinib correlating with overexpression of RET or KIT. In conclusion, we established a dynamic publicly available dataset with detailed genomic, transcriptomic, and pharmacological annotation of classical neuroblastoma cell lines as well as NBL-PDOs, representing the heterogeneous landscape of neuroblastoma. We anticipate that in vitro drug screening will be complementary to genomic-guided precision medicine by supporting clinical decision making, thereby improving prognosis for all neuroblastoma patients in the future.

Study EGAS00001007160

RNA-Seq studies of Gene Expression in Cells and Networks in FI and ACC in Autism

RNA-Seq studies of Gene Expression in Cells and Networks in FI (fronto-insular) and AC (anterior cingulate) cortex in Autism. We seek to understand the cellular bases of autism by using a new technology, RNA-Seq, to determine differences in gene expression in autopsy brains of subjects with well described autism versus age and sex matched neurotypical individuals. We have investigated two specific cortical areas involved in self-awareness and social reciprocity which are abnormal in autism and have found increased expression in a network of genes related to inflammation in autism group A, whereas the remaining cases, autism group B, have increased expression in a network of genes related to synapses. The current dbGaP study release includes RNA sequencing and phenotype data of n=27 subjects of African - American, Caucasian, or Hispanic origin.

Study phs000609

16466 results for "sec+and+unspecified+malignant+neoplasm"

in 49.90 milliseconds.