6048 results for "canc*"

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• Single cell exome sequencing of lung adenocarcinoma

  Single cell exome sequencing was performed on 200 single cells isolated from a lung adenocarcinoma, female, non-smoker patient. The cells were derived from two distant tumour sectors and a far normal sector. The single cells were amplified on the Fluidigm C1 machine using the GE Healthcare illustra GenomiPhi V2 DNA Amplification Kit prior to sequencing library preparation. In addition, bulk exome sequencing was also conducted for each tumour sectors. For this study, somatic variations were detected from the single cells and phylogenetic clustering was conducted to elucidate the evolutionary trajectory of lung cancer.

  Study EGAS00001002972

• Targeted sequencing about core genes involved in telomere biology in colorectal cancer patients

  We sequenced the coding exons of core genes involved in telomere maintenance using peripheral blood DNA of 192 CRC patients. The primary sequencing data were generated by using Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine® (PGM™) platform (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA).

  Study EGAS00001002977

• A benchmarking resource for NGS testing of cancer predisposition genes

  A benchmarking resource of 639 individuals, to assess the analytical sensitivity of cancer predisposition gene (CPG) testing.The dataset includes sequencing data generated using the TruSight Cancer Panel (TSCP) a targeted NGS assay for analysis of CPGs and orthogonally generated data supporting at least one pathogenic variant in a CPG for a total of 645 pathogenic CPG variants.The set of pathogenic CPG variants includes strong representation of some of the most challenging types of pathogenic variants, with 339 indels, including 16 complex indels and 24 insertions or deletions with length greater than 5bp, and 74 exon CNVs, including 23 single exon CNVs. There are 502 pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2, making this an important first-line validation dataset for laboratories performing NGS testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2.

  Study EGAS00001002993

• Low and variable tumor reactivity of the intratumoral TCR repertoire in human cancers

  Infiltration of human cancers by T cells is generally interpreted as a sign of immune recognition, and there is a growing effort to reactivate dysfunctional T cells at such tumor sites. However, these efforts only have value if the intratumoral T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of such cells is intrinsically tumor-reactive, and this has not been established in an unbiased manner for most human cancers. To address this issue, we analyzed the intrinsic tumor-reactivity of the intratumoral TCR repertoire of CD8+ T cells in ovarian and colorectal cancer – two tumor types for which T cell infiltrates form a positive prognostic marker. Data obtained demonstrate that a capacity to recognize autologous tumor is limited to approximately 10% of intratumoral CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, in two out of four patient samples tested, no tumor-reactive TCRs were identified, despite infiltration of their tumors by T cells. These data indicate that the intrinsic capacity of intratumoral T cells to recognize adjacent tumor tissue can be rare and variable, and suggest that clinical efforts to reactivate intratumoral T cells will benefit from approaches that simultaneously increase the quality of the intratumoral TCR repertoire.

  Study EGAS00001003119

• Host whole genome variations are associated with neurocognitive outcome in survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma

  Host whole genome analysis is a promising source of predictive information for long-term morbidity in cancer survivors. However, studies on genetic predictors of long-term outcome, particularly neurocognitive function following chemoradiation in pediatric oncology are limited. In the present study, we evaluated variations in host whole genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their association with cognitive outcome. Whole-genome SNP analysis of host peripheral blood was conducted on 22 medulloblastoma long-term survivors, of whom 18 completed neuropsychological testing. First, unsupervised consensus clustering of the most variable SNPs within 409 genes involved in DNA repair was performed. Discrete variant groups were identified, although they were not associated with cognitive outcome, suggesting that variations in genes corresponding to a single functional group may be insufficient to predict long-term outcome alone. In support of this interpretation, unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis using disease-associated gene variants by cognitive impairment status yielded two distinct variant clusters comprised of 36 variants, 34 of which were in noncoding regions. These findings illustrate for the first time that cognitively impaired survivors have a distinct variant profile compared to other medulloblastoma survivors. Future research in larger cohorts is needed to validate host genome predictors of cognitive impairment that may impact clinical management.

  Study EGAS00001002996

• Integrated Genomic, Epigenetic, and Expression Analyses of Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines

  Epithelial ovarian carcinoma of all subtypes has one of the worst outcomes of any human cancer. To improve our understanding of underlying biology and therapeutic possibilities in this disease, we performed whole genome sequencing, methylation, and expression analyses of a comprehensive set of 47 ovarian cancer cell lines representing different histologic tumor subtypes. Given the challenges of genomic analyses in tumors without matched normal samples, we developed novel approaches for detection of somatic alterations and used these to identify sequence, copy number, and rearrangement changes and integrated these with genome-wide epigenetic and expression alterations. Ovarian cancer cell lines had molecular changes in genes involved in cell cycle, PI3K, RAS, BRCA, chromatin regulating, and p53 pathways, and displayed global mutation and methylation changes similar to primary ovarian carcinoma. We identified alterations not previously implicated in ovarian cancer including amplification or overexpression of ASXL1 and H3F3B, deletion or underexpression of CDC73 and members of the TGF beta receptor pathway, including TGFBR2, SMAD3 and SMAD4, in-frame rearrangements of YAP1-MAML2 and IKZF2-ERBB4, and fusions involving MET, NF1, FBXW7 and CCND1. Integrating cell line alterations with dose-response data using three targeted therapies revealed novel molecular dependencies, including increased sensitivity of tumors with PIK3CA and PPP2R1A alterations to PI3K inhibitor GNE-493, those with MYC amplifications to PARP inhibitor BMN673, and SMAD4 alterations to MEK inhibitor MEK162. Genome-wide analyses revealed intrachromosomal rearrangements as an improved measure of sensitivity to PARP inhibition compared to the homologous recombination defect (HRD) score. This study provides a comprehensive resource of molecular information for ovarian cancer cell line models and a pharmacogenomic platform for developing rational cancer therapeutic strategies.

  Study EGAS00001002998

• Biallelic tumor suppressor loss and DNA repair defects in de novo small cell prostate cancer

  Small cell prostatic carcinoma (SCPC) is an aggressive pathology that is managed similar to small cell lung cancer. SCPC can evolve from prostatic adenocarcinoma in response to androgen deprivation therapy but in rare cases is present at initial cancer diagnosis. The molecular etiology of de novo SCPC is incompletely understood due to the scarcity of tumor tissue and the brief life expectancy of patients. Through a retrospective search of our regional oncology pharmacy database, we identified 18 patients diagnosed with de novo SCPC between 2004 and 2017. Ten patients had pure SCPC pathology and the remainder had some admixed adenocarcinoma foci, but all were treated with first line platinum-based chemotherapy. Median overall survival was 28 months. We performed targeted DNA sequencing, whole exome sequencing and mRNA profiling on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded archival tumor tissue. We observed frequent biallelic deletion and/or mutation of tumor suppressors TP53, RB1 and PTEN, similar to treatment related SCPC. Indeed, at the RNA level pure de novo SCPC closely resembled treatment-related SCPC. However, five patients had biallelic loss of DNA repair genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM and MSH2/6: potentially underlying the high genomic instability of this rare disease variant. Two patients with pure de novo SCPC harbored ETS gene rearrangements to androgen-driven promoters, consistent with evolution of de novo SCPC from an androgen-driven ancestor. Overall, our results reveal a highly aggressive molecular landscape underlies this unusual pathologic variant, and propose opportunities for targeted therapy strategies in a disease with few treatment options.

  Study EGAS00001003007

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

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

  Study EGAS00001003010

• Exploring_the_landscape_of_somatic_mutations_in_normal_tissue___GI___WGS

  The aim of this project is to investiagte somatic mutations, including rates of mutations and signatures, and clonal dynamics in normal (non-cancerous) human tissues from the gastrointestinal tract. The project will involve the studyof normal tissues from healthy individuals and those with specific candidate diseases. We are utilising laser capture microscopy to idnetifiy and isolate specific cell populations which are then subjected to whole genome sequencing to estimate mutational burdens and begin to understand clonal structures across the normal tissues.

  Study EGAS00001003012

• Exploring_the_landscape_of_somatic_mutations_in_normal_tissue___BD___WGS

  The aim of this project is to investiagte somatic mutations, including rates of mutations and signatures, and clonal dynamics in normal (non-cancerous) human tissues from the biliary tree. The project will involve the studyof normal tissues from healthy individuals and those with specific candidate diseases. We are utilising laser capture microscopy to idnetifiy and isolate specific cell populations which are then subjected to whole genome sequencing to estimate mutational burdens and begin to understand clonal structures across the normal tissues.

  Study EGAS00001003014

• Mutational Signature and Transcriptomic Classification Analyses as the Decisive Diagnostic Tools for a Cancer of Unknown Primary with Neuroendocrine Differentiation

  PURPOSE: Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a group of metastatic tumors in which the standard diagnostic work-up fails to identify the site of origin of the tumor. The potential impact of precision oncology on this group of patients is large since their tumors might have actionable driver mutations that can provide treatment options otherwise not available for patients with these fatal cancers. This study investigated if comprehensive genomics analyses could inform on the origin of the tumor. PATIENT AND METHODS: Here we describe a patient whose tumor was misdiagnosed at least three times. Next-generation sequencing, a PDX mouse model and bioinformatics was used to identify an actionable mutation, predict resistance development to the targeted therapy, and to correctly diagnose the origin of the tumor. The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to benchmark the bioinformatics workflow. RESULTS: Despite the lack of a known primary tumor site and the absence of diagnostic immunohistochemical markers, the origin of the patient's tumor was established using the novel bioinformatics workflow. This included a mutational signature analysis of the sequenced metastases and comparison of their transcriptomic profiles to a pan-cancer panel of tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We further discuss the strengths and limitations of the latter approaches in the context of three potentially incorrectly diagnosed TCGA lung tumors. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive genomics analyses could inform on the origin of tumors in patients suffering from CUP.

  Study EGAS00001003026

• Allele Balance Bias Identifies Systematic Genotyping Errors and False Disease Associations

  In recent years, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) has become a cornerstone of clinical genetics and diagnostics. Many clinical applications require high precision, especially if rare events such as somatic mutations in cancer or genetic variants causing rare diseases need to be identified. Although random sequencing errors can be modeled statistically and deep sequencing minimizes their impact, systematic errors remain a problem even at high depth of coverage. Understanding their source is crucial to increase precision of clinical NGS applications. In this work, we studied the relation between recurrent biases in allele balance (AB), systematic errors and false positive variant calls across a large cohort of human samples analyzed by whole exome sequencing (WES). We have modeled the allele balance distribution for biallelic genotypes in 987 WES samples in order to identify positions recurrently deviating significantly from the expectation, a phenomenon we termed allele balance bias (ABB). Furthermore, we have developed a genotype callability score based on ABB for all positions of the human exome, which detects false positive variant calls that passed state-of-the-art filters. Finally, we demonstrate the use of ABB for detection of false associations proposed by rare variant association studies (RVAS).

  Study EGAS00001003027

• The evolutionary history of human colitis-associated colorectal cancer

  Inflammatory bowel disease confers an increased lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), and colitis-associated CRC (CA-CRC) is molecularly distinct from sporadic CRC (S-CRC). Here we have dissected the evolutionary history of CA-CRC using multi-region sequencing. Exome sequencing was performed on fresh-frozen multiple regions of carcinoma, adjacent non-cancerous mucosa and blood from 12 CA-CRC patients (n=55 exomes), and key variants were validated with orthogonal methods. Genome-wide copy number profiling was performed using SNP arrays and low-pass whole genome sequencing on archival non-dysplastic mucosa (n=9), low-grade dysplasia (LGD, n=30), high-grade dysplasia (HGD, n=13), mixed LGD/HGD (n=7) and CA-CRC (n=19). Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed, and evolutionary analysis used to reveal the temporal sequence of events leading to CA-CRC. 10/12 tumors were microsatellite stable with a median mutation burden of 3.0 single nucleotide alterations (SNAs) per Mb, around 20% higher than S-CRC (2.5 SNAs/Mb), and consistent with elevated aging-associated mutational processes. Non-dysplastic mucosa had considerable mutation burden (median 47 SNAs), including mutations shared with the neighboring CA-CRC, indicating a pre-cancer mutational field. CA-CRCs were often near-triploid (42%) or near-tetraploid (21%) and phylogenetic analysis revealed that copy number alterations (CNAs) began to accrue in non-dysplastic bowel, but the LGD/HGD transition often involved a punctuated catastrophic CNA increase.

  Study EGAS00001003028

• Exome-wide analysis identifies three low-frequency missense variants associated with pancreatic cancer risk in Chinese populations

  Germline coding variants have not been systematically investigated for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we report an exome-wide investigation using the Illumina Human Exome Beadchip with 943 PDAC cases and 3,908 controls in the Chinese population, followed by two independent replicate samples including 2,142 cases and 4,697 controls. We identify three low-frequency missense variants associated with the PDAC risk: rs34309238 in PKN1 (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.48-2.12, P = 5.35 X 10-10), rs2242241 in DOK2 (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.50-2.27, P = 4.34 X 10-9) and rs183117027 in APOB (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.72-3.16, P = 4.21 X 10-8).

  Study EGAS00001003040

• Evolutionary dynamics of residual disease in human glioblastoma

  Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive adult brain malignancy against which conventional surgery and chemoradiation provide limited benefit. Even when a good treatment response is obtained, recurrence inevitably occurs either locally (c.80%) or distally (c.20%), driven by cancer clones that are often genomically distinct from those in the primary tumour. Glioblastoma cells display a characteristic infiltrative phenotype, invading the surrounding tissue and often spreading across the whole brain. We hypothesised that cancer cells responsible for relapse reside in two compartments of residual disease that are left behind after treatment: the infiltrated normal brain parenchyma, and the sub-ventricular zone (SVZ). In this model, residual disease subclones diverge early during glioblastoma evolution, may remain dormant in the normal parenchyma and are responsible for recurrence. To test our hypothesis, we performed whole-exome sequencing of 69 multi- region samples collected using fluorescence-guided resection from 11 patients, including the infiltrating tumour margin (M) and the SVZ for each patient, as well as matched blood. We used a phylogenomic approach to dissect the spatio-temporal evolution of each tumour and unveil the relation between residual disease and the main tumour mass. We also analysed two patients with paired primary-recurrence samples with matched residual disease. Our results suggest that the infiltrative phenotype is an early evolutionary trait of glioblastoma, giving rise to the tumour mass detected at surgery. After treatment, the same infiltrative clone may seed the growth of a recurrent tumour, thus representing the ‘missing link’ between the primary tumour and recurrent disease. These results are consistent with recognised clinical phenotypic behaviour and suggest that more specific therapeutic targeting of cells in the infiltrated brain parenchyma may improve patient’s outcome.

  Study EGAS00001003043

• Whole exome DNA sequence profiling of spatial biopsies of high grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer

  The study aims at dissecting the heterogeneity across multiple biopsies of high grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (HGS-EOC) through a comprehensive characterization of variants and structural changes at the whole exome level. To this aim, the study uses samples from multiple bioptic sites taken from eight HGS-EOC patients.

  Study EGAS00001003048

• Ewings Sarcoma RNA-Seq

  Sarcomas are cancers of the bone and soft tissue often defined by their gene fusions. However, the timing, context, and processes by which these pathogenic fusions arise are unknown. We explored this in Ewing sarcoma, a cancer driven by EWSR1-ETS fusions, with very few cooperating mutations. Combining whole-genome sequencing with enhanced informatics, we found that the EWSR1-ETS fusion arose from striking rearrangement clusters in 42% of cases (52/124). Notably, these were organized in loops that universally contained the fusion at their center, while also weaving up to 18 genes together with it. We found the same pattern of rearrangements in three additional types of sarcoma. From these data, we define a new signature for sarcoma fusions that precedes other somatic changes, in the earliest replicating DNA of the genome. This dramatic, sudden process impinges on many genes – generating multiple coding changes that profoundly affect the transcriptome, with the disease-defining gene fusion at its core. These rearrangement loops emerge in an early ES clone from which both the primary tumor and the lethal relapse emerged, and then evolved in parallel until clinically detected.

  Study EGAS00001003062

• Histone chaperone CHAF1A promotes proliferation and tumorigenicity in gastric cancer and impacts prognosis via context-depedent regulation of gene expression

  The histone chaperone CHAF1A is associated with some tumors, but its mechanisms in tumor biology remain elusive. Gastric cancer (GC) has significant heterogeneity among patients, and novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets may improve its outcomes. The role of CHAF1A in GC is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that CHAF1A was overexpressed in GC tissues accompanied by low expression of wild-type P53 and high expression of the proliferation marker MKI67. In vitro, CHAF1A knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis, while CHAF1A overexpression had contrary effects. In vivo, CHAF1A knockdown inhibited tumorigenicity of GC cells. A microarray assay with CHAF1A inhibition and a PathScan signaling antibody array with CHAF1A overexpression showed that CHAF1A inhibited the P53 pathway, activated stress response and induced glycolytic metabolism. In 665 patients, the expression level of CHAF1A protein was an independent predictor for overall survival and disease-free survival in non-cardia GC and also had survival associations in patients with small or perineural invasion-negative tumors. Tumor mRNA analyses based on next-generation sequencing in patients indicated that CHAF1A promoted the Warburg effect by depressing oxidative phosphorylation and increasing glycolysis. Furthermore, the heterogeneous clinical significance of CHAF1A among patient subgroups was associated with its differential regulation of gene expression involved with glycolysis and cell proliferation and survival, indicating that the role of CHAF1A is depended on patient characteristics. These results reveal critical roles and clinical values for CHAF1A in GC. CHAF1A may have context-dependent effects in GC, which increases understandings for GC heterogeneity.

  Study EGAS00001003064

• Parallel Detections of Somatic Gene Mutations in Surgically Resected Tumor tissues and Matched Plasma Specimens in Early-Stages of Primary Breast Cancer

  We developed two panel successively, contain 68 and 136 genes respectively. Combination with ultrasound or mammography, it could be used for breast cancer early detection and avoided unnecessary surgery or other invasive detection.

  Study EGAS00001003075

• organoid data of colorectal cancers

  Study EGAS00001003360

• Exploring_the_landscape_of_somatic_mutations_in_normal_tissue___GI___TPS___WGS

  The aim of this project is to investigate somatic mutations, including rates of mutations and signatures, and clonal dynamics in normal (non-cancerous) human tissues from the gastrointestinal tract. The project will involve the study of normal tissues from healthy individuals and those with specific candidate diseases. We are utilising laser capture microscopy to identify and isolate specific cell populations which are then subjected to whole genome sequencing to estimate mutational burdens and begin to understand clonal structures across the normal tissues.

  Study EGAS00001003089

• HSC_population_dynamics_CBD_samples

  My research project aims to use the clonal dynamics of spontaneously occurring somatic mutations to answer fundamental questions about human haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology. The four major questions I will address are: 1. How do age and aging affect normal human HSC dynamics in vivo? 2. How do in vivo perturbations, particularly chemotherapy and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, affect HSC population dynamics? 3. Is response to in vitro perturbation heritable and/or correlated with other features such as age of individual and contribution of the lineage to peripheral blood? 4. How are HSC dynamics altered in people with early driver mutations (clonal haematopoiesis)?

  Study EGAS00001003091

• Somatic mutations in endometriosis and normal uterine endometrium

  To characterize the genomic features of endometriosis, we performed whole-exome sequencing for ovarian endometriotic epithelium samples obtained from subjects without concurrent gynecological cancers. Additionally, we analyzed histologically normal uterine endometrial epithelium samples obtained from subjects with benign gynecologic diseases. All the epithelium samples were isolated by laser microdissection from frozen sections.

  Study EGAS00001003095

• Somatic point mutation data from microsatellite unstable colorectal cancers

  Microsatellite instability (MSI) leads to accumulation of an excessive number of mutations in the genome, mostly small insertions and deletions. MSI CRCs, however, also contain more point mutations than microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors, yet they have not been as comprehensively studied. To identify candidate driver genes affected by point mutations in MSI CRC, we ranked genes based on mutation significance while correcting for replication timing and gene expression utilizing an algorithm, MutSigCV. Somatic point mutation data from the exome kit-targeted area from 24 exome sequenced sporadic MSI CRCs and respective normals, and 12 whole genome sequenced sporadic MSI CRCs and respective normals were utilized. The top 73 genes were validated in 93 additional MSI CRCs.

  Study EGAS00001003101

• Circulating cell-free DNA analysis in Small Cell Lung Cancer

  Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for ~250,000 deaths worldwide each year. Acquisition of adequate tumour biopsies is challenging and liquid biopsies present the best option for patient stratification and response monitoring. We present genome-wide and targeted plasma DNA sequencing data that identifies tumour related changes in 91% of limited (LS-SCLC) and 100% of extensive stage (ES-SCLC) patients. Parallel analysis of circulating tumour cells (CTCs, by CellSearch) based on ≥ 1 CTC/7.5ml blood increased tumour detection frequencies to 98% patients (95% for LS-SCLC) where CTC count and plasma DNA readouts correlated with disease stage and overall survival (OS). Targeted plasma DNA sequencing identified potential therapeutic targets in >50% of patients. This approach will support trials of targeted therapies where improved patients outcomes are urgently required.

  Study EGAS00001003110

• Organoid Models of Human Liver Cancers Derived from Tumor Needle Biopsies

  Study EGAS00001003115

• Automated image-based profiling of complex drug induced phenotypes in patient-derived organoids

  We established a platform for high-throughput confocal fluorescence microscopy and automated image analysis to perform large-scale drug response profiling with patient derived organoids (PDOs). Using PDO lines newly established from colorectal cancer patients with a standardized workflow, we performed chemical perturbations with more than 500 experimental and clinically used compounds. Subsequently, we captured approx. six million images by confocal microscopy. To analyze drug-induced PDO re-organization on a single organoid level we developed SCOPE, a software framework for automated PDO high-throughput image analysis. We observed a rich variety of divergent and reoccurring compound induced phenotypes in organoids. Perturbation of cellular processes, including signaling by MEK, GSK3β, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and others, led to recurring and distinct architectural changes. Highlighting the clinical relevance, PDO viability was heterogeneous after perturbation with anticancer drugs and matched clinical response of corresponding colorectal cancer patients. Our work opens new avenues for image-based profiling for accelerated drug discovery and clinical decision-making.

  Study EGAS00001003140

• Whole exome sequencing of small cell neuroendocrine cancer of the cervix

  In order to improve treatment selection for high grade neuroendocrine carcinomas of the cervix (NECC), we performed a comparative genomic analysis between this rare tumor type and other cervical cancer types, as well as extra-cervical neuroendocrine small cell carcinomas of the lung and bladder. We performed whole exome sequencing on fresh-frozen tissue from 15 NECCs and matched normal tissue. We then identified mutations and copy number variants using standard analysis pipelines. Published mutation tables from cervical cancers and extra-cervical small cell carcinomas were used for comparative analysis. Descriptive statistical methods were used and a two-sided threshold of P < .05 was used for significance. In the NECC cohort, we detected a median of 1.7 somatic mutations per megabase (range 1.0-20.9). PIK3CA p.E545K mutations were the most frequency observed oncogenic mutation (4/15 tumors, 27%). Activating MAPK pathway mutations in KRAS (p.G12D) and GNAS (p.R201C) co-occurred in two tumors (13%). In total we identified PI3-kinase or MAPK pathway activating mutations in 67% of NECC. When compared to NECC, lung and bladder small cell carcinomas exhibited a statistically significant higher rate of coding mutations (P < .001 for lung; P = .001 for bladder). Mutation of TP53 was uncommon in NECC (13%) and was more frequent in both lung (103 of 110 tumors [94%], P < .001) and bladder (18 of 19 tumors [95%], P < .001) small cell carcinoma. These comparative genomics data suggest that NECC may be genetically more similar to common cervical cancer subtypes than to extra-cervical small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung and bladder. These results may have implications for the selection of cytotoxic and targeted therapy regimens for this rare disease.

  Study EGAS00001003142

• A comprehensive human gastric cancer organoid biobank captures tumor subtype heterogeneity and enables therapeutic screening​

  Gastric cancer displays marked molecular heterogeneity with aggressive behavior and treatment resistance. Therefore, good in vitro models that encompass unique subtypes are urgently needed for precision medicine development. Here, we have established a primary gastric cancer organoid (GCO) biobank that comprises normal, dysplastic, cancer and lymph node metastases (n=63) from 34 patients, including detailed whole-exome and transcriptome analysis. The cohort encompasses most known molecular subtypes (including EBV, MSI, intestinal/CIN, and diffuse/GS, with CLDN18-ARHGAP6 or CTNND1-ARHGAP26 fusions or RHOA mutations), capturing regional heterogeneity and subclonal architecture, while their morphology, transcriptome, and genomic profiles remain closely similar to in vivo tumors, even after long-term culture. Large-scale drug screening revealed sensitivity to unexpected drugs that were recently approved or in clinical trials, including Napabucasin, Abemaciclib, and the ATR inhibitor VE-822. Overall, this new GCO biobank, with linked genomic data, provides a useful resource for studying both cancer cell biology and precision cancer therapy.

  Study EGAS00001003145

• DNA Methylation-based diagnostic biomarkers for ESCC in Han Chinese population

  DNA methylation-based biomarkers were suggested to be promising for early cancer diagnosis. However, DNA methylation-based biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), especially in Chinese Han populations have not been identified and evaluated quantitatively. To identify the candidate DNA-methylation based biomarkers for ESCC diagnosis, we performed the targeted bisulfite sequencing analysis in this study. Based on these 94 pairs of ESCC tumors and adjacent normal tissues, we found out that ADHFE1, EOMES, SALL1 and TFPI2 could be an effective methylation-based assay for ESCC diagnosis.

  Study EGAS00001003158

• Tumor-associated preferred end coordinates and somatic variants as signatures of circulating tumor DNA

  Cell-free DNA fragmentation is a nonrandom process. We showed that cell-free DNA fragments with ends at certain genomic coordinates had higher likelihoods of being derived from hepatocellular carcinoma. Other coordinates were associated with cell-free DNA molecules originating from the liver. Quantitative assessment of cell-free DNA molecules bearing these respective groups of end signatures correlated with the amounts of tumor-derived or liver-derived DNA in plasma. There were millions of tumor-associated plasma DNA end coordinates across the genome. Due to their high prevalence, they were more readily detectable than somatic mutations as a cancer signature in plasma. Hence, detection of tumor-associated plasma DNA ends may offer a cost-effective means of capturing evidence for the presence of cancer through liquid biopsy assessment.

  Study EGAS00001003160

• Primary breast tumor heterogeneity through therapy

  Study EGAS00001003168

• “Castration-persistence” is a distinct state of tolerance to androgen receptor targeting therapies in prostate cancer

  Androgen receptor (AR) signalling is important in prostate cancer progression, and therapies that specifically target this pathway are the mainstay of treatment for advanced disease. Treatment however is non-curative, and resistance develops inevitably with time. Although the mechanisms that drive progressive ‘castration resistant’ disease are reasonably well characterized, how tumours survive acute pathway inhibition is unclear. We performed a neo-adjuvant study of a novel combination of AR targeting therapies, and noted that the objective response to treatment was highly variable. To determine what was driving tumour persistence in poorly responding patients, we comprehensively characterised pre- and post-treatment samples were using both whole genome and RNA-sequencing. We find that ‘castration-persistence’ is a distinct state from ‘castration-resistance’, and is mediated by global transcriptional reprogramming leading to transitional EMT state, which is shared with benign luminal epithelial cells. This appears to be AP-1 and KLF driven, and represents and integration of multiple signalling pathways, particularly IGF2, offering a number of tractable strategies to improve clinical response to AR targeting therapies.

  Study EGAS00001003172

• Primary breast cancers and paired brain metastases sequencing study

  Improving management of brain metastases (BM) from primary breast cancer (PBC) is a challenge in which targeted therapies play a promising role. However this approach is impaired by miss-knowledge of molecular patterns of the metastatic and drug-resistance processes.We performed a differential analysis of copy-number-alterations (CNAs) and mutations profiles by using pan-genomic array-CGH and targeted next-generation-sequencing of 494 cancer-associated genes, in a series of 14 pairs of matched PBC/BM and assessed if the observed genomic alterations may be used as a druggable agent in a clinical trial.

  Study EGAS00001003173

• Study the differences at the trascriptome level between iNKT and T cells

  Chimeric antigen receptor anti-CD19 (CAR19)-T cell immunotherapy-induced clinical remissions in CD19+ B cell lymphomas are often short-lived. We tested whether CAR19-engineering of the CD1d-restricted invariant NKT (iNKT) cells would result in enhanced anti-lymphoma activity. CAR19-iNKT cells co-operatively activated by CD1d- and CAR19-CD19-dependent interactions are more effective than CAR19-T cells against CD1d-expressing lymphomas in vitro and in vivo. The swifter in vivo anti-lymphoma activity of CAR19-iNKT cells and their enhanced ability to eradicate brain lymphomas underpinned an improved tumor-free and overall survival. CD1d transcriptional de-repression by all-trans retinoic acid results in further enhanced cytotoxicity of CAR19-iNKT cells against CD19+ chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Thus, iNKT cells are a highly efficient platform for CAR-based immunotherapy of lymphomas and possibly other CD1d-expressing cancers.

  Study EGAS00001003176

• Genome-wide association study of cervical cancer in East Asian populations

  The development of cervical cancer is initiated by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and involves both viral and host genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of cervical cancer have identified associations in the HLA locus and two loci outside HLA, but the principal genes that control infection and pathogenesis have not been identified. In the present study, we performed GWAS of cervical cancer in East Asian populations, involving 2609 cases and 4712 controls in the discovery stage, 1461 cases and 3295 controls in the follow-up stage.

  Study EGAS00001003199

• Exploiting evolutionary steering in cancer therapy

  Drug resistance, mediated by intra-tumour heterogeneity and clonal evolution, is arguably the biggest problem in cancer therapy today. However, evolving resistance to one drug may come at the cost of increased sensitivity to another due to so-called evolutionary trade-offs. This weakness can be exploited in the clinic using an approach called ‘evolutionary herding’ that aims at controlling the tumour cell population to delay or prevent resistance. However, model systems able to recapitulate cancer evolution experimentally are lacking and current in vitro techniques based on small populations, re-plating and escalating dose, are unsuitable to develop evolutionary herding strategies. We present a novel methodology for evolutionary herding in vitro and ex vivo using patient-derived organoids. Our approach is based on a combination of single-cell barcoding, very large populations of 108-109 cells grown without re-plating, realistic high drug doses, time-course monitoring of cancer clones, and mathematical modelling of tumour evolutionary dynamics. We demonstrate evolutionary herding in non-small cell lung cancer in vitro and in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids (PDO). We show that herding causes controlled evolutionary bottlenecks that lead to collateral sensitivity. Through genomic analysis, we were also able to determine the mechanisms that drive such sensitivity. Our approach allows modelling evolutionary trade-offs experimentally to test patient-specific evolutionary herding strategies that can be translated into the clinic to control treatment resistance.

  Study EGAS00001003200

• RNA-sequencing of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder cancer (NMIBC)

  This RNA-sequencing cohort includes 78 Non-muscle Invasive Bladder cancer (NMIBC) samples and 7 Muscle Invasive Bladder cancer (MIBC) samples.

  Study EGAS00001004358

• Temporal stability of circulating microRNAs in human serum

  Circulating microRNA biomarkers for disease have been subject to extensive research. However, insufficient consideration of variability in the healthy population has led to few markers achieving the performance necessary in independent follow-up studies to be taken forward to clinical practice. To investigate the natural variation of circulating microRNA over time, we performed small RNA sequencing in a longitudinal study of 66 women with no history of cancer, and determined the distribution and dynamics (via intraclass correlation coefficients, ICCs) of the miRNA profile over 3 time points sampled across 2-5 years. We also investigate abundances in circulation, as well as the impact of normalization, age, BMI, and other sample collection factors on microRNA measurements from small RNA sequencing.

  Study EGAS00001003221

• Molecular Classification of Lymph Node Metastases Subtypes Predict for Survival in Head and Neck Cancer

  Study EGAS00001003233

• Oncogenic fate conversion by PRDM16s causes acute myeloid leukemia

  Oncogenic mutations confer aberrant replicative capacity to cells with little or no replicative capacity, generating cancer stem cells that perpetuate the tumor through extensive self-replication and differentiation blockade. However, whether oncogenes disrupt the cellular identity ofcancer stem cell by altering the developmental potential is unknown. Fate conversion has been demonstrated by ectopic expression of master transcriptional regulators, such as PU.1 and C/EBP alpha that confers myeloid cell fate to other cell types, and PRDM16 that confers brown adipose fate to white adipocytes or myoblasts. Here we show that a transcriptional regulator overexpressed in human myeloid malignancies, PRDM16s, causes oncogenic fate conversion, by transforming cells fated to form platelets and erythrocytes into myeloid leukemia-initiating cells (LICs). Prdm16s expression in hematopoietic progenitor cells caused a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-like disease that progressed to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The myeloid diseases caused by Prdm16s exhibited expansion of megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors (MEPs) but not granulocyte-macrophage progenitors. MEPs from Prdm16s-induced leukemia possessed LIC potential, and expression of Prdm16s in normal MEPs was sufficient to convert them to myeloid LICs and blocked megakaryocytic/erythroid potential. Prdm16s induced the expression of myeloid master regulators, including PU.1 and C/EBP alpha, by interacting with their super enhancers. Ablation of myeloid master regulators attenuated the myeloid potential and reinstalled the megakaryocytic/erythroid potential of leukemic-MEPs in mouse models and in human AML with PRDM16 rearrangement. Our study demonstrates that oncogenic Prdm16 expression converts the fate of MEPs to a malignant myeloid fate by activating myeloid master transcription factors.

  Study EGAS00001003235

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

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

  Study EGAS00001003238

• Genomic DNA of tumor tissues, adjacent normal tissues, and peripheral blood were extracted using QIAamp DNA mini Kit (QIAGEN, cat. #51306)

  Although genomic instability, epigenetic abnormality, and gene expression dysregulation are hallmarks of colorectal cancer, these features have not been simultaneously analyzed at single cell resolution. Using optimized single cell multiomics sequencing together with multiregional sampling of the primary tumor, lymphatic and distant metastases, we provide insights beyond intratumoral heterogeneity. Genome wide DNA methylation levels were relatively consistent within a single genetic sublineage. The genome-wide DNA demethylation patterns of cancer cells were consistent in all 10 sequenced patients. The cancer cells’ DNA demethylation degrees clearly correlated with the densities of the heterochromatin-associated histone modification H3K9me3 of normal tissue, and those of repetitive element Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of reconstructing genetic lineages, and tracing their epigenomic and transcriptomic dynamics with single cell multiomics sequencing.

  Study EGAS00001003242

• 1 Intratumoral genetic heterogeneity and clonal evolution following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal tumors.

  Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is the standard treatment forpatients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, little is known about the effect of nCRT in the mutational landscape and intratumoral genetic heterogeneity (ITGH) of rectal tumors. Moreover, response to nCRT vary substantially among patients and the genetic determinants of treatment response are not fully understood. Here, we sought to determine the impact of nCRT in the mutational landscape and ITGH of rectal tumors and to identify putative drivers of therapeutic resistance. Patients and Methods: We analyzed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and clinical data from 79 primary non-treated rectal cancers obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We also compared the mutational landscape of a matched set of peripheral blood cells, irradiated tumor-adjacent colonic mucosa and pre and post-treatment tumor samples to determine the iatrogenic effects of nCRT and its impact in tissue genetic heterogeneity. Finally, we performed WES of 7 matched pre and post-treatment tumor samples to examine how nCRT affects the clonal architecture of rectal tumors. Results: We show that rectal tumors exhibit remarkable ITGH, which increases with disease progression. We also show that nCRT, per se, does not introduce novel somatic mutations, nor alters the clonal architecture of the irradiated colonic mucosa. Instead, we show that it acts as a potent selective pressure, favoring the expansion of tumor cell subpopulations more prone to resist therapy and increasing ITGH in the residual tumor. Conclusion: Our results reveal the highly heterogeneous and dynamic clonal architecture of rectal tumors undergoing nCRT. Our results also uncover putative genetic determinants of response to nCRT and a possible role for ITGH in predicting treatment outcome.

  Study EGAS00001003250

• A Study to Evaluate Denosumab in Young Patients With Primary Breast Cancer (D-Beyond)

  This is a prospective, single arm phase IIa trial in which patients with early breast cancer will receive pre-operatively two doses of denosumab 120mg subcutaneously one week apart (maximum 12 days) followed by surgery. Tumor, normal breast tissue and blood samples will be collected at baseline and at surgery. Post-operative treatment will be at the discretion of the investigator.Primary objective: to determine if a short course of RANKL inhibition with denosumab can induce a decrease in tumor proliferation rates as determined by Ki67 immunohistochemistry (IHC) in newly diagnosed, early stage breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.

  Study EGAS00001003252

• RNA sequencing of undifferentiated sarcomas

  Undifferentiated sarcomas (USARCs) of adults are diverse, rare, and aggressive soft tissue cancers. Recent sequencing efforts have confirmed that USARCs exhibit one of the highest burdens of structural aberrations across human cancer. Here, we sought to unravel the molecular basis of the structural complexity in USARCs by integrating DNA sequencing, ploidy analysis, gene expression, and methylation profiling. We identified whole genome duplication as a prevalent and pernicious force in USARC tumorigenesis. Using mathematical deconvolution strategies to unravel the complex copy-number profiles and mutational timing models we infer distinct evolutionary pathways of these rare cancers. In addition, 15% of tumors exhibited raised mutational burdens that correlated with gene expression signatures of immune infiltration, and good prognosis.

  Study EGAS00001003291

• Molecular profiling of longitudinally observed small colorectal polyps: a cohort study

  Knowledge of the natural history of colorectal adenomas is limited because these lesions are removed upon detection. The few studies in which small adenomas have been left in situ for a limited period of time have shown that most lesions remain stable or even completely vanish. Lesions that have grown in size more often turn out to be advanced adenomas when resected. Specific DNA copy number changes (cancer associated events or CAEs) are associated with progression of adenomas to cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether growth of small colorectal polyps left in situ is associated with specific molecular features.

  Study EGAS00001003284

• Mutated H3 Histones Drive Human Pre-Leukemic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion And Promote Leukemic Aggressiveness

  Leukemogenesis is a stepwise progression from mutated, pre-neoplastic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to full-blown leukemia. Our ability to prevent or treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is limited by our incomplete understanding of the epigenetic disruption that is central to this process, including improper histone methylation. Comprehensive analysis of 16 histone H3 genes in 434 primary AML samples identified Q69H, A26P, R2Q, R8H and K27M/I mutations (1.6%), and a higher incidence in secondary AML (s-AML) (9%). We establish that these mutations are important early events in leukemogenesis. They occur in pre-leukemic HSCs, increase the frequency of functional human HSCs, and alter differentiation. The mutations are present in the major leukemic clones in primary samples, and the mutant histones amplify leukemic aggressiveness with increased proliferation, expansion of leukemic progenitor and blast cells, and superior competitiveness in vivo. These effects are dependent on the specific mutation. Genome-wide analysis of K27 mutants revealed increased expression of genes involved in erythrocyte and myeloid differentiation with a corresponding decrease in histone H3 K27 tri-methylation and increase in K27 acetylation. The functional impact of histone mutations is independent of RUNX1 mutations, although they can co-occur. These data establish the involvement of H3 mutations as initial drivers of pre-cancerous stem cell expansion and leukemogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001003288

• Whole genome sequencing of tumour and matched normal from patients with family history of breast cancer

  Analysis of whole genome sequencing of tumour and matched normal from familial breast cancer patients who had previously undergone clinical germline testing for variation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The patients were either carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline pathogenic variants or non-carriers high-risk individuals (non-BRCA1/2). Somatic mutational signatures were used to study tumour aetiology of these individuals.

  Study EGAS00001003305

• Personalized RNA mutanome vaccines mobilize poly-specific therapeutic immunity against cancer

  The goal of the sequencing study was to determine the neoantigen profile of melanoma patients. We performed whole exome sequening of the tumor and respective patien matched PBMC samples (2x50nt) and RNA-sqeuencing of the tumor samples. The was analyzed for somatic point mutaions, using the RNA-Seq data to determine mutation expression. This study contains the exome seq data.

  Study EGAS00001003306