3775 results for "*oma"

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• Immune trajectory of response and adverse effect in immunotherapy-treated hepatocellular carcinoma

  Whilst anti-PD1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionised treatment for many cancers, its response rates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain modest, coupled with common incidences of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). To identify biomarkers and decipher the mechanisms for response and irAEs, we performed multi-dimensional immunoprofiling on peripheral blood and tissue collected before and during anti-PD1 ICB treatment from HCC patients. Single-cell analyses enabled us to identify peripheral biomarkers, in particular, CD11c+ antigen-presenting cells with varying degrees of HLA-DR expression and CD8 effector memory (EM) T cells with CXCR3 tissue-homing capability that are associated with both response and irAEs. We also dissected the mechanisms behind how these immune subsets interface between response and toxicity, showing their intersecting yet diverging trajectories leading to these distinct clinical fates. This study offers new insights on the mechanisms and potentially novel strategies to enhance response and ameliorate irAEs in cancer immunotherapy.

  Study EGAS00001004843

• Identification of gene mutations and fusion genes in patients with Sézary Syndrome

  Sezary syndrome (SS) is a leukemic form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with an aggressive clinical course. The goal of our study is to understand the genetic basis of the disease by looking for driver gene mutations and fusion genes in 15 erythrodermic patients with circulating Sezary cels, fourteen of them fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of SS. Peripheral blood samples were collected for each patient and CD4+ T-lymphocytes and Granulocytes were isolated. DNA and RNA was extracted for matched normal and tumor materials. Whole exome sequencing was performed on matched normal and tumor tissues of 12 patients and RNA sequencing was performed on 10 patients. For 7 of these patients, we have both exome as well as RNA sequencing data. In this study, we present a complex genomic landscape of Sezary syndrome with several point mutations, copy number variations and fusion events which could contribute to the pathogenesis of SS.

  Study EGAS00001001706

• Conserved interferon-gamma signaling and decreased immune exclusion programs in responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapy

  We analyzed baseline and on-therapy tumor biopsies from 101 patients with advanced melanoma treated with nivolumab (anti-PD-1) alone or combined with ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4). Analysis of whole transcriptome data showed that T cell infiltration and interferon-gamma signaling signatures corresponded most highly with clinical response to therapy, with a reciprocal decrease in cell cycle and WNT signaling pathways in responding biopsies. Clinical outcome differences were likely not due to differential melanoma cell responses to interferon-gamma, as 57 human melanoma cell lines exposed in vitro to this cytokine showed a conserved interferon-gamma transcriptome response unless they had mutations that precluded signaling from the interferon-gamma receptor. Therefore, the magnitude of the antitumor T cell response and the corresponding downstream interferon-gamma signaling are the main drivers of clinical response or resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

  Study EGAS00001004545

• Genomic analysis of patient-derived xenograft models reveals intratumor-heterogeneity in endometrial cancer and can predict tumor growth inhibition with talazoparib

  Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a major gynecological cancer with increasing incidence. It comprised of four molecular subtypes with differing etiology, prognoses, and response to chemotherapy. In the future, clinical trials testing new single agents or combination therapies will be targeted to the molecular subtype most likely to respond. Pre-clinical models that faithfully represent the molecular subtypes of EC are urgently needed, we sought to develop and characterize a panel of novel EC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Methods: Here, we report whole exome or whole genome sequencing of 11 PDX models and the matched primary tumor. Analysis of multiple PDX lineages and passages was performed to study tumor heterogeneity across lineages and/or passages. Based on recent reports of frequent defects in the homologous recombination (HR) pathway in EC, we assessed mutational signatures and HR deficiency scores and correlated these with in vivo responses to the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) talazoparib in six PDXs representing the copy number high/p53-mutant and mismatch-repair deficient molecular subtypes of EC. Results: PDX models were successfully generated with similar histomorphology from all four molecular subtypes of EC and uterine carcinosarcomas. We also observed a wide range of inter-tumor and intra-tumor heterogeneity across different PDX lineages, however one arm of most PDX models recapitulated the molecular landscape of the primary tumor without major genomic drift. An in vivo response to talazoparib was detected in four copy number high models. Two models (carcinosarcomas) showed a response consistent with stable disease and two models (one copy number high serous EC and another carcinosarcoma) showed significant tumor growth inhibition, albeit one consistent with progressive disease, however all lacked the HR deficiency genomic signature. Conclusions: EC PDX models represent the four molecular subtypes of disease and can capture intra-tumoral heterogeneity of the original primary tumor. PDXs of the copy number high molecular subtype showed sensitivity to PARPi, however, deeper and more durable responses will likely require combination of PARPi with other agents.

  Study EGAS00001004666

• Pre-neoplastic liver colonization by 11p15.5 altered mosaic cells in young children with hepatoblastoma

  In children, liver tumors are a heterogeneous group representing 1-2% of all cancers with the most common diagnosis being hepatoblastoma (HB). While HBs are predominantly sporadic, around 15% of cases develop as part of predisposition syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (APC mutation) or Beckwith-Wiedemann (BWS; 11p15.5 locus altered). Here, we identified a mosaic genetic alteration of 11p15.5 locus in the liver in 17% of HB patients without a clinical diagnosis of BWS syndrome. These mosaic 11p15.5 alterations were never found in children with other types of liver tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma or adenoma, fibrolamellar carcinoma). Bulk transcriptomic analysis revealed the abundance of extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and progenitor gene signatures in mosaic livers. In situ hybridization assay RNAscope allowed for the detection of 11p15.5 altered hepatocytes mosaicism in liver FFPE sections of HB patients presenting IGF2 overexpression and H19 downregulation together with an alteration of the zonal architecture of the liver. Spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed an overexpression of the IGF2 pathway, lipogenesis, and platelet activation in 11p15.5 altered hepatocytes. These data provide insights for 11p15.5 mosaicism detection as well as functional consequences of these alterations during the early steps of carcinogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001006692

• The whole genome landscape of Burkitt lymphoma subtypes

  Study EGAS00001003778

• Genetic Landscape of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Defined by Exome Sequencing on Chinese Patient Cohort and Cell Lines

  Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. To define the genetic landscape of ESCC, whole exome sequencing was performed on 113 pairs of tumor and normal DNA samples collected from Chinese individuals with treatment-naive primary ESCC, along with 8 cell lines, including 7 from KYSE series ESCC cell lines and one immortalized esophageal squamous epithelial cell line Het-1A.

  Study EGAS00001000932

• A clinically applicable connectivity signature for glioblastoma includes the tumor network driver CHI3L1

  Tumor microtubes (TMs) connect glioma cells to a network with considerable relevance for tumor progression and therapy resistance. The determination of TM-interconnectivity in individual tumors has been challenging and the impact on patient survival unresolved. Here, a connectivity signature from single-cell RNA-sequenced (scRNA-Seq) xenografted primary glioblastoma (GB) cells has been established using a dye uptake methodology, confirmed with recording of cellular calcium epochs and validated with clinical correlations. Astrocyte-like and mesenchymal-like GB cells have the highest connectivity signature scores in scRNA-sequenced patient-derived xenografts and patient samples. In large GB cohorts, network connectivity correlated with the mesenchymal subtype and dismal patient survival. CHI3L1 has been identified and validated as a robust molecular marker of connectivity with functional relevance. The connectivity signature allows novel insights into brain tumor biology, provides a proof-of-principle that tumor cell TM-connectivity is relevant for patients’ prognosis, and serves as a robust prognostic biomarker.

  Study EGAS00001007611

• in silico drug target prediction for melanoma

  The in silico single gene deletion step was adapted to simulate the knock-out of all targets of a drug on an objective function such as growth or energy balance. Based on publicly available and in-house large scale transcriptomic data, metabolic models for melanoma were reconstructed, enabling the prediction of 28 candidate drugs and estimating their respective efficacy.

  Study EGAS00001006463

• shallow WGS and deep targeted panel on ctDNA in rhabdomyosarcomas

  The genomic spectrum of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) progression from primary to relapse is not fully understood. In this study we investigate 35 patients with relapsed RMS from two contributing institutions, 18 fusion-positive (FP-RMS) and 17 fusion-negative RMS (FN-RMS). Targeted DNA or whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to detect alterations in paired primary/relapsed samples. In 10 cases, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from multiple timepoints through clinical care and progression was analyzed for feasibility of liquid biopsy in monitoring treatment response/relapse. ctDNA alterations were evaluated using a targeted custom RMS panel (36 genes) at high coverage for single nucleotide variation and fusion detection, and a shallow whole genome sequencing for copy number variation. FP-RMS had a stable genome with relapse, with the most common secondary alterations : CDKN2A/B, MYCN and CDK4 alterations, being already present at diagnosis and impacting overall survival. FP-RMS lacking major secondary events at baseline acquired recurrent MYCN and AKT1 alterations. FN-RMS acquired a higher number of new alterations, most commonly SMARCA2 missense mutations. ctDNA analyses detected pathognomonic variants in all RMS patients at diagnosis, regardless of FP/FN or type of alterations, while at relapse selected alterations were confirmed in 86% of FP-RMS and 100% FN-RMS. Moreover, a higher number of fusion reads was detected with increased disease burden and at relapse in patients following a fatal outcome. These results underscore patterns of tumor progression within a relatively stable genomic landscape and provide rationale for using liquid biopsy to monitor treatment response.

  Study EGAS00001007399

• Single cell RNA sequencing of normal endometrial derived organoids uncovers novel cell type markers for prognostication

  Endometrial carcinoma, the most common gynecologic cancer, develops from endometrial epithelium which is composed of secretory and ciliated cells. Pathologic classification is unreliable and there is a need for prognostic tools. We used single cell sequencing to study organoid model systems derived from normal endometrial endometrium to discover novel markers specific for endometrial ciliated or secretory cells. We performed single cell sequencing on endometrial and ovarian tumors and found both secretory-like and ciliated-like tumor cells.

  Study EGAS00001004466

• RNA-seq of Liver Cancer

  The French ICGC project on liver tumors is coordinated by Pr Jessica Zucman-Rossi and funded by Inca (French Institute for Cancer). The aim of the present project is to identify the catalog of somatic and germline mutations in liver tumors using whole genome (WGS) and whole exome sequencing (WGS), integrated with DNA methylation and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. The present series corresponds to 161 RNA-seq samples from tumors with matched WES or WGS. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for more than 90% of liver cancers, and is a major health problem. It is the 3rd cause of cancer-related mortality. Advances in genomic analyses have formed a comprehensive understanding of different underlying pathobiological layers resulting in hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, the development of next-generation sequencing technologies has made it possible to generate more comprehensive catalogues of somatic alteration events (single nucleotide substitutions, structural variations, and epigenetic changes) in liver cancer genome than ever before.

  Study EGAS00001002879

• Multiomic profiling of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma

  Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) describes rare soft-tissue tumors that exhibit features of skeletal muscle differentiation. The most common subtypes in children are alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, with the alveolar subtype characterized by PAX3/7 fusions. A lesser known and rarer subtype, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS), occurs most frequently in adults vetween the ages of 40 and 50. This pleomorphic subtype is often misdiagnosed and little is known about its molecular characterization. Here, we conducted comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, and methylation profiling of these tumors.

  Study EGAS00001007230

• Neuroblastoma heterogeneity

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

  Study EGAS00001007019

• Methylome profiling of epithelioid sarcoma

  Explore the methylome landscape of epithelioid sarcoma using array data.

  Study EGAS00001007257

• Chip_seq_oesophageal_adenocarcinoma_

  There is complex interplay between underlying genetic sequence and epigenetic factors, however this interplay is still illusive. Massively reconstructed cancer genomes can be used in order to better understand this relationship. Six oesophageal adenocarcinoma organoids will be sequenced using long read sequencing technologies and will be profiled for a range of epigenetic marks. Combination of genetic and epigenetic data will allow the thorough characterisation of reference cancer genomes and will provide novel insights into mechanisms of gene regulation. Description: Chip-seq Sequencing of 5 patient derived organoid cell models. Each model was derived from a piece of patient tumour taken following surgical rescetion of the tumour. All model derivations took place with the CGaP facility in Sanger.

  Study EGAS00001007180

• RNAseq of Colorectal cancer organoid-stroma biobank cohort

  In colorectal cancers (CRC) the tumor microenvironment plays a key role for prognosis and therapy efficacy. Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) show enormous potential for preclinical testing, however, in purely epithelial cultures features including the ‘consensus molecular subtypes’ (CMS) are largely eradicated. To better reflect cell heterogeneity, we established the CRC organoid-stroma biobank of matched PDTOs and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from 30 patients. Context-specific phenotyping showed that xenotransplantation or co-culture with CAFs restores the individual transcriptomic status and instructs subtype-specific stromal gene expression. Furthermore, co-culture exposed CMS4-specific resistance to Gefitinib and SN-38 and revealed prognostic gene expression signatures. Chemogenomic library screening identified patient- and therapy-dependent mechanisms of stromal resistance including MET as common target. Our results demonstrate that CRC phenotypes are encrypted in the cancer epithelium in a plastic fashion that strongly depends on the context. Consequently, CAFs are essential for faithful representation of molecular subtypes and therapy responses ex vivo.

  Study EGAS00001007300

• Pre-existing immunity drives the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in esophageal adenocarcinoma

  Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a highly aggressive tumor. Patients with locally advanced disease undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) before surgery, however fewer than 30% of treated patients achieve a pathological complete response associated with increased 5-year overall survival. We set out to elucidate the mechanisms the response to nCT by multi-dimensional profiling of pre-treatment tumor biopsies and blood samples from EAC patients. In particular we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNAseq on n=26 baseline EAC tumor; two additional EAC samples underwent only WES. WES on matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used as germline control.

  Study EGAS00001007245

• Clinical Activity of Combined Telomerase Vaccination and Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma: Results from a Phase I Trial

  Thirty patients with advanced melanoma were recruited to a clinical trial investigating the therapeutic cancer vaccine, UV1, in combination with pembrolizumab. Whole exome sequencing was performed on melanoma biopsies to determine tumor mutational burden and association with response to therapy. RNA sequencing of matched tumor biopsies to evaluate gene expression profiles at baseline and post-treatment.

  Study EGAS00001007210

• Radiotherapy_induced_sarcoma

  Whole genome library making will be performed on genomic DNA derived from radiotherapy induced sarcoma samples and matched normal DNA from the same patients. Next Generation sequencing will be performed on the resulting libraries and mapped to build 37 of the human reference genome to facilitate the identification of mutations

  Study EGAS00001000138

• INSPIRE multi-timepoint cfMeDIP dataset

  This dataset contains raw sequencing data from multi-timepoint cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq) of plasma samples from the INSPIRE study (NCT02644369). Details about the study, including inclusion/exclusion criteria and interventions are available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02644369. Briefly, five cohorts were included, INS-A (head & neck squamous cell carcinoma), INS-B (triple-negative breast cancer), INS-C (high-grade serous ovarian cancer), INS-D (melanoma), and INS-E (mixed solid tumors). All patients in the study were diagnosed with advanced cancer and received treatment with pembrolizumab. Plasma samples were collected at baseline and every 3 cycles until disease progression, death, loss of follow-up, or completion of the study. Plasma samples were first processed for cell-free DNA mutations and remaining samples were then processed by cfMeDIP-seq, prioritizing baseline and post-cycle 3 samples. In total, data from 204 timepoints from 87 distinct patients are deposited.

  Dataset EGAD00001011312

• Oesophageal adenocarcinoma whole exome and RNA-seq raw sequencing data

  Study EGAS00001005957

• Single cell RNAseq of lung adenocarcinoma

  Little is known of the geospatial architecture of individual cell populations in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) evolution. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing as well as single-cell BCR sequencing of cells from 16 LUADs and 47 multi-region normal lung tissues of defined spatial proximities from the tumors. Our multi-region single-cell sequencing analyses unravel cell populations, states, and phenotypes in the spatial and ecological evolution LUAD from the lung that comprise high-potential targets for early interception.

  Study EGAS00001005021

• PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy rewires cancer-induced emergency myelopoiesis

  Introduction Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, demonstrating exceptional clinical responses in a wide range of cancers. Despite the success, a significant proportion of patients still fail to respond, highlighting the existence of unappreciated mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance. Delineating such mechanisms is paramount to minimize immunotherapy failures and optimize the clinical benefit. Methods In this study, we treated tumour-bearing mice with PD-L1 blockage antibody (aPD-L1) immunotherapy, to investigate its effects on cancer-induced emergency myelopoiesis, focusing on bone marrow HSPCs. We examined the impact of aPD-L1 treatment on HSPC quiescence, proliferation, transcriptomic profile, and functionality. Results Herein, we reveal that aPD-L1 in tumour-bearing mice targets the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the bone marrow (ΒΜ), mediating their exit from quiescence and promoting their proliferation. Notably, disruption of the PDL1/PD1 axis induces transcriptomic reprogramming in HSPCs, observed in both individuals with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and tumour-bearing mice, shifting towards an inflammatory state. Furthermore, HSPCs from aPDL1-treated mice demonstrated resistance to cancer-induced emergency myelopoiesis, evidenced by a lower generation of MDSCs compared to control-treated mice. Discussion: Our findings shed light on unrecognized mechanisms of action of ICB immunotherapy in cancer, which involves targeting of BM-driven HSPCs and reprogramming of cancer-induced emergency myelopoiesis.

  Study EGAS00001007873

• Novel paediatric case of a spinal high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features in a patient with Noonan Syndrome

  Noonan Syndrome (NS) is associated with an increased risk of low-grade central nervous system tumours in children but only very rarely associated with high-grade gliomas. Here we describe the first reported case of a spinal high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features (HGAP) in a child with NS. This case was a diagnostic and treatment dilemma, prior to whole-genome germline and tumour sequencing, tumour transcriptome sequencing and DNA methylation analysis. The methylation profile matched strongly with HGAP and sequencing identified somatic FGFR1 and NF1 variants and a PTPN11 germline pathogenic variant. Therapeutic targets were identified but also alterations novel to HGAP such as differential expression of VEGFA and PD-L1. The germline PTPN11 finding has not been previously described in individuals with HGAP.  This case underscores the power of precision medicine from a diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical management perspective, and describes an association between HGAP and NS which has not previously been reported.

  Study EGAS00001007937

• Early evolutionary branching across spatial domains predisposes to clonal replacement under chemotherapy in neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most lethal childhood cancers due its propensity to treatment resistance. By spatial mapping of subclone geographies before and after chemotherapy across 89 tumor regions from 12 NBs, we find that densely packed territories of closely related subclones present at diagnosis are replaced under effective treatment by islands of distantly related survivor subclones, originating from a different most recent ancestor compared to lineages dominating before treatment. Conversely, in tumors that progressed under treatment, ancestors of subclones dominating later in disease are present already at diagnosis. Chemotherapy treated xenografts and cell culture models replicates these two contrasting scenarios and shows branching evolution to be a constant feature of proliferating NB cells. Phylogenies based on whole genome sequencing of 505 individual NB cells indicate that a rich repertoire of parallel subclones, emerges already with the first oncogenic mutations and lays the foundation for clonal replacement under treatment.

  Study EGAS00001007650

• 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

• BMP4 and temozolomide synergize in the majority of patient derived glioblastoma cultures

  The poor prognosis of patients with glioblastoma is partly due to resistance to standard treatment, which combines chemoradiation using temozolomide (TMZ). The concept of cancer stem cells provided new insight into tumor resistance and management, and isolated Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) which contribute to this therapy resistance. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a differentiation factor that stimulates astroglial differentiation of such GSCs, thereby reducing their self-renewal. Exposing GSCs to BMP4 could therefore sensitize them to chemotherapy with TMZ, but previous studies with various treatment paradigms have produced contradictory results in this matter. Therefore, we re-defined the optimal treatment paradigm for the combination of TMZ and BMP4 and subsequently re-assessed the inter-tumoral variability in response to co-treatment with TMZ+BMP4 in vitro. First, the simultaneous treatment was found more effective than sequential therapy. Second, after application of our optimized treatment protocol, 70% of a total of 20 patient-derived glioblastoma cultures showed synergy when the treatments were combined. The synergistic effect was a result of increased cellular apoptosis and not of decreased proliferation. Comparative RNA-sequencing suggested that combination treatment results in decreased MAPK signaling. We conclude that addition of BMP4 to standard therapy with TMZ could enlarge the group of patients with good therapeutic response.

  Study EGAS00001007095

• Orthotopic Patient-Derived Xenografts of Pediatric Solid Tumors

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

  Study EGAS00001002528

• Multi-omics of Richter syndrome

  Richter syndrome (RS) is the aggressive transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, mostly with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma histology. While histologically similar, RS and de novo DLBCLs present with different clinical courses. We characterized the RS epigenome by combining genome-wide DNA methylation with transcriptome-sequencing on a large RS cohort.

  Study EGAS00001005495

• Longitudinal Single-Cell Profiling Reveals Molecular Heterogeneity and Tumor-Immune Evolution in Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma

  The mechanisms driving therapeutic resistance and poor outcomes of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are incompletely understood. We characterize the cellular and molecular heterogeneity within and across patients and delineate the dynamic evolution of tumor and immune cell compartments at single cell resolution in longitudinal specimens from ibrutinib-sensitive patients and non-responders. Temporal activation of multiple cancer hallmark pathways and acquisition of 17q are observed in a refractory MCL. Multi-platform validation is performed at genomic and cellular levels in PDX models and larger patient cohorts. We demonstrate that the molecular targeting of BIRC5/survivin, locates at 17q and upregulates in resistant MCL tumor cells, results in marked tumor inhibition in preclinical models. In addition, we discovere notable differences in the tumor microenvironment including progressive dampening of CD8+ T cells and aberrant cell-to-cell communication networks in refractory MCLs. This study reveales diverse and dynamic tumor and immune programs underlying therapy resistance in MCL.

  Study EGAS00001005019

• Exploring the cell-free total RNA transcriptome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma patients as biomarker source in blood plasma liquid biopsies

  The goal of this study was to investigate cell-free RNA (cfRNA) biomarkers in DLBCL and PMBCL patients. Blood plasma samples (n=168) and matched diagnostic formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples (n=69) of DLBCL patients, PMBCL patients and healthy controls were collected between 2016-2021. Plasma samples were collected at diagnosis, at interim evaluation, after treatment, and in case of refractory or relapsed disease. RNA was extracted from 200 µl plasma using the miRNeasy serum/plasma kit and from FFPE tissue using the miRNeasy FFPE kit. RNA was subsequently sequenced on a NovaSeq 6000 instrument using the SMARTer Stranded Total RNA-seq pico v3 library preparation kit.

  Study EGAS00001007585

• Spatial Transcriptomics on prostate cancer heterogeneity

  Intratumor heterogeneity is one of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment today. Here we investigate tissue-wide gene expression heterogeneity throughout a multifocal prostate cancer using the spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology. Utilizing a novel approach for deconvolution, we analyze the transcriptomes of nearly 6750 tissue regions and extract distinct expression profiles for the different tissue components, such as stroma, normal and PIN glands, immune cells and cancer. We distinguish healthy and diseased areas and thereby provide insight into gene expression changes during the progression of prostate cancer. Compared to pathologist annotations, we delineate the extent of cancer foci more accurately, interestingly without link to histological changes. We identify gene expression gradients in stroma adjacent to tumor regions that allow for re-stratification of the tumor microenvironment. The establishment of these profiles is the first step towards an unbiased view of prostate cancer and can serve as a dictionary for future studies.

  Study EGAS00001003001

• Driver mutations in histone H3.3 and chromatin remodelling genes in paediatric glioblastoma

  Study EGAS00001000226

• Quantitative Exploratory Proteomics Analysis of Glioblastoma in Initial and Recurrent Tumors

  Study EGAS00001006395

• Enhanced detection of circulating tumor DNA by fragment size analysis

  Existing methods to improve detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) have focused on sensitivity for detecting genomic alterations but have rarely considered the biological properties of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA). We hypothesized that differences in fragment lengths of circulating DNA could be exploited to enhance sensitivity for detecting the presence of ctDNA and for non-invasive genomic analysis of cancer. We surveyed ctDNA fragment sizes in 344 plasma samples from 200 cancer patients using low-pass whole-genome sequencing (0.4×). To establish the size distribution of mutant ctDNA, tumor-guided personalized deep sequencing was performed in 19 patients. We detected enrichment of ctDNA in fragment sizes between 90–150 bp, and developed methods for in vitro and in silico size selection of these fragments. Selecting fragments between 90–150 bp improved detection of tumor DNA, with more than 2-fold median enrichment in >95% of cases, and more than 4-fold enrichment in > 10% of cases. Analysis of size-selected cfDNA identified clinically actionable mutations and copy number alterations that were otherwise not detected. Identification of plasma samples from patients with advanced cancer was improved by predictive models integrating fragment length and copy number analysis of cfDNA, with AUC> 0.99 compared to AUC < 0.80 without fragmentation features. Increased identification of cfDNA from patients with glioma, renal, and pancreatic cancer was achieved with AUC > 0.91, compared to AUC < 0.5 without fragmentation features. Fragment size analysis and selective sequencing of specific fragment sizes can boost ctDNA detection. This could reduce the required depth of cfDNA sequencing for clinical applications, earlier diagnosis and study of tumor biology.

  Study EGAS00001003258

• Multi-layered molecular characterization defines prognostic subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma in Asian never-smokers

  Multi-layered genomic studies such as the TCGA project have greatly advanced our understanding on molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer. For Asian nonsmoker patients, however, majority of studies have been limited to mutational analyses, emphasizing ethnic differences in driver mutations (e.g. more frequent EGFR mutations and ALK fusions). In essence, a comprehensive multi-layered characterization that could lead to molecular etiology and patient stratification scheme to be translated into clinical applications for this patient group is still missing. Here we report molecular profiling of tumor and matched normal tissues from 114 non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma patients using whole exome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

  Study EGAS00001003705

• 'KOREAN' never-smoker female adenocarcinoma RNA-seq

  Multi-layered genomic studies such as the TCGA project have greatly advanced our understanding on molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer. For Asian nonsmoker patients, however, majority of studies have been limited to mutational analyses, emphasizing ethnic differences in driver mutations (e.g. more frequent EGFR mutations and ALK fusions). In essence, a comprehensive multi-layered characterization that could lead to molecular etiology and patient stratification scheme to be translated into clinical applications for this patient group is still missing. Here we report molecular profiling of tumor and matched normal tissues from 114 non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma patients using whole exome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

  Study EGAS00001003789

• Dynamic N6-methyladenosine Epitranscriptomic Landscape in Lung Adenocarcinoma

  Systematically evaluate the global effect of dysregulated m6A regulators on the m6A epitranscriptome in patient tumors, and identify prognostic m6A markers by linking with patients' clinicopathological and outcome information.

  Study EGAS00001005524

• Whole genome analysis of pediatric patients with medulloblastoma

  Cancer genomes often contain structural variations (SVs) in non-coding regions, while its impact on tumorigenesis is still unclear. Our goal is to discover genome folding changes resulted from SVs using InfoGenomeR and InfoHiC frameworks, which may reveal novel therapeutic targets. We applied our frameworks to five pediatric patients with medulloblastoma, revealing 3D genome changes of medulloblastoma driver genes.

  Study EGAS00001006653

• Genome-wide genetic and epigenetic dataset of pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas

  Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive exocrine tumor with largely unknown biology. To identify potential targets for personalized treatment, integrative genome- and epigenome-wide analyses were performed. The results show frequently aberrant DNA methylation, abundant chromosomal amplifications and deletions, and mutational signatures suggesting defective DNA repair. In contrast to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, no recurrent point mutations are known. The tumor suppressors ID3, ARID1A, APC, and CDKN2A are frequently impaired also on the protein level and thus potentially affect ACC tumorigenesis. Consequently, this work identifies potential novel therapeutic targets in ACC for drugs recently approved for precision cancer therapy.

  Study EGAS00001002533

• Germline MBD4 Mutations and Predisposition to Uveal Melanoma

  Uveal melanoma (UM) arises from malignant transformation of melanocytes from the uveal tract. This rare tumor has a poor outcome with frequent liver metastases and primary resistance to treatment1. The only strong predisposing condition for UM is the BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome due to germline BAP1 deleterious mutations. UMs are generally characterized by a very low tumor mutation burden (TMB). However, some UMs display a high level of CpG to TpG mutations associated with MBD4 inactivation. Here, we explored the incidence of germline MBD4 variants in a consecutive series of 1, 099 primary UMs, and identified 8 deleterious MBD4 mutations, an aprox 10-fold increased incidence compared with the general population. These mutations were associated with a high TMB in tested UMs. We thus demonstrated that MBD4 is the second major predisposing gene for UM.

  Study EGAS00001003941

• Comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analysis of three synchronous primary tumours and a recurrence from a head and neck cancer patient

  Synchronous primary malignancies occur in a small proportion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Here, we analysed three synchronous primaries and a recurrence from one patient, by comparing the genomic and transcriptomic profiles among the tumour samples and determining the recurrence origin. We found remarkable levels of heterogeneity among the primary tumours, and through the patterns of shared mutations, we traced the origin of the recurrence. Interestingly, the patient carried germline variants which might have predisposed him to carcinogenesis, together with a history of alcohol and tobacco consumption. Mutational signature analysis confirmed the impact of alcohol exposure, with Signature 16 present in all tumour samples. Characterisation of immune cell infiltration highlighted an immunosuppressive environment in all samples, which exceeded the potential activity of T cells. Studies such as the one described here have important clinical value and contribute to personalised treatment decisions for patients with synchronous primaries and matched recurrences.

  Study EGAS00001004857

• Spatiotemporal evolution and inter-patient heterogeneity in primary and recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

  Head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are heterogeneous in terms of origin and aetiology. In addition, there is uncertainty about the spatiotemporal genetic evolution from initial diagnosis to recurrence/metastasis (R/M) after primary treatments and further disease progression following systemic treatment. Changes in the genetic profile have implications on the selection of appropriate treatments for patients, especially in the era of targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Here, we analysed a cohort of 11 HNSCC patients with metachronous R/M, among whom nine had paired primary and R/M samples suitable for next-generation sequencing (multiple R/M samples collected at different time points were available for some of the patients). At the genomic level, the R/M samples shared a fraction of the somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with the index primary tumours, but they also acquired many additional mutations, while losing only a few others. A similar behaviour was also observed when examining the changes of mutational signatures between primary and R/M samples. Overall, R/M appeared thus more genetically diverse than the respective primary tumours. The transcriptomic analysis showed that R/M samples had lower immune cell infiltration and several genes related to immune response were significantly downregulated compared to the primary samples. Our results underline the importance of analysing multiple samples per patient to obtain a more complete picture of the patient’s tumour and advocates a re-biopsy in the event of R/M and treatment failure, in order to select the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.

  Study EGAS00001007464

• Comprehensive genetic analysis of uveal melanoma heterogeneity during metastatic progression

  Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Despite improvement of diagnosis and treatment of the primary tumor, there is no effective treatment of metastatic disease and approximately half of patients will die within one year or less following metastases detection. Tumor heterogeneity has been proposed as a key factor of drug resistance. However, it has been scarcely studied in UM. The present project aims searching for specific drivers of the metastatic progression, describing the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of metastatic UM, exploring tumor heterogeneity and investigating its role in drug resistance. Thus whole exome sequencing and transcriptomics have been performed on constitutional, primary tumor and metastatic samples from 28 UM patients.

  Study EGAS00001002761

• Total RNA-Sequencing of patient-derived xenograft models of myxoid liposarcoma

  Study EGAS00001004901

• Integrated genomic analysis identifies driver genes and cisplatin-resistant progenitor phenotype in pediatric liver cancer

  Pediatric liver cancers (PLCs) comprise diverse diseases affecting infants, children and adolescents. Despite overall good prognosis, PLCs display heterogeneous response to chemotherapy. Integrated genomic analysis of 126 pediatric liver tumors showed a continuum of driver mechanisms associated with patient age, including new targetable oncogenes. In 10% of hepatoblastoma patients, all before 3 years old, we identified a mosaic premalignant clonal expansion of cells altered at the 11p15.5 locus. Analysis of spatial and longitudinal heterogeneity revealed an important plasticity between ‘Hepatocytic’, ‘Liver Progenitor’ and ‘Mesenchymal’ molecular subgroups of hepatoblastoma. We showed that during chemotherapy, ‘Liver Progenitor’ cells accumulated massive loads of cisplatin-induced mutations with a specific mutational signature, leading to the development of heavily mutated relapses and metastases. Drug screening in PLC cell lines identified promising targets for cisplatin-resistant progenitor cells, validated in mouse xenograft experiments. These data provide new insights into cisplatin resistance mechanisms in PLC and suggest alternative therapies.

  Study EGAS00001005108

• Germline elongator mutations in sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma

  Cancer genomics has illuminated a wide spectrum of genes and core molecular processes contributing to human malignancy. Still, the genetic and molecular basis of many cancers remains only partially explained. Genetic predisposition accounts for 5-10% of cancer diagnoses and genetic events cooperating with known somatic driver events are poorly understood. Analyzing established cancer predisposition genes in medulloblastoma (MB), a malignant childhood brain tumor, we recently identified pathogenic germline variants that account for 5% of all MB patients. Here, by extending our previous analysis to include all protein-coding genes, we discovered and replicated rare germline loss-of-function (LoF) variants across Elongator Complex Protein 1 (ELP1) on 9q31.3 in 15% of pediatric MBSHH cases, thus implicating ELP1 as the most common MB predisposition gene and increasing genetic predisposition to 40% for pediatric MBSHH. Inheritance was verified based on parent-offspring and pedigree analysis, which identified two families with a history of pediatric MB. ELP1-associated MBs were restricted to the molecular SHHa subtype and were characterized by universal biallelic inactivation of ELP1 due to somatic loss of chromosome 9q. The majority of ELP1-associated MBs exhibited co-occurring somatic PTCH1 (9q22.32) alterations, suggesting that ELP1-deficiency predisposes to tumor development in combination with constitutive activation of SHH signaling. ELP1 is an essential subunit of the evolutionary conserved Elongator complex, whose primary function is to enable efficient translational elongation through tRNAs modifications at the wobble (U34) position. Biochemical, transcriptional, and proteomic analyses revealed that ELP1-associated MBSHH are characterized by a destabilized core Elongator complex, loss of Elongator-dependent tRNA modifications, codon-dependent translational reprogramming, and induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR), consistent with deregulation of protein homeostasis due to Elongator-deficiency in model systems. Our findings suggest that genetic predisposition to proteome instability is a previously underappreciated determinant in the pathogenesis of pediatric brain cancer. These results provide strong rationale for further investigating the role of protein homeostasis in other pediatric and adult cancer types and potential opportunities for novel therapeutic interference.

  Study EGAS00001004126

• Characterization of patient-derived xenograft models of myxoid liposarcoma either sentitive or resistant to trabectedin

  Two patient-derived xenograft model of myxoid liposarcoma one sensitive and one resistant to trabectedin. The aim of the study was to study the resistance to the drug.

  Study EGAS00001003715

• Germline HAVCR2 mutations altering TIM-3 characterize subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphomas with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytic syndrome

  Sub-cutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphomas (SPTCL), a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, can be associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening immune activation which adversely impacts survival1,2. T-cell-immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) is a modulator of immune responses expressed on subgroups of T- and innate immune cells. We identify in ~60% of SPTCL cases germline, loss-of-function, missense variants in highly conserved residues of TIM-3, c.245A>G(p.Y82C) and c.291A>G(p.I97M), each with specific geographic distribution. Y82C-TIM-3 occurs on a potential founder chromosome in patients with East Asian and Polynesian ancestry, while I97M-TIM-3 occurs in Caucasians. Both variants induce protein misfolding and abrogate TIM-3’s plasma-membrane expression leading to persistent immune activation, increased production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1β, promoting HLH and SPTCL. Our findings highlight HLH/SPTCL as a new genetic entity and showcase TIM-3 mutations as the first causative genetic defect in SPTCL. While TIM-3-mutant HLH/SPTCL benefit from immunomodulation, therapeutic repression of the TIM-3 checkpoint may have adverse consequences.

  Study EGAS00001002765