This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
De Novo Epigenetic Programs Inhibit PD-1 Blockade-Mediated T Cell Rejuvenation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesDe novo DNA methylation establishes T cell exhaustion and inhibits PD-1 blockade-mediated T-cell rejuvenation.
No associated publication
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
NALP3 inflammasome upregulation and CASP1 cleavage of the glucocorticoid receptor cause glucocorticoid resistance in leukemia cells.
Disease, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesGenomic technologies have unmasked molecularly distinct subgroups among tumors of the same histological type; but understanding the biologic basis of these subgroups has proved difficult since their defining alterations are often numerous, and the cellular origins of most cancers remain unknown. We sought to decipher complex genomic data sets by matching the genetic alterations contained within these, with candidate cells of origin, to generate accurate disease models. Using an integrated genomic analysis we first identified subgroups of human ependymoma: a form of neural tumor that arises throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Validated alterations included amplifications and homozygous deletions of genes not yet implicated in ependymoma. Matching the transcriptomes of human ependymoma subgroups to those of distinct types of mouse radial glia (RG)neural stem cells (NSCs) that we identified previously to be a candidate cell of origin of ependymoma - allowed us to select RG types most likely to represent cells of origin of disease subgroups. The transcriptome of human cerebral ependymomas that amplify EPHB2 and delete INK4A/ARF matched most closely that of embryonic cerebral Ink4a/Arf-/- RG: remarkably, activation of EphB2 signaling in this RG type, but not others, generated highly penetrant ependymomas that modeled accurately the histology and transcriptome of one human cerebral tumor subgroup (subgroup D). Further comparative genomic analysis revealed selective alterations in the copy number and expression of genes that regulate neural differentiation, particularly synaptogenesis, in both mouse and human subgroup D ependymomas; pinpointing this pathway as a previously unknown target of ependymoma tumorigenesis. Our data demonstrate the power of comparative genomics to sift complex genetic data sets to identify key molecular alterations in cancer subgroups.
Cross-species genomics matches driver mutations and cell compartments to model ependymoma.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesTo identify new markers for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we compared genome-wide gene expression of lymphoblasts from 270 patients with newly diagnosed childhood ALL to that of normal CD19 CD10 B-cell progenitors (n=4). Expression of 30 genes differentially expressed by > 3-fold in at least 25% of cases of ALL (or 40% of ALL subtypes) was tested by flow cytometry in 200 B-lineage ALL and 61 nonleukemic BM samples, including samples containing hematogones. Of the 30 markers, 22 (CD44, BCL2, HSPB1, CD73, CD24, CD123, CD72, CD86, CD200, CD79b, CD164, CD304, CD97, CD102, CD99, CD300a, CD130, PBX1, CTNNA1, ITGB7, CD69, CD49f) were differentially expressed in up to 81.4% of ALL cases; expression of some markers was associated with the presence of genetic abnormalities. Results of MRD detection by flow cytometry with these markers correlated well with those of molecular testing (52 follow-up samples from 18 patients); sequential studies during treatment and diagnosis-relapse comparisons documented their stability. When incorporated in 6-marker combinations, the new markers afforded the detection of 1 leukemic cell among 105 BM cells. These new markers should allow MRD studies in all B-lineage ALL patients, and substantially improve their sensitivity.
New markers for minimal residual disease detection in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Specimen part
View SamplesAcute lymphoblastic leukaemia with early T-cell precursor immunophenotype (ETP ALL) is a highly aggressive subtype of ALL of unknown aetiology. To gain insights into the genetic basis of this disease, we performed whole genome sequencing of tumour and normal DNA of 12 children with ETP ALL. Analysis of structural and sequence variants in this discovery cohort, and mutation recurrence screening in a panel of 51 ETP and 43 non ETP ALL samples identified a high frequency of activating mutations in genes regulating cytokine receptor and Ras signalling, including IL7R, NRAS, KRAS, FLT3, BRAF, JAK1 and JAK3 in ETP ALL. Moreover, we identified multiple new targets of mutation in including GATA3, EP300, RUNX1, DNM2, ECT2L, HNRNPA1 and HNRNPR, as well as genes known to be mutated in T-ALL, including NOTCH1, PHF6, and WT1.. Five of 12 ETP ALL cases harboured novel chromosomal translocations, several of which accompanied complex multichromosomal rearrangements and resulted in the expression of chimeric in-frame fusion genes disrupting hematopoietic regulators, including ETV6-INO80D, NAP1L1-MLLT10 and RUNX1-EVX1. These results indicate that although ETP ALL is genetically heterogeneous, activation of Ras and cytokine receptor signalling distinguishes this disease from non-ETP ALL. These findings suggest that targeting this pathway may improve the currently dismal outcome of this disease.
The genetic basis of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Specimen part
View SamplesGlucocorticoids are universally used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and glucocorticoid resistance in leukemia cells confers a poor prognosis. To elucidate mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance, we determined the prednisolone sensitivity of primary leukemia cells from 444 newly diagnosed ALL patients and found significantly higher expression of caspase 1 (CASP1) and its activator NLRP3 in glucocorticoid resistant leukemia cells, due to significantly lower somatic methylation of CASP1 and NLRP3 promoters. Over-expression of CASP1 resulted in cleavage of the glucocorticoid receptor, diminished glucocorticoid-induced transcriptional response and increased glucocorticoid resistance. Knockdown or inhibition of CASP1 significantly increased glucocorticoid receptor levels and mitigated glucocorticoid resistance in CASP1 overexpressing ALL. Our findings establish a new mechanism by which the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome modulates cellular levels of the glucocorticoid receptor and diminishes cell sensitivity to glucocorticoids. The broad impact on glucocorticoid transcriptional response suggests this mechanism could also modify glucocorticoid effects in other diseases.
NALP3 inflammasome upregulation and CASP1 cleavage of the glucocorticoid receptor cause glucocorticoid resistance in leukemia cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Coexpression of normally incompatible developmental pathways in retinoblastoma genesis.
Specimen part
View SamplesNotch signaling plays both oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles, depending on cell type. In contrast to T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), where Notch activation promotes leukemogenesis, induction of Notch signaling in B-ALL leads to growth arrest and apoptosis. The Notch target Hairy/Enhancer of Split1 (HES1) is sufficient to reproduce this tumor suppressor phenotype in B-ALL, however the mechanism is not yet known. Here we report that HES1 regulates pro-apoptotic signals via the novel interacting protein Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase1 (PARP1) in a cell type-specific manner. The interaction of HES1 with PARP1 inhibits HES1 function, induces PARP1 activation and results in PARP1 cleavage in B-ALL. HES1-induced PARP1 activation leads to self-ADP ribosylation of PARP1, consumption of NAD+, diminished ATP levels, and translocation of the Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) from mitochondria to the nucleus, resulting in apoptosis in B-ALL, but not T-ALL. Importantly, induction of Notch signaling via the Notch agonist peptide DSL can reproduce these events and leads to BALL apoptosis. The novel interaction of HES1 and PARP1 in B-ALL modulates the function of the HES1 transcriptional complex and signals through PARP1 to induce apoptosis. This mechanism reveals a cell type-specific pro-apoptotic pathway which may lead to Notch agonist-based cancer therapeutics.
Notch/HES1-mediated PARP1 activation: a cell type-specific mechanism for tumor suppression.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe studied a cohort of 221 high-risk pediatric B-progenitor ALL patients that excluded known high risk ALL subtypes (BCR-ABL1 and infant ALL), using Affymetrix single nucleotide polymorphism microarrays, gene expression profiling and candidate gene resequencing. A CNA poor outcome predictor was identified using a semi-supervised principal components approach, and tested in an independent validation cohort of 258 pediatric B-progenitor ALL cases. Over 50 regions of recurring somatically acquired CNA, with the most frequently targeted genes encoding regulators of B-lymphoid development (66.8% of cases; with PAX5 targeted in 31.7% and IKZF1 in 28.6%). A CNA classifier identified a very poor outcome subgroup in the high-risk cohort (P=4.2x10-5) and was strongly associated with the presence of deletions involving IKZF1, which encodes the early lymphoid transcription factor IKAROS. This classifier, and IKZF1 deletions, also predicted poor outcome and elevated minimal residual disease at the end of induction therapy in the validation cohort. The gene expression signature of the poor outcome group was characterized by reduced expression of B lineage specific genes, and was highly related to the expressing signature of BCR-ABL1 ALL, a known high-risk ALL subtype also characterized by a high frequency of IKZF1 deletion.Somatically acquired deletions involving IKZF1 identify a very poor outcome subgroup of pediatric ALL patients. Incorporation of molecular tests to identify IKZF1 deletion in diagnostic leukemic blasts should improve the ability to accurately risk stratify patients for appropriate therapy.
Deletion of IKZF1 and prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
No sample metadata fields
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