3335 results for "*geneti*"

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• Carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity reactions in Europeans

  An antiepileptic drug carbamazepine is well tolerated by the majority of patients, but can cause severe and potentialy fatal hypersensitivity reactions in a small number of individuals. The aim of this study was to identify genetic predictors of hypersensitivity reactions to carbamazepine. We undertook a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 22 patients of European ancestry with carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (HSS) and compared our data with genotypes from a healthy population within the WTCCC. We performed imputation of classical HLA alleles according to a recently described method (Science. 2010 Dec 10;330(6010):1551-7. Epub 2010 Nov 4). GWAS statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression with an additive model of inheritance.

  Study EGAS00000000037

• Procardis study on novel susceptibility genes for coronary artery disease (CAD)

  An increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein has been identified as a risk factor for coronary artery disease that is highly heritable. The genetic determinants of the Lp(a) lipoprotein level and their relevance for the risk of coronary disease are incompletely understood. METHODS: We used a novel gene chip containing 48,742 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2100 candidate genes to test for associations in 3145 case subjects with coronary disease and 3352 control subjects. Replication was tested in three independent populations involving 4846 additional case subjects with coronary disease and 4594 control subjects. RESULTS: Three chromosomal regions (6q26-27, 9p21, and 1p13) were strongly associated with the risk of coronary disease. The LPA locus on 6q26-27 encoding Lp(a) lipoprotein had the strongest association. We identified a common variant (rs10455872) at the LPA locus with an odds ratio for coronary disease of 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49 to 1.95) and another independent variant (rs3798220) with an odds ratio of 1.92 (95% CI, 1.48 to 2.49). Both variants were strongly associated with an increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein, a reduced copy number in LPA (which determines the number of kringle IV-type 2 repeats), and a small Lp(a) lipoprotein size. Replication studies confirmed the effects of both variants on the Lp(a) lipoprotein level and the risk of coronary disease. A meta-analysis showed that with a genotype score involving both LPA SNPs, the odds ratios for coronary disease were 1.51 (95% CI, 1.38 to 1.66) for one variant and 2.57 (95% CI, 1.80 to 3.67) for two or more variants. After adjustment for the Lp(a) lipoprotein level, the association between the LPA genotype score and the risk of coronary disease was abolished. CONCLUSIONS: We identified two LPA variants that were strongly associated with both an increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein and an increased risk of coronary disease. Our findings provide support for a causal role of Lp(a) lipoprotein in coronary disease.

  Study EGAS00000000055

• Genome-wide association study in multiple human prion diseases suggests genetic risk factors additional to PRNP

  We conducted GWAS of sporadic CJD, variant CJD, iatrogenic CJD, inherited prion disease, kuru and resistance to kuru despite attendance at mortuary feasts. After quality control we analysed 2000 samples and 6015 control individuals (provided by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium and KORA-gen), for 491032-511862 SNPs in the European study. Association studies were done in each geographical and aetiological group followed by several combined analyses.

  Study EGAS00000000097

• Identification of genetic etiology of CAMRQ2

  We aimed to identify genetic etiology of cerebellar ataxia, mental retardation, and disequilibrium syndrome (CAMRQ). Targeted sequencing of the entire CAMRQ2 locus, 7.1 Mb interval on chromosome 17p13, in three affected individuals and two obligate carriers uncovered the mutation associated with CAMRQ2.

  Study EGAS00000000099

• MRCA and MRCE SNP genotypes

  Gene expression levels can be an important link DNA between variation and phenotypic manifestations. Our previous map of global gene expression based on approximately 400K SNPs and 50K transcripts in 400 sib pairs from the MRCA family panel has been widely used to interpret the results of GWAS. Here, we more than double the size of our initial dataset with expression data on 550 additional individuals from the MRCE family panel using the Illumina whole genome expression array. We have used new statistical methods for dimension reduction to account for non-genetic effects in estimates of expression levels and we have also included SNPs imputed from the 1000 Genomes Project. Our methods reduced false discovery rates and increased the number of eQTLs mapped either locally or at a distance (i.e. in cis or trans) from 1,534 in the MRCA dataset to 4,452 (with <5% FDR). Imputation of 1000 Genomes SNPs further increased the number of eQTLs to 7,302. Using the same methods and imputed SNPs in the newly acquired MRCE dataset we identified eQTLs for 9000 genes. The combined results identify strong local and distant effects for transcripts from 14,177 genes. Our eQTL database (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty/liming-liang/software/eqtl/) based on these results is freely available to help define the function of disease-associated variants.

  Study EGAS00000000137

• Genetic_variation_in_Kuusamo

  The aim of this study is to characterize as completely as possible the genetic variation and structure of Kuusamo and surrounding regions. We will perform low coverage, whole genome sequencing in a relatively limited number (approximately 200) of individuals from the FINRISK study both of whose parents are born in Kuusamo, Posio or Taivalkoski. Sequencing will be performed at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI). We have previously shown using simulations and genome wide SNP data that the genetic characteristics agree with known genealogical data, and that approximately 200 individuals suffice to capture the majority of the genetic variation in this population.We have also developed methods for long-range haplotyping and long-range imputation, which are more accurate than traditional methods. This will allow us to identify a majority of the founder haplotypes in this population. The information from the haplotypes identified in this study can be used in other studies to impute from genome-wide SNP data the full genome sequence of samples ascertained for specific phenotypes.

  Study EGAS00001000020

• Functional_characterisation_of_CpG_islands_in_human_and_mouse_tissues

  Tissue-specific methylation patterns suggest a role for CpG island (CGI) methylation in differentiation and cell-type-specific gene regulation. We have applied CXXC affinity purification (CAP), MBD affinity purification (MAP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) in combination with solexa sequencing to investigate the extent and functional significance of CGI methylation in sperm, blood, cerebellum and ES cells for both human and mouse.

  Study EGAS00001000075

• An exome sequencing pilot study of HIV elite-long term non progressors and rapid progressors

  A pilot study examining genetic determinants associated with elite long term non progression and rapid progression using exome sequencing of individuals at the extremes of the distribution of HIV control and progression. Data can only be used for HIV related research.

  Study EGAS00001000057

• Genetic_factors_underlying_premature_coronary_heart_disease_in_patients_with_normal_coronary_arteries

  The study will analyse by exome sequencing 42 Greek patients with premature MI and no vessel disease to identify genetic factors underlying this condition.

  Study EGAS00001000133

• Determination of the molecular nature of the Vel blood group by exome sequencing

  The genetic basis of the Vel group is yet to be determined. We have collected DNA samples from about 90 Vel negative blood donors by phenotyping 270,000 donors. Understanding the genetic basis of the Vel group could have clinical significance as transfusion of Vel positive blood to Vel negative recipients with anti-Vel can cause severe and acute haemolytic transfusion reactions.

  Study EGAS00001000069

• Screening_for_human_epigenetic_variation_at_CpG_islands

  Many human characteristics, including susceptibility to disease, are determined genetically. An unexplored alternative to such genetic determination concerns epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation. CpG islands (CGIs) are generally constitutively hypomethylated, however there are circumstances in which they become heavily methylated and, when coincident with a gene promoter, this invariably causes transcriptional silencing. CGI methylation occurs in normal tissues during processes such as X-inactivation, but abnormal patterns of methylation have also been implicated in disease. The vast majority of evidence relates to cancer, where silencing of multiple genes in this way appears to be a causal contributor to the cancer state. To address the role and extent of CGI methylation in ‘normal’ and diseased cells we applied MBD-affinity purification in conjunction with next generation sequencing in a panel of human brain autopsy samples. These samples represent a panel of individuals as well as specific brain regions and neurological pathologies.

  Study EGAS00001000074

• Screening_for_abnormal_CGI_methylation_in_primary_colorectal_tumours

  A common hallmark of neoplastic cells is abnormal acquisition of CpG island (CGI) methylation and the silencing of associated gene promoters. To determine the extent and distribution of CGI methylation in colorectal cancer, we solexa sequenced MBD affinity purified DNA prepared from five colorectal tumours and matched colon mucosa from the same individuals.

  Study EGAS00001000076

• Novel regional age-associated DNA methylation changes within human common disease-associated loci

  Background: Advancing age progressively impacts on risk and severity of chronic disease. It also modifies the epigenome, with changes in DNA methylation, due to both random drift and variation within specific functional loci. Results: In a discovery set of 2,238 peripheral-blood genome-wide DNA methylomes (MeDIP-seq) aged 19-82 years, we identified 71 age-associated Differentially Methylated Regions (a-DMRs, p &lt; 1.85 x 10-8) within the Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) blocks of the NIH Catalogue of published GWAS SNPs. This included 52 novel regions, 29 within loci not covered by 450k or 27k Illumina array, and with marked enrichment for Poised Promoters and Enhancers across multiple cell types. In a replication set of 2,084 DNA methylomes, 95.7% of the a-DMRs showed the same direction of ageing effect, with 80.3% and 53.3% replicated to p &lt; 0.05 and p &lt; 1.85 x 10-8, respectively. Conclusion: By analysing the functionally enriched disease and trait-associated regions of the human genome, we identified novel epigenetic ageing changes, which could be useful biomarkers or provide mechanistic insights into age-related common diseases.

  Study EGAS00001001910

• Dilgom_Exome

  The Finrisk sample sets are part of the National FINRISK Study. It is a large population survey on risk factors of chronic, noncommunicable diseases. The survey is carried out since 1972 every five years using independent, random and representative population samples from different parts of Finland. The main results from the previous FINRISK 2007 survey are published.The National FINRISK Study Survey was carried out in 5 areas in Finland and 2000 inhabitants aged 25-75 years were invited to participate in each year. Among findings were that Finns continue to gain weight.Data from FINRISK surveys are used for many different research projects and for national health monitoring needs. The recent research activities deal, in addition to cardiovascular diseases and the classical risk factors, also with e.g. asthma and allergy, alcohol, socioeconomic factors and genetic epidemiology.The FINRISK study is part of the MORGAM Project (MONICA Risk, Genetics, Archiving and Monigraph), sponsored by the EU and MDECODE (Molecular Diversity and Epidemiology of Common Disease) program coordinated by the University of Michigan.The exome sequencing study will be part of the Dilgom study, which is a part of the larger Finrisk population based health study performed in Finland. It consists of 5000 individuals with a prospective aspect of metabolic traits. The cohort has been extensively phenotyped for their cardiovascular and metabolic status. So far, we have performed a 660K Illumina GWAS and a full genome wide expression study from peripheral blood cells of 500 individuals. The cohort has also been in total genotyped by the cardiometabochip

  Study EGAS00001000086

• Unraveling_the_genetic_basis_of_a_collagen_migration_defect_in_patients_with_a_combined__platelet_dysfunction_and_reduced_bone_density

  In this project we study cases from unrelated pedigrees that present at a young age with a phenotype which inludes hypotonia and hypodensity of bones, a chronic elevation of some liver and muscle enzymes as well as abnormal platelet number and volume. We aim to use exome sequencing to discover the causative variants reponsible for these defects.

  Study EGAS00001000093

• Exome sequencing

  Human telomere biology disorders (TBD), a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by telomere attrition and premature aging phenotypes, are caused by inherited loss-of-function mutations in telomere-associated genes. Here, we identify three germline heterozygous missense variants in RPA1 gene in four unrelated probands presenting with short telomeres and varying clinical features of TBD including bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome, T- and B-cell lymphopenia, pulmonary fibrosis, and skin manifestations. All variants cluster to DNA binding domain A of RPA1 protein. RPA1 is an essential single-strand DNA-binding protein essential for DNA replication and repair. RPA1 has been implicated in telomere maintenance but the mechanism remains elusive. Thus far, no genetic disorder had been linked to RPA1. Using FRET assays, we showed that RPA1E240K and RPA1V227A exhibit increased binding to single-strand and telomeric DNA, implying a gain in DNA-binding function while RPA1T270A has binding properties similar to wild type. To study the mutational effect, RPA1E240K, with the highest binding capacity, was knocked-in iPSCs using CRISPR/Cas9, which showed severe telomere shortening and impaired hematopoietic differentiation. Furthermore, in the RPA1E240K patient, stable blood counts over two decades due coincided with clonal rescue hematopoiesis with an RNA-degrading truncating RPA1 mutation and a uniparental isodisomy 17p with loss of RPA1E240K allele. Using single cell DNA sequencing, the two somatic genetic rescue events were proven to be independently acquired in hematopoietic stem cells. In summary, we describe the first human disease caused by germline RPA1 variants in individuals with TBD.

  Study EGAS00001005761

• UK10K_OBESITY_SCOOP

  In the UK10K project we propose a series of complementary genetic approaches to find new low frequency/rare variants contributing to disease phenotypes. These will be based on obtaining the genome wide sequence of 4000 samples from the TwinsUK and ALSPAC cohorts (at 6x sequence coverage), and the exome sequence (protein coding regions and related conserved sequence) of 6000 samples selected for extreme phenotypes. Our studies will focus primarily on cardiovascular-related quantitative traits, obesity and related metabolic traits, neurodevelopmental disorders and a limited number of extreme clinical phenotypes that will provide proof-of-concept for future familial trait sequencing. We will analyse directly quantitative traits in the cohorts and the selected traits in the extreme samples, and also use imputation down to 0.1% allele frequency to extend the analyses to further sample sets with genome wide genotype data. In each case we will investigate indels and larger structural variants as well as SNPs, and use statistical methods that combine rare variants in a locus or pathway as well as single-variant approaches.The SCOOP samples are part of the Obesity group and will undergo exome sequencing. Severe Childhood Onset Obesity Project (SCOOP) is a sub-cohort of the Genetics Of Obesity Study (GOOS) cohort established by Sadaf Farooqi and Steve O’Rahilly at the University of Cambridge over the last 12 years. The GOOS cohort contains &gt;4,000 patients of diverse geographic origin, many of whom have monogenic and syndromic forms of obesity, and includes patients that are offspring of consanguineous union. SCOOP is a subset of &gt;1500 UK Caucasian patients with severe, early onset obesity (all patients have a BMI Standard Deviation Score (SDS) &gt; 3 and obesity onset before the age of 10 years), in whom all known monogenic causes of obesity have been excluded. GWAS data on the SCOOP cohort will be available (WTCCC2 independent study) at the time of the start of this study. Data from this cohort has demonstrated that the prevalence of the common obesity risk alleles in FTO, MC4R and NEGR1 are amongst the highest within SCOOP, demonstrating its value also in the study of genetic variants with an impact on more common obesity. For further information with regard to this cohort please contact Sadaf Farooqi (isf20@medschl.cam.ac.uk).

  Study EGAS00001000124

• Genetic and immune landscape evolution defines subtypes of MMR deficient colorectal cancer

  Mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancers have high mutation loads and many respond to immune checkpoint-inhibitors. We investigated how genetic and immune landscapes co-evolve in these tumors. All cases had high truncal mutation loads. Driver aberrations showed a clear hierarchy despite pervasive intratumor heterogeneity: Those in WNT/βCatenin, mitogen-activated protein kinase and TGFβ receptor family genes were almost always truncal. Immune evasion drivers were predominantly subclonal and showed parallel evolution. Pan-tumor evolution, subclonal evolution, and evolutionary stasis of genetic immune evasion drivers defined three MMRd CRC subtypes with distinct T-cell infiltrates. These immune evasion drivers have been implicated in checkpoint-inhibitor resistance. Clonality and subtype assessments are hence critical for predictive immunotherapy biomarker development. Cancer cell PD-L1 expression was conditional on loss of the intestinal homeobox transcription factor CDX2. This explains infrequent PD-L1 expression by cancer cells and likely contributes to the high recurrence risk of MMRd CRCs with impaired CDX2 expression.

  Study EGAS00001005769

• 'Targeted High Throughput Sequencing in Clinical Cancer Settings: Formaldehyde fixed-paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues, input amount and tumor heterogeneity'

  "Background: Massively parallel sequencing technologies have brought an enormous increase in sequencing throughput. However, these technologies need to be further improved with regard to reproducibility and applicability to clinical samples and settings. Methods: Using identification of genetic variations in prostate cancer as an example we address three crucial challenges in the field of targeted re-sequencing: Small nucleotide variation (SNV) detection in samples of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue material, minimal amount of input sample and sampling in view of tissue heterogeneity.Results: We show that FFPE tissue material can supplement for fresh frozen tissues for the detection of SNVs and that solution-based enrichment experiments can be accomplished with small amounts of DNA with only minimal effects on enrichment uniformity and data variance. Finally, we address the question whether the heterogeneity of a tumor is reflected by different genetic alterations, e.g. different foci of a tumor display different genomic patterns. We show that the tumor heterogeneity plays an important role for the detection of copy number variations, but is of minor importance for the detection of somatic variations.Conclusions: The application of high throughput sequencing technologies in cancer genomics opens up a new dimension for the identification of disease mechanisms. In particular the ability to use small amounts of FFPE samples available from surgical tumor resections and histopathological examinations facilitates the collection of precious tissue materials. However, care needs to be taken in regard to the locations of the biopsies taken, which can have an influence on the prediction of copy number variations. Bearing these technological challenges in mind will significantly improve many large-scale sequencing studies and will - on a long-range - result in a more reliable prediction of individual cancer therapies."

  Study EGAS00001000136

• ENGAGE___Amendment__500_genes_exon_sequencing_

  The ENGAGE project is a FP7 funded EU project aiming to combine genetic and phenotype information from European population based cohorts. In this sub-project we aim to do whole exome sequencing of individuals selected from Health 2000 and FINRISK cohorts. Individuals have been selected based on their metabolic trait phenotypes

  Study EGAS00001000137

• Genetic_background_for_the_major_psychiatric_disorders_in_the_general_Finnish_population

  Low coverage (4-6x) sequencing on samples from population cohorts (Finrisk, Health2000) will be done at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI) using Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology. We will produce 100bp paired end reads. Variants will be called using the 1000 Genomes Project pipeline. The samples have been selected from a national representative set of 8028 samples from persons of 30 years or older, which were screened for psychotic and bipolar disorders using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, self-reported diagnoses, medical examination, and national registers.

  Study EGAS00001000162

• Genetic_background_for_cardio_vascular_disorders_in_the_general_Finnish_population

  Low coverage (4-6x) sequencing on samples from population cohorts (Finrisk, Health2000) will be done at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI) using Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology. We will produce 100bp paired end reads. Variants will be called using the 1000 Genomes Project pipeline. The samples have been selected from a national representative set of approximately 30,300 samples and comprises 500 individuals of each gender in the extreme tail of high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations. Included individuals were between 25 and 65 years of age. Individuals with a diagnosis of diabetes or BMI&gt;30 were excluded from the study.

  Study EGAS00001000229

• Integrative analysis of small cell lung cancer

  Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive lung tumor subtype. We conducted integrated analysis of genome sequencing, transcriptome, and copy number analysis and found an extremely high mutation rate of 7.4±1 protein-changing mutations per million basepairs. Evidence for inactivation of TP53 and RB1 was found in all sequenced cases. Furthermore, we identified recurrent mutations in CREBBP, EP300, and MLL, observed mutations in PTEN, in SLIT2, and EPHA7, as well as focal amplifications of the FGFR1 locus. As a major feature of SCLC we found mutation in histone modifying genes, observed genome alterations that are therapeutically tractable, and provide a framework for identifying biologically relevant genes in the context of a high mutation rate. Peifer et al., 2012, Nature Genetics.

  Study EGAS00001000299

• Identifying genetic consequences of Epstein-Barr Virus transformation by comparing an individual’s genomic DNA with that of its lymphoblastoid cell line.

  A detailed analysis of whole genomes can be now achieved with next generation sequencing. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) transformation is a widely used strategy in clinical research to obtain an unlimited source of a subject’s DNA. Although the mechanism of transformation and immortalization by EBV is relatively well known at the transcriptional and proteomic level, the genetic consequences of EBV transformation are less well understood. A detailed analysis of the genetic alterations introduced by EBV transformation is highly relevant, as it will inform on the usefulness and limitations of this approach. We used whole genome sequencing to assess the genomic signature of a low-passage lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL). Specifically, we sequenced the full genome (40X) of an individual using DNA purified from fresh whole blood as well as DNA from his LCL. A total of 217.33 Gb of sequence were generated from the cell line and 238.95 Gb from the normal genomic DNA. We determined with high confidence that 99.2% of the genomes were identical, with no reproducible changes in structural variation (chromosomal rearrangements and copy number variations) or insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indels). Our results suggest that, at this level of resolution, the LCL is genetically indistinguishable from its genomic counterpart and therefore their use in clinical research is not likely to introduce a significant bias.

  Study EGAS00001000323

• Identification of the dismal subtype of B-ALL with dysregulation of CDX2 and UBTF

  PURPOSE: Advance in the knowledge of genomic basis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) has changed the treatment approaches and diagnostic assays and improved their outcome. Despite the recent development of next generation sequencing approaches, there are still some cases that their drivers are unknown. We aimed to define and describe the characteristics of an additional B-ALL subtype by integrating genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic approach. METHODS: More than 2,000 B-ALL cases of RNA-seq data from from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) (n=764), the Children's Oncology Group (COG), Munich Leukemia Laboratory (MLL) (n=280), and other several collaborators were analyzed to identify the new subtype. Whole genome sequence was performed to detect mutations, stractural variants, and copy number alterations. The tridimentional analysis of chromatin was performed with HiChIP. RESULTS: We identified the new high-risk B-ALL subtype “CDX2/UBTF” that exhibited unique gene expression profiles, which is enriched in female (77.3%), adolescents and young adults (52.6%), and relapse cohort (3.3%). CD10 negativity and IgM positivity are hallmarks of this subtype with NTRK3 expression that can be an effective marker at diagnostic approach and a potential targeted therapy with TRK and mulkinase inbitors, larotrectinib and entrectinib. Genetically, two different alterations define CDX2/UBTF. One is UBTF-ATXN7L3 fusions caused by deletion of 17q21.31, and the other is extopic CDX2 expression through the enhancer hijacking mechanism induced by deletion of 13q12.2. Other genomic features include gain of 1q and PAX5 rearrangement (PAX5-ZCCHC7), might induce upregulation of histone cluster genes and PAX5. CONCLUSION: We described the novel B-ALL subtype “CDX2/UBTF” that has unique clinical and genomic characteristics.

  Study EGAS00001005863

• Defining structural variation associated with breast cancer susceptibility by long-read genome sequencing

  Germline structural variants (SVs) are challenging to identify by conventional genetic testing assays. Long-read sequencing has improved the global characterization of SVs, but its sensitivity at genetic loci associated with high- and moderate-penetrance cancer susceptibility has not been reported. This study used long-read genome sequencing performed on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies' PromethION to resolve variants underlying breast cancer susceptibility in sixteen individuals with pathogenic germline SVs in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 or PALB2.

  Study EGAS00001005872

• Understanding_population_genetics_and_patterns_of_genome_wide_heterozygosity_in_a_sample_of_the_Croatian_isolated_populations__ESGIDalmatians_

  Using high-throughput sequencing technologies and analytical tools, we conduct an exome sequencing study that will help understand the populationgenetics of a Croatian island isolate, in a sample of 200 subjects from the Adriatic island of Vis who wereselected to reflect islanders with at least four known ancestors in grandparental line who are original islanders.

  Study EGAS00001000336

• Cell-type, allelic and genetic signatures in the human pancreatic beta cell transcriptome

  Study EGAS00001000442

• Integrated genomic analyses identify ARID1A and ARID1B alterations in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastomas are tumors of peripheral sympathetic neurons and are the most common solid tumor in children. To determine the genetic basis for neuroblastoma we performed whole-genome sequencing (6 cases), exome sequencing (16 cases), genome-wide rearrangement analyses (32 cases), and targeted analyses of specific genomic loci (40 cases) using massively parallel sequencing. On average each tumor had 19 somatic alterations in coding genes (range, 3-70). Among genes not previously known to be involved in neuroblastoma, chromosomal deletions and sequence alterations of chromatin remodeling genes, ARID1A and ARID1B, were identified in 8 of 71 tumors (11%) and were associated with early treatment failure and decreased survival. Using tumor-specific structural alterations, we developed an approach to identify rearranged DNA fragments in sera, providing personalized biomarkers for minimal residual disease detection and monitoring. These results highlight dysregulation of chromatin remodeling in pediatric tumorigenesis and provide new approaches for the management of neuroblastoma patients.Data Provider: Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC)

  Study EGAS00001000369

• Integrated genomic analysis identifies recurrent mutations and evolution patterns driving the initiation and progression of follicular lymphoma.

  follicular lymphoma (FL), the most common indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, remains incurable. A well-recognized complication of FL is its transformation to a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)-morphology in a subset of patients, for which the clinical outcomes are poor. Recent genetic profiling and single case studies of donor-derived FL following stem cell transplantation had alluded to the putative existence of a ‘long lived’ tumor-initiating progenitor cell compartment from which successive disease events occurred. To chronicle the genetic changes associated with progression to transformation, we conducted whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of FL-tFL pairs and matched germline (GL) samples from six patients, a total of 20 genomes.

  Study EGAS00001000399

• Open_Targets_020_Epigenomes_of_Cell_Lines

  There is currently a drive to establish cell based assay systems of greater human biological and disease relevance through the use of well characterised transformed cell lines, primary cells and complex cellular models (e.g. co-culture, 3D models). However, although the field is gaining valuable experience in running more non-standard &amp; complex cell assays for target validation and compound pharmacology studies, there is the lack of a systematic approach to determine if this expansion in cell assay models is reflected in increased human biological and disease relevance. The increasing wealth of publically available transcriptomic, and epigenome (ENCODE and Epigenome Roadmap) data represents an ideal reference mechanism for determining the relationship between cell types used for target &amp; compound studies to primary human cells and tissues from both healthy volunteers &amp; patients. The CTTV020 epigenomes of cell line project aims to generate epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles of cell lines and compare these with existing and newly generated reference data sets from human tissue and cell types. The aim is to identify assay systems which will provide greater confidence in translating target biology and compound pharmacology to patients. Multiple cell types commonly used within research have been grouped according to biology. Examples include erythroid, lung epithelial, hepatocyte cell types and immortalised models of monocyte / macrophage biology. 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 EGAS00001003136

• Epigenomic alterations define lethal CIMP-positive ependymomas of infancy

  Ependymomas are common childhood brain tumours that occur throughout the nervous system, but are most common in the paediatric hindbrain. Current standard therapy comprises surgery and radiation, but not cytotoxic chemotherapy as it does not further increase survival. Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of 47 hindbrain ependymomas reveals an extremely low mutation rate, and zero significant recurrent somatic single nucleotide variants. Although devoid of recurrent single nucleotide variants and focal copy number aberrations, poor-prognosis hindbrain ependymomas exhibit a CpG island methylator phenotype. Transcriptional silencing driven by CpG methylation converges exclusively on targets of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 which represses expression of differentiation genes through trimethylation of H3K27. CpG island methylator phenotype-positive hindbrain ependymomas are responsive to clinical drugs that target either DNA or H3K27 methylation both in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that epigenetic modifiers are the first rational therapeutic candidates for this deadly malignancy, which is epigenetically deregulated but genetically bland.

  Study EGAS00001000443

• Comprehensive analysis of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT) using genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic techniques.

  ATRTs (Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumours) represent one of the most aggressive pediatric brain cancers, but intriguingly exhibit few other recurrently mutated loci except for SMARCB1/hSNF5. We integrated whole genome (n=15), exome, copy number, gene expression and methylation analyses to comprehensively interrogate 64 ATRTs and observed that structural events were relatively frequent in the ATRT genome (~3 tumour). In addition to SMARCB1, which was targeted by structural events in a majority (49/64) of tumours, recurrent structural alterations targeting the LRP1B, CDH13, BCR and MKL1 loci were observed. We observed novel translocation events, including 2 targeting SMARCB1 which were detected only by NGS analyses. Significantly, integration of gene expression and methylation profiles with genomic analyses revealed ATRT comprise two sub-groups with distinct clinical and genetic features. Group 1 tumours were characterized by supra-tentorial brain location, focal intragenic alterations of SMARCB1 and a pro-neural gene expression signature with evidence of NOTCH pathway activation. While Group 2 ATRTs were characterized by infra-tentorial brain location, broad SMARCB1 alterations and an activation of the BMP signalling pathway. Our findings highlight epigenetic mechanisms as important determinants of ATRT tumour phenotypes, and demonstrate for the first time that ATRTs arising in different anatomical compartments comprise distinct molecular and therapeutic sub-groups.

  Study EGAS00001000506

• DNA methylation and the adverse metabolic outcomes of adiposity

  Overweight and obesity affect ~1.5 billion people worldwide, and are major risk factors for type-2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease and related metabolic and inflammatory disturbances.1,2 Although the mechanisms linking adiposity to its clinical sequelae are poorly understood, recent studies suggest that adiposity may influence DNA methylation,3-6 a key regulator of gene expression and molecular phenotype.7 Here we use epigenome-wide association to show that body mass index (BMI, a key measure of adiposity) is associated with widespread changes in DNA methylation (187 genetic loci at P&lt;1x10-7, range P=9.2x10-8 to 6.0x10-46; N=10,261 samples). Genetic association analyses demonstrate that the alterations in DNA methylation are predominantly the consequence of adiposity, rather than the cause. We find the methylation loci are enriched for functional genomic features in multiple tissues (P&lt;0.05), and show that sentinel methylation markers identify gene expression signatures at 38 loci (P&lt;9.0x10-6, range P=5.5x10-6 to 6.1x10-35, N=1,785 samples). The methylation loci identified highlight genes involved in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, substrate transport, and inflammatory pathways. Finally, we show that the disturbances in DNA methylation predict future type-2 diabetes (relative risk per 1SD increase in Methylation Risk Score: 2.3 [2.07-2.56]; P=1.1x10-54). Our results provide new insights into the biologic pathways influenced by adiposity, and may enable development of new strategies for prediction and prevention of type-2 diabetes and other adverse clinical consequences of obesity.

  Study EGAS00001001922

• Chromosome Y Philogeny in Sardinia

  Genetic variation within the male specific portion of the Y chromosome (MSY) can clarify the origins of contemporary populations, but previous studies were hampered by partial genetic information. Population sequencing of 1,204 Sardinian males identified 11,763 MSY single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which 6,751 have not previously been observed. We constructed a MSY phylogenetic tree containing all main haplogroups found in Europe along with many Sardinian-specific lineage clusters within each haplogroup. The tree was calibrated with archaeological data from the initial expansion of the Sardinian population ~7,700 years ago. The ages of nodes highlight different genetic strata in Sardinia and reveal presumptive timing of coalescence with other human populations. We calculate a putative age for coalescence of ~180-200,000 years ago, consistent with previous mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) based estimates.

  Study EGAS00001000532

• Analysis of DNA methylation in normal B cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

  Charting differences between tumors and normal tissue is a mainstay of cancer research. However, clonal tumor expansion from complex normal tissue architectures potentially obscures cancer-specific events, including divergent epigenetic patterns. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of normal B cell subsets, we observed broad epigenetic programming of selective transcription factor binding sites coincident with the degree of B cell maturation. By comparing normal B cells to malignant B cells from 268 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we showed that tumors derive largely from a continuum of maturation states reflected in normal developmental stages. Epigenetic maturation in CLL was associated with an indolent gene expression pattern and increasingly favorable clinical outcomes.As second study using these samples focued on evolution and resulting intra-tumor heterogeneity in CLL. We used 450k bead-chip arrays to study DNA methylomes in 68 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases, including 28 serial cases. The result establishs linked evolution of epigenetic and genetic alterations in progressive disease, revealing an important aspect of the biology of epigenetics in cancer.

  Study EGAS00001000534

• APCDR Uganda GWAS: Genome-wide sequence variation and susceptibility loci for cardiometabolic traits in a sub-Saharan African population (UG2G component)

  Genomic studies in African populations provide unique opportunities to understand disease aetiology, human genetic diversity and population history in a regional and a global context. To leverage the relative benefits of different strategies, we undertook a combined approach of genotyping and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in a population-based study of 6,400 individuals from a geographically defined rural community in South-West Uganda. We present data from 4,778 individuals with genotypes for ~2.2 million SNPs from the Uganda GWAS resource (UGWAS), and sequence data on up to 1,978 individuals spanning 41.5M SNPs and 4.5M indels (UG2G); 343 individuals overlap between the two datasets. We highlight the value of the largest sequence panel from Africa to date as a global resource for variant discovery, imputation and understanding the mutational spectrum and its clinical relevance in African populations. Alongside phenotype data, we provide a rich new genomic resource for researchers in Africa and globally.

  Study EGAS00001000545

• Tumor suppressor miR-133a modulates the prostate cancer epigenome by repressing BAZ2A

  Our study revealed a new subgroup of prostate tumors defined by the expression of a novel prognostic marker, BAZ2A, and the first time to show the establishment of CIMP via an microRNA-epigenetic interaction in prostate tumors.

  Study EGAS00001000568

• DNA methylation profiles of samples included in the EORTC 26091 TAVAREC trial

  Study EGAS00001006015

• A sequence-based genetic dissection of human immune cell types and implications for immune-related disease.

  The immune system is an intricate biological network mediating interactions with other organisms while preserving the integrity of our tissues. By mounting appropriate responses it protects us from a vast range of pathogens while inadvertent immune system attacks on self result in autoimmune diseases. The project aims to discover whether and to what extent the behaviour of the immune system is genetically regulated and to detect the relationships of diverse immune cells with autoimmunity. The project consists of the genetic analysis using up to ~8.2 Million variants, deriving from high density genotyping data and low pass whole genome sequencing, and quantitative levels of 95 cell types encompassing 272 immune traits, in a cohort of 1,629 individuals from four clustered Sardinian villages belonging to the SardiNIA/ProgeNIA study.

  Study EGAS00001000574

• Determination_of_cell_specific_regulatory_enhancers_in_hematopoetic_models

  The BLUEPRINT project is a large-scale project investigating epigenetic mechanisms involved in blood formation, in health and disease. The human variation workpackage (WP10) of the project seeks to characterize the effect of common sequence variation on the epigenome status of a cell. To do this, the project will use highly purified blood cells to minimise “experimental noise” and therefore enhance the power to discover modest effects. Two peripheral blood cell types, the CD14+CD16- monocyte (an important central orchestrator of adaptive immunity and a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity) and the CD65+CD9- neutrophilic granulocyte (the frontline cell for innate immunity) have been selected for this purpose. The two types of cells will be obtained at high purity from adult blood (AB) of 200 healthy males and females, respectively. Cells will be purified by using already validated and fully operational protocols that are based on density gradient centrifugation of the buffy coat obtained from whole blood, followed by magnetic bead-based purification using monoclonal antibodies against Cluster of Differentiation (CD) lineage-specific cell surface markers. This data set contains functional genomics data for gene expression and chromatin state.

  Study EGAS00001000586

• Measuring the level of relatedness between NGS datasets

  Sequencing technologies are providing increasingly detailed insight in genetic makeup are paving their way into molecular diagnostics. The field will benefit from rigorous and bias-free measures for the quality of sequence data and for the proper representation of the complexity of the original samples. While current methodologies rely on the availability of a well-characterized reference genome, we propose kMer profiling for alignment-free assessment of the quality, comparability, and complexity of sequencing datasets. We show that kMer detects technical artefacts such as high duplication rates, library chimaeras, and differences in library preparation protocols in whole-genome, whole-exome, and RNA sequencing data. Additionally, it successfully captures the complexity and diversity of microbiomes. Thus, kMer allows for a robust evaluation of the quality and complexity of sequencing data without relying on any prior information and opens the way to a more reliable biological reasoning.

  Study EGAS00001000600

• These are from Korean HCC samples with exome sequencing

  Hepatic resection is the most curative treatment option for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, but is associated with a high recurrence rate, which exceeds 50% at 5 years after surgery. Understanding the genetic basis of hepatocellular carcinoma at surgically curable stages may enable the identification of new molecular biomarkers that accurately identify patients in need of additional early therapeutic interventions. Whole exome sequencing and copy number analysis was performed on 231 hepatocellular carcinomas (72% with hepatitis B viral infection) that were classified as early-stage hepatocellular carcinomas, candidates for surgical resection. Recurrent mutations were validated by Sanger sequencing. Unsupervised genomic analyses identified an association between specific genetic aberrations and postoperative clinical outcomes. Recurrent somatic mutations were identified in 9 genes, including TP53, CTNNB1, AXIN1, RPS6KA3, and RB1. Recurrent homozygous deletions in FAM123A, RB1, and CDKN2A, and high-copy amplifications in MYC, RSPO2, CCND1, and FGF19 were detected. Pathway analyses of these genes revealed aberrations in the p53, Wnt, PIK3/Ras, cell cycle, and chromatin remodelling pathways. RB1 mutations were significantly associated with cancer-specific and recurrence-free survival after resection (p = 0.016 and p = 0.001, respectively). FGF19 amplifications, known to activate Wnt signalling, were mutually exclusive with CTNNB1 and AXIN1 mutations, and significantly associated with cirrhosis (p = 0.017). RB1 mutations can be used as a prognostic molecular biomarker for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Further study is required to investigate the potential role of FGF19 amplification in driving hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with liver cirrhosis and to investigate the potential of anti-FGF19 treatment in these patients.

  Study EGAS00001000604

• Genome-wide SNP genotyping of Central African rainforest hunter-gatherers and neighbouring agriculturalists

  The emergence of agriculture in West-Central Africa, ~5,000 years ago, profoundly modified the cultural landscape and mode of subsistence of most sub-Saharan populations. How this major innovation has impacted the genetic history of rainforest hunter-gatherers — historically referred to as “pygmies” — and agriculturalists, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we report genome-wide SNP data from eight of these populations located west-to-east of the equatorial rainforest. We find that hunter-gathering populations present up to 50% of farmer genomic ancestry, and that substantial admixture began only within the last 1,000 years. Furthermore, we show that the historical population sizes characterising these communities already differed before the introduction of agriculture. Our results suggest that the first socio-economic interactions between rainforest hunter-gatherers and farmers introduced by the spread of farming were not accompanied by immediate, extensive genetic exchanges and occurred on a backdrop of two groups already differentiated by their specialisation in two ecotopes with differing carrying capacities.

  Study EGAS00001000605

• Divergence between high metastatic tumor burden and low circulating tumor DNA concentration in metastasized breast cancer

  Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was reported to represent a highly sensitive biomarker of metastatic cancer disease directly reflecting tumor burden and dynamics. Here we investigated the role of ctDNA in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In an index patient with more than 100,000 circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in serial blood analyses, whole genome, exome, or targeted deep sequencing of the primary tumor, metastases, and 551 CTCs were consistent with a genetically homogeneous cancer. However, the allele fractions (AFs) of ctDNA were only 2-3% in each analysis, which did neither reflect the tumor burden nor the dynamics of this progressive disease by far. Indeed, plasma analyses of 71 further patients demonstrated highly variable AFs of mutant fragments, which frequently did not correspond to the tumor burden. These results provide insights into mechanisms involved in CTC and ctDNA release into the circulation and have important implications for diagnostic tests based on liquid biopsies.

  Study EGAS00001000625

• Open_Targets_020_Epigenomes_of_Cell_Lines

  There is currently a drive to establish cell based assay systems of greater human biological and disease relevance through the use of well characterised transformed cell lines, primary cells and complex cellular models (e.g. co-culture, 3D models). However, although the field is gaining valuable experience in running more non-standard &amp; complex cell assays for target validation and compound pharmacology studies, there is the lack of a systematic approach to determine if this expansion in cell assay models is reflected in increased human biological and disease relevance. The increasing wealth of publically available transcriptomic, and epigenome (ENCODE and Epigenome Roadmap) data represents an ideal reference mechanism for determining the relationship between cell types used for target &amp; compound studies to primary human cells and tissues from both healthy volunteers &amp; patients. The CTTV020 epigenomes of cell line project aims to generate epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles of cell lines and compare these with existing and newly generated reference data sets from human tissue and cell types. The aim is to identify assay systems which will provide greater confidence in translating target biology and compound pharmacology to patients. Multiple cell types commonly used within research have been grouped according to biology. Examples include erythroid, lung epithelial, hepatocyte cell types and immortalised models of monocyte / macrophage biology. 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 please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/

  Study EGAS00001003138

• Genome of the Netherlands

  The Genome of the Netherlands (GoNL) Project characterizes DNA sequence variation, common and rare, for SNVs, short insertions and deletions (indels) and larger deletions in 769 individuals of Dutch ancestry selected from five biobanks under the auspices of the Dutch hub of the Biobanking and Biomolecular Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-NL). The samples come from a representative sample of 250 trio-families from all provinces in the Netherlands. The parent-offspring trios include adult individuals ranging in age from 19 to 87 years (mean=53 years; SD=16 years) from birth cohorts 1910-1994. Sequencing was done on blood-derived DNA from uncultured cells and accomplished coverage was 14-15x. Samples where contributed by LifeLines (http://lifelines.nl/lifelines-research/general), The Leiden Longevity Study (http://www.healthy-ageing.nl; http://www.langleven.net), The Netherlands Twin Registry (NTR: http://www.tweelingenregister. org), The Rotterdam studies, (http://www.erasmus-epidemiology.nl/rotterdamstudy) and the Genetic Research in Isolated Populations program (http://www.epib.nl/research/geneticepi/research.html#gip). The sequencing was carried out in collaboration with the Beijing Institute for Genomics (BGI). The analysis was done by a consortium lead by UMCG, LUMC, Erasmus MC, VU university and UMCU, see http://www.nlgenome.nl. Funding for the project was provided by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research under award number 184021007, dated July 9, 2009 and made available as a Rainbow Project of the Biobanking and Biomolecular Research Infrastructure Netherlands (BBMRI-NL).

  Study EGAS00001000644

• A Genomics-Based Classification of Human Lung Tumors

  We characterized genome alterations in 1255 clinically annotated lung tumors of all histological subgroups to identify genetically defined and clinically relevant subtypes. More than 55% of all cases had at least one oncogenic genome alteration potentially amenable to specific therapeutic intervention, including several personalized treatment approaches that are already in clinical evaluation. Marked differences in the pattern of genomic alterations existed between and within histological subtypes, thus challenging the original histomorphological diagnosis. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed many of these reassigned subtypes. The reassignment eliminated almost all cases of large cell carcinomas, some of which had therapeutically relevant alterations. Prospective testing of our genomics-based diagnostic algorithm in 5145 lung cancer patients enabled a genome-based diagnosis in 3863 (75%) patients, confirmed the feasibility of rational reassignments of large cell lung cancer, and led to improvement in overall survival in patients with EGFR-mutant or ALK-rearranged cancers. Thus, our findings provide support for broad implementation of genome-based diagnosis of lung cancer.

  Study EGAS00001000647

• Microsatellite data show recent demographic expansions in sedentary but not in nomadic human populations in Africa and Eurasia.

  The transition from hunting and gathering to plant and animal domestication was one of the most important cultural and technological revolutions in human history. According to archeologists and paleoanthropologists, this transition triggered major demographic expansions. However, few genetic studies have found traces of Neolithic expansions in the current repartition of genetic polymorphism, pointing rather toward Paleolithic expansions. Here, we used microsatellite autosomal data to investigate the past demographic history of 87 African and Eurasian human populations with contrasted lifestyles (nomadic hunter-gatherers, semi-nomadic herders and sedentary farmers). Likely due to the combination of a higher mutation rate and the possibility to analyze several loci as independent replicates of the coalescent process, the analysis of microsatellite data allowed us to infer more recent expansions than previous genetic studies, potentially resulting from the Neolithic transition. Despite the variability in their location and environment, we found consistent expansions for all sedentary farmers, while we inferred constant population sizes for all hunter-gatherers and most herders, which could result from constraints linked to a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle and/or competition for land between herders and farmers. As an exception, we inferred expansions for Central Asian herders. This might be linked with the arid environment of this area, which may have been more favorable to nomadic herders than to sedentary farmers. Alternatively, current Central Asian herders may descent from populations who have first experienced a transition from hunter-gathering to sedentary agropastoralism, and then a second transition to nomadic herding.

  Study EGAS00001000652

• 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

• Integrated genomic characterization of adrenocortical carcinoma

  Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are aggressive cancers originating in the cortex of the adrenal glands. Despite the overall poor prognosis, ACC outcome is heterogeneous. CTNNB1 and TP53 mutations are frequent in these tumors, but the complete spectrum of genetic changes remains undefined. Exome sequencing and SNP array analysis of 45 ACC revealed recurrent alterations in known drivers (CTNNB1, TP53, CDKN2A, RB1, MEN1) and genes not previously reported to be altered in ACC (ZNRF3, DAXX, TERT and MED12), which were validated in an independent cohort of 77 ACC. The cell-surface transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase ZNRF36 was the gene the most frequently altered (21%), and appears as a potential novel tumor suppressor gene related to the ß-catenin pathway. Our integrated genomic analyses led to the identification of two distinct molecular subgroups with opposite outcome. The C1A group of poor outcome ACC was characterized by numerous mutations and DNA methylation alterations, whereas the C1B group with good prognosis displayed a specific deregulation of two miRNA clusters. Thus, aggressive and indolent ACC correspond to two distinct molecular entities, driven by different oncogenic alterations.Array based dataset for this study has been made public at:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE49280.

  Study EGAS00001000665

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

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

  Study EGAS00001000668

• Genome wide association study on coronary heart disease in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

  Mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene cause familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a disorder characterized by coronary heart disease (CHD) at young age. We aimed to apply an extreme sampling method to enhance the statistical power to identify novel genetic risk variants for CHD in individuals with FH. We selected cases and controls with an extreme contrast in CHD risk from 17 000 FH patients from the Netherlands, whose functional LDLR mutation was unequivocally established. The genome-wide association (GWA) study was performed on 249 very young FH cases with CHD and 217 old FH controls without CHD (above 65 years for males and 70 years of age for females) using the Illumina HumanHap 550K chip. In the next stage, two independent samples (one from the Netherlands and one from Italy, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom) of FH patients were used as replication samples. In the initial GWA analysis we identified 29 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with suggestive associations with premature CHD (p&lt;1×10-4). We examined the association of these SNPs with CHD risk in the replication samples. After Bonferroni correction, none of the SNPs either replicated or reached genome-wide significance after combining the discovery and replication samples. Therefore, we conclude that the genetics of CHD risk in FH is complex and even applying an ‘extreme genetics’ approach we did not identify new genetic risk variants. Most likely, this method is not as effective in leveraging effect size as anticipated, and may therefore not lead to significant gains in statistical power. (NB submitten and conditionally accepted at European Journal of Human Genetics-please use abstract only for internal review until submission complete)

  Study EGAS00001000734

• Next generation sequencing of sporadic schwannomatosis samples

  Schwannomatosis (MIM #162091) is characterized by the development of multiple schwannomas without vestibular nerve involvement (which is a characteristic of neurofibromatosis type 2 - NF2). In an effort to detect novel genetic alterations predisposing to schwannomatosis, we sequenced eight tumor-blood DNA pairs from de novo schwannomatosis patients. The results of our study are present in the paper "Whole exome sequencing reveals that the majority of schwannomatosis cases remain unexplained after excluding SMARCB1 and LZTR1 germline variants" published in Acta Neuropathologica (PMID:25008767)

  Study EGAS00001000767

• Genetic and methylation profiles distinguish benign, malignant and spitzoid melanocytic tumors

  Genetic and methylation profiles distinguish benign, malignant and spitzoid melanocytic tumors

  Study EGAS00001006205

• Detection of Clinically Relevant Genetic Variantsin Autism Spectrum Disorderby Whole-Genome Sequencing

  Study EGAS00001000850

• Systems biology of Colorectal Cancer

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in both males and females, and it is perhaps the best understood of all epithelial tumors in terms of its molecular origin. Yet, despite large amount of work that has concentrated on understanding of colon tumorigenesis, we still do not know the full complement of molecular lesions that are individually necessary – and together sufficient – to cause colorectal cancer. Neither do we understand why some specific mutations that are relatively rare in other tumors (e.g. loss of the APC tumor suppressor) are extremely common in colorectal cancer. We propose here to use the tools of systems biology to develop a quantitative and comprehensive model of colorectal tumorigenesis. The model will include identification of cell-type specific and oncogenic pathways that contribute to colon tumorigenesis, and explain in molecular detail how a genotype of an individual CRC leads to activation of downstream genes that drive uncontrolled cell growth. This model will subsequently be used to find novel therapeutic targets, to guide genetic screening to identify individuals with elevated risk for developing CRC, and to classify patients into molecular subgroups to select the treatment combination that is optimal for each patient (personalized medicine). The specific objectives of the SYSCOL project are: 1. Identify genetic markers for individual risk using genotyping and sequencing of constitutional DNA from sporadic and familial CRC cases and controls 2. Identify genes and regulatory elements that contribute to colorectal cancer cell growth 3. Use data from Aims 1-2 to develop a quantitative model for colorectal tumorigenesis 4. Apply the model for identification of high-risk individuals, for molecular classification of the disease, and for identification of novel molecular treatment targets

  Study EGAS00001000854

• Linking the epigenetic landscape in chronic lymphocytic leukemia to deregulated chromatin networks

  Aberrant chromatin features and epigenetic signaling emerge as an important part of the tumor disease state in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, an integrative analysis of the malignant chromatin landscape is currently missing. Here, we mapped DNA-methylation, nucleosome position, 7 histone modifications, ATAC-seq and the transcriptome in primary CD19+ sorted B-cells from the peripheral blood of CLL patients in comparison to non-malignant lymphocytes of healthy donor reference samples. On the &gt; 50 kb scale we identified global differences with respect to DNA methylation, nucleosome positioning and histone modifications in CLL. Furthermore, a chromatin state annotation was developed to identify deregulated chromatin features of promoters and enhancers in CLL. By integrating these findings with an ATAC-seq based transcription factor binding analysis we identified a set of promoters and enhancers specific to CLL that were enriched in certain transcription factors binding motifs and genes of the BCR signaling pathway. Thus, our study provides an in-depth map of the CLL chromatin landscape and links chromatin state changes at promoters and enhancers to deregulated pathways.

  Study EGAS00001002518

• Study on the proliferation history of colorectal adenomas

  Mismatch repair (MMR) deficient colorectal adenomas are composed of transformed cells that descend from a common founder and progressively accumulate genomic alterations but their proliferation history is still largely unknown. Here we rebuilt the proliferation history of four MMR deficient colorectal adenomas from male individuals by deep sequencing the X chromosome and mapping the somatic mutations that were progressively acquired during tumor growth. We developed a novel method to call high and low frequency mutations, to cluster them according to their frequencies and rebuild the proliferation trees directly from these mutation clusters using a recursive algorithm. The trees of all four lesions were formed of a dominant subclone that coexisted with other genetically heterogeneous subpopulations of cells. Despite this similar hierarchical organization, however, the growth dynamics varied among and within tumors, likely depending on a combination of tumor-specific genetic and environmental factors. Our study provides insights into the biological properties of individual MMR deficient colorectal adenomas that may influence their growth and also the response to therapy. Extended to other solid tumors, our approach could inform on the mechanisms of cancer progression, thus providing insight into the best choice of cancer treatment methods.

  Study EGAS00001000883

• Integrated genetic and epigenetic analysis defines novel molecular clusters in rhabdomyosarcoma

  Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in childhood. To unravel the genetic/epigenetic basis of RMS, we studied 60 RMS cases using whole exome/transcriptome sequencing, copy number (CN) profiling, and DNA methylome analysis. Based on DNA methylation patterns, RMS was clustered into 4 distinct subtypes, which exhibited remarkable correlation with mutation/CN profiles, histological phenotypes, and clinical behaviors. A1 and A2 subtypes, especially A1, largely corresponded to alveolar histology with frequent PAX3/7 fusions and alterations in cell cycle regulators. In contrast, mostly showing embryonal histology, both E1 and E2 subtypes were characterized by high frequency of CN alterations and/or allelic imbalances, FGFR4/RAS/AKT pathway mutations and PTEN mutations/methylation and in E2, also by p53 inactivation. Despite generally poor prognosis in RMS, patients in E1 cluster exceptionally showed excellent prognosis. Our results highlight the close relationship between DNA methylation status and gene mutations and biological behavior in RMS.

  Study EGAS00001000884

• Ischemic stroke in a Swedish case-control study.

  Background. Genetic risk scores (GRS), summing up the total effect of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with either coronary risk or cardiovascular risk factors, have been tested for association with ischemic stroke with conflicting results. Recently an association was found between a GRS, based on 29 SNPs discovered by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and hypertension. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible association of the same GRS with ischemic stroke on top of other “traditional risk factors”, also testing its potential improvement in indices of discrimination and reclassification, in a Swedish case-control study. Methods and results. Twenty-nine SNPs were genotyped in 3,677 stroke cases and 2,415 controls included in the Lund Stroke Register (LSR), the Malmö Diet and Cancer (MDC) study and the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS). The analysis was conducted in the entire material, and separately for the three samples. After adjustment for hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking habits, the GRS was associated with ischemic stroke in the entire material [OR (95% CI) 1.086 (1.029-1.147) per SD increase in the GRS p=0.003] with similar trends in all three samples; LSR [1.050 (0.967-1.140)]; p=0.25], MDC [1.168 (1.060-1.288); p=0.002] and SAHLSIS [1.124 (0.997-1.267); P=0.055]. Measures of discrimination and reclassification improved marginally using the GRS. Conclusions. A blood pressure GRS is independently associated with ischemic stroke risk in three Swedish case-control studies, however, the effect size is low and adds marginally to prediction of stroke on top of traditional risk factors including hypertension.

  Study EGAS00001000936

• Genomic analyses of gynecologic carcinosarcomas reveal frequent mutations in chromatin remodeling genes

  Malignant Mixed Müllerian Tumors, also known as carcinosarcomas, are rare tumors of gynecological origin. Here we perform whole exome analyses of 22 tumors using massively parallel sequencing to determine the mutational landscape of this tumor type. On average, we identify 43 mutations per tumor, excluding four cases with a mutator phenotype that harbored inactivating mutations in mismatch repair genes. In addition to mutations in TP53 and KRAS, we identify genetic alterations in chromatin remodeling genes, ARID1A and ARID1B, in histone methyltransferase MLL3, in histone deacetylase modifier SPOP, and in chromatin assembly factor BAZ1A, in nearly two thirds of cases. Alterations in genes with potential clinical utility are observed in more than three quarters of the cases and included members of the PI 3-kinase and homologous DNA repair pathways. These findings highlight the importance of the dysregulation of chromatin remodeling in carcinosarcoma tumorigenesis and suggest new avenues for personalized therapy.

  Study EGAS00001000941

• Clinical and Molecular Investigation of Familial CEBPA-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

  Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are clonal diseases arising from the sequential acquisition of genetic aberrations in haematopoietic stem cells. Whilst the aetiology is predominantly sporadic, rare reports describe the autosomal dominant inheritance of MDS and AML (familial MDS/AML), often presenting in younger patients (&lt;40 years of age) with a germline mutation in one of three haematopoietic transcription factors: RUNX1, CEBPA and GATA2. The clinical recognition of familial disease can be challenging due to wide variations in phenotype, latency and transmission, complicated further by the patients’ awareness and reporting of affected relatives. Distinct clinical manifestations have however been reported for each genetic subtype and whilst RUNX1 and GATA2 mutations can harbour prolonged dysplastic or cytopenic phases, germline CEBPA mutations universally present with AML de novo. Our group were the first to describe germline CEBPA mutations in 3 related individuals, all of whom developed AML between 10-30 years of age. The initial pedigree together with those described in the intervening period, were predominantly isolated case reports with limited follow up, hence long term outcomes for this group of patients remain poorly defined. This contrasts with CEBPA mutations occurring in 10-15% of sporadic AML with normal karytoype (NK-AML), where double mutations (CEBPAdm, found in approximately 50% of all CEBPA-AML) are considered a unique molecular entity, associated with favourable clinical outcomes. In sporadic and familial CEBPAdm AML, N’ terminal mutations enforce translation of the shorter P30-kDa isoform and are typically accompanied by C’ terminal insertions or deletions (disrupting the DNA-binding and/or Leucine zipper domains). Definition of the full molecular landscape awaits extensive whole exome sequencing, although GATA2 mutations (targeting the Zinc Finger 1, ZF1, domain) have been reported in 20-40% of sporadic CEBPAdm AML and recent targeted resequencing analysis revealed a further association with WT1 mutations. With minimal clinical and molecular information available for familial CEBPA-AML, we are often consulted regarding the management of this unique patient population. To address this need, we have investigated a multi-centre cohort of families with germline CEBPA mutations, providing extended clinical follow up, whole exome profiling of secondary mutations and molecular analysis of relapsed disease.

  Study EGAS00001000949

• BLUEPRINT ChIP-seq of Epigenetic programming during monocyte to macrophage differentiation and trained innate immunity

  Monocyte differentiation into macrophages represents a cornerstone process for host defense. Concomitantly, immunological imprinting of either tolerance or trained immunity determines the functional fate of macrophages and susceptibility to secondary infections. Transcriptomes and epigenomes in four primary cell types: monocytes, in vitro differentiated naïve, tolerized and trained macrophages were characterized. Inflammatory and metabolic pathways were modulated in macrophages, including decreased inflammasome activation, and pathways functionally implicated in trained immunity were identified. Strikingly, β-glucan training elicits an exclusive epigenetic signature, revealing a complex network of enhancers and promoters. Analysis of transcription factor motifs in DNase I hypersensitive sites at cell-type specific epigenetic loci unveiled differentiation and treatment specific repertoires. Altogether, this study provides a resource to understand the epigenetic changes that underlie innate immunity in humans.

  Study EGAS00001000951

• BLUEPRINT RNA-seq of Epigenetic programming during monocyte to macrophage differentiation and trained innate immunity

  Monocyte differentiation into macrophages represents a cornerstone process for host defense. Concomitantly, immunological imprinting of either tolerance or trained immunity determines the functional fate of macrophages and susceptibility to secondary infections. Transcriptomes and epigenomes in four primary cell types: monocytes, in vitro differentiated naïve, tolerized and trained macrophages were characterized. Inflammatory and metabolic pathways were modulated in macrophages, including decreased inflammasome activation, and pathways functionally implicated in trained immunity were identified. Strikingly, β-glucan training elicits an exclusive epigenetic signature, revealing a complex network of enhancers and promoters. Analysis of transcription factor motifs in DNase I hypersensitive sites at cell-type specific epigenetic loci unveiled differentiation and treatment specific repertoires. Altogether, this study provides a resource to understand the epigenetic changes that underlie innate immunity in humans.

  Study EGAS00001000953

• BLUEPRINT DNase accessibility of Epigenetic programming during monocyte to macrophage differentiation and trained innate immunity

  Monocyte differentiation into macrophages represents a cornerstone process for host defense. Concomitantly, immunological imprinting of either tolerance or trained immunity determines the functional fate of macrophages and susceptibility to secondary infections. Transcriptomes and epigenomes in four primary cell types: monocytes, in vitro differentiated naïve, tolerized and trained macrophages were characterized. Inflammatory and metabolic pathways were modulated in macrophages, including decreased inflammasome activation, and pathways functionally implicated in trained immunity were identified. Strikingly, β-glucan training elicits an exclusive epigenetic signature, revealing a complex network of enhancers and promoters. Analysis of transcription factor motifs in DNase I hypersensitive sites at cell-type specific epigenetic loci unveiled differentiation and treatment specific repertoires. Altogether, this study provides a resource to understand the epigenetic changes that underlie innate immunity in humans.

  Study EGAS00001000954

• Germline variants in the SEMA4A gene predispose to familial colorectal cancer type X

  Familial colorectal cancer type X (FCCTX) is characterized by clinical features of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer with a yet undefined genetic background. Here, using an integrative genomics strategy, we identify the SEMA4A p.Val78Met germline mutation in an Austrian kindred with FCCTX. Compared with wild-type protein, SEMA4AV78M demonstrates significantly increased MAPK/Erk and PI3K/Akt signaling as well as cell cycle progression of SEMA4A deficient HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. In a cohort of 53 patients with FCCTX we depict two further SEMA4A mutations, p.Gly484Ala and p.Ser326Phe, and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) p.Pro682Ser. This SNP is highly associated with the FCCTX phenotype exhibiting increased risk for colorectal cancer (OR 6.79, 95% CI 2.63 to 17.52). Our study shows previously unidentified germline variants in SEMA4A predisposing to FCCTX which has implications for surveillance strategies of patients and their families.

  Study EGAS00001000957

• Genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of GCTB

  Giant cell tumor of bone is a rare bone neoplasm driven by oncogenic hotspot G34W/L/V mutations in the non-canonical histone variant H3.3. This study provides primary data of genomic (WGS), transcriptomic (RNA-seq) and epigenomic (histone mark ChIP-seq, WGBS, ATAC-seq) profiling of primary GCTB samples from several cohorts in Germany and Korea. We confirm the H3.3-G34 mutations as sole genetic drivers of GCTB, and describe the epigenetic alterations in mutant GCTB stromal cells.

  Study EGAS00001003730

• Genetic landscape of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors

  Neurofibromatosis 1 is a hereditary syndrome characterized by the development of numerous benign neurofibromas, a small subset of which progress to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). To better understand the genetic basis for MPNSTs, we performed whole genome sequencing on four MPNSTs from patients with neurofibromatosis 1 and found that each of them had a somatic, inactivating mutation of SUZ12, a chromatin modifying gene adjacent to the NF1 gene responsible for the benign neurofibromas in these patients. We then performed targeted sequencing on an additional 46 MPNSTs and found that 12 had somatic mutations in SUZ12. Fifteen of the 17 (88%) mutations in SUZ12 were predicted to inactivate protein function, implicating it as a tumor suppressor gene possibly responsible for the progression from neurofibromas to MPNTs.

  Study EGAS00001000974

• Single cell genomic variation induced by mutational processes in cancer

  How cell-to-cell copy number alterations that underpin genomic instability in human cancers drive genomic and phenotypic variation, and consequently cancer evolution, remains understudied. Here, applying scaled single cell whole genome sequencing to wildtype, TP53-deficient and TP53/BRCA1/2-deficient mammary epithelial cells (n=13,818 genomes) and primary triple negative breast (TNBC) and high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSC) (n=22,057 genomes), we identified three distinct ‘foreground’ mutational patterns defined by cell-to-cell copy number and structural variation properties occurring in the ‘background’ of cancer-associated genomic instability. Cell and clone-specific high level amplifications (HLAMPs), parallel allele-specific copy number alterations and copy number segment length variation (serrate structural variations) exhibited measurable phenotypic and evolutionary consequences. Clone-specific HLAMPs in known oncogenes were highly prevalent in fold back inversion (FBI)-bearing tumors and associated with increased clone-to-clone phenotypic variation in gene expression inferred from matched single cell RNASeq. Parallel allele-specific alterations were linked with phylogenetically determined evolutionary diversity and clone-specific mono-allelic expression. Serrate patterns present across all clones were increased in FBI tumors, most prominently on a tetraploid background and were highly correlated with increased genomic diversity of cellular populations. Taken together, we show that cell-to-cell structural-copy number variation significantly impacts the phenotypes and evolutionary diversity of TNBC and HGSC, revealing previously hidden genomic states of cancer cells.

  Study EGAS00001006343

• Confirmation of a founder effect in a Northern European population (FRL) of a new beta-globin variant: HBB:c.23_26dup (codons 8/9 (+AGAA))

  Beta-thalassemia is a genetic disease caused by a defect in the production of the beta-like globin chain. More than 200 known different variants can lead to the disease and are mainly found in populations that have been exposed to malaria parasites. We recently described a duplication of 4 nucleotides in the first exon of beta-globin gene in several families of patients living in Nord-Pas-de-Calais (France). Using the genotypes at 12 microsatellite markers surrounding the beta-globin gene of four unrelated variant carriers plus an additional one recently discovered, we found that they shared a common haplotype indicating a founder effect that was estimated to have taken place 225 years ago (9 generations). In order to determine whether this variant arose in this region of Northern-Europe or was introduced by migrants from regions of the world where thalassemia is endemic, we genotyped the first 4 unrelated variant carriers and 32 controls from Nord-Pas-de-Calais for 97 European ancestry informative markers (EAIMs). Using these EAIMs and comparing with population reference panels, we demonstrated that the variant carriers were very similar to the controls and were closer to North European populations than to South European or Middle-East populations. Rare beta-thalassemia variants have already been described in patients sampled in non-endemic regions but it is the first proof of a founder effect in Northern Europe. The new genetic panel FRL is under registration in EGA.

  Study EGAS00001000980

• 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

• Therapeutic Resistance to PI3K-alpha Inhibitors

  We have studied the tumor genomic evolution in a patient with metastatic breast cancer bearing an activating PIK3CA mutation. The patient was treated with the PI3Kα inhibitor BYL719 and achieved a lasting clinical response on BYL719, but eventually progressed to treatment and died shortly thereafter. A rapid autopsy was performed and a total of 14 metastatic lesions were collected for further analysis. In order to identify possible genetic determinants of acquired resistance to PI3Kα inhibition, we took a three-step approach. First, we examined both the primary tumor (before BYL719 treatment) and the new lung metastasis by whole genome sequencing (DNA from the spleen was used as a normal control). Then, we analyzed the primary tumor, lung metastasis, and the peri-aortic lesion that remained stable (responding) at the time of progression to BYL719 therapy by whole exome sequencing. Finally, to confirm and expand our findings, we sequenced the primary tumor and all the metastatic lesions to &gt;500-fold coverage using a custom targeted deep-sequencing assay, MSK-IMPACT. Using this 3-step approach, we have demonstrated that patient’s lesion underwent parallel genetic evolution at multiple metastatic sites with different PTEN genomic alterations leading to a convergent PTEN- null phenotype resistant to PI3Kα inhibition. In order to expand our observations, we analyzed paired samples (pre-treatment and at progression) from six additional patients enrolled in the BYL719 trial. Acquired bi-allelic loss of PTEN was found in one additional patient treated with BYL719 whereas in two patients PIK3CA mutations present in the primary tumor were no longer detected at the time of progression. To functionally characterize our findings, inducible PTEN knockdown in sensitive cells resulted in resistance to BYL719, while simultaneous PI3K-p110β blockade reverted this resistance phenotype, both in cell lines and in PTEN-null xenografts derived from our patient. We conclude that parallel genetic evolution of separate sites with different PTEN genomic alterations leads to a convergent PTEN-null phenotype resistant to PI3Kα inhibition.

  Study EGAS00001000991

• McGill Epigenomics Mapping Centre

  The McGill Epigenomics Mapping Centre (EMC) and Data Coordination Centre (EDCC) were established in 2012 at the McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre (Montreal, Canada) to support large-scale human epigenome mapping for a broad spectrum of cell types and diseases. Previous epigenetic studies have provided profiles of specific chromatin marks in relation to basic biological processes, and future studies of molecular mechanisms must build upon these proofs-of-concept by integrating sequence-based variation with multiple levels of epigenetic and transcriptional regulation across the genome of human tissues and animal disease models. This project leverages the high-throughput sequencing infrastructure and expertise in genomics and transcriptomics at the McGill Innovation Centre to carry out this research. Controlled access to the data by collaborators and the greater scientific community is gained via a portal, which takes advantage of Compute Canada high-performance computing cluster resources to manage the large volume of data associated from the generation of reference epigenome maps. McGill University is one of two Canadian mapping and data coordination centres, the other based at the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The generation of comprehensive epigenome maps at McGill University is part of a larger international effort that is coordinated by the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC), whose overall long-term objective is to determine the extent to which the epigenome shapes human populations over generations and in response to the environment. This project is funded under the Canadian Epigenetics, Environment, and Health Research Consortium (CEEHRC) by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and by Genome Quebec, with additional support from Genome Canada. The computing and networking infrastructure, and part of the software development, are provided by Compute Canada and CANARIE.

  Study EGAS00001000995

• Genome-wide prediction of human embryos

  BACKGROUND: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) enables profiling of embryos for genetic disorders prior to implantation. The majority of PGD testing is restricted in the scope of variants assayed or by the availability of extended family members. While recent advances in single cell sequencing show promise, they remain limited by bias in DNA amplification and the rapid turnaround time (&lt;36 h) required for fresh embryo transfer. Here, we describe and validate a method for inferring the inherited whole genome sequence of an embryo for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). METHODS: We combine haplotype-resolved, parental genome sequencing with rapid embryo genotyping to predict the whole genome sequence of a day-5 human embryo in a couple at risk of transmitting alpha-thalassemia. RESULTS: Inheritance was predicted at approximately 3 million paternally and/or maternally heterozygous sites with greater than 99% accuracy. Furthermore, we successfully phase and predict the transmission of an HBA1/HBA2 deletion from each parent. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that preimplantation whole genome prediction may facilitate the comprehensive diagnosis of diseases with a known genetic basis in embryos.

  Study EGAS00001001020

• First genome-wide association study in an Australian Aboriginal population provides insights into genetic risk factors for Body Mass Index and Type 2 Diabetes

  A body mass index (BMI) &gt;22kg/m2 is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Aboriginal Australians. To identify loci associated with BMI and T2D we undertook a genome-wide association study using 1,355,133 quality-controlled single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyped (Illumina 2.5M Duo Beadchip) in 402 individuals in extended pedigrees from a Western Australian Aboriginal community. Imputation using the thousand genomes (1000G) reference panel extended the analysis to 6,724,284 post quality-control autosomal SNPs. No associations achieved genome-wide significance, commonly accepted as P&lt;5x10-8. Nevertheless, genes/pathways in common with other ethnicities were identified despite the arrival of Aboriginal people in Australia &gt;45,000 years ago. The top hit (rs10868204 Pgenotyped=1.50x10-6; rs11140653 Pimputed_1000G=2.90x10-7) for BMI lies 5’ of NTRK2, the type 2 neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that regulates energy balance downstream of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). PIK3C2G (rs12816270 Pgenotyped=8.06x10-6; rs10841048 Pimputed_1000G=6.28x10-7) was associated with BMI, but not with T2D as reported elsewhere. BMI also associated with CNTNAP2 (rs6960319 Pgenotyped=4.65x10-5; rs13225016 Pimputed_1000G=6.57x10-5), previously identified as the strongest gene-by-environment interaction for BMI in African-Americans. The top hit (rs11240074 Pgenotyped=5.59x10-6, Pimputed_1000G=5.73x10-6) for T2D lies 5’ of BCL9 that, along with TCFL2, promotes beta-catenin’s transcriptional activity in the WNT signaling pathway. Additional hits occurred in genes affecting pancreatic (KCNJ6, KCNA1) and/or GABA (GABRR1, KCNA1) functions. Notable associations observed for genes previously identified at genome-wide significance in other populations included MC4R (Pgenotyped=4.49x10-4) for BMI and IGF2BP2 Pimputed_1000G=2.55x10-6) for T2D. Our results may provide novel functional leads in understanding disease pathogenesis in this Australian Aboriginal population.

  Study EGAS00001001004

• MDS Sequencing Project_Cancer Cell

  Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are uncommon entities, heterogeneous clinically and cytogenetically. The aim of the present study is to determine genetic alteration in this subset of patients. Expected results: Identification of new aberrations and genetic markers in order to detect novel genes involved in MDS 5q-response to Lenalidomide's treatment.

  Study EGAS00001001011

• Spatial heterogeneity in medulloblastoma

  Spatial heterogeneity of transcriptional and genetic markers between physically isolated biopsies of a single tumor poses major barriers to the identification of biomarkers and the development of targeted therapies that will be effective against the entire tumor. We analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of multiregional biopsies from 35 patients, using a combination of transcriptomic and genomic profiles. Medulloblastomas (MBs), but not high-grade gliomas (HGGs), demonstrated spatially homogeneous transcriptomes, which allowed for accurate subgrouping of tumors from a single biopsy. Conversely, somatic mutations that affect genes suitable for targeted therapeutics demonstrated high levels of spatial heterogeneity in MB, malignant glioma, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Actionable targets found in a single MB biopsy were seldom clonal across the entire tumor,which brings the efficacy of monotherapies against a single target into question. Clinical trials of targeted therapies for MB should first ensure the spatially ubiquitous nature of the target mutation.

  Study EGAS00001001014

• Whole genome sequencing of ASD quartet families

  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is genetically heterogeneous with &gt;100 susceptibility genes known. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 85 quartet families (two parents and two ASD-affected siblings) to comprehensively examine mutation characteristics. Our results emphasize using WGS to maximize the detection of all classes of mutations potentially involved in autism, and to enable the interpretation of that data in confirmatory and predictive diagnosis in different individuals in a family.

  Study EGAS00001001023

• Spatial and temporal genomic evolution in glioblastoma

  Tumor heterogeneity is a challenging barrier to successful targeted therapy in glioblastoma. Identifying the mechanisms that drive cancer cells as they genetically evolve and adapt in response to treatment is a vital goal of modern cancer research. Analysis of sequencing data provides a method for uncovering the mechanisms sustaining tumor heterogeneity and driving evolution. Here, we analyzed genomic profiles of GBM biopsies taken from pre- and post-treatment GBMs (with matched germline controls), to understand 1) the intratumoral clonal compositions of primary GBM and 2) how GBM responds to therapeutic intervention. Our results provide a molecular portrait of GBM recurrence.

  Study EGAS00001001033

• ctDNA quantification in Ewing sarcoma patients

  Background. Treatment stratification and response assessment in pediatric sarcomas has relied on imaging studies and surgical/histopathological evidence of vital tumor cells. Such studies and evidence collection processes often involve radiation and/or general anesthesia in children. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection in blood plasma is one available method of so-called liquid biopsies that has been shown to correlate qualitatively and quantitatively to some extent with the existence of vital tumor cells in the body. Our clinical observational study focused on the utility and feasibility of ctDNA detection in pediatric Ewing sarcoma (EWS) as a marker of minimal residual disease (MRD). Patients and Methods. We performed whole genome sequencing to identify the exact breakpoints in tumors known to carry the EWS-FLI1 fusion gene. Patient-specific fusion breakpoints were tracked in peripheral blood plasma using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) before, during, and after therapy in six consecutive children and young adults with EWS. Presence and levels of fusion breakpoints were correlated with clinical disease courses. The genetic changes in the tumors were defined, and inter- and intra-individual changes in the tumor DNA copy loads were observed over time. Results. We show that the detection of ctDNA in the peripheral blood of EWS patients i) is feasible in the clinical routine and ii) allows for the longitudinal real-time monitoring of MRD activity in children and young adults. Although changing ctDNA levels correlated well with clinical outcome within patients, between patients, a high variability was observed (inter-individually) for the six patients described here. Conclusions. ctDNA detection by ddPCR is a highly sensitive, specific, feasible, and highly accurate method that can be applied in EWS for follow-up assessments as an additional surrogate parameter for clinical MRD monitoring and, potentially, also for treatment stratification in the near future.

  Study EGAS00001006433

• Genome-wide SNP genotyping and DNA methylation epigenotyping of African rainforest hunter-gatherers and neighbouring agriculturalists

  The epigenomic landscape of the human genome, in particular DNA methylation, is increasingly recognised as an important driver of phenotypic diversity in health and disease. However, the impact that genetic variation and changes in lifestyle and ecological habitat have on this epigenetic mark remains unknown. To address this question, we analysed genome-wide SNP and DNA methylation profiles of 362 individuals from African populations of rainforest hunter-gatherers and sedentary farmers with different past and present lifestyles and ecologies.

  Study EGAS00001001066

• The mission of the BIOS Consortium is to create a large-scale data infrastructure and to bring together BBMRI researchers focusing on integrative omics studies in Dutch Biobanks.

  The advent of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) led to the successful identification of thousands of variants that are robustly associated with complex disease phenotypes. Dutch biobanks played a substantial role in these discoveries. For most of these variants, however, the mechanisms through which they contribute to these phenotypes remain unknown. The BIOS Consortium applies a functional genomics approach that integrates genome-wide genetic data with data on the epigenome and transcriptome to elucidate these mechanisms. Over 4000 samples from BBMRI-NL biobanks with in-depth information on disease phenotypes and GWAS data are being enriched with RNA-sequencing and genome-wide DNA methylation data. The same is true for samples with whole-genome sequencing data from GoNL. This unique data infrastructure provides a powerful platform to evaluate key questions in integrative omics from establishing comprehensive eQTL and meQTL catalogues to linking molecular pathways across omics levels to phenotypic outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001001077

• Reconstructing the dispersals and adaptive history of Bantu-speaking populations in Africa and North America

  Bantu languages are spoken by ~310 million Africans, yet the genetic history of Bantu-speaking populations remains largely unexplored. We generated genomic data for 1,318 individuals from 35 populations in western central Africa, where Bantu languages originated. We found that early Bantu speakers first moved southward, through the equatorial rainforest, before spreading toward eastern and southern Africa. We also found that genetic adaptation of Bantu speakers was facilitated by admixture with autochthonous populations, particularly for the HLA and LCT loci. Finally, we identified a major contribution of western central African Bantu speakers to the ancestry of African Americans, whose genomes present no strong signals of natural selection. Together, these results highlight the contribution of Bantu-speaking peoples to the complex genetic history of Africans and African Americans.

  Study EGAS00001002078

• RB Loss in Resistant EGFR Mutant Lung Adenocarcinomas that Transform to Small Cell Lung Cancer

  Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective treatments for non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. However, they do not lead to cures, and, on average, relapse occurs typically occurs afterafter an average of one year of continuous treatment. In a subset of patients, aA fundamental histological transformation from NSCLC to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is observed in a subset of the resistant cancers, but the molecular changes associated with this transformation remain unknown. Analysis of a cohort of tumor samples and cell lines derived from resistant EGFR mutant patients with SCLC transformation revealed that RB is lost in 100% of these SCLC transformed cases, but rarely in those that remain NSCLC. Global changes in gene expression, including increased neuroendocrine marker expression and absence of EGFR expression, are observed in resistant EGFR mutant cancers that transformed to SCLC. Consistent Further, with their similarities to classical SCLC at the genetic and gene expression levelincreased neuroendocrine marker and decreased EGFR expression as well as greater sensitivity to BCL2 family inhibition are observed in resistant SCLC transformed cancers compared to resistant NSCLCs. , cell lines derived from resistant EGFR mutant SCLC biopsies are substantially more sensitive to Bcl-2 family inhibition with ABT-263 compared to those derived from resistant EGFR mutant NSCLCs. Together, these findings suggest that despite developing initially as EGFR mutant adenocarcinomas, this subset of resistant cancers ultimately adopt many of the molecular and phenotypic characteristics of classical SCLC.

  Study EGAS00001001102

• Whole-exome and targeted sequencing of pediatric hyperdiploid B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  High hyperdiploidy defines the largest genetic entity of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite its relatively low recurrence risk, this subgroup generates a high proportion of relapses. The cause and origin of these relapses remains obscure. We therefore explored the mutational landscape in high hyperdiploid (HD) ALL with whole-exome (n=19) and subsequent targeted deep sequencing of 60 genes in 100 relapsing and 51 non-relapsing cases. We identified multiple clones at diagnosis that were primarily defined by a variety of mutations in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/Ras pathway and chromatin-modifying genes. The relapse clones consisted of reappearing as well as new mutations, and overall contained more mutations. Although RTK/Ras pathway mutations were similarly frequent between diagnosis and relapse, both intergenic and intragenic heterogeneity was essentially lost at relapse. CREBBP mutations, however, increased from initially 18-30% at relapse, then commonly co-occurred with KRAS mutations (P&lt;0.001) and these relapses appeared primarily early (P=0.012). Our results confirm the exceptional susceptibility of HD ALL to RTK/Ras pathway and CREBBP mutations, but, more importantly, suggest that mutant KRAS and CREBBP might cooperate and equip cells with the necessary capacity to evolve into a relapse-generating clone.

  Study EGAS00001001113

• Neuroblastoma Evolution

  Here, we quantify the somatic evolution of neuroblastomas by deep (80x) whole-genome sequencing, molecular clock analysis and population-genetic modeling in a comprehensive cohort (Hipo_K09R) covering all subtypes.

  Study EGAS00001006533

• cfDNA in Hereditary And High-Risk Malignancies (CHARM)

  Our goal is to improve early cancer detection by developing a blood test to predict cancer development in carriers using circulating DNA. As carriers develop cancer, they may have pre-cancerous cells which release this DNA into the blood (cell-free DNA; cfDNA), which can be detected with novel genetic technologies. We propose to use three complementary cfDNA assays:shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS), Liquid-Biopsy Sequencing (LB-Seq) and Cell-free Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation and High-throughput Sequencing (cfMeDip-Seq) for early cancer detection.

  Study EGAS00001006539

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

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

  Study EGAS00001001134

• Genesis of Two Most Prevalent Variants Causing Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency in 21 Populations

  Two variants (c.[301_302delAG];[301_302delAG] and c.[150delA];[150delA]) in the PROP1 gene are the most common genetic causes of recessively inherited combined pituitary hormones deficiency (CPHD). Our objective was to analyze in detail the origin of the two most prevalent variants. In the multicentric study were included 237 patients with CPHD and their 15 relatives carrying c.[301_302delAG];[301_302delAG] or c.[150delA];[150delA] or c.[301_302delAG];[ 150delA]. They originated from 21 different countries worldwide. We genotyped 21 single nucleotide variant markers flanking the 9.6Mb region around the PROP1 gene that are not in mutual linkage disequilibrium in the general populations - a finding of a common haplotype would be indicative of ancestral origin of the variant. Haplotypes were reconstructed by Phase and Haploview software, and the variant age was estimated using an allelic association method. We demonstrated ancestral origin of both variants: c.[301_302delAG] was carried on 0.2Mb-long haplotype in a majority of European patients arising approximately 101 generations ago (confidence interval 90.1-116.4). Patients from the Iberian Peninsula displayed a different haplotype which was estimated to have emerged 23.3 (20.1-29.1) generations ago. Subsequently, the data indicated that both haplotypes were transmitted to Latin American patients approximately 13.8 (12.2-17.0) and 16.4 (14.4-20.1) generations ago, respectively. The c.[150delA] variant that was carried on a haplotype spanning about 0.3Mb was estimated to appear 43.7 (38.4-52.7) generations ago. We present strong evidence that the most frequent variants in the PROP1 gene are not a consequence of variant hot-spots as previously assumed, but are founder variants.

  Study EGAS00001001165

• GWAS study on arsenic-exposed population

  Genetic analysis of women from the Andes Mountains that are exposed to arsenic in drinking water.

  Study EGAS00001001168

• Sequencing of heritable Bleeding and Platelet Disorders

  The BRIDGE-BPD study aims to discover new causal genes for Bleeding and Platelet Disorders (BPD) by high throughput sequencing using cluster analyses based on improved and standardized deep phenotyping of cases. BPD is one of the 13 Rare Disease projects under the NIHR BioResource Rare Diseases BRIDGE consortium, which is a collaboration aiming to discover the genetic sequence variants underlying unresolved inherited disorders and to improve identification of already identified high penetrance variants.

  Study EGAS00001001172

• Prediction of pigmentation phenotypes by SNP typing in a Northern German population

  Human pigmentation traits are of great interest to many research areas, from ancient DNA analysis to forensic science. We aimed to develop a gene-based predictive model for pigmentation phenotypes in a realistic target population for forensic case work from Northern Germany. Our aim was to determine whether better prediction accuracy can be achieved, or fewer genetic markers may suffice, than in previously studied, genetically more heterogeneous populations. We investigated the association between eye, hair and skin colour, and 12 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from six genes. Our study comprised two samples of 300 and 100 individuals from Northern Germany who were carefully characterized with regard to pigmentation phenotypes. The first sample was used to select trait-associated SNPs whereas the second sample served to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and to quantify the predictive capability of the respective SNP genotypes. SNP rs12913832 in HERC2 was found to be strongly associated with blue eye colour (OR=15.6, p&lt;1.2•10-4) and to yield reasonable predictive power (90% sensitivity, 63% specificity). SNP associations with hair and skin colour were weaker and genotypes less predictive. A comparison to two recently published sets of markers to predict eye and hair colour revealed that the consideration of additional SNPs with weak to moderate effect increases the predictive power in Northern Germans for eye colour, but not for hair colour. In addition, fine phenotyping and differentiation of hair colour (light / dark and red tint / no red tint) were found to increase the number of significant genotype-phenotype associations.

  Study EGAS00001001174

• Evolution of DNA repair defects during malignant progression of low-grade gliomas after temozolomide treatment.

  Temozolomide (TMZ) increases the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM), but its role in the clinical management of diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG) is still being defined. DNA hypermethylation of the O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter is associated with an improved response to TMZ treatment, while inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway is associated with therapeutic resistance and TMZ-induced mutagenesis. We previously demonstrated that TMZ treatment of LGG induces driver mutations in the RB and AKT-mTOR pathways, which may drive malignant progression to secondary GBM. To better understand the mechanisms underlying TMZ-induced mutagenesis and malignant progression, we explored the evolution of MGMT methylation and genetic alterations affecting MMR genes in a cohort of 34 treatment-naïve LGGs and their recurrences. Recurrences with TMZ-associated hypermutation had increased MGMT methylation compared to their untreated initial tumors and higher overall MGMT methylation compared to TMZ-treated non-hypermutated recurrences. A TMZ-associated mutation in one or more MMR genes was observed in five out of six TMZ-treated hypermutated recurrences. In two cases, pre-existing heterozygous deletions encompassing MGMT, or an MMR gene, were followed by TMZ-associated mutations in one of the genes of interest. These results suggest that tumor cells with methylated MGMT may undergo positive selection during TMZ treatment in the context of MMR deficiency.

  Study EGAS00001001179

• Neuroblastoma relapse trio series from the AMC

  The majority of neuroblastoma patients have tumors that initially respond to chemotherapy, but a large proportion of patients will experience therapy-resistant relapses. The molecular basis of this aggressive phenotype is unknown. Whole genome sequencing of 23 paired diagnostic and relapsed neuroblastomas showed clonal evolution from the diagnostic tumor with a median of 29 somatic mutations unique to the relapse sample. Eighteen of the 23 relapse tumors (78%) showed RAS-MAPK pathway mutations. Seven events were detected only in the relapse tumor while the others showed clonal enrichment. In neuroblastoma cell lines we also detected a high frequency of activating mutations in the RAS-MAPK pathway (11/18, 61%) and these lesions predicted for sensitivity to MEK inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Our findings provide a rationale for genetic characterization of relapse neuroblastoma and show that RAS-MAPK pathway mutations may function as a biomarker for new therapeutic approaches to refractory disease.

  Study EGAS00001001183

• Genome-wide DNA-methylation assessment by MethylCap-seq and Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips: an independent large-scale comparison

  DNA-methylation is an important epigenetic feature in health and disease. Two cost-efficient genome-scale methodologies to assess DNA-methylation are MethylCap-seq and Illumina's Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips (HM450). However, objective information regarding the best-suited methodology for a specific research question is scant. Therefore, we performed a large-scale evaluation on a set of 70 brain tissue samples obtained from 65 glioblastoma and 5 non-tumoral brain tissues, using a gold standard free Bayesian modeling procedure. While conditional specificity was adequate for both approaches, conditional sensitivity was systematically higher for HM450. Also the genome-wide characteristics were compared, revealing that the HM450 probes assess less than 10% of the regions identified as methylated by MethylCap-seq. Hence the latter method may detect more potentially relevant DNA-methylation, defined by either functional location or previously reported differentially methylated candidate regions. Our results therefore indicate that – at least for the tissue under study - both methodologies are complementary, with a higher sensitivity for HM450, but a far larger genome-wide coverage for MethylCap-seq. Note that here only the relevant MethylCap-seq data is deposited, for the HM450 data we refer to GEO (GSE60274).

  Study EGAS00001001191

• Chromatin landscape of medulloblastoma reveals context dependent driver

  In this study, we defined subgroup specific chromatin landscape (H3K27ac, H3K27me3, RNA-Seq, 27ac hichip, WGS) of medulloblastoma to identify pathogenic epigenetic alterations that regulate expression of a context dependent driver gene.

  Study EGAS00001006741

• Associations between APOE status and cognitive ability across the lifecourse

  The association between APOE genotype and cognitive function suggests a positive role for the e2 allele and a negative role for the e4 allele. Both alleles have relatively low frequencies in the general population, hence meta-analyses have been based on many small, heterogeneous studies. Here we report the APOE-cognition associations in the largest single analysis to date. APOE status and cognitive ability were measured in 18,337 participants from the Generation Scotland study between 2006 and 2011. The age range was 18-94 years with a mean of 47 (SD 15). Four cognitive domains were assessed: verbal declarative memory (paragraph recall), processing speed (digit symbol substitution), verbal fluency (phonemic verbal fluency), and vocabulary (Mill Hill synonyms). Linear regression was used to assess the associations between APOE genetic status and cognition. Possession of the e4 allele was associated with lower scores on the measures of memory and processing speed in subjects aged &gt;60. Across all age ranges, the e4 allele was linked to better verbal fluency scores. In younger subjects (≤60 years) the e4 allele was linked to higher vocabulary scores. There were no associations between the e2 allele and cognitive ability. As seen in previous meta-analyses, the APOE e4 allele is linked to poorer cognitive performance in the domains of memory and processing speed. By contrast, positive associations were seen between the e4 allele and measures of verbal fluency and vocabulary. All associations were relatively small and, in many cases, nominally significant despite the very large sample size.

  Study EGAS00001001235

• Intra-tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution patterns towards platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer

  Although many high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) patients are initially sensitive to the standard-of-care platinum-based therapy, intra-tumor heterogeneity may fuel selection towards platinum-resistant clones over subsequent lines of therapy. We performed whole-exome coupled to ultra-deep re-sequencing and copy number alteration (CNA) profiling on 31 matched diagnosis and relapse tumors from HGSOC patients treated with platinum. Genetic heterogeneity within tumor pairs varied extremely, with some recurrent tumors being identical and others completely different from the primary tumor. All primary tumors showed evidence of homologous recombination (HR)-deficiency, but none of them carried reactivating mutations in the HR pathway at relapse, also not when becoming resistant to subsequent lines of platinum. We did also not identify other mutations, CNAs or pathways that were enriched in platinum-resistant clones. However, a platinum score consisting of 13 CNAs correlated significantly with platinum-free interval (PFI) after first-line therapy in multiple cohorts of &gt;450 primary HGSOCs. A relative increase of this score in the relapsed tumor correlated with a change in PFI during subsequent therapy. Clonal evolution under platinum therapy contributes to genetic heterogeneity within tumor pairs, implicating that genetic tests linked to targeted treatment options for recurrent HGSOC need to be performed on biopsies collected at relapse. Platinum resistance of an initially platinum-sensitive HR-deficient HGSOC at relapse is not caused by reactivation of the HR pathway, suggesting that these tumors are still responsive to PARP inhibitors, instead, several chromosomal aberrations contribute to a score predictive of disease outcome under platinum therapy, both in first and subsequent lines of platinum therapy.

  Study EGAS00001001244

• Long-read sequencing of diagnosis and post-therapy medulloblastoma reveals complex rearrangement patterns and epigenetic signatures (Hipo_021)

  Cancer genomes harbor a broad spectrum of structural variants (SV) driving tumorigenesis, a relevant subset of which escape discovery using short-read sequencing. We employed Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing in a paired diagnostic and post- therapy medulloblastoma to unravel the haplotype-resolved somatic genetic and epigenetic landscape. We assemble complex rearrangements and such associated with telomeric sequences, including a 1.55 Megabasepair chromothripsis event. We uncover a complex SV pattern termed ‘templated insertion thread’ (TI thread), characterized by short (mostly &lt;1kb) insertions showing prevalent self-concatenation into highly amplified structures of up to 50kbp in size. TI threads occur in 3% of cancers, with a prevalence ranging to 74% in liposarcoma, and frequent colocalization with chromothripsis. We also perform long-read based methylome profiling and discover allele-specific methylation (ASM) effects, complex rearrangements exhibiting differential methylation, and differential promoter methylation in cancer-driver genes. Our study shows the advantage of long-read sequencing in the discovery and characterization of complex somatic rearrangements.

  Study EGAS00001006629