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• PAK4 inhibition improves PD-1 blockade immunotherapy

  Introduction with rationale and aims for study Immune checkpoint blockade therapies have significantly altered the current landscape of cancer treatment. However, this immunotherapy still fails more often than it succeeds. There are now evidences that the lack of tumour infiltration by immune cells is the main mechanism of primary resistance to PD‐1 blockade therapies for cancer. It has been postulated that cancer cell‐intrinsic mechanisms may actively exclude T cells from tumours, suggesting that the finding of actionable molecules that could be inhibited to increase T cell infiltration may synergize with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. With the idea of finding potential drivers of immune exclusion, we performed RNA sequencing analysis of biopsies from melanoma patients and compared the transcriptomic differences of samples that where infiltrated with those that did not have immune infiltration. Methods RNAseq analysis of gene expressions on biopsies from melanoma patients treated with checkpoint blockade were analysed. We focused on the variable of "infiltration: yes or no,", e.g. tumors that were well infiltrated by immune cells with those that kept immune cells out. Sequencing revealed a list of genes whose expression differed between the infiltrated and noninfiltrated tumors. The kinase PAK4 stood out as a good candidate for inhibition treatment in the future as it was consistently enriched in the samples without immune infiltration. To test whether immunotherapy would work better if we deleted PAK4, we first knocked out PAK4, using CRISPR‐Cas9, in the ‐resistant melanoma cell line, B16. Then they injected the melanoma cells into mice and observed that PAK4 KO tumours now responded to PD‐1 blockade. In order to elucidate whether pharmacological inhibition of PAK4 could recapitulate the results observed in the B16 PAK4 KO tumours, we obtained the PAK4 inhibitor, KPT-9274, from Karyopharm Therapeutics. Indeed, inhibiting PAK4 in combination with anti‐PD‐1 immunotherapy significantly slowed the growth of the B16 melanomas more than either drug alone. Results and Conclusions Transcriptomic analysis of melanoma tumors that were well infiltrated by immune cells with those that kept immune cells out revealed a list of genes whose expression differed between the infiltrated and non-infiltrated tumours. The result suggests that p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is enriched in non-responding tumour biopsies with low T cell and dendritic cell infiltration. In addition, PAK4 decreased WNT activity, a signalling pathway that has previously been involved in immune exclusion. In mouse models, genetic deletion of PAK4 increased T cell infiltration and reversed resistance to PD‐1 blockade in a CD8 T cell-dependent manner. Furthermore, combination of with the PAK4 inhibitor, KPT-9274, improved anti‐tumour responses compared to anti‐PD‐1 alone. Therefore, high PAK4 expression is correlated with low T cell and dendritic cell infiltration and lack of response to PD‐1 blockade, which could be reversed with PAK4 inhibition. The data establish a rationale for targeting this kinase with inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients. Future work and data that we can anticipate for this study Oncogenic signalling pathways and specially the WNT signalling pathway, have been associated with lack of immune infiltration and resistance to PD‐1 blockade therapies. Here, we show that PAK4 overcome resistance to PD‐1 blockade while significantly decreases WNT signalling activity. Therefore, it constitutes the first potential druggable target that is able to reverse oncogenic driven immune cell exclusion. However, the fully mechanism whereby PAK4 sensitizes tumours to immunotherapy remains to be fully elucidated. It is necessary to address whether PAK4 inhibition overcomes resistance through WNT signalling inhibition or if other signalling pathways are involved in the observed phenotype.

  Study phs001919

• Genomic Characterization of Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer

  Metastatic disease to the brain is associated with a poor prognosis. Our understanding of the genetic drivers of metastasis remain limited. Whole-exome sequencing was performed from brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma to identify putative drivers of metastatic progression.

  Study phs001920

• Primary Prostate Tumor Tissue DNA Methylation Profiles

  The study cohort includes 525 Caucasian and African American prostate cancer (PCa) patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) as primary therapy for clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate. These patients were previously enrolled in one of two population-based studies: 1) men 40-64 years of age, diagnosed between January 1993 and December 1996; and, 2) men 35-74 years of age, diagnosed between January 2002 and December 2005. Gleason grade and sum, diagnostic PSA, and pathological tumor stage were obtained from the SEER cancer registry. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded prostate tumor tissue blocks were obtained from RP specimens and used to make hematoxalin and eosin stained slides, which were reviewed by pathologists to confirm the presence/location of adenocarcinoma. For each patient two 1-mm tumor tissue cores from the dominant lesion that were enriched with >=75% tumor cells were taken for DNA purification. The RecoverAll Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit (Ambion/Applied Biosciences, Austin, TX) was used to extract DNA, which was then quantified (PicoGreen), aliquoted onto 96-well plates and shipped to Illumina for DNA methylation profiling using the Infinium® HumanMethylation450 BeadChip.

  Study phs001921

• Characterization of Clonal Evolution in Microsatellite Unstable Metastatic Cancers through Multi-Regional Tumor Sequencing

  Whole exome sequencing was performed on blood and multiple tumor samples from six patients with known microsatellite unstable tumors. Subclones within each tumor site were identified and within each subclone, differing microsatellite instability was characterized.

  Study phs001925

• National Institutes of Health H3Africa African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME)

  The African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research is a multi-institutional collaborative research project. The objectives of the project are to collaborate and implement high impact integrative epidemiology and genomics research into discovery of biomarkers associated with cervical carcinogenesis. Specifically ACCME links and leverages existing funded research and program activities at the collaborating institutions to study the interaction between vaginal microbiome, host genetic factors and molecular variants of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to determine correlates of viral persistence in the causal pathway of cervical cancer, a major cause of preventable mortality in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This research offers several opportunities to advance understanding of cervical carcinogenesis, viral oncogenesis, new biomarker discovery and risk stratification by genotype in a cohort of African women. Sponsorship: This project is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  Study phs001945

• A Comprehensive Genomic Study of Pediatric Malignancy

  Malignancy remains the leading cause of disease-related death in children. DNA sequencing studies have shown a paucity of actionable genomic alterations and a low mutation burden across pediatric cancers at diagnosis. We perform a comprehensive genomic and epigenomic analysis of pediatric tumor and normal tissues using next-generation sequencing to identify molecular fingerprints and targets for diagnosis, prognosis, and development of novel therapeutic methods. This study also represents one of the largest of its type to date and provides a rich genomic dataset for the pediatric cancer research community.

  Study phs001928

• Count Me In (CMI): The Angiosarcoma (ASC) Project (CMI-ASCproject)

  Count Me In - The Angiosarcoma Project: A Patient-Partnered Research Initiative to Accelerate Research in a Rare Sarcoma The Angiosarcoma Project (ASCproject) is a research study that directly engages angiosarcoma patients online and empowers them to accelerate cancer research by sharing medical information and clinical samples. Angiosarcoma is an exceedingly rare soft tissue sarcoma with an incidence of ~300 newly diagnosed cases per year in the United States. This low incidence has impeded large-scale research efforts in this disease that are strongly needed to catalyze research and improve clinical outcomes. The Angiosarcoma Project, launched in March 2017, has demonstrated the feasibility of directly engaging geographically dispersed patients to democratize research and establish a large patient cohort to characterize the genomic and clinical landscape of a rare disease. Angiosarcoma patients living in the US or Canada can access the study and consent online through an online portal (ASCproject.org). Enrolled patients are mailed saliva and blood draw kits, which can be used to extract germline DNA and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), respectively. The study team contacts participants' healthcare institutions to obtain medical records and a portion of archived tumor samples. All received tumor samples are subjected to centralized histological re-review by an expert pathologist to confirm a diagnosis of angiosarcoma. Whole exome sequencing is performed on tumor DNA, germline DNA, and cfDNA; transcriptome sequencing is performed on tumor RNA. De-identified data, including linked genomic, clinical, and patient-reported data, are shared via public databases on a recurring pre-publication basis. Participants are regularly provided updates on the study.

  Study phs001931

• International Cancer Proteogenome Consortium (ICPC): proteogenomics of early stage lung adenocarcinoma in Taiwan

  Lung cancer in East Asia is characterized by high percentage of never-smokers, early-onset and predominant EGFR mutations. To provide an insight into the molecular phenotype of this demographically distinct disease, we have performed a proteogenomics study on a prospectively collected cohort representing early stage lung adenocarcinomas in Taiwan. The distinct mutational profile revealed high prevalence of the APOBEC mutational signature in early-onset females implicating differential regulation of APOBEC enzymes and DNA damage pathways, as well as enrichment of mutational signatures congruent with environmental carcinogens over-represented in the genomic location of EGFR. We delineate the proteogenomic hallmarks of tumor progression and propose a proteomics-informed classification that resolves the EGFR mutation heterogeneity associated with survival within the early stages. Functional annotation of the molecular subtypes by protein network analysis highlights candidate biomarkers for patient stratification. Our integrative analysis reveals the molecular architecture of lung cancer in East Asia and enables the path for precision medicine.

  Study phs001954

• National Cancer Institute Clinical and Laboratory Analysis of Familial Cancer

  The purpose of this study is to continue the analysis begun on 09C0079 which was focused on identification of the genetic mutation associated with a new gastric polyposis syndrome, Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis of the Stomach (GAPPS). GAPPS, first described in 2012, is an autosomal dominant gastric polyposis syndrome that confers a substantial risk for gastric adenocarcinoma. The GAPPS phenotype consists of a carpeting of greater than 100 fundic gland polyps (FGPs) in the oxyntic mucosa of the gastric body and fundus, with antral sparing with some FGPs displaying high-grade dysplasia. This is in contrast to sporadic FGPs that are benign, most often are not associated with high-grade dysplasia though low-grade dysplasia has been reported, and are fewer in number. Gastric FGPs have been found to be associated with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and attenuated FAP, which is an autosomal dominant condition associated with germ line mutations in APC which confers a phenotype consisting of multiple (>100) adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum developing after the first decade of life. FGPs are reported to occur in 12-84% of patients with FAP, whereas sporadic FGPs are identified in ~5% of patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastric adenocarcinoma arising from FGPs in individuals with FAP have been reported. Other manifestations of FAP and AFAP include polyps in the upper gastrointestinal tract, congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium, osteomas and epidermoid cysts, supernumerary teeth, desmoid formation, and other malignancies such as thyroid, small bowel cancer, hepatoblastoma, and medulloblastoma. Thus far there are no reports in GAPPS of polyposis arising in the esophagus, gastric antrum, pylorus, small intestine, or colon.

  Study phs001935

• Extent and Significance of Bacterial DNA Integrations in the Human Cancer Genome

  The integration of exogenous DNA into the human genome can cause somatic mutations associated with oncogenesis. For example, the insertion of HPV DNA into human chromosomes is the single most important event leading to tumorigenesis in cervical cancer. It is also now preventable with vaccines against HPV. In contrast to viral DNA integrations, the instances and repercussions of bacterial DNA integration into the somatic human genome are less clear. Yet bacterial DNA integrations (BDI) found to be associated with tumorigenesis could also be prevented using therapeutics like vaccines that limit exposure to the bacteria. Previous analysis of publicly available sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) showed BDIs from Pseudomonas spp. rRNA into the 5'-UTR of four proto-oncogenes as well as in Ig (the immunoglobulin gene) of gastric cancer samples. The original samples from TCGA were not available to validate these findings. Therefore, a different cohort of gastric cancer patients was identified in order to establish the presence BDIs. Whole exome sequencing was completed on seven tumor samples and six adjacent gastric samples, as well as one intestinal metaplasia sample and one non-atrophic gastritis sample. Four of those samples were also investigated with transcriptomics and whole genome sequencing. Given that 15-20% of cancers worldwide are linked to infections, more work is needed to understand the role of infectious agents in oncogenesis and the mechanisms underlying that role.

  Study phs001936

• Genomic and Genetic Characterization of Prostate Tumors Treated with Neoadjuvant Intense Androgen Deprivation Therapy

  The purpose of this study was to develop better ways of detecting prostate cancer before and after pre-operative treatment, and to test the feasibility of multi parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for the localization and detection of focal prostate cancer both before and after pre-operative treatment with ADT and enzalutamide. In this study, patients with intermediate and high risk prostate cancer received six months of neoadjuvant intense androgen deprivation therapy prior to radical prostatectomy. Biopsies were acquired prior to treatment. Tissue from biopsy and radical prostatectomy were subjected to sequencing and analysis for determination of features associated with response or resistance to treatment.

  Study phs001938

• Count Me In (CMI): The Metastatic Prostate Cancer (MPC) Project (CMI-MPCproject)

  Count Me In - The Metastatic Prostate Cancer Project: A Patient-Driven Research Initiative to Accelerate Metastatic Prostate Cancer Research The Metastatic Prostate Cancer Project (MPCproject; http://mpcproject.org/) is a research study that empowers men with metastatic and advanced prostate cancer to partner directly with researchers by sharing their samples and clinical information, with the ultimate goal of accelerating scientific discoveries that have clinical impact. The MPCproject enables any man with metastatic or advanced prostate cancer in the US and Canada to participate in cutting-edge genomic and molecular research, regardless of where they live. Metastatic or advanced prostate cancer patients visit the project website and complete an online questionnaire of basic information about themselves and their cancer. Enrolled patients are mailed saliva and blood draw kits, which can be used to extract germline DNA and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), respectively. The study team contacts participants' healthcare institutions to obtain medical records and a portion of archived tumor samples. Whole exome sequencing is performed on tumor DNA, germline DNA, and cfDNA, and transcriptome sequencing is performed on tumor RNA. De-identified data, including linked genomic, clinical, and patient-reported data, are shared via public databases on a recurring pre-publication basis. Participants are regularly provided with updates on the study.

  Study phs001939

• Multimodal Genomic Features Predict Outcome of Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

  This study evaluates integrated genomic models of response to immune checkpoint blockade for lung cancer patients. A computationally adjusted tumor mutation burden was combined with HLA class I genetic variation, mutational smoking signature and activating mutations in receptor tyrosine kinase genes to generate a prognostic classifier that outperforms tumor mutation burden.

  Study phs001940

• Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Syndromes and Uveal Melanoma

  Uveal melanoma (UM) is a subtype of melanoma characterized by the strong contribution of genetic rather than environmental factors in the pathogenesis of the disease, making it an ideal model disease to study the genetic basis of cancer. The long-term goal of our laboratory is to determine the genes and mechanisms responsible for hereditary cancer predisposition associated with UM. BAP1 has been identified as a candidate gene with definitive association with predisposition to UM. However, pathogenic variants in BAP1 are detected in only a small subset of UM patients even those with strong personal and family history of cancer suggesting the existence of other candidate genes. The goal of this project is to identify novel candidate genes contributing to hereditary predisposition to UM in patients with no detectable germline pathogenic variant in BAP1.

  Study phs001943

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm W

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm W is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with FGFR fusions, mutations, amplifications are treated with AZD4547. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs001948

• Women's Health Study Accelerometry Dataset

  Background The Women's Health Study (WHS) was a randomized trial testing low-dose aspirin and vitamin E for preventing cancer and CVD among 39,876 women aged ≥45 years throughout the US from 1992-2004. When the trial ended as planned, women who were willing to participate continued in an observational follow-up study. Participants in Accelerometer Study From 2011-2015, an ancillary study collected data on physical activity and sedentary behavior using accelerometers. Women were mailed a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+, ActiGraph Corp) with a wear log, and asked to wear this on their hip for seven consecutive days, removing it only during sleep and water-based activities. Further details have previously been published (PMID: 30666321). A total of 17,708 women wore and returned their devices, and data were downloaded from the devices of 17,466 women; no data were available from the other 242 (device failure). By convention, a "valid day" of wear has data on at least 10 hours (PMID: 22698174). Among these 17,466 women, 17,062 had at least one valid day of wear. The data are provided for all 17,062 women. Additionally, "compliant wear" is conventionally defined for participants wearing the device for at least 10 hours, on at least 4 days (PMID: 22698174). Of the 17,062 women, 16,741 had compliant wear (PMID: 29109088). Self-reported Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior After we received the accelerometer from a WHS participant, she was sent a questionnaire asking her to report the time she spent in different physical activities during the week that the accelerometer was worn (see questionnaire below). A total of 15,514 women (91% of participants in the Accelerometer Study) returned their physical activity questionnaires. In addition, beginning in October 2012, we included questions on sedentary behavior; a total of 9,430 women returned questionnaires that included questions on both physical activity and sedentary behavior.

  Study phs001964

• MP2PRT: Identification of Genetic Changes Associated with Relapse and/or Adaptive Resistance in Patients Registered as Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor on AREN03B2

  The Molecular Profiling to Predict Response to Treatment (MP2PRT) program is part of the NCI's Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The aim of this program is the retrospective characterization and analysis of biospecimens collected from completed NCI-sponsored trials of the National Clinical Trials Network and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program. This study, titled "Identification of Genetic Changes Associated with Relapse and/or Adaptive Resistance in Patients Registered as Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor on AREN03B2", performs genomic characterization (WGS 30X, Total RNAseq, miRNAseq) on a discovery set of 70 trio cases (normal tissue, tumor tissue at time of diagnosis, tumor tissue at time of relapse) from patients who relapsed with Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor. Prioritized findings from the discovery set will be validated using Targeted Sequencing in an independent validation set of 47 relapse samples.

  Study phs001965

• Cellular Origins and Genetic Landscape of Cutaneous GD T Cell Lymphoma

  Cutaneous gamma-delta T cell lymphomas are a rare and aggressive subtype of cutaneous lymphoma. In the present study, we analyzed these cancers by DNA and RNA sequencing in order to illuminate the genetic landscape for this rare disease. We obtained tumor samples from multiple institutions, including Northwestern University (Chicago, IL), University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA), and Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA).

  Study phs001969

• Kidney Two-Hit Mapping

  Germ-line genetic variants identified thus far generally account for only part of the genetic risk predicted for most cancers. A component of the remaining risk may be explained by functionally consequent genetic variants that are individually very rare (or private to that individual's family). While their identification may be highly informative for cancer etiology and biological knowledge, strategies that allow for agnostic (genome-wide) identification of such genes are not straight forward. This is particularly true for rare cancers where sufficient numbers of patients may simply not be available for appropriate statistically powered studies. In this project we have explored a study design based around the concept of "two-hit mapping" using the co-occurrence of germ-line and somatic mutations in the same gene to assist in the identification of susceptibility genes. The dataset includes 54 kidney cancer patients selected for enrichment of genetic disease, that is patients with: early age of onset and/or family history and/or bilateral disease. Germ-line and somatic (kidney cancer) tumor sequencing was carried out. These data may improve our understanding of kidney cancer.

  Study phs001971

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm Z1A

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm Z1A is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with NRAS mutations are treated with Binimetinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs001973

• Large Cancer Fingerprint Screening for Detection of Minimal Residual Disease.

  We describe an approach for large cancer fingerprint screening and its application to cell-free DNA from patients with cancer. Our approach involves tracking somatic mutations identified from patients' tumor biopsies, in the cell-free DNA from a blood draw.

  Study phs001977

• Genomic Landscape of Human Skin at a Single-Cell Resolution

  Every cell in the human body has a unique set of somatic mutations, yet it remains difficult to comprehensively genotype an individual cell. Here, we developed solutions to overcome this obstacle in the context of normal human skin, thus offering the first glimpse into the genomic landscapes of melanocytes at single-cell resolution. We comprehensively genotyped 133 melanocytes from 19 sites across 6 donors. As expected, sun-shielded melanocytes had fewer mutations than sun-exposed melanocytes. However, within sun-exposed sites, melanocytes on chronically sun-exposed skin (e.g. the face) displayed a lower mutation burden than melanocytes on intermittently sun-exposed skin (e.g. the back). Melanocytes from donors with a history of skin cancer had higher mutation burdens than melanocytes from donors without skin cancer, implying that the mutation burden of normal skin can be harnessed to measure cumulative sun damage and skin cancer risk. Moreover, melanocytes from healthy skin commonly harbor pathogenic mutations, likely explaining the origins of the melanomas that arise in the absence of a pre-existing nevus. Phylogenetic analyses identified groups of related melanocytes, suggesting that melanocytes spread throughout skin as fields of clonally related cells, invisible to the naked eye. Overall, our study offers an unprecedented view into the genomic landscapes of individual melanocytes, revealing key insights into the causes and origins of melanoma.

  Study phs001979

• University of Texas PDX Development and Trial Center Grant

  The goal for the University Texas PDX Development and Trial Center (UTPDTC) is to optimize personalized biomarker-based cancer therapy and identify effective targeted drugs based on the molecular characteristics of each tumor. Our short-term goals are to establish a biobank of clinically, and molecularly-annotated Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDXs) and to use PDXs as a platform for preclinical drug development and biomarker discovery. The primary goal for UTPDTC investigators will be to develop PDX trial strategies for preclinical testing of single agents and drug combinations. These models will allow the determination of the optimal treatments (single drugs or combinations) that should be tested in clinical trials in increasingly individualized, molecularly defined subsets of tumors. The goal of the Patient-Derived Xenograft Core is to provide high-quality clinically relevant and molecularly annotated PDX models for the research projects proposed in the University of Texas PDX Development and Trial Center (UTPDTC) grant application and to the research activity of the NCI PDX Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet) by leveraging PDX resources at our institutions and developing new PDX models from human cancer specimens using rigorous quality standards so that the models can be used to guide clinical trial development. The PDX models developed and/or characterized by the PDX Core will be available to other cancer researchers through the PDXNet and NCI Patient-Derived Models Repository (PDMR).

  Study phs001980

• Molecular Characterization of Prostate Cancer Specimens by Bulk and Single Cell Analysis

  We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of fresh biopsies from metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. Additionally, where available, we performed matched bulk whole exome sequencing (tumor and normal paired) and whole transcriptome sequencing for the same individuals. We also performed bulk whole exome and RNA-sequencing from FFPE pre-treatment biopsies from patients with clinically localized high-risk prostate cancer.

  Study phs001988

• Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program in Whole Genome Sequencing of African and Asian Orofacial Clefts Case-Parent Triads

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. The focus of this study is to identify novel risk variants for OFC in Africa and Asian OFC case-parent triads through analysis of Whole Genome Sequencing data.

  Study phs001997

• Evolutionary Analysis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells During Relapse After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

  We investigated the molecular dynamics driving relapse of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) through an integrated analysis of whole exome, bulk transcriptome, bulk methylome and single cell transcriptional data from paired leukemic samples representing 19 patients. We found that their clinical kinetics corresponded to distinct genetic and epigenetic evolutionary trajectories and suggest that the selection pressures of the post-transplant, immunologic bottleneck are distinct from those imposed by chemotherapy.In order to discover cancer antigens derived from annotated and unannotated protein-coding regions of the genome, we carried out ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) and RNA-sequencing on CLL samples and isolated primary B cells from healthy donors. We discovered novel or unannotated open reading frames (nuORFs), their expression levels, as well as somatic mutations within them to predict potential neoantigens.

  Study phs001998

• Advanced Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Solid Tumors

  This study is designed to understand the role of immunosuppressive regulatory B cells (Breg) in pancreatic cancer. Breg and conventional B cells (Bcon) from patients are compared by RNA sequencing analysis. Bregs and Bcon were isolated from freshly isolated PBMCs in peripheral blood. These data represent the examination of differentially expressed genes in these two blood-derived B cell subsets from both healthy and pancreatic cancer patients.

  Study phs001999

• The Genomic Landscape of Mongolian Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  Background and Hypotheses: Mongolia has the highest reported incidence of - and mortality from - hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the world, which is between three and seven times higher than that observed in other high-incidence populations, such as South Korea, Thailand, and China. Although its causative factors and underlying tumor biology remain unknown, risk factors such as chronic hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus infection are highly prevalent. Moreover, Mongolia has an extraordinarily high prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), more than ten times above the global estimate, which we hypothesize as a major driver of Mongolian hepatocarcinogenesis. By performing a comprehensive and integrative genomic characterization, we aimed to identify robust molecular subclasses and driver features informative of the etiology and progression of the disease. This study, the first one of this nature ever to be conducted on a Mongolian cohort, identifies similarities to previous studies performed on other populations (which reflect general characteristics of liver carcinogenesis) as well as unique features of Mongolian HCC. Study Design and Methods: Clinical information and paired tumor/non-tumor liver tissue samples were obtained from 76 HCC patients undergoing surgery at the National Cancer Center of Mongolia. Transcriptome sequencing and whole exome sequencing were performed on all tumor and non-tumor samples, followed by bioinformatics processing and quality control. Consensus clustering and regularized Cox regression analyses were performed on transcriptome data. Driver mutations and mutational signatures were assessed. These results were compared to those from 373 HCC patients of different races and ethnicities and diverse etiologies. Furthermore, molecular subclass gene signatures from multiple previous studies were assessed for validation. Results and Conclusions: Using a transcriptomics-based unsupervised approach, we identified four molecular subclasses among Mongolian HCC cases, which were associated with different patient survival outcomes. These molecular subclasses were mapped to signatures reported in other HCC cohorts, showing significant associations consistent with survival outcomes. A supervised analysis determined risk scores strongly associated with survival, consistent with the four molecular subclasses. Mutational signature analysis using recently published COSMIC and Environmental Agents Compendia identified signatures with distinct prevalence among HDV+ and HVD- groups. Signatures differentially associated with HDV+ include mutational patterns linked to alkylating agents (such as temozolomide), tobacco chewing and exposures to 1,8-Dinitropyrene and furan, whereas HDV- appeared differentially associated with aristolochic acid II. In addition to common driver mutations (TP53, CTNNB1) frequently found in pan-cancer analysis, Mongolian HCC exhibits several unique drivers (most notably GTF2IRD2B, PNRC2, and SPTA1), the latter of which may be linked to HDV infection. These results suggest the existence of new molecular mechanisms at play in Mongolian hepatocarcinogenesis.

  Study phs002000

• Clonal Evolution and Heterogeneity of Osimertinib Acquired Resistance Mechanisms in EGFR Mutant Lung Cancer

  Current understanding of acquired resistance to osimertinib in EGFR-mutant lung cancer is largely based on the use of targeted sequencing platforms and cell-free DNA. In this study we examined the clonal evolution and heterogeneity of acquired resistance mechanisms to osimertinib through whole exome and RNA-sequencing of prospectively collected pre-and post-osimertinib resistant tumors and metastases at rapid autopsy. We enrolled 34 patients with histologically confirmed EGFR mutant advanced lung adenocarcinoma in a prospective Phase II clinical trial to evaluate osimertinib treatment and the use of local ablative therapy (LAT) for oligoprogressive disease (NCT02759835) in EGFR mutant NSCLC from April 2016 until data cutoff in September 2019. Patients were not selected based on oligometastatic status, rather 32/34 patients had multiple organ involvement, including lung, liver, adrenal, brain and bone. Biopsies or surgeries were performed pre-osimertinib treatment and at first progression on osimertinib. A subset of patients also underwent biopsies at second progression on osimertinib, and following end of life in-patient hospice and rapid autopsy upon death. 63% (n=15/24) of first-line osimertinib and 50% (n=5/10) of second-line osimertinib treated patients had RECIST defined partial response. Overall, 21 patients had RECIST defined first progression on osimertinib. Two patients on this trial discontinued treatment and were lost to follow up. Of the 21 patients who had RECIST defined progression, 14 patients underwent LAT (8 first-line and 6 second-line). Twelve patients had paired pre- and post-osimertinib resistant tumors and three had post-osimertinib resistant tumors available for analysis. Four patients (LAT002, LAT006, LAT014 and LAT021) consented for a rapid autopsy protocol and underwent rapid autopsy after deatH. To elucidate acquired osimertinib resistance mechanisms, we performed whole-exome (WES), targeted sequencing and RNA-seq on 66 tumors and matched germline DNA from tumor tissue obtained from a total of 15 patients.

  Study phs002001

• MP2PRT: Comprehensive Genomic Profiling to Identify Alterations Associated with Relapse for NCI Standard Risk (SR) B-Lineage ALL and NCI High Risk (HR) B-Lineage ALL with Favorable Genetic Features

  The Molecular Profiling to Predict Response to Treatment (MP2PRT) program is part of the NCI's Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The aim of this program is the retrospective characterization and analysis of biospecimens collected from completed NCI-sponsored trials of the National Clinical Trials Network and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program. This study, titled "Comprehensive Genomic Profiling to Identify Alterations Associated with Relapse for NCI Standard Risk (SR) B-Lineage ALL and NCI High Risk (HR) B-Lineage ALL with Favorable Genetic Features," is one of the selected studies under this program. For this study, genomic characterization (WGS 30X, WXS, Total RNAseq) was performed on NCI Standard Risk B-lineage ALL patients who relapse and subsets of NCI High Risk B-lineage ALL patients who relapse as well as two non-relapse control cases for each relapse case. It was hypothesized that the comprehensive characterization of these sample sets will allow the identification of somatic genetic features that will facilitate early intervention to improve cure rates for those enrolled on future trials. Data were generated and genetic subtype was integrated with clinical variables, including age, presenting white blood cell count, sex, race, and levels of minimal residual disease at the end of induction. Additional secondary alterations were identified and included if they occurred in more than 10 patients. The study has been completed and a manuscript has been prepared.

  Study phs002005

• Genomic Landscape of Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors

  Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are cancers of the testis, ovary and extragonadal sites that occur in infants, children, adolescents, and adults. Post-pubertal (type II) malignant GCTs may present as a seminoma, non-seminoma or with mixed histologies. In contrast, pre-pubertal (type I) GCTs are limited to (benign) teratomas and (malignant) yolk sac tumors (YST). Epidemiologic and molecular data have shown that pre- and post-pubertal GCTs arise by distinct mechanisms. Dedicated studies of the genomic landscape of type I and II GCTs in children and adolescents are lacking. Here we present an integrated genomic analysis of extracranial GCTs across the age spectrum from 0-24 years.

  Study phs002009

• PLCO - Limited Use Pilot Test Data

  This is a sample of Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial data for limited use in a pilot test for remote data access. The PLCO is a randomized, controlled trial of screening tests for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Approximately 155,000 participants were enrolled between November 1993 and July 2001. Participants were individually randomized to the control arm or intervention arm in equal proportions. Participants assigned to the control arm received usual care, whereas participants assigned to the intervention arm were invited to receive screening exams for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers as outlined in the study protocol. The goal of the study was to assess whether these screening exams reduce mortality from prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Data were collected on cancer diagnoses and deaths from all causes that occurred through December 31, 2009. Median follow-up time was 12.4 years.

  Study phs002011

• SEER Remote Access Pilot Test Data (2018)

  This is a limited use Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) file for use in a pilot test of remote data access. The SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 34.6 percent of the U.S. population. The SEER Program registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The mortality data reported by SEER are provided by the National Center for Health Statistics. The population data used in calculating cancer rates is obtained periodically from the Census Bureau. The SEER research data files include SEER incidence and population data associated by age, sex, race, year of diagnosis, and geographic areas.

  Study phs002012

• Phase II trial of targeted immune-depleting chemotherapy and reduced-intensity allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using 8/8 and 7/8 HLA-matched unrelated donors and utilizing two graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis regimens for the treatment of leukemias, lymphomas, and pre-malignant blood disorders

  Background: Major problems with stem cell transplantation (SCT) for cancer treatment are a lack of suitable donors for patients without an HLA tissue-matched sibling and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious side effects of immune-suppressing chemotherapy that is given to bring the cancer under control before SCT. In GVHD, the patient's immune system attacks the transplanted donor cells. This study will try to improve the results of SCT from unrelated HLA-matched donors using targeted immune-depleting chemotherapy to bring the cancer under control before transplantation and to lower the chance of graft rejection, followed by reduced-intensity transplant chemotherapy to make the procedure less toxic. Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of targeted immune-depleting chemotherapy followed by reduced-intensity transplant chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancers of the blood and immune system. To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of two different drug combinations to prevent GVHD. Both regimens have been successful in preventing GVHD, but they work by different mechanisms and affect the rebuilding of the immune system after the transplant. Eligibility: People 18 to 74 years of age with advanced or high-risk cancers of the blood and immune system who do not have a suitable HLA-matched sibling. Design: All patients receive chemotherapy before transplant to treat the cancer and suppress immune function. All patients receive a conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide for 4 days and fludarabine for 4 days before SCT to prepare for the transplant. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two combination drug treatments to prevent GHVD as follows: Group 1: Tacrolimus starting 3 days before SCT and continuing for 6 months, plus methotrexate on days 1, 3, 6, and 11 post-SCT, plus sirolimus starting 3 days before the SCT and continuing through day 14 following SCT. Group 2: Alemtuzumab for 4 days starting 8 days before SCT, plus cyclosporine starting 1 day before SCT and continuing for 6 months. Patients receive the donor's stem cells and immune cells 2 days after the conditioning regimen. Patients are followed at the clinic regularly for the first 6 months after SCT, and then less often for at least 5 years. Some visits may include bone marrow aspirates and biopsies, blood draws, and other tests to monitor disease status. A skin biopsy, oral mucosa biopsy, and saliva collection are done to study chronic GVHD.

  Study phs002021

• Drug screening of patient-derived organoids from colorectal peritoneal metastases

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with peritoneal metastases (CRPM) have limited treatment options and the lowest CRC survival rates. We trialed the possibility of organoid directed precision treatment for CRPM patients. CRPM organoids (peritonoids) isolated from patients underwent next-generation sequencing and medium-throughput drug panel testing ex vivo to identify specific drug sensitivities for each patient. We measured the utility of such a service including: success of peritonoid generation, time to cultivate peritonoids, reproducibility of the medium-throughput drug testing, and documented changes to clinical therapy as a result of the testing. Peritonoids were successfully generated and validated from 68% (19/28) of patients undergoing standard care. Genomic and drug profiling was completed within 8 weeks and a formal report ranking drug sensitivities was provided to the medical oncology team upon failure of standard care treatment. This resulted in a treatment change for 2 patients, one of whom had a partial response despite previously progressing on multiple rounds of standard care chemotherapy. The barrier to implementing this technology in Australia is the need for drug access and funding for off-label indications. In conclusion, our approach is feasible, reproducible and can guide novel therapeutic choices in this poor prognosis cohort, where new treatment options are urgently needed. This platform is relevant to many solid organ malignancies.

  Study phs002023

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm B

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing and if possible, whole-genome, methylation and miRNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH clinical trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm B is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with HER2- activating mutations are treated with Afatinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002028

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm R

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm R is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with BRAF fusions, non-V600K or non-V600E mutations, are treated with Trametinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002029

• Methylation biomarker study of magnesium deficiency and colorectal cancer

  Five US studies using the Mg tolerance test, the "gold standard" test of Mg status, indicated that >50% participants had Mg deficiency. In our ongoing US trial, we have found a similar result. In growing recognition of the importance of Mg in human health, very recently, Mg was selected by the US Federal Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) Committee to update the DRI. In US and other populations at high risk of Mg deficiency, high Mg intake has been linked to reduced risk of colorectal neoplasia, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Conversely, in populations not at high risk of Mg deficiency, high Mg intake has been related to increased risk of total mortality (e.g. total cancer, colorectal cancer, and CVD), particularly when calcium intake is low. These observations suggest that the associations between high Mg intake and disease risks may completely differ by the underlying Mg status. Due to major limitations, the Mg tolerance test is not used in conventional clinical practice and rarely used in research. Instead, serum Mg is used for clinical diagnosis. However, serum Mg performs very poorly at identifying those with Mg deficiency. There is a great need to develop implementable, sensitive, and specific biomarkers which can be easily used for identifying people with Mg deficiency. Without such a marker, it is impossible to develop effective strategies that minimize adverse effects by targeting those who, as a result of Mg deficiency, are at risk of common diseases. It is known that DNA methylation changes are inducible by environmental exposures, including nutrients, and reversible when the exposure disappears. There are two major types of cytosine modifications in DNA, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and 5-methylcytosine (5-mC). 5-mC is often associated with suppressed gene expression. 5-hmC, generated by the oxidation of 5-mC, is specifically enriched in expressed genes and plays a critical role in activating and/or maintaining gene expression. However, current epigenomic profiling platforms cannot distinguish 5-hmC from 5-mC. Just recently, our collaborator, Dr. Chuan He (HHMI Investigator), established a novel and state of the art technique, TAB-Seq and TAB-Array protocol, which can separate 5-hmC from 5-mC in the genome. Our pilot studies indicate that Mg intake or treatment significantly affects methylation capacity, 5-mC and 5-hmC biomarkers. Our findings suggest blood leukocyte 5-hmC/5-mC biomarkers may serve as more sensitive biomarkers to identify Mg deficiency than serum Mg. Thus, a comprehensive epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) may help to identify the most sensitive 5-hmC/ 5- mC biomarkers for Mg deficiency. We propose to identify 5-hmC/5-mC biomarkers for Mg deficiency by a 4- phase EWAS study in the "Personalized Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Trial [PPCCT, R01CA149633; PI, Dai and Yu]" with a total of 240 participants. Mg tolerance test will be used as the gold standard. Finally, using newly identified biomarkers, we will evaluate if 12-week Mg treatment reduces TRPM7 expression, essential in Mg homeostasis and colorectal carcinogenesis, in rectal tissues only among those with Mg deficiency.

  Study phs002037

• Intraductal transplantation models of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma reveal progressive transition of molecular subtypes

  Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal common malignancy, with little improvement in patient outcomes over the past few decades. Recently, subtypes of pancreatic cancer with different prognoses have been elaborated. However, the inability to model these subtypes has precluded mechanistic investigation of their origins. Here, we present an orthotopic xenotransplantation model of human patient-derived PDAC organoids in which organoids are grafted via direct injection into the pancreatic duct of immunocompromised (NSG) mice. Tumors that arise from these intraductally grafted organoids (IGOs) enable the distinction of the two main PDAC subtypes: intraepithelial neoplasms from this model progress in an indolent or invasive manner representing the classical or basal-like subtypes of PDAC, respectively, depending on which organoid they originate from. RNA-sequencing was used to characterize the tumors that resulted from IGO xenografts, and to compare the fast- and slow-progressing IGO tumors. Tumors generated using a traditional orthotopic xenograft model, in which organoids are injected into the parenchyma of the pancreas (i.e. orthotopically grafted organoids, or OGOs), were also sequenced for comparison with the IGO tumors. To further characterize the model, laser-capture microdissection followed by RNA-sequencing was used to compare intraductal to invasive lesions resulting from IGOs. To better understand the connection between KRAS signaling and the fast-progressing phenotype, RNA-sequencing was used to compare cultured organoids in which oncogenic KRAS (GeneID: 3845) was hyperactivated to control organoids, and to compare laser-capture microdissected lesions derived from IGOs of KRAS-hyperactivated organoids to lesions derived from control organoids. To ascertain copy number, low-coverage, whole genome DNA-sequencing was performed on organoids cultured in vitro, and on laser-capture microdissected lesions derived from IGO tumors.

  Study phs002045

• Kids First: Genomic Analysis of Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistulas and Associated Congenital Anomalies

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a rare and complex aerodigestive congenital anomaly with an estimated incidence of 1 in 2500 to 1 in 4000 live births. We propose to elucidate the underlying genomic architecture of EA/TEF by performing whole genome sequencing to characterize new clinical syndromes associated with EA/TEF to provide more accurate clinical prognostic information.

  Study phs002161

• OICR: Molecular Pathological Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer

  Colorectal cancer, the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, is a biologically heterogeneous disease. To characterize the molecular attributes of colorectal tumors, we conducted targeted sequencing at the Ontario Cancer Research Institution (OICR) of tumor and matched normal DNA samples from 2,542 colorectal cancer cases in the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO) [phs001078] and the Colon Cancer Family Registry (CCFR). These consortia are based on cohort and population-based case-control studies.

  Study phs002050

• Genetic Factors associated with Conversion from Active Surveillance to Treatment for Prostate Cancer

  This is a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of conversion from active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer (PC) to treatment. AS is the monitoring with screening tests and/or biopsies over time of men usually with low-risk, early-stage PC to avoid harmful side effects of PC treatment. "Conversion" refers to patients who withdraw from AS (switch to active treatment) due to changes in their cancer development, anxiety about delayed treatment, or other reasons. Patients who converted because of anxiety alone were censored in the GWAS analysis. The overall goal of this study is to develop an easily measurable, germline-based panel of genetic variants to aid in selecting PC patients appropriate for AS and/or the intensity of monitoring. In total, 6,324 PC patients from 28 collaborating institutions are included in this study. Patients are those with PC who are either on AS or who have previously converted from AS to treatment. In this study, 70% of all subjects were diagnosed with very low-risk, low-risk, or low-volume intermediate-risk PC (Kryvenko and Epstein, 2016; PMID: 26709152) and have been enrolled in an AS program. DNA was extracted from blood, saliva, or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue collected from the study subjects at the participating sites. Genotyping, quality control processes, and imputation were performed at the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) at Johns Hopkins University. CIDR used the Illumina Infinium Multi-Ethnic Global Array (MEGA) version 1, which included genome-wide tag SNPs and 10,000 SNPs selected with custom content. Quality control and assurance (QC/QA) checks on genotyped data involved four domains: sample-level checks, batch effects, SNP-level checks, and preliminary association tests. Samples and SNPs passing the QC/QA checks were imputed to appropriate reference panels (HRC r1.1 for patients of European ancestry) using the Michigan Imputation Server (PMID: 27571263). Unmeasured genetic variants were imputed using the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Imputation Server, with 97,256 reference samples and 308,107,085 SNPs. Variants with imputation quality (INFO) score < 0.3 were excluded, leaving a total of 22,691,641 SNPs successfully imputed. After QC steps, a total of 5,936 samples genotyped at CIDR remained for inclusion in the GWAS.

  Study phs002056

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm Z1I

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm Z1I is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with BRCA1, BRCA2 mutations are treated with AZD1775. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002058

• Pharmacogenomic Analysis of Microtubule Targeting Agent Response and Toxicity

  Microtubule targeting agents are commonly prescribed for early and metastatic breast cancer and other solid tumors. However, interindividual variability in microtubule targeting drug response and toxicity can cause limited therapeutic benefit and impact quality of life. In the present study, genome-wide analyses were performed to investigate how genetic factors can be used to increase prediction of treatment response and toxicity, identify genes or gene pathways associated with chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, and inform further in vitro studies that may help isolate differences in response and toxicity of microtubule targeting agents.

  Study phs002060

• Polygenic Risk Score for the Prediction of Breast Cancer Is Related to Lesser Terminal Duct Lobular Unit Involution of the Breast

  The Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank (KTB) at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center is an annotated biobank, which has recruited healthy women who provided demographic, lifestyle, and cancer-related information via self-administered questionnaire, blood samples and normal breast tissues. H&E slides of the normal breast tissues were scanned for image analysis and a pathologist measured the number of terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) ("TDLU count"). The acini count per TDLU was quantified using the TDLU analyzer software. In this analysis, we computed the recently developed polygenic risk score (PRS) based on 313 common variants for the prediction of breast cancer and related this PRS to TDLU count and acini count per TDLU. We did this for the overall PRS, the ER-positive PRS and the ER-negative PRS.

  Study phs002062

• Metagenomic Analysis to Identify Novel Infectious Agents in Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

  Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Risk of systemic ALCL is markedly increased among immunosuppressed people, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or solid organ transplant recipients. This increased risk in immunosuppressed populations suggests a viral etiology, given similar elevations for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Burkitt lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma (caused by Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]) and other virus-related cancers in immunosuppressed individuals. EBV might be a plausible candidate, but most reported ALCL tumors are EBV-negative. Therefore, we conducted a metagenomic analysis of microbial associations with ALCL to determine whether a known or novel pathogen is associated with the tumor. We obtained archived formal fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) ALCL tumor tissue from the Iowa cancer registry and an additional case from an immunosuppressed individual infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Controls included 3 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) in transplant recipients (shown to be related to Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] by in situ hybridization) and 3 breast cancers (no known viral etiology). RNA was extracted from FFPE specimens, and total RNA libraries were prepared using the KAPA RNA HyperPrep Kit (Roche). Five samples (IA01, IA53, IA57, IA07, and IA17) were sequenced on a NextSeq 500 (Illumina) and the remainder on a NovSeq 6000 (Illumina). Using novel computational approaches, we eliminated human reads and aligned residual non-human reads to known microbial references using GATK-PathSeq or conducted de novo assembly of unassigned reads using virID pipeline. Although EBV was detected in the 3 DLBCL controls, we did not detect EBV or any novel pathogen in ALCL tumors or in the breast cancers. Our study had a modest sample size and only one case arising in HIV-infected individual. Therefore, further studies are required to characterize the metagenome of systemic ALCLs, especially cases arising in immunosuppressed people.

  Study phs002064

• Integrative Somatic and Germline Molecular Characterization of Genitourinary Cancers

  We have performed integrative bulk (whole exome sequencing of tumor and normal paired and whole transcriptome sequencing) and single cell analysis of primary and metastatic non-prostate genitourinary cancer specimens, such as renal and bladder tumors.

  Study phs002065

• Genomic Landscape of High-Grade Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

  This project is a multi-omics study of high grade (grade 3) neuroendocrine neoplasms across diverse organs. Genomic analysis using low-pass whole genome sequencing for copy number analysis, whole exome sequencing and whole transcriptomic sequencing using RNAseq were performed. As high grade neuroendocrine neoplasms are highly lethal with a median survival of approximately 7 months, new insights are urgently needed for better prognosis, diagnosis and management. This study focuses on gene and pathway discoveries in this cancer, and includes samples from a diverse set of organs, including the lungs, gastroenteropancreatic tract, breast, prostate, head and neck and bladder. This study was made possible by a generous donation from The Helen B. Rodde Fund.

  Study phs002070

• Multimodal Mapping of the Immune Landscape in Human Pancreatic Cancer

  Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is characterized by an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment that has rendered it largely refractory to immunotherapy. We used single-cell RNA sequencing on patient tumors and matched blood, and we uncovered a previously unappreciated, complex environment of immune-suppressive cellular interactions. These experiments reveal immune checkpoint expression heterogeneity on individual patient T cells, with corresponding ligands on neoplastic and myeloid cells. TIGIT was upregulated on tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells and was the only checkpoint receptor consistently expressed by exhausted CD8+ T cells. Clinical annotation of the samples revealed that the exhausted signature is most prominent in patients with advanced stages of disease. Our findings suggest individualized combination therapy, involving anti-TIGIT therapies, may be necessary to extend the benefits of immunotherapy to pancreatic cancer patients.

  Study phs002071

• Role of Tobacco Smoke in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

  Background. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common histologically defined renal cancer. However, it is not a uniform disease and includes several genetic subtypes with different prognoses. ccRCC is also characterized by distinguished metabolic reprogramming. Tobacco smoking (TS) is an established risk factor for ccRCC with unknown effects on tumor pathobiology.Methods. We investigated the landscape of ccRCCs and paired normal kidney tissues (NKTs) using integrated transcriptomic, metabolomic and metallomic approaches in a cohort of never smokers (NS) and long-term current smokers (LTS) Caucasian males. Results. All three Omics domains consistently identified a distinct metabolic subtype of ccRCCs in LTS, characterized by activation of oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) coupled with reprogramming of the malate-aspartate shuttle and metabolism of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine and histidine. Cadmium, copper and inorganic arsenic accumulated in LTS tumors showing redistribution among intracellular pools, including relocation of copper into the cytochrome c oxidase complex. Gene expression signature based on the LTS metabolic subtype provided prognostic stratification of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) ccRCC tumors that was independent from genomic alterations.Conclusions. The work identified the TS related metabolic subtype of ccRCC with vulnerabilities that can be exploited for precision medicine approaches targeting metabolic pathways. The results provided rationale for the development of metabolic biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic applications using evaluation of OxPhos status. The metallomic analysis revealed the role of disrupted metal homeostasis in ccRCC highlighting the importance of studying effects of metals from e-cigarettes and environmental exposures.

  Study phs002083

• Dynamics of Genomic and Immune Responses During Primary Immunotherapy Resistance in Mismatch Repair Deficient Tumors

  We study a patient with dMMR lung cancer refractory to immunotherapy. Post-treatment tumor demonstrated compound heterozygous frameshift deletions located upstream of the kinase domain in the gene encoding JAK1 protein, downregulation of JAK1 and mediators of its signal transduction, and total loss of JAK1 phosphorylation. Importantly, one of the JAK1 mutations, despite not being detected in the pre-treatment tumor, was found at low variant allele frequency in the pre-treatment circulating tumor DNA, suggesting clonal selection of the mutation. This report provides the most detailed look yet of defective JAK1 signaling in the context of dMMR and immunotherapy-resistance. Together with observations of JAK1 frameshift indels being enriched in dMMR compared with MMR-proficient tumors, our findings demonstrate the critical function of JAK1 in immunological surveillance of dMMR cancer.

  Study phs002089

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm S2

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm S2 is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations are treated with Trametinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002178

• Refractory Cancer (RC) Program

  The Refractory Cancer (RC) Program will investigate the underlying genomic hallmarks involved in the observed inferior response to treatment of certain tumor types. Comprehensive genomic characterization will be performed utilizing the NCI CCG Genome Characterization Pipeline. Subsequent genomic data will be hosted at the NCI Genomic Data Commons (GDC) (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).

  Study phs002097

• Bone Microarchitecture

  Osteoporosis affects more than 28 million people in the United States and the lifetime risk for osteoporosis-related morbidity is higher than a woman's combined risk for breast cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Health care expenditures for osteoporotic patients in this country are currently nearly 13 billion dollars per annum and are predicted to increase markedly in the next decades due the aging of the population; therefore, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to bone strength and fracture risk. With the advent of skeletal imaging modalities such as high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), it is now possible to study the genetics of more highly refined peripheral skeletal microarchitecture phenotypes. Because these refined phenotypes have not been measured in many cohort studies, this project was a collaborative effort to include almost all the existing data on HR-pQCT of the radius and tibia, and genetics from around the world. Cohorts involved in the discovery included: 1) Framingham Osteoporosis Study, 2) Mayo Clinic cohort; 3) Geneva Retirees cohort; 4) OFELY cohort from Lyon France; 5) STRAMBO cohort from Lyon France; 6) Swedish Male cohorts. Replication cohorts undergoing de novo genotyping include: 1) QUALYOR cohort from Lyon France; 2) CaMOS cohort from Canada. Other than the Framingham cohort and the Swedish male cohorts, all discovery cohorts underwent genome wide genotyping with the Affymetrix Axiom Biobank array that had common variants along with exome content based on the early findings from the Exome Sequencing Project. All genotype data from the discovery cohorts were then imputed using the Haplotype Reference Consortium reference panel. Variants for replication genotyping using the Kasp technology were selected based on novelty compared with previously identified loci using DXA phenotypes, minor allele frequency, underlying LD structure within a locus, and likelihood of a variant being functional as assessed using various algorithms for coding and non-coding variants.    

  Study phs002102

• Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program in Craniofacial Microsomia

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. Craniofacial microsomia (CFM), also termed hemifacial microsomia or oculo-auricular-vertebral spectrum, is the third most common congenital craniofacial condition. CFM comprises a variable phenotype and the most common features include malformations of the ear (i.e. microtia) and lower jaw (i.e. mandibular hypoplasia) on one or both sides. Microtia in the absence of other anomalies is believed to represent the mildest form of CFM. The cause of CFM is unknown for most affected individuals. We have established a cohort through previous studies and collected DNA to identify the genetic contributions to CFM, which could facilitate diagnosis, tailored treatments and guide prevention strategies. Successful completion of this proposal will advance knowledge in the genetic architecture of susceptibility to CFM and will provide insight about the biological mechanisms underlying craniofacial development. The results from this study have the potential to further research on the etiology of other craniofacial conditions, and the pathogenesis of typical and atypical craniofacial development.

  Study phs002130

• Epigenetic Mechanisms of Inflammation and Fatigue in Head and Neck Cancer

  This was a longitudinal observational study to examine the association between fatigue and DNA methylation as well as gene expression among patients with head and neck cancer. Demographic and clinical variables were collected before chemoradiotherapy and/or at follow-up visits as appropriate. Fatigue was assessed and biosamples (for DNA methylation and gene expression) were collected before, immediately after, and at six- and twelve-months post-chemoradiotherapy.

  Study phs002106

• Integrated Clinical and Transcriptomic Profiling to Characterize Disease Phenotype

  Personalized medicine requires that we first address the challenge of genetic heterogeneity, prominent in rare cancers to common disease. While current clinical DNA sequence data successfully identify novel genetic variants, the genomic data alone are insufficient biomarkers of clinical phenotype. There is an unmet need for systematic integration of specific functional genomic data with patient genetic data, in order to bridge the knowledge gap between genetic variation and clinical phenotype. This specific study is focused on functional genomic data from platelets as disease-specific cells that are also ideal for proof-of-principle transcriptomic investigation (being anucleate), and highly-relevant to multiple disease processes.

  Study phs002121

• Demographically Diverse Substance Use Disorder Cohorts of Dr. Stanley H. Weiss

  The Demographically Diverse Substance Use Disorder Cohorts of Dr. Stanley H. Weiss, which constitute the Epidemiology of the Weiss Cohort Projects, consist of a series of inter-connected projects, building upon a set of cohort projects of various groups, mainly drug users from medication-assisted treatment programs, that Dr. Stanley H. Weiss first developed in the 1980’s plus several newer initiatives, each with an array of collaborators. Beginning in the 1980’s, Dr. Stanley H. Weiss started several long-term studies of persons who inject drugs (PWID) across the United States, ultimately enrolling over 10,000 participants through the early 1990’s with an average age then in their 30’s. About a quarter were enrolled from sites in New Jersey (NJ). These studies included the first testing of PWID for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV I and HTLV II). Cumulative past support (initiation thru ~ 1999) for these cohort studies included ~ $20 million from intramural resources from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), plus multiple grants and in-kind support from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) totaling ~ $1 million. The Weiss Cohort Projects include the first large AIDS-era cohorts to include women at high risk for HIV. A high percentage of subjects in these studies are black or Latino. Thus, this is an ethnically diverse US cohort, with a high proportion of women included. These subjects are at high risk of parenteral and sexual infection from both drug use and sexual practices. Samples from other studies conducted by Dr. Weiss, in which detailed interviews were conducted, are included as controls (persons documented by us not to have a history of opioid drug use). As one of our groups of subjects have many persons of Haitian ancestry, we specifically included some Haitians who had never used opioids as controls. Our documentation includes such ancestry. These cohorts demonstrated high rates of HIV and HTLV-II infection in PWIDs, including one study initiated in 1981 with confirmation in the later cohorts. In the first two decades of these studies, among numerous publications was the first study showing a very high rate of hepatitis C infection among PWIDs. An example of how the studies’ long-time horizon proved essential was that it first became possible to test whether a person had ever been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as how much HCV was in each person’s blood, many years after the specimens were collected. This allowed HCV amounts in blood to be compared for subjects who had died of liver disease early in the study versus those who survived. Then a sequence of published papers culminated in demonstrating, using a nested case-control design, that a high baseline HCV titer was predictive of early progression to death from end-stage liver failure. Outcomes related to HCV (end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma) remain under study. In the original cohort studies, the mean age at enrollment was ~ 33 years old, so that those still alive in 2022 are mainly now ~ 60 - 75 years old. Many participants have already died. The tincture of time has led to subjects reaching ages when many more are dying from a wide array of outcomes, including from many chronic diseases (including cancer) as well as from infectious agents (especially HIV, HCV) or drug overdose. Renewed collaboration with local drug treatment programs has led to new field-based studies, including examination of some currently evolving problems among drug users. Dr. Weiss joined the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Genetics Consortium (NGC) in 2017, and through the NIDA project officer has had access to NGC contract resources (see below). NIH Certificate of Confidentiality, CC-DA-16-214 (attached) protects these studies. Past arrangements related to data on our subjects leads to restrictions on the use of data emanating from our study, such as potential commercialization and restrictions on whom may access and use these data. NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC) resources further support these endeavors and will be used as part of the NGC analyses studying the genetics of substance use. Study participants signed informed consent for the information collected from them to be used with no time limit and for biologic specimens collected from them to be used without restriction in future research. Serum samples were collected from participants, and from many also plasma, white blood cells and/or urine samples. About 100,000 vials were stored. All specimens have been continuously preserved at sufficiently cold temperatures to prevent deterioration, and many subjects separated white blood cells were processed and frozen in such a way as to maintain viability. Detailed data from the participants has been accumulated over time, and in general, linkage has been retained in each sub-study in accordance with the consent forms and protocols. For some participants, specimens were collected at multiple times (that is, sequential specimens). Multiple specimens from a single person exist in this database, and efforts at de-duplication remain ongoing. Dr. Weiss should be contacted if an investigator requires unique individuals since: • Multiple phases of enrollment occurred, and as our prospective follow-up continues; Dr. Weiss may identify new instances of multiple enrollment. • Some persons are related to each other. • In general, in this dataset for dbGaP, only a single specimen/record form a given person is included. Advances in laboratory testing techniques now permit innovative new uses for our linked research biospecimen repository. The ongoing focus of an interdisciplinary research program based on these cohorts relates subjects’ diseases, behaviors, medical history, and outcomes with biological and exposure markers. Participants’ use of various substances was ascertained on study enrollments, many serially over time. Quantitative frequency of use data, also sometimes sequential over time, were ascertained. Active ascertainment of outcomes is being conducted, including matching to mortality and cancer databases. Investigators interested in collaborations on specific outcomes (which is not part of this dbGaP dataset) or in the use of our stored specimens are encouraged to contact the principal investigator, Dr. Weiss. The processing of the genomic data was done in conjunction with NIDA, and in accordance with some longstanding data cleaning steps used by NIDA in the NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC), a group to which we shall be contributing these data for collaborative analyses. Since there is the potential for these steps to introduce certain types of potential biases, we summarize these here. Under contract from NIDA, cryopreserved sera or plasma (-80 C) or cells (in liquid nitrogen) were used, with most stored having been stored for 30 to 40 years in our biorepository. In the case of serum or plasma, in which only (largely) cell-free DNA fragments were available, DNA was extracted and restored prior to amplification. Industry standard DNA amplification techniques were done on all samples prior to genotyping in accord with established protocols of the NIDA Genetics Consortium. Our genotype data were run and processed on the Illumina Infinium OmniExpress_v_1.3 array. This array has 714,238 SNPs, and was designed many years ago. There were 628 SNPs on the array that do not correspond to any chromosome position, and these were removed. Genotype data were submitted by NIDA’s contracted genotyping laboratory in six batches over time to NIDA’s contracted dbGaP data management group, which conducted quality control (QC) analyses. QC analysis included an assessment of batch effects on for five of the six batches. (One of the batches, with only 12 samples, was too small for QC analysis of batch effects.) Standard NIDA Genetic Consortium cleaning was performed. Samples with a call rate <.85 were removed. Only one sample per person was retained. When more than one specimen was genotyped from one subject, only the sample with the higher call rate was retained (provided, of course, that that call rate was ≥ 0.85). We have retained some people we know are related, including some found to have been related through genotyping; the pedigree file describes those relationships. In summary, key cleaning steps include: 1. Using PLINK to check gender discrepancy. 2. Using PREST-PLUS and KING (Kinship-based Inference for GWAS) to check relatedness. 3. Using PEDCHECK and PLINK to check/zero-out Mendelian error. 4. Using PLINK to perform sample QC, SNP QC, along with KING to perform chromosome X and chromosome Y QC. 5. SNP-QC: Batch-effect: 5 Batches were compared (one batch, with few samples, was not). These five batches were compared to each other in all ten possible pairs, one batch vs. another batch, examining SNP allele frequency discrepancies by population (from GRAF), Fisher Exact Allelic test, with the criterion of p<5e-8 for removal. 6. SNP-QC: discordant SNPs in QC duplicates. Compared 25 QC duplicated samples with call rate > 0.95, removed SNPs with 3+ discordance. 7. There were 1,056 SNPs that were monomorphic; these have been retained so they can be included in analyses in which our dbGaP data are combined with those from other cohorts (in the latter of which those SNPs may not be monomorphic). The final cleaned dataset submitted has 8,898 samples and 606,793 SNPs.

  Study phs002140

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm N

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing and if possible, whole-genome, methylation and miRNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH clinical trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm N is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with PTEN mutation, or deletion with PTEN expression on IHC, are treated with the drug GSK2636771. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002151

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm S1

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm S1 is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with NF1 mutations are treated with Trametinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002153

• Molecular Characterization of Hemimegalencephaly

  Somatic mutations, in which a fraction of the cells in the body have a deleterious mutation, are well recognized in cancer but only recently appreciated in neurological disease. Given a somatic mutation in a population of progenitor cells, all daughter cells inherit the mutation and are able to express the resultant phenotype as a function of the differentiation program. We recently identified the first de novo somatic mutations in the developing brain in the condition hemimegalencephaly (HME), a catastrophic focal epilepsy condition associated with a malformation of cerebral cortical development (MCD). HME is one of the most severe MCD syndromes, characterized by massive hamartomatous overgrowth of either of the two cerebral hemispheres. Cerebral hemispherectomy is a frequent treatment for refractory epilepsy, allowing the sampling of diseased tissue. By comparing DNA from a diseased brain with DNA from blood/saliva, we identified de novo somatic mutations in PIK3CA, AKT3 or MTOR, part of the mTOR pathway. Mutations were present in 8-40% of sequenced alleles in various brain regions sampled during surgery and in some codons known to activate proteins.• Population informationPatient samples were collected from multiple centers. The population is Caucasian and Hispanic• Molecular technologies employedWhole-exome sequencing• Principal findings of the studyWe were the first to describe mTOR-related and non-mTOR mutations causing hemimegalencephaly, and we described two-hit mutational models to explain the genetic pathogenesis of hemimegalencephaly

  Study phs002156

• Genomic Characterization CS-MATCH-0007 Arm U

  The CS-MATCH-0007 protocol is part of a collaboration between the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) to perform whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing using pre-and post-treatment tumor biopsy specimens from patients enrolled on a treatment arm of the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131). The goal of this study is to identify the molecular basis for response and resistance to targeted therapies that are matched to specific genomic alterations found in their cancers. Arm U is one of the treatment sub-protocols within the NCI-MATCH Clinical Trial (EAY131) where patients with NF2 loss are treated with Defactinib. This subprotocol is one of the treatment arms included in the CS-MATCH-0007 protocol and will provide specimens for the program including DNA from tumor tissue and whole blood.

  Study phs002179

• Translating Gene-Calcium Interactions to Precision Medicine for Colorectal Cancer

  Identify functional and rare SNPs and their interactions with Ca intake levels in relation to risk of incident adenoma using whole-exome resequencing of 2468 colorectal adenoma cases and controls from PLCO. We will genotype promising rare and functional SNPs associated with incident adenoma in 570 incident cancer cases, 1,710 healthy controls, 710 adenoma recurrence cases and 966 recurrent adenoma controls from the intervention arm of PLCO to both confirm the associations with adenoma, and to identify when, in the natural history of CRC, chemoprevention by Ca-gene interactions occurs. We hypothesize that Ca-gene interactions prevent early-stage (incident adenoma) and mid-stage (adenoma recurrence) carcinogenesis as well as span the entire CRC carcinogenesis spectrum (i.e. incident CRC).

  Study phs002164

• Serrated Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Disease Subtype

  This dataset represents two combined study populations. Serrated Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Disease Subtype (called the Advanced Colorectal Cancer of Serrated Subtype Study or ACCESS Study) was a grant awarded to investigate a newly-recognized, biologically-distinct subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC) called “serrated CRC.” The objective of this project was to characterize factors related to the genetic predisposition, clinical presentation, and prognosis of serrated CRC. The study recruited incident invasive CRC cases diagnosed between April 2016 and December 2018, aged 20-74 years at diagnosis. Cases were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry serving 13 counties in western Washington State. Eligibility for all individuals was limited to those who were English-speaking and could consent. Participation included completing a baseline epidemiologic questionnaire shortly after diagnosis, optional donation of a saliva sample for genetic analysis, and optional consent to release of medical records and tissue specimens related to their diagnosis. Tumor specimens were tested for serrated CRC-defining molecular characteristics. Further, we have vital status on all participants and cause of death on those that have died since enrollment. Hormones and Colon Cancer: Epigenetic Subtypes, Risks, and Survival (called the Post-Menopausal Hormones Study or PMH Study) was a grant awarded to investigate the impact of post-menopausal hormone use on colon cancer risk, tumor molecular characteristics, and outcomes. Eligible cases were females, newly diagnosed with invasive colorectal adenocarcinoma between October 1998 and February 2002, aged 50 to 74 years. Cases were residents of 10 out of the 13 counties in western Washington State served by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry. Eligibility for all individuals was limited to those who were English-speaking with available telephone numbers, in which they could be contacted. Unrelated population-based controls were randomly selected according to age distribution (in 5-year age intervals) of the eligible cases by using lists of licensed drivers from the Washington State Department of Licensing (for individuals aged 50 to 64 years) and rosters from the Health Care Financing Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, for individuals older than 64 years). Participation included completing a baseline epidemiologic questionnaire, optional donation of a saliva sample for genetic analysis, and (for cases only) optional consent to release of medical records and tissue specimens related to their diagnosis. Tumor specimens were tested for epigenetic and other molecular characteristics. The ACCESS study was supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NCI/NIH) (R01CA196337, PI: Newcomb, PA), as was the PMH Study (R01CA076366, PI: Newcomb, PA). Additional support for the PMH Study came from the Seattle site of the Colon Cancer Family Registry (SCCFR) (U01CA167551, PI: Jenkins, M, and U01/U24CA074794, PI: Newcomb, PA). Additional support for case ascertainment was provided by the Cancer Surveillance System of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, which is funded by Contract Number HHSN261201300012I; NCI Control Number: N01 PC-2013-00012; Contract Number HHSN261201800004I; and NCI Control Number: N01 PC-2018-00004 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute with additional support from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the State of Washington. This research was also supported by the Genomics and Bioinformatics, Comparative Medicine, Specialized Pathology, Collaborative Data Services, and Experimental Histopathology Shared Resources of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium (P30 CA015704).Tumor marker testing was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded diagnostic tumor tissue specimens, and DNA extracted from those specimens. Testing for microsatellite instability (MSI) was based on either a 10-gene panel (BAT25, BAT26, BAT40, MYCL, D5S346, D17S250, ACTC, D18S55, D10S197, BAT34C4) or a 4-marker immunohistochemistry panel of DNA mismatch repair proteins (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2). CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) testing was based on a validated quantitative DNA methylation assay using a five-gene panel (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3, SOCS1) or eight-gene panel (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3, SOCS1, MLH1, CRABP1, CDKN2A). Somatic p.V600E BRAF mutation status was tested for using a fluorescent allele-specific PCR assay. KRAS mutations in codons 12 and 13 were also assessed through forward and reverse sequencing of amplified tumor DNA. DNA was extracted from blood/saliva samples using conventional methods. The genotyping panel completed was the Build37 OncoArray500K-C, including 1%-6% blinded duplicates to monitor the quality of the genotyping. Quality control procedures were performed to 1) make sure that there were no patterns of missing data by batch, study, or plate, 2) check for gender discrepancies and kinship, 3) complete Principal Component Analysis, and 4) test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Samples were excluded based on call rate, heterozygosity, unexpected duplicates, gender discrepancy, and unexpectedly high identity-by-descent or unexpected genotypic concordance (>65%) with another individual. In addition, variants were excluded based on call rate (98%), lack of HWE in controls (P

  Study phs002171

• Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Project in Microtia in Hispanic Populations

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. Microtia is a rare congenital deformity of the external ear, the pinna. The severity of microtia is variable and ranges from subtle deformities in the pinna to absence of the external ear. Microtia is often associated with closure of the external auditory ear canal causing significant hearing loss. Microtia can be an isolated, unilateral or bilateral malformation, or occur solely with ear canal deformities, or with additional craniofacial or syndromic manifestations. Earlier studies of identical twins with microtia demonstrated a significant genetic contribution. The molecular pathogenesis for most microtia remains unknown. We propose to leverage our clinical acumen in diagnosis and treatment of microtia (R.E.), our relationship to the microtia community (M.T.) and our collected DNA samples from microtia patients to identify genetic variant(s) that contribute to this congenital malformation. Microtia prevalence is much higher among Native Americans and some Latin Americans (17 per 10000 Ecuadorian births) than among individuals of European-descent (0.6 -1.6 per 10,000 births). To capitalize on this epidemiologic data, we have recruited microtia cohorts from Latin America and the U.S, including clinical data and DNA samples.

  Study phs002172

• Notch Signaling and Efficacy PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer

  Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) cancer that accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancer, with an annual incidence of more than 34,000 in the United States alone. SCLC is characterized by loss of function of p53 and RB and high tumor mutational burden, which suggests that these tumors could be immunogenic and respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, the benefit from ICB in an unselected SCLC population is modest. In this study, we evaluated the genomic features associated with clinical outcomes in relapsed SCLC to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms of ICB response. Exome, RNA and TCR sequencing data from a prospective clinical trial of relapsed SCLC treated with durvalumab and olaparib and RNA-sequencing data for second cohort of relapsed SCLC cohort treated with nivolumab are included.   

  Study phs002176

• Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program in Germline and Somatic Variants in Myeloid Malignancies in Children

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource).All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed.This project aims to sequence an unparalleled number of cases of de novo Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Down Syndrome AML (DS-AML), to establish a database comprised of genomic and transcriptome information which can be interrogated for both somatic and germline variants. Identification of the somatic variants will provide valuable data on the potential genes and pathways that can be targeted for therapeutic purposes. In addition, interrogation of the host’s constitutional genome may yield valuable information about potential germline variants that, in combination with the somatic data, might provide a more informed approach to patient care. For those patients with predisposition mutations, chemotherapy alone might not be adequate for cure, and stem cell transplantation might be required. Also, those who might be at high risk of adverse secondary events (cardiac complications, secondary malignancies, etc.) can be identified early and their therapy can be tailored to minimize anticipated complications. Thus, we propose that the optimum outcome can only be obtained through comprehensive interrogation of the somatic and germline genomes to fully annotate the genomic makeup of the leukemia and its host. Knowing the genomic and transcriptomic makeup of these patients, along with a full complement of clinical characteristics for this cohort, will be critical for making strong correlations which may aid in therapeutic development for future patients. The de novo AML, DS-AML, and Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) cases were all collected through clinical protocols conducted by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). In addition to funding from the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program, the DS-AML cohort was specifically funded by the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome (INCLUDE) Project.

  Study phs002187

• Merkel Cell Carcinoma Tissue and Data Repository

  Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with increasing incidence in the United States. In this study we performed the first whole genome sequencing of three Merkel cell carcinomas with their matched normal tissues for somatic variant calling. From these data we describe the likely mechanism of Merkel cell polyomavirus integration and focal host genomic amplifications in two tumors and the dominance of UV-mediated mutagenesis in a virus-negative tumor. We also performed poly-A RNA sequencing on a total of six Merkel cell carcinomas to address expression differences between virus-positive and virus-negative MCC.

  Study phs002189

• Cancer Moonshot Biobank

  The National Cancer Institute initiated the Cancer Moonshot Biobank to accelerate research through the collection and distribution of biospecimens for key research efforts. The Biobank will engage with over one thousand cancer patients, being treated with standard-of-care therapies, for longitudinal biospecimen and data collection. Cancer patients will be enrolled into the study from a diverse participant population engaged at medical institutions throughout the U.S. The biospecimens will be distributed to qualified scientists to accelerate research progress. The Biobank program, working closely with Leidos Biomedical, Inc. (LBR), will partner with community hospitals and other medical institutions, designated as Biospecimen Source Sites (BSS), to engage and consent eligible participants and collect biospecimens and associated clinical data; work with a central Biospecimen Core Resource (BCR) to support biospecimen collection, processing and storage activities and perform pathology quality control; work with LBR's Molecular Characterization (MoCha) lab to perform clinical tumor molecular characterization assays and return results to patients and their physicians; and make the biospecimens and associated data available to researchers to accelerate cancer research progress. Return of clinical results, a dedicated Patient and Provider Engagement (PPE) website, electronic informed consent, local participant engagement projects, and an embedded ethical, legal and social issues sub-study will together support patient and provider engagement in the program. Cancer Moonshot Biobank imaging data is being made available in The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) on a release schedule that is coordinated with the program releases of data to dbGaP. The imaging data can be found at the following link: Cancer Moonshot Biobank Imaging

  Study phs002192

• Genomic and Transcriptomic Profiling of Patients with Malignant Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma: The NCI Cohort

  Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Better understanding of mesothelioma genomics and transcriptomics could advance novel therapies. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WXS) of germline and tumors of 122 patients, and RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) of tumor samples of 100 patients with pleural, peritoneal, and tunica-vaginalis mesothelioma.The biospecimens used in this study were collected as a part of the Mesothelioma Natural History Protocol (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01950572), wherein, samples were collected from subjects with malignant mesothelioma as listed in the eligibility criteria below and written consent from each participant was obtained before sample acquisition.

  Study phs002207

• Comprehensive Analysis of Structural Variants in Breast Cancer Genomes Using Single Molecule Sequencing

  This study used the SKBR3 breast cell line and tumor/normal organoids derived from breast tissue to explore the utility of long read sequencing for detecting structural variants in complex samples. Three technologies were used to characterize the samples: Illumina/10X, Pacific Biosciences, and Oxford Nanopore. Methylation results were derived from the Oxford Nanopore data. It is hoped that this resource will better help researchers better understand the utility of long read sequencing in cancer samples.

  Study phs002210

• HTAN MCL Pre-Cancer Atlas Pilot Project - Targeted Sequencing Development Study

  The HTAN-MCL Pre-Cancer Atlas Pilot Project (PCAPP) is the result of a collaboration between the seven members of the MCL consortium. Across four organ types, PCAPP's goal is to collect and profile pre-malignant lesions for gene expression, DNA mutations, single-cell gene expression and immune-environment. Most PML are small in size and only available come from formalin fixed paraffin embedded archived tissue. The primary goal of PCAPP is to 1) understand the logistical challenges of PML specimen collection, 2) document technical limitations of the assays that are specific to the PML and 3) overcome them to support the generation of a more comprehensive Pre-Cancer Atlas in the future. The current upload provides RNA and DNA sequencing from participants with DCIS who were studied at the University of San Diego and the University of Vermont. Description of the overall study: A. Background/Significance One of the critical barriers to developing new approaches for cancer detection and prevention is the lack of understanding of the key molecular and cellular changes that cause cancer initiation and progression. Unlike the extensive work that has been done profiling advanced stage tumors, few studies have comprehensively profiled the molecular alterations found in precancerous tissues. Premalignant lesions are currently characterized by histologic changes that precede the development of invasive carcinoma1,2.These lesions can often be identified in regions surrounding an invasive tumor or in biopsies taken from patients undergoing diagnostic evaluation for suspicion of cancer. Currently, limited metrics exist to identify lesions that will likely progress to carcinoma and require intervention from those that will naturally regress or remain stable3,4. Characterization of the molecular alterations in premalignant lesions and the corresponding changes in the microenvironment would hasten the development of biomarkers for early detection and risk stratification as well as suggest preventive interventions to reverse or delay the development of cancer. Our pilot study will establish the feasibility of transcriptomic, genomic and immune profiling of FFPE premalignant lesions from multiple organ sites, collected and profiled with uniform SOPs across multiple institutions within the MCL consortium. We will characterize the molecular alterations in precancerous lesions and the corresponding microenvironment in four major organ sites, in order to uncover the molecular and cellular determinants of premalignancy, and establish standardized sequencing and immunohistochemistry protocols on FFPE precancerous tissue. We will also evaluate the technical feasibility of single nuclei sequencing of small FFPE pre-cancer lesions. Successful completion of the proposed pilot study will set the stage for expansion and development of a comprehensive Pre-Cancer Atlas (PCA) as part of the NCI's moonshot.B. Specific Aims Aim 1: Collect premalignant lesions (PML) and their associated microenvironment via LCM from FFPE tissue across four organ sites (breast, lung, pancreas & prostate). Aim 2: Perform bulk RNA and DNA seq on premalignant FFPE samples (and flash frozen tissue where available) and compare the genomic/transcriptomic alterations within and across organ sites. C. ApproachAim 1: Collect premalignant lesions (PML) and their associated microenvironment via LCM from FFPE tissue across four organ sites (breast, lung, pancreas & prostate). MethodsI. Patient Population/Sample Collection: Overview of the sites collecting PML tissue from the respective organs is provided in Table 1 and a full description of the biospecimens to be obtained is described in detail for each organ type below. Table 1. Breakdown of cohort by tissue type and collection site.Organ siteBreastLungPancreasProstateType of PMLDCISAAH, Squamous Dysplasia/CISIPMNsPINCollection of PatientsUCSF/UCSDUVMBU*/UCLAVanderbilt/MoffittMDACC*JHUStanford*# of Patients201920 (10 of each type)20 (10 of each type)242020Total patients per Organ39402440Note: single nuclei/cell RNA-Seq will be performed on 4-5 FFPE samples from each of the organ types 1. DCIS lesions from breast tissue: DCIS lesions will be collected from 39 patients (20 from UCSF/UCSD & 19 from UVM) with primary low or high-grade DCIS diagnosed from a breast core biopsy. Subsequent resected lumpectomy or mastectomy tissues will be prospectively sampled in the vicinity of the prior biopsy site using multiple approaches: 1) Live cells (heterogeneous mix) will be obtained as a cell scrape slurry from the lesion surface or by fine needle aspirate (FNA); 2) For a subset of specimens where size is sufficient, a block of breast tissue with DCIS will be fresh-frozen; 3) The remainder of the specimen will be taken for routine formalin-fixation and paraffin-embedding (FFPE). The FFPE sample will be annotated to identify the matched FFPE tissue block adjacent to the fresh-frozen sample and will be sectioned for use in bulk and single nuclei sequencing . We will dissect DCIS, adjacent normal and when available, associated carcinoma. In addition, when possible, normal tissue will be collected from a tissue block lacking lesions as well as collection of blood. A subset of patients (n = 5 | FFPE, flash frozen and fresh) will be sent to the Broad Institute for single nuclei/cell sequencing.2. AAH and squamous dysplastic/CIS lesions from airway and lung tissue: For squamous cell lung cancer, we will collect endobronchial biopsies from abnormal airway regions identified on autofluroscence bronchoscopy or identify PMLs in the margins of resected lung tissue. We will study 20 patients (5 each from BU/UCLA/Vanderbilt/Moffitt) with pre-invasive squamous lesions (moderate-severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ (CIS)) identified on pathologic examination. LCM of the premalignant region and adjacent normal epithelium will be performed as well as the invasive tumor for those collected from the resection margin (n=5 from UCLA). On a subset of lesions collected at bronchoscopy (n=5), we will collect additional biopsies that will be flash frozen and fresh for single nuclei and cell sequencing, respectively, performed at the Broad Institute. In parallel to the work at the Broad, BU will perform single cell RNA-seq on these freshly cell sorted tissues (n = 5). Blood will be collected on all patients for genomic studies. For lung adenocarcinoma, we will collect resected FFPE lung tissues from 20 patients (10 from UCLA and 10 from Vanderbilt/Moffitt) with early stage lung adenocarcinoma that harbor atypical adenomatous (AAH) premalignant lesions in the resection margin. We will LCM multiple AAH regions (3-5 per patient) as well as adjacent regions of normal epithelium and invasive adenocarcinoma. In addition, blood will be collected on all patients for genomic studies. 3. IPMNs from pancreatic tissue: For pancreatic cancer PML, we will collect low and high grade lesions from 24 patients representing macroscopic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMN) (n=24) from surgically resected specimens along with blood samples. Archival FFPE specimens of microscopic PanIN lesions, occurring multi-focally adjacent to invasive PDAC, and archival IPMN lesions (with or without associated invasive cancer), along with the adjacent normal tissue, will undergo LCM and utilized for bulk DNA and RNA sequencing. If matched frozen tissues are available for a subset of these FFPE samples, we will bank for comparison of profiles. Because IPMNs are macroscopic lesions, they provide an opportunity for obtaining the samples fresh and therefore can be used for single cell sequencing (in contrast to PanINs). Therefore, 5 freshly obtained IPMNs will be used for the single cell RNA sequencing studies performed at both the Broad Institute and MDACC, and the matched FFPE and/or frozen sections from these lesions (obtained from the adjacent PML) will be sent to Broad Institute as a pilot to assess "single nuclei" RNA sequencing.4. PINs from prostate tissue: For prostate cancer PML, there will be 40 samples of Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PIN) collected between the Stanford and JHU sites (20 cases per site). At the Stanford site, 20 prostate specimens detected by PSA screening who have/will undergo surgery (radical prostatectomy) for clinically localized disease will make up the final cohort. The age range of the participants would be 40-75, and we anticipate that 18 will be Caucasian, 1 Asian and 1 Latino or African American based on the practice demographics practice at Stanford. Clinical and MRI data will also be collected for these samples. We will collect low grade (e.g. Gleason score of 6/Grade group 1; n=10) and high grade (Gleason score 4+3=7 or higher/Grade group 3 or higher; n=10) PINs from FFPE samples that have prostate carcinoma. In addition to obtaining LCM archival samples of low and high grade PIN, we will also obtain normal prostatic epithelial from the peripheral, central and transition zones as well as multiple samples of prostate carcinoma in order to obtain the spectrum of Gleason grades in the carcinoma as needed. LCM samples will be used for bulk DNA and RNA sequencing. In addition, single cells will be dissected from FFPE samples to prepare single cell RNA seq libraries using techniques developed at Stanford, and FFPE tissue will be sent to the Broad for single nuclei sequencing. When available, flash frozen and fresh samples from these prostates will be archived and prepared for single nuclei and cell sequencing, respectively, at the Broad Institute and at Stanford (single cell only). JHU will also capture 10 cases (5 grade group 1 and 5 grade group 2) of high grade PIN, normal and invasive adenocarcinoma using frozen sections from fresh frozen tissues. When possible these will be from the same patients as the FFPE samples. Since frozen sections can be quite challenging to morphologically determine high grade PIN from normal epithelium, for these samples we will perform a number of additional tissue-based characterizations. These will include a multicolor combined basal cells (p63 and CK903) and PIN/carcinoma markers (AMACR) referred to in the cocktail as "PIN4", c-MYC (referred to as MYC) protein5, by IHC and mRNA by in situ hybridization (AM De Marzo, Q Zheng unpublished observations), telomere length by in situ hybridization6 and the 5'ETS/45S rRNA7. For these slides, the whole slides will be scanned with a Hammamatsu Nanozoomer with a 40x objective and regions of interest will be annotated as a guide for LCM.II. Laser-capture microdissection (LCM): FFPE tissue blocks will be sectioned at 7μm thickness and serial sections will be stained with H&E. LCM will be performed utilizing standard LCM systems, such as Leica LMD7000 and ArcturusXT at each site. Regions of premalignancy will be dissected and RNA/DNA will be extracted from microdissected cells using the Qiagen All Prep DNA/RNA FFPE Kit. Aim 2: Perform bulk RNA and DNA seq on premalignant FFPE samples and compare the genomic/transcriptomic alterations within and across organ sites. Rationale: There have been limited studies characterizing the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of premalignant lesions associated with breast, pancreatic, lung or prostate cancers. Characterizing the molecular determinants of premalignant disease that are unique and shared across multiple organs will enable new candidate biomarkers for early detection and novel therapeutic strategies for early intervention. MethodsBulk RNA-seq of LCM FFPE tissue: All participating sites will perform bulk RNA-seq in accordance with SOPs developed at BU. In brief, total RNA will be isolated from LCM'd lesion and associated microenvironment tissue using the Qiagen All Prep DNA/RNA FFPE Kit and quality will be assessed with the Agilent Bioanalyzer. Libraries will be generated with the Illumina TruSeq Access kit (for FFPE samples). They will be sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq2500 with 75base-pair paired-end reads. Quality of FASTQ files will be assessed with FastQC. Reads will be aligned to the human genome with STAR and gene-level and isoform-level expression will be quantified with RSEM. Splice junction saturation, transcript integrity, and biotype distributions will be calculated for each sample with RSeQC. DESeq2 and EdgeR will be used to identify associations between gene expression profiles and clinical variables while controlling for confounding covariates. BU will serve as an RNA-seq Core to assess reproducibility of FFPE RNA-seq methods across sites. We will perform RNA-seq according to the SOP listed above on a subset of samples for each organ type (total n ~ 20). Bulk seq of DNA from FFPE tissue: All participating sites will perform targeted or whole exome-seq (WES) in accordance with SOPs. In brief, DNA from laser captured material will be isolated using the Qiagen All Prep DNA/RNA FFPE Kit and undergo stringent quality control to ensure high quality input material for genomic profiling. Purified DNA (ideally 100-200 ng) will be used for library preparation and amplification, followed by next generation sequencing using standard protocols distributed by CDMG. Exome-seq methods are considered standardized, thus we will not need a DNA-seq Core to assess reproducibility across sites. We anticipate local centers will use Illumina paired end reads, following the following general approach. 1) DNA library preparation: Paired-end libraries will be prepared following the manufacturer's protocols (Illumina and Agilent), fragmented to 150-200 bp 2) Capture of targeted exome: Whole exome capture will be carried out using the protocol for Agilent's SureSelect Human All Exon kit. Purified capture products will be amplified using the SureSelect GA PCR primers (Agilent) for 12 cycles. 3) Sequencing will be carried out for the captured libraries using at least 100 bp paired-end reads. To achieve high level sensitivity and accuracy for detecting all the mutations in the whole exome, each sample will be sequenced at 200X mean depth. 4) Read mapping and alignment and variant analysis: Sequence short reads will be aligned to a reference genome (NCBI human genome assembly build 38) using BWA-MEM. Local realignment of aligned reads will be performed using Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK).Data QC: To ensure scientific rigor and consistency among sites in RNA and DNA processing we will include a preliminary analysis of steps in processing and analysis. Protocols for extraction of high quality RNA and DNA from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues, which will be used extensively in these studies continue to improve and may have variable implementation among the sites participating in this study. To evaluate consistency of preliminary steps in processing and downstream analyses, we will initially distribute slides from one large FFPE fixed cancer of origin from prostate, breast, lung and pancreatic cancer. Analysis of these samples will allow us to review the DNA and RNA characteristics (yield, purity and strand length) among sites. Downstream analysis of these same samples will also allow us to compare among sites the consistency of variant calls among centers. We will be able to identify if there are some times of calls (such as small insertion deletions) that are more variable among centers versus other types of calls (such as relative gene expression or single base pair substitutions) that we expect to be less variable and to characterize the reliability of findings across sites. We are also including a 5% blind duplicate analysis of RNA sequencing. Samples will be analysed by the participating genomics cores without knowledge of the phenotype. RNA seq and CNA analyses are normalized for batch effects. We will also compare the observed sex to the self-reported sex as based on RNA profiles and exome sequencing of X chromosome genes as another check for processing accuracy and sample management. D. References 1. Wacholder, S. Precursors in Cancer Epidemiology: Aligning Definition and Function. Cancer Epidemiol. Prev. Biomark. 22, 521-527 (2013). PMID: 23549395.2. Berman, J. J. Precancer: The Beginning and the End of Cancer. (Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011).3. Nasiell, K., Nasiell, M. & Vaćlavinková, V. Behavior of moderate cervical dysplasia during long-term follow-up. Obstet. Gynecol. 61, 609-614 (1983). PMID: 6835614.4. Merrick, D. T. et al. Persistence of Bronchial Dysplasia Is Associated with Development of Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Prev. Res. (Phila. Pa.) 9, 96-104 (2016). PMID: 26542061.5. Gurel, B. et al. Nuclear MYC protein overexpression is an early alteration in human prostate carcinogenesis. Mod. Pathol. Off. J. U. S. Can. Acad. Pathol. Inc 21, 1156-1167 (2008). PMID: 18567993.6. Meeker, A. K. et al. Telomere shortening is an early somatic DNA alteration in human prostate tumorigenesis. Cancer Res. 62, 6405-6409 (2002). PMID: 12438224.7. Guner, G. et al. Novel Assay to Detect RNA Polymerase I Activity In Vivo. Mol. Cancer Res. MCR 15, 577-584 (2017). PMID: 28119429.

  Study phs002225

• Innate Immune Anti-Viral Deaminase Deregulation Fuels Pre-Leukemia Stem Cell Evolution

  This study evaluates the effect of Rebecsinib treatment on gene expression, isoform splicing, and ADAR1 mediated RNA editing in cells from an in vivo humanized mouse model which have been engrafted with human secondary AML cells. For analysis of cells from Rebesinib-treated animals, CD34+ cells were obtained from bone marrow and spleens of sAML-engrafted mice following once weekly treatment with 0 (Vehicle) or 5 or 10 mg/kg Rebecsinib. For analysis of cells from serial transplant recipients of cells harvested from Rebecsinib-treated mice, CD34+ cells were obtained from bone marrow and spleens of sAML-engrafted mice that were transplanted with cells from animals that received twice weekly treatment with 0 (Vehicle) or 10 mg/kg Rebecsinib. No further treatment was given to serial transplant recipients, thus allowing the analysis of molecular changes that are sustained following serial transplantation. Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed at The Scripps Research Institute Next Generation Sequencing Core on Illumina NextSeq 500 sequencers with 150bp paired-end reads.These data revealed a uniquely expressed ADAR1 splice isoform (with a retrained intronic region), global downregulation of normalized RNA editing events, and isoform switching from MCL1-L to MCL1-S in Rebecsinib-treated sAML-engrafted mice. These results demonstrate the anti-survival and anti-self-renewal effects of Rebecsinib treatment on the leukemia stem cell (LSC) population in sAML-engrafted mice as well as the reduction in the inflammation-induced, hyper-editing p150 isoform of ADAR1. Thus, Rebecsinib treatment has promise for reducing the LSC population in myeloproliferative disorders and associated cancers.

  Study phs002228

• Germ Cell and Associated Heme Malignancies Evolve from a Common Shared Precursor

  Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common cancer in men between the ages of 15-40. While most patients are cured, those with disease arising in the mediastinum have distinctly poor outcomes. One in every 17 patients with primary mediastinal non-seminomatous GCTs develop an incurable hematologic malignancy and prior data intriguingly suggests a clonal relationship exists between hematologic malignancies and GCTs in these cases. To date however, the precise clonal relationship between GCTs and the diverse additional somatic malignancies arising in such individuals has not been determined. Here, we traced the clonal evolution and characterized the genetic features of each neoplasm from a cohort of fifteen patients with GCTs and associated hematologic malignancies. We discovered that GCTs and hematologic malignancies developing in such individuals evolved from a common shared precursor, nearly all of which harbored allelically imbalanced TP53 and/or RAS pathway mutations. Hematologic malignancies arising in this setting genetically resembled mediastinal GCTs rather than de novo myeloid neoplasms. Our findings argue that this scenario represents a unique clinical syndrome, distinct from de novo GCTs or hematologic malignancies, initiated by an ancestral precursor which gives rise to the parallel evolution of GCTs and blood cancers in these patients. Reprinted from PMID: 32897884, with permission from JCI.

  Study phs002231

• Investigation of MMBIR DNA Repair in Normal and Cancer Human Cells

  Microhomology-mediated break-induced replication (MMBIR) is a DNA repair pathway in which template switching at microhomology was proposed to promote complex genomic rearrangements (CGRs) that contribute to cancer. Yet, the extent of MMBIR activity in genomes is poorly understood due to difficulty in directly identifying MMBIR events by whole genome sequencing (WGS). This study aims to detect MMBIR events in human cancer genomes and to determine their frequency and complexity in tumors as compared to their non-tumor counterparts. This study contains WGS data from matched tumor and normal samples, and cultured cell line control WGS datasets that are not currently represented in other cancer genome databases.

  Study phs002237

• Genomic Profiling of Relapsed and Refractory Childhood Cancers

  Through clinical trials focused on molecularly guided therapy in pediatric cancers (NCT01355679, NCT01802567, NCT02162732), the Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium performed paired tumor/normal whole exome sequencing and/or tumor mRNA sequencing for 202 pediatric or adolescent young adult patients with rare, relapsed and refractory cancers (including neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, ependymoma, glioma, and other rare solid tumors). A subset of these patients had multiple biopsies sequenced, including longitudinal profiling.

  Study phs002238

• A model for predicting response to PD-1 inhibitors in NSCLC

  Whole exome sequencing was used to examine the impact of human leukocyte antigen B44 in a non-small cell lung cancer cohort treated with single agent pembrolizumab with over five years of follow-up.

  Study phs002244

• Characterization of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Subtypes via Single-Cell Profiling

  We measured gene expression in single-cell RNA sequencing samples from patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), for a study on improving HGSOC subtype definition by taking into account varying cell type proportions within tumors. The initial dataset (added October, 2020) contains 3 samples (3 individuals). The next dataset (added November, 2022) contains 34 samples from 8 individuals. The samples in the second dataset were sequenced in five different ways: 1) rRNA depletion and bulk RNA sequencing of tumor chunks, 2) rRNA depletion and bulk RNA sequencing of dissociated cells, 3) poly-A capture and bulk RNA sequencing of dissociated cells, 4) poly-A capture and scRNA sequencing of dissociated cells, 5) barcoding and pooling cells and scRNA sequencing (2 pools of 4 samples each).

  Study phs002262

• A New Pipeline to Predict and Confirm Tumor Neoantigens Predicts Better Response to Checkpoint Blockade

  Mutations that drive oncogenesis in cancer can generate neoantigens that may be recognized by the immune system. Identification of these neoantigens remains challenging due to the complexity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen and T-cell receptor interaction. Here we describe the development of a systematic approach to efficiently identify and validate immunogenic neoantigens. Whole exome sequencing of tissue from a melanoma patient was used to identify nonsynonymous mutations, followed by MHC binding prediction and identification of tumor clonal architecture. The top 18 putative class I neoantigens were selected for immunogenicity testing via a novel in vitro pipeline in HLA-A201 healthy donor blood. Naive CD8 T cells from donors were stimulated with allogeneic dendritic cells pulsed with peptide pools and then with individual peptides. The presence of antigen-specific T cells was determined via functional assays. We identified one putative neoantigen that expanded T cells specific to the mutant form of the peptide and validated this pipeline in a subset of patients with bladder tumors treated with durvalumab (N = 5). Within this cohort, the top predicted neoantigens from all patients were immunogenic in vitro. Finally, we looked at overall survival in the whole durvalumab-treated bladder cohort (N = 37) by stratifying patients by tertile measure of tumor mutation burden (TMB) or neoantigen load. Patients with higher neoantigen and TMB load tended to show better overall survival.

  Study phs002269

• Very Low Tumor Mutation Burden Identifies Inflamed Recurrent Glioblastomas Responsive to Cancer Immunotherapy

  A subset of available tumors (with matched blood) from patients enrolled in a phase I clinical trial testing a recombinant poliovirus, published by Desjardins et al. NEJM 2018 (PMID:29943666), were analyzed by whole exome sequencing and RNA-seq. It was discovered that low tumor mutation burden correlated with survival outcome, and also discovered that low tumor mutation burden correlated with higher inflammatory gene signatures by RNA-seq.

  Study phs002270

• Analysis of Recurrently Protected Genomic Regions in Urine Cell-Free DNA

  This study investigated fragmentation patterns in urine and plasma cell-free DNA and evaluated the relevance of such analysis for cancer diagnostics using urine samples. Specifically, we performed whole-genome sequencing at variable depths and evaluated genome-wide coverage in urine and plasma samples, relative to known genome annotation features. Tumor/germline exome sequencing data included was used to identify genome-wide copy number changes and their effect on cfDNA fragmentation in corresponding genomic regions in urine samples. Data included in this submission is whole-genome sequencing of urine and/or plasma cell-free DNA from healthy volunteers and/or cancer patients, and whole-exome sequencing of tumor DNA and germline DNA (peripheral blood cells) from cancer patients. 

  Study phs002273

• Tumor Fraction Guided Cell-Free DNA Profiling in Metastatic Cancer Patients

  Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) profiling is increasingly used to guide cancer care, yet mutations are not always identified. The ability to detect somatic mutations in plasma depends on both assay sensitivity and the fraction of circulating DNA in plasma that is tumor-derived (i.e cfDNA tumor fraction). We hypothesized that cfDNA tumor fraction could inform the interpretation of negative cfDNA results and guide the choice of subsequent assays of greater genomic breadth or depth. Plasma samples collected from 118 metastatic cancer patients were analyzed with cf-IMPACT, a modified version of the FDA-authorized MSK-IMPACT tumor test that can detect genomic alterations in 410 cancer-associated genes. Shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS) was also performed in the same samples to estimate cfDNA tumor fraction based on genome-wide copy number alterations using z-score statistics. The results show that cfDNA tumor fraction can inform the interpretation of negative cfDNA results and guide the selection of subsequent sequencing platforms that are most likely to identify clinically-relevant genomic alterations.

  Study phs002290

• Selenium Chemoprevention: Benefits and Harms

  Selenium is a trace element that may have anti-carcinogenetic effect, but heterogenous treatment effects have been observed. This genome-wide association study investigates if genetic variation modifies the effect of selenium chemoprevention in the Selenium and Celecoxib Trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. The objective of the clinical trial was to determine whether daily intake of 200 µg/d of selenium as a supplement could reduce the risk for developing metachronous colorectal adenomas. The study participants were recruited between 2001 and 2011. Genome-wide association study was performed for 1,323 study participants who provided blood sample at the time of study entry.

  Study phs002283

• A Phase I/II Trial of T Cell Receptor Gene Therapy Targeting HPV-16 E7 for HPV-Associated Cancers

  This is a phase I clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of gene-engineered T cells expressing a T-cell receptor targeting an HLA-A*02:01-restricted epitope of HPV-16 E7 (E7 TCR T cells) in patients with metastatic HPV-16+ epithelial cancers. A total of 12 patients were treated. The maximum tested dose was tolerated. Side effects were most consistent with the expected toxicities of the lymphocyte-depleting conditioning regimen and high-dose aldesleukin. Six of the 12 patients demonstrated objective clinical responses. Translational studies of the infused T cell characteristics did not correlate strongly with clinical response. Genomic defects in the targeted peptide-HLA complex did demonstrate definitive mechanisms of resistance in some patients.

  Study phs002286

• Evolution of Resistance in ER+ Breast Cancer

  While the combination of endocrine therapy and CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors has been shown to be effective in the metastatic ER+ breast cancer setting, to test whether it is effective in an earlier stage neoadjuvant setting, the FELINE trial (NCT02712723) was established to test the efficacy of letrozole and ribociclib in a ER-positive, HER2-negative patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Patients were randomized to one of three arms: those in Arm A received letrozole and placebo, Arm B letrozole and intermittent ribociclib, and Arm C letrozole and continuous ribociclib. Samples were collected at screening (Day 0), Cycle 1 (Day 14), and end of trial (Day 180). Samples from 24 patients, where cancer cells were present at Day 0 and one additional time point, were subjected to whole-exome sequencing profiling.

  Study phs002287

• Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer Project 2

  Understanding the relationship between tumor and peripheral immune environments could allow longitudinal immune monitoring in cancer. Here, we examined whether T cells that share the same TCRab and are found in both tumor and blood can be interrogated to gain insight into the ongoing tumor T cell response. Paired transcriptome and TCRab repertoire of circulating and tumor-infiltrating T cells were analyzed at the single cell level from matched tumor and blood from patients with metastatic melanoma. We found that in circulating T cells matching clonally expanded tumor-infiltrating T cells (circulating TILs), gene signatures of effector functions, but not terminal exhaustion, reflect those observed in the tumor. In contrast, features of exhaustion are displayed predominantly by tumor-exclusive T cells. Finally, genes associated with a high degree of blood-tumor TCR sharing were overexpressed in tumor tissue after immunotherapy. These data demonstrate that circulating TILs have unique transcriptional patterns that may have utility for the interrogation of T cell function in cancer immunotherapy. (Reprinted from Lucca et al. in press in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, with permission from Rockefeller University Press).The data shared here consist of gene expression matrix and fastq files obtained from sequencing single-cell libraries generated with the Chromium (TM) 5' technique. For each of 2 immunotherapy naive and 11 previously treated melanoma patients, T cells (Live/CD45+/TcRab+) were FACS-sorted from PBMCs and freshly resected tumors. Metadata associated with each individual cell consist of Patient I.D., biological sex, immunotherapy status, amino acid and nucleotide CDR3 sequence of the TCR alpha and beta chain (obtained from matched VDJ region enriched libraries), and sequencing batch. Further details about previous treatment history and other clinical parameters can be found in the associated manuscript.

  Study phs002289

• Evolution of Core Archetypal Phenotypes in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC)

  The evolution of resistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cells in response to chemotherapy is only partially understood. To uncover phenotypic changes associated with chemotherapy resistance, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) or whole-genome sequencing of 23 total patients, with longitudinal samples collected from 9, treatment-naïve samples from 8 patients, and post-treatment samples from 6 patients. Our study revealed that the HGSOC transcriptome could be described using three core archetypal phenotypes, defined as oncogenic tasks that describe majority of the transcriptional data. We implemented a multi-task learning approach to identify the biological tasks of each archetype and identified metabolism and proliferation, cellular defense response, and DNA repair signaling. The “metabolism and proliferation” archetype evolved during treatment and was enriched in cancer cells from patients that received multiple-lines of treatment and had elevated tumor burden indicated by CA-125 levels. The emergence of archetypes was not consistently linked to specific whole-genome driver mutations. However, archetypes were closely associated with sub-clonal clusters at the single-cell level, indicating that cancer cell sub-populations specialize in particular biological tasks. Our study reveals a defining principle of ovarian tumor evolution using temporal scRNA-seq profiles, identifies the key phenotypic features across patients and links metabolic shifts with a response to chemotherapy.

  Study phs002294

• Cross-site Concordance Evaluation of Tumor DNA and RNA Sequencing Platforms of CIMAC-CIDC Network

  The Cancer Immune Monitoring and Analysis Centers (CIMACs) and the Cancer Immunologic Data Commons (CIDC)  has engaged in efforts to harmonize Whole-exome (WES) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data from three different experimental platforms (MD Anderson, NCI MoCha lab, and Broad Institute) and are using a series of developed pipelines to process the early trial samples. To evaluate the consistency of tumor WES and RNA-seq profiling platforms across different centers, the CIMACs-CIDC conducted a systematic harmonization study. DNA and RNA were centrally extracted from fresh frozen (FF) and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) tumors and distributed to three centers for WES and RNA-seq profiling

  Study phs002295

• Germline and Somatic Genetic Landscape of Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma

  Dynamic approaches that integrate population-based research and molecular biology are needed to explain the mechanisms underlying pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and to determine novel prevention strategies. RMS, the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents, has one of the poorest 5-year survival rates among all pediatric cancers (less than 65%). One of the strongest risk factors for RMS is having a cancer predisposition syndrome. The syndromes that are most commonly seen among those with RMS are Li-Fraumeni, neurofibromatosis type 1, Costello, Noonan, and DICER1. Based on smaller clinic-based studies, only about 7% of RMS cases are thought to be associated with the genes responsible for these syndromes. However, there have been no population-based assessments to support this estimate. Even in the most recent large-scale evaluations of germline mutations in predisposition genes among children with cancer, very few RMS cases were included (43 cases). Furthermore, no distinctions were made between the major histologic subtypes of RMS: embryonal (eRMS) and alveolar (aRMS), which display differences in terms of age distribution, incidence, and cytogenetics. For instance, nearly 80% of alveolar cases are driven by a chromosomal translocation between either PAX3 or PAX7 and FOXO1, whereas these fusions are not seen in embryonal cases. In fact, RMS research is shifting from categorization based on histology to fusion status (eRMS is overwhelmingly fusion-negative). Another limitation in previous studies has been the inability to evaluate the frequency of de novo germline mutations (DNMs) in cancer predisposition genes due to the absence of any well-characterized cohorts of RMS case-parent trios. Therefore, a major gap in our understanding of the role of cancer predisposition in pediatric RMS that limit translational impact is there have been no population-based assessments to determine the true impact of these mutations on pediatric RMS, which limits clinical sequencing guidelines and surveillance protocols in these children.Overall Project Strategy: The objective of this project is to advance our understanding of the relationship between cancer predisposition genes and pediatric RMS. Our central hypotheses are: 1) mutations in cancer predisposition genes are more common than expected in children with RMS; and 2) children with fusion-negative tumors have a higher burden of germline mutations than those with fusion-positive tumors. The framework for this study relies on >600 well annotated samples collected from newly diagnosed RMS patients and stored in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Biopathology Center.

  Study phs002304

• Washington University PDX Development and Trial Center

  This data set is a collection of patient specimens from common and rare cancers that have been developed into patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models at the Washington University PDX Development and Trial Center (WU-PDTC). The goal of the PDTC is to develop and characterize PDX models, gaining insight into tumor biology, and validating biomarkers across all major tumor types. Pre-clinical experiments in these PDX models will be used to advance our ability to predict clinical responses to new molecularly targeted agents under development.

  Study phs002305

• GATA2 Deficiency

  The aim of this study is to identify somatic mutations that contribute to the progression of GATA2 Deficiency patients from bone marrow failure to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). We investigated somatic mutations in >100 patients by whole exome and myeloid malignancy targeted array sequencing to identify acquired mutations associated with myeloid malignancies. MDS was the most common diagnosis (~45%), followed by GATA2 Bone Marrow Immunodeficiency Disorder (G2BMID) (~35%). Approximately ten percent of our cohort were unaffected "carrier" family members with no disease manifestations. In contrast, about ten percent had progressed to a proliferative leukemia. There were no correlations with GATA2 mutation, patient age or gender and disease progression or survival. Somatic Recurrent somatic mutations were uncommon in cancer associated genes, and virtually absent in asymptomatic patients. However, mutations in the cohesin gene STAG2 and chromatin remodeling gene ASXL1 were detected in ~20% of patients. Patients with ASXL1 mutations had a lower survival. ASXL1 mutations were ~10-times more prevalent in female patients than males. Other recurrent mutations were in the DNMT3A, BCOR, and SETBP1 genes. There was a conspicuous absence of the most commonly mutated genes associated with myeloid malignancies, including TET2, RUNX, IDH1/2 and splicing factor genes. 

  Study phs002311

• Copy-Number Analysis of Understudied Black Women Ovarian Cancers

  Two general types of genetic alterations drive cancer progression: mutations and copy number alterations (CNAs). With the exception of p53, single nucleotide variant mutations (here, simply "mutations") are not drivers of 80% of tumors within the most frequent and deadly histotype of ovarian cancer: serous ovarian cancer (SOC). Rather, CNAs are more prevalent in SOC than any other cancer type studied by phs000178 The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Fully two-thirds of genes are altered by CNAs in the average SOC. Bioinformatic methods have shown that these CNAs modulate specific molecular pathways, such as autophagy, and this finding enabled effective pathway-targeted therapies1. Unfortunately, TCGA ovarian cancer data lacks racial diversity. Only 6% of SOC tumors (n=32) studied are from African origin. Black women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are more likely to die from their disease than white women. Five-year survival after diagnosis is 31% among blacks versus 42% among whites, and this disparity is seen in every age group and tumor stage distribution. Dr. Kelemen examined data from 365 white and 95 black ovarian cancer patients from the Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) Cancer Registry between 2000 and 2015 and found that black women had an 81% higher risk of death after diagnosis compared to white women (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.35-2.43), independent of diagnosis center (98% were treated at HCC but half were diagnosed elsewhere), tumor stage, histology, extent of residual tumor remaining following surgery, insurance status, smoking, type of treatment for ovarian cancer, and age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index. This disparity remained even when restricted to women who received the standard of care, surgery-chemotherapy sequence (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.10-2.89). Despite receiving the same treatment, black race was still associated with inferior survival. A similar disparity has been reported by others, indicating that the HCC experience is representative of national data. Here, an additional set of high-grade serous ovarian cancer primary tumors were acquired from biorepositories with a focus on expanding data originating from African American women. Data were analyzed for copy-number alterations using exome sequencing and control-FREEC software.

  Study phs002313

• Characterizing Advanced Breast Cancer Heterogeneity and Treatment Resistance through Serial Biopsies and Comprehensive Analytics

  This dataset accompanies the manuscript "Characterizing Advanced Breast Cancer Heterogeneity and Treatment Resistance Through Serial Biopsies and Comprehensive Analytics". In this study we discuss the clinical implications and consequences of molecular heterogeneity in a metastatic breast cancer patient identified through serial biopsies, multi-omic analysis, and longitudinal patient monitoring, performed through the precision oncology program, Serial Measurements of Molecular and Architectural Responses to Therapy (SMMART). This case study describes a metastatic breast cancer patient with a highly heterogenous tumor that began as ER positive/HER2 negative on diagnosis, then was found to be ER negative/HER2 positive in a metastatic liver lesion (Study biopsy #1), and finally triple negative (TNBC) in another metastatic liver biopsy (Study biopsy #2). Multi-omic assays included clinical genomic panel sequencing, clinical immunohistochemistry, a clinical protein profiling assay (Intracellular Signaling Protein Profiling), RNA sequencing, and RPPA. Here we provide the expression data from RNAseq and RPPA data on Study biopsy #2 for the patient discussed in this case report. Note: The first liver biopsy did not yield sufficient material for RNAseq or RPPA.Raw RNA FASTQ files from Study biopsy #2 of the liver Gene expression (RNAseq) files from Study biopsy #2Protein expression (RPPA) files (level 2, 3, 4) for Study biopsy #2

  Study phs002321

• Kids First: Genetics of Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the genomic and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP. The data is also available at the Kids First Portal, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed in the cloud for data analysis, data visualization, collaboration and interoperability, open to all researchers and developers. Pediatric malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent approximately 6% of childhood cancers, including 3% of tumors in children aged 0-14 years and 15% of tumors in adolescents. GCTs are heterogeneous and grouped together due to the presumed common cell of origin, the primordial germ cell (PGC). GCTs typically occur in the testes or ovaries; however, extragonadal GCTs can occur and are likely a result of abnormal germ cell migration during development. Evidence suggests that GCTs, including those diagnosed in adults, are initiated in utero. Thus, alterations in normal embryonic development are likely to be especially relevant to GCT etiology. Germline susceptibility has not been evaluated in an agnostic fashion in pediatric GCT, mainly due to a lack of an adequate number of samples; however, emerging evidence supports a genetic etiology. In the two Kids First GCT projects, we will evaluate genetic susceptibility to intracranial and extracranial GCT by sequencing probands and their unaffected parents. The goals of the project are to: 1) Evaluate the contribution of rare genetic variants in GCT through the use of aggregate burden tests, focusing on genes and established regulatory regions; 2) Identify de novo SNVs and CNVs in pediatric GCT using a case-parent triad design; and 3) Identify molecular signatures in GCT tumor specimens, overall and by age group and tumor characteristics. Whole Genome Sequencing data generated through the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program will provide an opportunity to investigate the genetic origins of GCT in a diverse set of samples. Given the limited knowledge of GCT etiology and biology, the results of the proposed analyses are likely to have a big impact on the field.

  Study phs002322

• Therapeutic Targeting of ATR Yields Durable Regressions in High Replication Stress Tumors

  Patients with relapsed or recurrent small cell lung cancer or extra-pulmonary small cell cancers were enrolled on an investigator-initiated, single-arm, phase 2 trial (NCT02487095) combining an ATR inhibitor M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) administered at 210 mg/m2 intravenously over 60 minutes on day 2 and day 5, and topotecan 1.25 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes every 23 hours on days 1 through 5, with a support of pegfilgrastim 6mg subcutaneously on day 6 in 21-day cycles. Tumor samples were collected either just before starting the treatment or before starting treatment prior to be enrolled in the trial. Whole exome and RNA were sequenced to evaluate genomic and transcriptomic characteristics associated with the response to the combination treatment.

  Study phs002327

• Kids First and INCLUDE: Down Syndrome, Heart Defects, and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  This project is a collaboration with the trans-NIH INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Project, which seeks to improve health and quality-of-life for individuals with Down syndrome, and NHLBI's TransOmics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, which seeks to apply omics technologies to improve scientific understanding of the fundamental biological processes that underlie heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) disorders. The data is also available at the INCLUDE Data Hub. Down syndrome (DS), which occurs due to trisomy 21, is one of the strongest risk factors for both congenital heart disease (CHD) and acute leukemia. For instance, children with DS have a 2000-fold increased risk of atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD) and a 20-fold increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). An important and innovative aspect of the Kids First program is understanding the overlap between structural birth defects and childhood cancer. Notably, the background of DS predisposes children to both of these phenotypes, however, the genomic architecture of risk remains largely undiscovered. In this joint Kids First/TOPMed/INCLUDE project, we are currently including >2,000 samples for whole-genome sequencing, including: 1) paired germline-tumor samples from children with DS-ALL; and 2) samples from families with DS-CHD. This work will advance our understanding of the developmental pathways that may lead to both structural birth defects and childhood cancer. The objectives of this study are to determine the genetic variants underlying AVSD and ALL risk in children with DS. Therefore, the aims of our study are: 1) compare whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data between children with documented DS-AVSD and children with DS who have structurally normal hearts to identify genetic variants that perturb heart development; and 2) compare WGS data between children with documented DS-ALL and children (from Aim 1) with DS who do not have a known history of ALL. We will also examine associations between germline mutations and somatic genomic features. This study will address the fundamental question of why children with DS have an elevated risk of AVSD and ALL. Insights into the genes that drive DS-AVSD and DS-ALL may have implications for improved genetic counseling, surveillance, clinical management, and treatment strategies for these children. Additionally, our findings may inform targeted therapies or interventions for children without DS who are at risk for structural birth defects and cancer. Additional Pediatric Cardiac Genetics Consortium (PCGC) data from children affected with Down syndrome and congenital heart disease are accessible through two separate dbGaP studies: phs001138 (Kids First) and phs001194 (TOPMed).

  Study phs002330

• Genetic Determinants of EGFR-Driven Lung Cancer Growth and Therapeutic Response In Vivo

  Oncogenic alterations in EGFR frequently co-occur with additional genetic alterations in EGFR-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but how specific combinations of mutations affect tumor phenotypes and responses to targeted therapy is yet unknown. We leveraged a genetically engineered mouse model of EGFR mutant/Trp53-deficient LUAD to study the consequences of inactivating 10 different tumor suppressor genes on the fitness and tyorosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitivity of these tumors. We found that loss of Keap1 is associated with a reduced response to therapy. In patients, we found that mutations in the KEAP1/NFE2L2/CUL3 pathway are associated with a significantly shorter time to treatment failure for EGFR TKI therapy compared to matched patients with wild-type KEAP1/NFE2L2/CUL3 tumors. We also analyzed whole exome sequencing data from tumor specimens before TKI treatment and at the time of treatment resistance for mutations in the KEAP1 pathway and these data are being submitted here.  

  Study phs002334

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) Wu Lab/Avicenne CLL RNA-Seq Study

  Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a hematological malignancy characterized by accumulation of CD5+ B cells in peripheral lymphoid organs, bone marrow and blood. Recently, the advent of large-scale whole-exome sequencing of hundreds of CLL samples has led to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mutational landscape of this clonal B cell malignancy, but the functional effects of the putative driver mutations thus discovered are largely unknown. In this study, we analyze RNA-seq data from CLL patients to characterize dysregulated biological pathways regarding the presence of recurrent mutations. Source of tumor is patients' PBMC isolated from peripheral blood using the Ficoll method. Purity was confirmed using flow cytometry flow (>80% in all cases).

  Study phs002335

• Study of Tumor Recurrence Related to the Expression of the PAX3-FOXO1 Oncogenic Transcription Factor in Fusion-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma

  Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is a highly aggressive pediatric soft tissue cancer characterized by a recurrent 2;13 chromosome translocation. This translocation generates a PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F) fusion gene, which encodes a chimeric transcription factor with oncogenic activity. Using a human myoblast system that models targeted therapy directed against P3F, we demonstrated that the expression of the fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), a direct transcriptional target of P3F, is necessary and sufficient for PAX3-FOXO1-independent tumor recurrence in addition to be required for the tumorigenic activity of primary tumors expressing P3F. In addition, we showed that FGF8 is expressed in human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines that express P3F. We also demonstrated that FGF8 contributes to their proliferation and transformation in vitro, and is sufficient to maintain their oncogenicity after the loss of P3F expression. We suggest that targeting the expression of the PAX3-FOXO1 transcription factor can generate resistance and recommend that additional anticipated therapeutic approaches, such as targeting FGF8 pathway, may avoid this resistance mechanism.

  Study phs002344

• Characterization of Immune-Related Gene Expression in Lung Cancer

  We performed a comprehensive analysis of inter- and intratumor heterogeneity of immune gene expression in 160 lung cancer patients from the Environment And Genetics in Lung cancer Etiology (EAGLE) study. The transcriptome was profiled with RNA sequencing in 269 tumor samples and 110 normal tissue samples from 160 subjects.

  Study phs002346