3333 results for "*geneti*"

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• International consensus definition of DNA methylation subgroups in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

  Known clinical and genetic markers have limitations in predicting disease course and outcome in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). DNA methylation (DNAme) patterns in JMML have correlated with outcome across multiple studies, suggesting it as a biomarker to improve patient stratification. However, standardized approaches to classify JMML based on DNAme patterns are lacking. We therefore sought to define an international consensus for DNAme subgroups in JMML and develop classification methods for clinical implementation.

  Study EGAS00001004682

• Chromosomal copy number heterogeneity predicts survival rates across cancers

  Survival rates of cancer patients vary widely within and between malignancies. While genetic aberrations are at the root of all cancers, individual genomic features cannot explain these distinct disease outcomes. In contrast, intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH) has the potential to elucidate pan-cancer survival rates and the biology that drives cancer prognosis1,2. Unfortunately, a comprehensive and effective framework to measure ITH across cancers is missing3. Here, we introduce a scalable measure of chromosomal copy number heterogeneity that predicts patient survival across cancers. We show that the level of ITH can be derived from a single-sample copy number profile. Using gene-expression data we demonstrate that ongoing chromosomal instability underlies the observed heterogeneity. Analysing 11,534 primary cancer samples from 35 different malignancies, we find that copy number heterogeneity can be accurately deduced and predicts cancer survival across tissues of origin and stages of disease. Our results provide a unifying molecular explanation for the different survival rates observed between cancer types.

  Study EGAS00001004702

• Accurate detection and classification of pediatric sarcomas based on cell-free DNA fragmentation patterns

  Sequencing of cell-free DNA in the blood of cancer patients (“liquid biopsy”) provides attractive opportunities not only for early diagnosis, but also for minimally invasive monitoring of treatment response and disease courses. To unlock liquid biopsy analysis for pediatric tumors with few genetic aberrations, we developed an integrated genetic/epigenetic analysis method and applied it to 241 deep whole-genome sequencing profiles of 95 patients with Ewing sarcoma and 31 patients with other pediatric sarcomas. We achieved sensitive detection and classification of circulating tumor DNA in peripheral blood independent of any genetic alterations. We evaluated different metrics for cell-free DNA fragmentation analysis and developed LIQUORICE, a bioinformatic tool for detecting circulating tumor DNA based on tumor-specific chromatin structure. Using machine learning methods, we combined several fragmentation-based metrics into an integrated approach for liquid biopsy analysis tailored to cancers with low mutation rates but widespread epigenetic deregulation. Clinical associations highlighted the potential value of cfDNA fragmentation patterns as prognostic biomarkers in Ewing sarcoma. Additionally, we performed low coverage whole-genome-sequencing on 43 tumor biopsy samples from patients with Ewing sarcoma, in order to compare copy number aberrations detected in cell-free DNA and biopsy samples of the same patients. For validation of the epigenetic signatures inferred from cell-free DNA, we further performed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) on 38 matched biopsy samples from patients with Ewing sarcoma. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive analysis of circulating tumor DNA beyond recurrent somatic mutations, and it renders the benefits of liquid biopsy more readily accessible for childhood cancers.

  Study EGAS00001005127

• A novel orthotopic patient-derived xenograft model of radiation-induced glioma following medulloblastoma

  Radiation-induced glioma (RIG) is a highly aggressive brain cancer arising as a consequence of radiation therapy. We report a case of RIG that arose in the brain stem following treatment for paediatric medulloblastoma, and the development and characterisation of a matched orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model (TK-RIG915). Patient and PDX tumours were analysed using DNA methylation profiling, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA sequencing. While initially thought to be a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) based on disease location, results from methylation profiling and WGS were not consistent with this diagnosis. Furthermore, clustering analyses based on RNA expression suggested the tumours were distinct from primary DIPG. Additional gene expression analysis demonstrated concordance with a published RIG expression profile. Multiple genetic alterations that enhance PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling were discovered in TK-RIG915 including an activating mutation in PIK3CA, upregulation of PDGFRA and AKT2, inactivating mutations in NF1, and a gain-of-function mutation in PTPN11. Additionally, deletion of CDKN2A/B, increased IDH1 expression, and decreased ARID1A expression were observed. Detection of phospho-S6, -4EBP1 and -ERK via immunohistochemistry confirmed PI3K pathway and ERK activation. Here, we report one of the first PDX models for RIG, which recapitulates the patient disease and is molecularly distinct from primary brain stem glioma. Genetic interrogation of this model has enabled the identification of potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in this currently incurable disease.

  Study EGAS00001004709

• Submission 84 - study_title 1

  Submission 84 - description 1

  Study EGAS50000000120

• Mutational Landscape and Tumor Burden Assessed by Cell-Free DNA in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: a Population-based Study

  Purpose: We analyzed the utility of cfDNA in a prospective population-based cohort to determine the mutational profile, assess tumor burden, and estimate its impact in response rate and outcome in patients with DLBCL. Experimental Design: One-hundred patients were diagnosed with DLBCL during the study period. Mutational status of 112 genes was studied in cfDNA by targeted next-generation sequencing. Paired formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples and volumetric PET/CT were assessed when available. Results: Appropriate cfDNA to perform the analyses was obtained in 79/100 cases. At least one mutation could be detected in 69/79 cases (87%). The sensitivity of cfDNA to detect the mutations was 68% (95% CI: 56.2-78.7). The mutational landscape found in cfDNA samples was highly consistent with that shown in the tissue and allowed genetic classification in 43% of the cases. A higher amount of ctDNA significantly correlated with clinical parameters related to tumor burden (elevated LDH and β2-microglobulin serum levels, advanced stage, and high-risk IPI) and total metabolic tumor volume assessed by PET/CT. In patients treated with curative intent, high ctDNA levels (>2.5 log hGE/mL) were associated with lower complete response (65% vs. 96%, P<0.004), shorter progression-free survival (65% vs. 85%, P=0.038) and overall survival (73% vs. 100%, P=0.007) at 2 years, although it did not maintain prognostic value in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: In a population-based prospective DLBCL series, cfDNA resulted an alternative source to estimate tumor burden and to determine the tumor mutational profile and genetic classification, which have prognostic implications and may contribute to a future tailored

  Study EGAS00001004733

• DIPG RNA and exome sequencing

  DIPG is a paediatric high-grade glioma that diffusely infiltrates the brainstem and is the leading cause of paediatric brain tumour death. Here we performed RNA and whole exome sequencing on DIPG and control samples to analyse transcriptomic and genetic alterations associated with this devastating disease, and to understand the relationship between them.

  Study EGAS00001004749

• Genetic ancestry contributes to somatic mutations in lung cancers from admixed Latin American populations

  Inherited lung cancer risk, particularly in non-smokers, is poorly understood. Genomic and ancestry analysis of 1,153 lung cancers from Latin America revealed striking associations between Native American ancestry and their somatic landscape, including tumor mutational burden (TMB), and specific driver mutations in EGFR, KRAS, and STK11. A local Native American ancestry risk score predicted EGFR and KRAS mutation frequency more strongly than global ancestry, suggesting that germline genetics (rather than environmental exposure) underlie these disparities.

  Study EGAS00001004752

• Epigenome-wide association study of asthma remission in whole blood and nasal epithelium

  Study EGAS00001004766

• Methylation analysis for plasma DNA of patients with organ transplantation

  We developed Genetic-Epigenetic Tissue Mapping (GETMap) to determine the tissue composition of plasma DNA carrying genetic variants not present in the constitutional genome through comparing their methylation profiles with relevant tissues. We validated this approach by showing that, in pregnant women, circulating DNA carrying fetal-specific alleles was entirely placenta-derived.

  Study EGAS00001004788

• Familial psychosis associated with a missense mutation at MACF1 gene combined with the rare duplications DUP3p26.3 and DUP16p23.3, affecting the CNTN6 and CDH13 genes

  Psychosis is a highly heritable and heterogeneous psychiatric condition. Its genetic architecture is thought to be the result of the joint effect of common and rare variants. Families with high prevalence are an interesting approach to shed light on the rare variant's contribution without the need of collecting large cohorts. To unravel the genomic architecture of a family enriched for psychosis, with four affected individuals, we applied a system genomic approach based on karyotyping, genotyping by whole-exome sequencing to search for rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and SNP array to search for copy-number variants (CNVs). We identified a rare non-synonymous variant, g.39914279 C>G, in the MACF1 gene, segregating with psychosis. Rare variants in the MACF1 gene have been previously detected in SCZ patients. Besides, two rare CNVs, DUP3p26.3 and DUP16p23.3, were also identified in the family affecting relevant genes (CNTN6 and CDH13, respectively). We hypothesize that the co-segregation of these duplications with the rare variant g.39914279 C>G of MACF1 gene precipitated with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

  Study EGAS00001004791

• The genetic structure of Norway

  The aim of the present study was to describe the genetic structure of the Norwegian population using genotypes from 6369 unrelated individuals with detailed information about places of residence. Using standard single marker- and haplotype-based approaches, we report evidence of two regions with distinctive patterns of genetic variation, one in the far northeast, and another in the south of Norway, as indicated by fixation indices, haplotype sharing, homozygosity and effective population size. We detect and quantify a component of Uralic Sami ancestry that is enriched in the North. On a finer scale, we find that rates of migration have been affected by topography like mountain ridges. In the broader Scandinavian context, we detect elevated relatedness between the mid- and northern border areas towards Sweden. The main finding of this study is that despite Norway’s long maritime history and as a former Danish territory, the region closest to mainland Europe in the south appears to have been the most isolated region in Norway, highlighting the open sea as a barrier to gene flow into Norway.

  Study EGAS00001004826

• AGECAN - Interespecies conservation of brain specific DNA methylation in aging and cancer

  Study EGAS00001004851

• Genomic analysis of a hypermutated gliosarcoma

  Gliosarcoma is a variant of glioblastoma with equally poor prognosis and characterized by mixed glial and mesenchymal pathology. Metastasis is not uncommon but involvement of the spinal cord is rare, and comprehensive genetic characterization of spinal gliosarcoma is lacking. We describe a patient initially diagnosed with a low-grade brain glioma via biopsy, followed by adjuvant radiation and temozolomide treatment. Nearly two years after diagnosis, she developed neurological deficits from an intradural, extramedullary tumor anterior to the spinal cord at T4, which was resected and diagnosed as gliosarcoma. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of this tumor revealed a hypermutated phenotype, characterized by somatic mutations in key DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway genes, an abundance of C>T transitions within the identified somatic SNVs, and microsatellite stability, together consistent with temozolomide-mediated hypermutagenesis. This is the first report of a hypermutator phenotype in gliosarcoma, which may represent a novel genomic mechanism of progression from lower-grade glioma.

  Study EGAS00001004864

• Targeted de-methylation of the FOXP3-TSDR

  CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key mediators of immunological tolerance and promising effector cells for immuno-suppressive adoptive cellular therapy to fight autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Their functional stability is critical for their clinical utility and has been correlated to the demethylated state of the TSDR/CNS2 enhancer element in the Treg lineage transcription factor FOXP3. However, proof for a causal contribution of the TSDR de-methylation to FOXP3 stability and Treg induction is so far lacking. We here established a powerful transient-transfection CRISPR-Cas9-based epigenetic-editing method for the selective de-methylation of the TSDR within the endogenous chromatin environment of a living cell. The induced de-methylated state was stable over weeks in clonal T cell proliferation cultures even after expression of the editing complex had ceased. Epigenetic editing of the TSDR resulted in FOXP3 expression, even in its physiological isoform distribution, proving a causal role for the de-methylated TSDR in FOXP3 regulation. However, successful FOXP3 induction was not associated with a switch towards a functional Treg phenotype, in contrast to what has been reported from FOXP3 overexpression approaches. Thus, TSDR de-methylation is required, but not sufficient for a stable Treg phenotype induction. Therefore, targeted demethylation of the TSDR may be a critical addition to published in vitro Treg induction protocols which so far lack FOXP3 stability.

  Study EGAS00001004867

• Genetic makeup of agnospheres

  Agnospheres are cultures of cancer stem cells isolated from tissue biopsies from patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUPs). The latter is a lethal malignancy (median survival <1 year), representing approximately the 3% of all cancers, and characterized by metastatic dissemination in the absence of a primary tumor recognizable by a standardized protocol including thorough body imaging and histopathological analysis. Agnospheres are long-term propagated in culture and, after subcutaneous injection into immunocompromised mice, they display high tumorigenicity and quickly reproduce the clinical presentation of the original tumor, featuring a multi-organ metastatic pattern and poorly differentiated histology. The goal of the project is to analyse the mutational profile of agnospheres in detail, as to verify its correspondance with that of the original tumors. Genetic information will be exploited to investigate the genetic drivers of the CUP phenotype, in particular the hypermetastatic ability and the differentiative block.

  Study EGAS00001004868

• Multiregional sequencing of IDH-WT glioblastoma reveals high genetic heterogeneity and a dynamic evolutionary history

  Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain malignancy in adults. In addi-tion to extensive inter-patient heterogeneity, glioblastoma shows intra-tumor extensive cellular and molecular heterogeneity, both spatially and temporally. This heterogeneity is one of the main reasons for the poor prognosis and overall survival. Moreover, it raises the important question of whether the molecular characterization of a single bioptic sample, as performed in standard di-agnostics, actually represents the entire lesion. In this study, we sequenced the whole-exome of nine spatially different cancer regions of three primary glioblastomas. We characterized their mutational profiles and copy number alterations, with implications for our understanding of tu-mor biology in relation to clonal architecture and evolutionary dynamics, as well as therapeuti-cally relevant alterations.

  Study EGAS00001005128

• Targeted sequencing DDR genes in cancer stem cells

  Colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) show heterogeneous levels of constitutive replication stress leading distinct dependence on the replication stress response. The aim of the projects was to find genetic, epigenetic, phenotypic factors associated with the resistance of colorectal CSCs to inhibitors of the ATR/CHK1 pathway, which regulates of the replication stress response. Different pairs of colorectal CSCs sensitive and resistant to ATR or CHK1 inhibitors were analyzed

  Study EGAS00001004892

• Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the mesangial identity and species diversity of glomerular cell transcriptomes

  Molecular characterization of the individual cell types in human kidney as well as model organisms are critical in defining organ function and understanding translational aspects of biomedical research. Previous studies have uncovered gene expression profiles of several kidney glomerular cell types, however, important cells, including mesangial (MCs) and glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs), were missing or incompletely described, and a systematic comparison between mouse and human kidney is lacking. To this end, we used Smart-seq2 to profile 4332 individual glomerulus-associated cells isolated from human living donor renal biopsies and mouse kidney. The analysis revealed genetic programs for all four glomerular cell types (podocytes, glomerular endothelial cells, MCs and PECs) as well as rare glomerulus-associated macula densa cells (MDCs). Importantly, we detected heterogeneity in glomerulus-associated Pdgfrb-expressing cells, including bona fide intraglomerular MCs with the functionally active phagocytic molecular machinery, as well as a unique mural cell type located in the central stalk region of the glomerulus tuft. Furthermore, we observed remarkable species differences in the individual gene expression profiles of defined glomerular cell types that highlight translational challenges in the field and provide a guide to design translational studies.

  Study EGAS00001004943

• Genetic insights into the biological mechanisms governing human ovarian ageing

  Reproductive longevity is critical for fertility and impacts healthy ageing in women, yet insights into the underlying biological mechanisms and treatments to preserve it are limited. Here, we identify 290 genetic determinants of ovarian ageing, assessed using normal variation in age at natural menopause (ANM) in ~200,000 women of European ancestry. These common alleles influence clinical extremes of ANM; women in the top 1% of genetic susceptibility have an equivalent risk of premature ovarian insufficiency to those carrying monogenic FMR1 premutations. Identified loci implicate a broad range of DNA damage response (DDR) processes and include loss-of-function variants in key DDR genes. Integration with experimental models demonstrates that these DDR processes act across the life-course to shape the ovarian reserve and its rate of depletion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that experimental manipulation of DDR pathways highlighted by human genetics increase fertility and extend reproductive life in mice. Causal inference analyses using the identified genetic variants indicates that extending reproductive life in women improves bone health and reduces risk of type 2 diabetes, but increases risks of hormone-sensitive cancers. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms governing ovarian ageing, when they act across the life-course, and how they might be targeted by therapeutic approaches to extend fertility and prevent disease.

  Study EGAS00001004947

• Comparison of the diagnostic yield of aCGH and NGS across different neurodevelopmental disorders

  Current recommendations for the genetic diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) do not include the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) and are still based on chromosomal microarrays, such as comparative genomic hybridization array (aCGH). The present study compares the diagnostic yield obtained by aCGH and clinical exome sequencing in NDD globally and its spectrum of disorders. To that end, 1412 patients clinically diagnosed with NDDs and studied with aCGH were classified into phenotype categories: Global developmental delay/intellectual disability (GDD/ID); autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and Other NDDs. These categories were further subclassified into subcategories, based on the most frequent accompanying signs and symptoms: isolated forms, forms with epilepsy; forms with micro or macrocephaly and syndromic forms. A subset of 245 patients of the 1412 were subjected to clinical exome sequencing. Diagnostic yield of aCGH and clinical exome sequencing, expressed as the number of solved cases, was compared for each phenotype category and subcategory. Clinical exome sequencing was superior than aCGH for all cases except for isolated ASD, with no cases solved by NGS. Globally, clinical exome sequencing solved 20% of cases (versus 5.7% by aCGH) and the diagnostic yield was highest for all forms of GDD/ID and lowest for Other NDDs (7.1% versus 1.4% by aCGH) and ASD (6.1% versus 3% by aCGH). In the majority of cases, diagnostic yield was higher in the phenotype subcategories than in the mother category. These results support the use of NGS as the first-tier test in the diagnostic algorithm of all NDDs followed by aCGH when necessary.

  Study EGAS00001004949

• Cell-free DNA TAPS for early cancer detection

  Multimodal, genome-wide characterization of epigenetic and genetic information in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) could enable more sensitive early cancer detection. However, due to technological challenges associated with DNA methylation sequencing in low input cfDNA samples, most studies have been limited by DNA damage caused by bisulfite sequencing, or the qualitative nature of enrichment-based sequencing. Recently, we developed TET-assisted Pyridine Borane Sequencing (TAPS), which is a mild, bisulfite-free method for base-resolution direct DNA methylation sequencing. Here we optimized TAPS for cfDNA (cfTAPS) to provide high-quality and high-depth whole-genome cell-free methylomes. We applied cfTAPS to 85 cfDNA samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-cancer controls. From just 10 ng cfDNA (1-3 mL of plasma), we generated the most comprehensive cfDNA methylome to date. We demonstrated that cfTAPS provides multimodal information about cfDNA characteristics, including DNA methylation, tissue of origin, and DNA fragmentation. Integrated analysis of these epigenetic and genetic features enables accurate identification of early HCC and PDAC.

  Study EGAS00001004962

• Genetic heterogeneity and dynamics of transcriptional subtypes in matched primary and recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

  To get a better understanding of different HNSCC subtypes, whole-exome (matched tumor-normal paits) and whole transcriptome sequencing to to elucidate underlying molecular processes. Here, we present the matched whole-exome sequencing data from 28 patients (normal tissue, tumor tissue, relapse).

  Study EGAS00001005005

• Transcriptomic and epigentic analysis of human peripheral blood NK cell subsets revealing role of Bcl11b in differentiation

  Transcriptomic analysis of seven human peripheral blood NK cell subsets and three T cell subsets purified from healthy cytomeglovirus seropositive donors. Epigenetic analysis including identification of open chromatin and active enhancer elements confirms key regulatory factors defining an NK cell differentiation axis. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation sequencing reveals contribution of key transcription factors associated with NK cell differentiation including Bcl11b.

  Study EGAS00001005025

• DO NOT USE - Whole genome sequencing of SI-NETs from six patients

  Small intestine neuroendocrine tumor (SI-NET), the most common cancer of the small bowel, often displays a curious multifocal phenotype with several intestinal tumors centered around a regional lymph node metastasis, yet the typical path of evolution of these lesions remains unclear. Here, we determined the complete genome sequences of 24 tumor and 3 adjacent normal tissue samples with their paired normal blood samples (totally 33 whole genomes) from 6 patients with multifocal SI-NETs, allowing elucidation of phylogenetic relationships between multiple intestinal tumors and metastases in individual patients.

  Study EGAS00001005009

• Deep genetic affinity between coastal Pacific and Amazonian natives evidenced by Australasian ancestry

  Analysis of the genetic affinity between coastal Pacific and Amazonian natives (i.e. "Y population" ancestry). Here we analyzed a dataset of newly generated data from four Brazilian indigenous communities genotyped in the Axiom Human Origins array combined with publicly available data from other Native American populations.

  Study EGAS00001005022

• The WID-EC test for the detection and risk prediction of endometrial cancer

  Study EGAS00001005033

• The DNA methylome of cervical cells and risk of ovarian cancer

  Study EGAS00001005045

• Genotype data from 'Evidence of the interplay of genetics and culture in Ethiopia'

  Study EGAS00001005171

• Genetic analysis of HLA and immune escape genes in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

  Fifty percent of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases lack cell-surface expression of the class-I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I), thereby escaping immune recognition by cytotoxic T cells. In order to comprehensively identify the mechanisms involved in MHC-I loss, we first performed immunophenotypic analysis of both MHC class-I and -II in 657 cases across the spectrum of B-NHL, revealing that loss of MHC-I, but not MHC-II, is preferentially restricted to DLBCL. We then used whole exome and targeted deep-sequencing to examine genes involved in MHC-I expression in 74 DLBCL samples representative of MHC-I positive and negative cases. We show here that somatic biallelic or monoallelic inactivation of B2M and/or HLA-I is present in 80.9% (34/42) of MHC-I negative tumors. Furthermore, 68.8% (22/32) of MHC-I positive DLBCLs also harbored monoallelic HLA-I genetic alterations (MHC-I positivemono) that lead to allelic imbalance, suggesting allele-specific inactivation. Both MHC-I negative and MHC-I positivemono cases showed a significantly higher mutational burden as well as a higher number of inferred neo-antigens, suggesting co-selection of HLA-I loss and sustained neo-antigen production. Interestingly, the analysis of > 500.000 individuals in two databases revealed homozygosity of germline HLA-I genes in 26-38% of DLBCL patients, a frequency significantly higher than that observed in any other cancer type. In mice, germinal-center B cells lacking HLA-I expression did not progress to lymphoma and were counterselected in the context of oncogene-driven lymphomagenesis, suggesting that additional events are needed to license immune evasion. These results suggest a multi-step process of HLA-I loss including both germ-line and somatic events in DLBCL development, and have direct implications for the pathogenesis and immunotherapeutic targeting of this disease.

  Study EGAS00001005054

• Mutational analysis of an oligoprogressive sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor.

  In this study, we describe a patient diagnosed with metastatic sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma that showed a remarkable tumor response to Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, followed by an oligoprogression. Molecular analysis of the primary tumor in addition to a bone and brain metastasis was performed and we were able to identify driver genetic alterations indicating a possible role in the tumorigenesis process besides some alterations that may be associated with metastasis.

  Study EGAS00001005064

• Multiple migrations to the Philippines during the last 50,000 years

  A key link to understand human history in Island Southeast Asia is the Philippine archipelago and its poorly investigated genetic diversity. We collected and analyzed the most comprehensive set of population-genomic data for the Philippines, 1028 individuals covering 115 indigenous communities. We demonstrate that the Philippines were populated by at least five waves of human migration. The Cordillerans migrated into the Philippines prior to the arrival of rice agriculture, where some remain to be the least admixed East Asians carrying an ancestry shared by all Austronesian-speaking populations; thereby challenging an exclusive Out-of-Taiwan model of joint farming-language-people dispersal. Altogether, our findings portray Philippines as a crucial gateway, with a multilayered history, that ultimately changed the genetic landscape of the Asia-Pacific region.

  Study EGAS00001005083

• Genetic landscape of inherited retinal dystrophies affected cases in Spain

  Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), defined by dysfunction or progressive loss of photoreceptors, are disorders characterized by elevated heterogeneity, both at the clinical and genetic levels. Our main goal was to address the genetic landscape of IRD in a Spanish cohort of patients. A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on IRD affected individuals, referred for genetic testing from all the Spanish autonomous communities. Clinical, demographic and familiar data were collected from each patient, including family pedigree, age of appearance of visual symptoms, presence of any systemic findings and geographical origin. Genetic studies were performed to all families with available DNA using different molecular techniques. Our study provides the general landscape for IRD in Spain and our results have important implications for genetic diagnosis, counselling and new therapeutic strategies to both the Spanish population and other related populations.

  Study EGAS00001005104

• Epigenomic profiling and transcriptomic profiling of LUAD patients tumor tissues and tumor adjacent tissues

  To provide an in-depth understanding of the epigenomic heterogeneity of LUAD, we here investigated the H3K27ac histone modification profiles of tumors and adjacent normal lung tissues from 42 LUAD patients and explored the role of epigenetic alterations in LUAD progression. We also investigated transcriptomic alterations among 36 patients tumor tissues.

  Study EGAS00001005132

• Nasal DNA methylation at three CpG sites predicts childhood allergic disease

  Study EGAS00001005189

• mRNA capture sequencing and RT-qPCR for the detection of pathognomonic, novel and secondary fusion transcripts in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue: a sarcoma showcase

  RNA sequencing is widely used to study gene abundance patterns, but less frequently to assess structural alterations such as fusion transcripts. In this study, we assess the performance of messenger RNA (mRNA) capture sequencing to identify fusion transcripts in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue of different types of sarcoma, followed by orthogonal confirmation using RT-qPCR. To validate our workflow, we used the TruSight RNA Pan-Cancer Panel to analyze a first cohort of 6 positive control tumors for which the diagnostic workup demonstrated the presence of a specific chromosomal rearrangement. Fusion transcript calling by FusionCatcher confirmed all known aberrations and enabled the identification of both fusion gene partners and breakpoints. Next, whole transcriptome TruSeq RNA Exome sequencing was applied to a second cohort of 17 patients, diagnosed with fusion gene-negative alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) or undifferentiated round cell sarcoma (URCS), for whom fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) did not identify the classical pathognomonic rearrangements. Remarkably, for 6 out of 17 patients, mRNA capture sequencing readily detected a pathognomonic fusion transcript, i.e. PAX3-FOXO1 in 2 ARMS patients, and EWSR1-FLI1, EWSR1-ERG or EWSR1-NFATC2 in 4 URCS patients. These data show that RNA capture sequencing may enhance the detection rate of pathognomonic fusion genes in sarcoma. For the 11 patients with no known pathognomonic fusion transcript, 11 newly identified fusion transcripts were confirmed by RT-qPCR, including COPS3-TOM1L2, NCOA1-DTNB, WWTR1-LINC01986, PLAA-MOB3B, AP1B1-CHEK2 and BRD4-LEUTX fusion transcripts in ARMS patients. Additionally, recurrently detected secondary fusion transcripts in two patients diagnosed with EWSR1-NFATC2-positive sarcoma were confirmed (COPS4-TBC1D9, PICALM-SYTL2, SMG6-VPS53 and UBE2F-ALS2). Our results provide new insights into the underlying genetic causes of these malignancies.

  Study EGAS00001005202

• Novel optineurin frameshift insertion causing familial frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a common cause of Young Onset Dementia and has diverse clinical manifestations involving behaviour, executive function, language and motor function, including parkinsonism. Up to 50% of FTD patients report a positive family history, supporting a strong genetic basis, particularly in cases with both FTD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS). Mutations in three genes are associated with the majority of familial FTD (fFTD) cases - microtubule associated protein tau gene (MAPT), progranulin gene (PGRN), and hexanucleotide repeat expansions in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), whilst mutations in other genes such as optineurin (OPTN) have rarely been reported. Mutations in OPTN have been reported mostly in familial and sporadic cases of ALS, or in rare cases of FTD-ALS, but not in association with pure or predominant FTD and/or parkinsonian phenotype. Here, we report for the first time, a family from the Philippines with 4 affected members harbouring the same OPTN frameshift insertion, presenting with FTD-related phenotypes, including one sibling with predominant parkinsonism resembling corticobasal syndrome. Notably, none of the affected members showed any evidence of motor neuron disease or ALS at the time of writing, both clinically and on electrophysiological testing, expanding the phenotypic spectrum of OPTN mutations. Close follow-up of mutation carriers for the development of new clinical features and wider investigation of additional family members with further genetic analyses will be conducted to investigate the possibility of other genetic modifiers in this family which could explain phenotypic heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001005220

• Targeted sequencing of follicular lymphoma tumour samples from the UK's Haematological Malignancy Research Network

  Follicular lymphoma displays morphological and clinical heterogeneity, underpinned by shared molecular pathogenesis. Mutations in epigenetic regulators alongside t(14;18) have been identified as disease initiating events. Additional mutational diversity suggests disease heterogeneity. Whether this resolves into mechanistically distinct subsets remains an open question. Targeted sequencing was applied to an unselected population-based FL cohort (n=548) diagnosed in a catchment population of ~4 million (14 centers), with full clinical follow-up (n=538) that included 96 DLBCL transformations. We investigated whether molecular subclusters of FL can be identified, and whether mutational data provide predictive information relating to transformation.

  Study EGAS00001005238

• Radiation-induced gliomas represent H3-/IDH-wild type pediatric gliomas with recurrent PDGFRA amplification and loss of CDKN2A/B

  Long-term complications such as radiation-induced second malignancies occur in a subset of patients following radiation-therapy, particularly relevant in pediatric patients due to the long follow-up period in case of survival. Radiation-induced gliomas (RIGs) have been reported in patients after treatment with cranial irradiation for various primary malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and medulloblastoma (MB). We perform comprehensive (epi-) genetic and expression profiling of RIGs arising after cranial irradiation for MB (n=23) and ALL (n=9). Our study reveals a unifying molecular signature for the majority of RIGs, with recurrent PDGFRA amplification and loss of CDKN2A/B and an absence of somatic hotspot mutations in genes encoding histone 3 variants or IDH1/2, uncovering diagnostic markers and potentially actionable targets.

  Study EGAS00001005243

• Molecular programs of melanoma brain metastases (MBM)

  We performed paired-end whole transcriptome sequencing of fresh frozen or intraoperative brain metastases of therapeutically treated stage IV melanoma patients. In addition, we analysed the epigenetic landscape of tumors usind Illumina 850k bead chip technology.

  Study EGAS00001005976

• Multimodal single-cell and bulk glioma analyses

  Glioma intratumoral heterogeneity enables adaptation to challenging microenvironments and contributes to therapeutic resistance. We integrated 914 single-cell DNA methylomes, 55,284 single-cell transcriptomes, and bulk multi-omic profiles across 11 adult IDH-mutant or IDH-wild-type gliomas to delineate sources of intratumoral heterogeneity. We show that local DNA methylation disorder associates with cell-to-cell DNA methylation differences, is elevated in more aggressive tumors, links with transcriptional disruption, and is altered in environmental stress response. Glioma cells under in vitro hypoxic and irradiation stress increased local DNA methylation disorder and shifted cell states. We identified a positive association between genetic and epigenetic instability that was supported in bulk longitudinally collected DNA methylation data. Increased DNA methylation disorder associated with accelerated disease progression, and recurrently selected DNA methylation changes were enriched for environmental stress response pathways. Our work identifies an epigenetically facilitated adaptive stress response process and highlights the importance of epigenetic heterogeneity in shaping therapeutic outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001005300

• COVID19 Host Genetic Initiative

  The COVID-19 host genetics initiative is a bottom-up collaborative effort that has three main goals: 1. Provide an environment to foster the sharing of resources to facilitate COVID-19 host genetics research (e.g. protocols, questionnaires). 2. Organize analytical activities across studies to identify genetic determinants of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. 3. Provide a platform to share the results from such activities, as well as the individual-level data where possible, to benefit the broader scientific community. Here, we release the harmonized individual-level data for the subset of individuals who participated in COVID-19 HGI. Please refer to this data dictionary: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1whu_MjShXxbdoAJMCYxZ5C-vWOcRivwfWglTcBRNZgQ/edit#gid=470747846 Please cite both Nakanishi, T el al. J Clin Invest 2021 (PMID: 34597274) and COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, Nature 2021 (PMID: 34237774) when you use these data for your publications.

  Study EGAS00001005304

• Bulk-tissue RNA-sequencing of anterior cingulate cortex samples derived from Lewy body disease patients

  Parkinson’s disease (PD), Parkinson’s disease with dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are three clinically, genetically and neuropathologically overlapping neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as the Lewy body diseases (LBDs). A variety of molecular mechanisms have been implicated in PD pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying PDD and DLB remain largely unknown, a knowledge gap that presents an impediment to the discovery of disease-modifying therapies. Transcriptomic profiling can contribute to addressing this gap, but remains limited in the LBDs. Here, we applied paired bulk-tissue and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to anterior cingulate cortex samples derived from 28 individuals, including healthy controls, PD, PDD and DLB cases (n = 7 per group), to transcriptomically profile the LBDs. Using this approach, we (i) found transcriptional alterations in multiple cell types across the LBDs; (ii) discovered evidence for widespread dysregulation of RNA splicing, particularly in PDD and DLB; (iii) identified potential splicing factors, with links to other dementia-related neurodegenerative diseases, coordinating this dysregulation; and (iv) identified transcriptomic commonalities and distinctions between the LBDs that inform understanding of the relationships between these three clinical disorders. Together, these findings have important implications for the design of RNA-targeted therapies for these diseases and highlight a potential molecular “window” of therapeutic opportunity between the initial onset of PD and subsequent development of Lewy body dementia.

  Study EGAS00001005305

• Evolutionary predictability of genetic versus non genetic resistance to anticancer drugs in melanoma

  Therapy resistance arises from heterogeneous drug-tolerant persister cells or minimal residual disease (MRD) through genetic and nongenetic mechanisms. A key question is whether specific molecular features of the MRD ecosystem determine which of these two distinct trajectories will eventually prevail. We show that, in melanoma exposed to MAPK therapeutics, emergence of a transient neural crest stem cell (NCSC) population in MRD concurs with the development of nongenetic resistance. This increase relies on a GDNF-dependent signaling cascade, which activates the AKT survival pathway in a focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-dependent manner. Ablation of the NCSC population through FAK inhibition delays relapse in patient-derived tumor xenografts. Strikingly, all tumors that ultimately escape this treatment exhibit resistance-conferring genetic alterations and increased sensitivity to ERK inhibition. These findings identify an approach that abrogates the nongenetic resistance trajectory in melanoma and demonstrate that the cellular composition of MRD deterministically imposes distinct drug resistance evolutionary paths.

  Study EGAS00001005314

• Mutational bias in spermatogonia impacts the anatomy of regulatory sites in the human genome

  Mutation in the germline is the ultimate source of genetic variation, but little is known about the influence of germline chromatin structure on mutational processes. Using ATAC-seq, we profile the open chromatin landscape of human spermatogonia, the most proliferative cell-type of the germline, identifying transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) and PRDM9-binding sites, a subset of which will initiate meiotic recombination. We observe an increase in rare structural variant (SV) breakpoints at PRDM9-bound sites, implicating meiotic recombination in the generation of structural variation. Many germline TFBSs, such as NRF, are also associated with increased rates of SV breakpoints, apparently independent of recombination. Singleton short insertions (>=5 bp) are highly enriched at TFBSs, particularly at sites bound by testis active TFs, and their rates correlate with those of structural variant breakpoints. Short insertions often duplicate the TFBS motif, leading to clustering of motif sites near regulatory regions in this male-driven evolutionary process. Increased mutation loads at germline TFBSs disproportionately affect neural enhancers with activity in spermatogonia, potentially altering neurodevelopmental regulatory architecture. Local chromatin structure in spermatogonia is thus pervasive in shaping both evolution and disease.

  Study EGAS00001005366

• SG Peranakan Project: Genetic admixture in the culturally unique Peranakan Chinese population in Southeast Asia

  The Peranakan Chinese are culturally unique descendants of immigrants from China who settled in the Malay Archipelago ~300-500 years ago. Today, among large communities in Southeast Asia, the Peranakans have preserved Chinese traditions with strong influence from the local indigenous Malays. Yet, whether or to what extent genetic admixture co-occurred with the cultural mixture has been a topic of ongoing debate. We performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on 177 Singapore (SG) Peranakans and analyzed the data jointly with WGS data of Asian and European populations. We estimated that Peranakan Chinese inherited ~5.62% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.75-6.46%) Malay ancestry, much higher than that in SG Chinese (1.08%, 0.69-1.53%), southern Chinese (0.86%, 0.57-1.31%), and northern Chinese (0.25%, 0.18-0.33%). A sex-biased admixture history, in which the Malay ancestry was contributed primarily by females, was supported by X chromosomal variants, and mitochondrial (MT) and Y haplogroups. Finally, we identified an ancient admixture event shared by Peranakan Chinese and SG Chinese ~1,612 (95% CI: 1,345-1,923) years ago, coinciding with the settlement history of Han Chinese in southern China, apart from the recent admixture event with Malays unique to Peranakan Chinese ~190 (159-213) years ago. These findings greatly advance our understanding of the dispersal history of Chinese and their interaction with indigenous populations in Southeast Asia.

  Study EGAS00001005379

• Analysis of RAD51C promoter methylation using targeted bisulfite sequencing (amplicon sequencing) in ovarian cancer pre-clinical models and patient samples.

  In high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC), deleterious mutations in the DNA repair gene RAD51C are established drivers of defective homologous recombination and are emerging biomarkers of PARP inhibitor (PARPi) sensitivity. RAD51C promoter methylation (meRAD51C) is detected at similar frequencies to mutations, yet its effects on PARPi responses remain unresolved. In this study, three HGSC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with methylation at most or all examined CpG sites in the RAD51C promoter show responses to PARPi. Both complete and heterogeneous methylation patterns were associated with RAD51C gene silencing and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). PDX models lost meRAD51C following treatment with PARPi rucaparib or niraparib, where a single unmethylated copy of RAD51C was sufficient to drive PARPi resistance. Genomic copy number profiling of one of the PDX models using SNP arrays revealed that this resistance was acquired independently in two genetically distinct lineages. In a cohort of 11 patients with RAD51C-methylated HGSC, various patterns of meRAD51C were associated with genomic 'scarring', indicative of HRD history, but exhibited no clear correlations with clinical outcome. Differences in methylation stability under treatment pressure were also observed between patients, where one HGSC was found to maintain meRAD51C after 6 lines of therapy (4 platinum-based), whilst another HGSC sample was found to have heterozygous meRAD51C and elevated RAD51C gene expression (relative to homozygous meRAD51C controls) after only neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. As meRAD51C loss in a single gene copy was sufficient to cause PARPi resistance in PDX, methylation zygosity should be carefully assessed in previously treated patients when considering PARPi therapy.

  Study EGAS00001005395

• Germline RUNX1 Variation and Predisposition to Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic

  Somatic mutations of RUNX1, which encodes the myeloid and lymphoid transcriptional factor RUNX1, are common in both B- and T- acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) and are associated with poor prognosis of T-ALL. However, there has been no comprehensive investigation of the pattern or prevalence of RUNX1 germline mutation in both B- and T-ALL. Here we report germline RUNX1 variants in 1.23% of B-ALL and 2.11% of T-ALL, identifying 31 unique variants in 62 B-ALL and 18 unique variants in 26 T-ALL children. The majority of frameshift and nonsense variants affected RUNX1 function in transcriptional regulation, hematopoiesis, and cellular proliferation. We identified JAK3 as the most frequent somatic mutation in T-ALL with RUNX1 variants. These results not only identify RUNX1 as a leukemia predisposition gene but also further underline the importance of germline genetic variants to the development of ALL

  Study EGAS00001005403

• Interferon lambda 4 impairs viral antigen presentation and attenuates T cell responses

  Genetic variants of the interferon lambda (IFNL) gene locus are strongly associated with spontaneous and IFN treatment induced clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Individuals with the ancestral IFNL4-dG allele are not able to clear HCV in the acute phase and develop chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with more than 90% probability. Paradoxically, the IFNL4-dG allele encodes a fully functional IFNλ4 protein with antiviral activity against HCV and coronavirus. Here we describe a hitherto unknown effect of IFNλ4 on HCV antigen presentation. Only minor amounts of IFNλ4 are secreted, because the protein is largely retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it induces ER stress. Stressed cells were significantly weaker activators of HCV specific CD8+ T cells. This was not due to reduced MHC I surface presentation or extracellular IFNλ4 effects, since T cell responses could be restored by exogenous loading of MHC with HCV antigens. Rather, IFNλ4 induced ER stress impaired HCV antigen processing and/or loading onto the MHC I complex. Our results provide a potential explanation for the IFNλ4 – HCV paradox.

  Study EGAS00001005396

• Genomic characterization of co-existing biliary tract intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma lesions reveals distinct evolutionary paths of gallbladder cancer

  Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common cancer of the biliary tract with dismal survival largely due to delayed diagnosis. Biliary tract intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) is the common benign tumor that is suspected to be precancerous lesions. However, the genetic and evolutionary relationships between BilIN and carcinoma remain unclear. Here we performed whole-exome sequencing of coexisting low-grade BilIN (adenoma), high-grade BilIN, and carcinoma lesions, and normal tissues from the same patients.

  Study EGAS00001005402