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| Open AccessNon-canonical functions of UHRF1 maintain DNA methylation homeostasis in cancer cells
DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic mark in mammals. The maintenance of this mark relies on two key proteins: DNMT1 and UHRF1. Here the authors show that, beyond activating DNMT1, UHRF1 has crucial regulatory functions in cancer cells.
- Kosuke Yamaguchi
- , Xiaoying Chen
- & Pierre-Antoine Defossez
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Article
| Open AccessPolygenic risk score for ulcerative colitis predicts immune checkpoint inhibitor-mediated colitis
Colitis is one of the most common immune-related adverse events in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here the authors show that a polygenic risk score for ulcerative colitis can predict immune checkpoint inhibitor-mediated colitis in patients with cancer.
- Pooja Middha
- , Rohit Thummalapalli
- & Elad Ziv
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| Open AccessPhenome-wide Mendelian randomisation analysis of 378,142 cases reveals risk factors for eight common cancers
Mendelian randomisation can identify potential risk factors from large populations. Here, the authors analyse 3000 traits across multiple cancer types to search for potential risk factors and molecular biomarkers.
- Molly Went
- , Amit Sud
- & Richard Houlston
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Article
| Open AccessDistinguishing preferences of human APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B for cytosines in hairpin loops, and reflection of these preferences in APOBEC-signature cancer genome mutations
Human APOBEC3A (A3A) and APOBEC3B (A3B) proteins convert cytosines in hairpin loops to uracils and cause mutations with differing preferences for loop sizes and sequences. Examination of human tumor mutations reflects largely the preferences of A3A, not A3B.
- Yasha Butt
- , Ramin Sakhtemani
- & Ashok S. Bhagwat
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Article
| Open AccessThe evolutionary impact of childhood cancer on the human gene pool
Pathogenic germline variants associated with childhood cancer risk could be subject to evolutionary constraints. Here, the authors analyse publicly available germline data in large cohorts and observe that paediatric cancer predisposition syndrome genes are highly constrained in the general population.
- Ulrik Kristoffer Stoltze
- , Jon Foss-Skiftesvik
- & Kjeld Schmiegelow
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| Open AccessA distinct class of pan-cancer susceptibility genes revealed by an alternative polyadenylation transcriptome-wide association study
Alternative polyadenylation (APA) can play a key role in cancer initiation and progression. Here, the authors conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer APA TWAS analysis and discovered a distinct class of APA-mediated cancer susceptibility genes across 22 cancer types.
- Hui Chen
- , Zeyang Wang
- & Lei Li
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Article
| Open AccessKDM3B inhibitors disrupt the oncogenic activity of PAX3-FOXO1 in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma
There is lack of therapies targeting the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion oncogene in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma (FP-RMS). Here, the authors identify and characterise an inhibitor with highest inhibition of histone lysine demethylase 3B that suppresses PAX3-FOXO1 activity in FP-RMS.
- Yong Yean Kim
- , Berkley E. Gryder
- & Javed Khan
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Article
| Open AccessTissue-location-specific transcription programs drive tumor dependencies in colon cancer
Cancers of the same tissue type are characterized with different molecular features depending on anatomical location. Here, the authors show that proximal and distal colon stem cells have distinct transcriptional programs mediated by the transcription factor CDX2, with differential roles in colon cancers based on anatomical location.
- Lijing Yang
- , Lei Tu
- & Hariharan Easwaran
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Article
| Open AccessTFIP11 promotes replication fork reversal to preserve genome stability
The RAD51 recombinase plays a pivotal role in replication fork reversal during replication stress. Here, the authors show that the GCFC domain-containing protein TFIP11 interacts with BLM helicase and is important for fork reversal during replication stress to preserve genome stability.
- Junliang Chen
- , Mingjie Wu
- & Ting Liu
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrating leiomyoma genetics, epigenomics, and single-cell transcriptomics reveals causal genetic variants, genes, and cell types
Here the authors identify gene targets and causal cell types affected by genetic risk loci in uterine fibroids by combining meta-analysis on existing fibroid genome-wide association studies and integrated the identified risk loci and potentially causal single nucleotide polymorphisms with epigenomics, transcriptomics, 3D chromatin organization from diverse cell types as well as primary uterine fibroids patient’s samples.
- Kadir Buyukcelebi
- , Alexander J. Duval
- & Mazhar Adli
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Article
| Open AccessTransposable elements mediate genetic effects altering the expression of nearby genes in colorectal cancer
It has been suggested that transposable elements (TE) play a role in tumourigenesis, but the associated mechanisms remain unclear. Here, the authors show, using colorectal cancer data and Bayesian Networks, that TEs can mediate the effect of expression quantitative trait loci and contribute to the regulation of cancer-related genes.
- Nikolaos M. R. Lykoskoufis
- , Evarist Planet
- & Emmanouil T. Dermitzakis
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Article
| Open AccessFunctional interactions between neurofibromatosis tumor suppressors underlie Schwann cell tumor de-differentiation and treatment resistance
The molecular mechanisms underlying malignant transformation of the Schwann lineage in Schwann cell tumours remain to be explored. Here, the authors suggest that NF2 inactivation leads to PAK activation leading to NF1-mutant Schwann cell tumour de-differentiation and resistance to selumetinib.
- Harish N. Vasudevan
- , Emily Payne
- & David R. Raleigh
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Article
| Open AccessEpigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannoma
Schwannomas are regularly treated with radiotherapy, but the molecular effects on these tumours and their microenvironment remain unclear. Here, the authors show that radiotherapy can induce epigenetic reprogramming and immune infiltration in schwannomas, and develop the snARC-seq approach to analyse the epigenomic evolution at the single-cell level.
- S. John Liu
- , Tim Casey-Clyde
- & David R. Raleigh
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Article
| Open AccessTFEB drives mTORC1 hyperactivation and kidney disease in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is caused by TSC1 or TSC2 mutations, leading to hyperactivation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and tumors in multiple organs. Here, the authors show that TFEB is the primary driver of renal disease and mTORC1 hyperactivation in TSC.
- Nicola Alesi
- , Damir Khabibullin
- & Elizabeth P. Henske
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Article
| Open AccessGenetic and epigenetic features of bilateral Wilms tumor predisposition in patients from the Children’s Oncology Group AREN18B5-Q
The genetic and epigenetic predisposition of bilateral Wilms tumour remains to be investigated. Here, the authors perform multiomics analysis and identify the predominant genetic and epigenetic events associated with bilateral Wilms tumour predisposition.
- Andrew J. Murphy
- , Changde Cheng
- & Xiang Chen
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Article
| Open AccessGenomic and epigenomic integrative subtypes of renal cell carcinoma in a Japanese cohort
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes are associated with different molecular alterations and clinical outcomes, but they need to be characterised in diverse cohorts. Here, the authors perform genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic profiling in a large cohort of Japanese RCC cases, and identify epi-subtypes associated with a particular immune environment.
- Akihiko Fukagawa
- , Natsuko Hama
- & Tatsuhiro Shibata
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Article
| Open AccessWhole-genome sequencing reveals the molecular implications of the stepwise progression of lung adenocarcinoma
Current sequencing technologies can shed light on the stepwise progression of lung adenocarcinoma. Here, the authors characterize tumor progression in lung adenocarcinomas from an early stage using short and long read whole-genome sequencing, bulk and spatial transcriptomics, and epigenomics.
- Yasuhiko Haga
- , Yoshitaka Sakamoto
- & Ayako Suzuki
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Article
| Open AccessThe PENGUIN approach to reconstruct protein interactions at enhancer-promoter regions and its application to prostate cancer
The authors reconstruct high fidelity networks of protein-protein interactions between promoters and enhancers in prostate cancer and demonstrate the potential of such an analytical framework to obtain actionable insights into the disease and potential therapeutic targets.
- Alexandros Armaos
- , François Serra
- & Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
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Article
| Open AccessSaturation genome editing of DDX3X clarifies pathogenicity of germline and somatic variation
Pathogenic variants of DDX3X are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and cancer. Here, the authors perform saturation genome editing of DDX3X to test the functional impact of 12,776 variants, develop a machine learning classifier to identify variants relevant for NDD, and show that DDX3X predominantly acts as a tumour suppressor in cancer.
- Elizabeth J. Radford
- , Hong-Kee Tan
- & Matthew E. Hurles
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Article
| Open AccessMosaic chromosomal alterations in peripheral blood leukocytes of children in sub-Saharan Africa
Mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) in peripheral blood leukocytes are associated with an increased risk of malignancy. Here, the authors use genome-wide genotyping array data to investigate the prevalence of mCAs in sub-Saharan African children with versus those without Burkitt lymphoma.
- Weiyin Zhou
- , Anja Fischer
- & Sam M. Mbulaiteye
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Article
| Open AccessProstate cancer genetic risk and associated aggressive disease in men of African ancestry
Most genetic studies for prostate cancer have been performed outside the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, the authors interrogate 247,780 exomic variants for 798 Black South African men and identify genes associated with aggressive disease.
- Pamela X. Y. Soh
- , Naledi Mmekwa
- & Vanessa M. Hayes
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Article
| Open AccessSMARCB1 loss activates patient-specific distal oncogenic enhancers in malignant rhabdoid tumors
The regulatory landscape of malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) due to SMARCB1 loss remains to be explored. Here, the authors perform multi-omics analysis using patient-derived MRT organoids and characterise the epigenetic reprogramming events underlying SMARCB1 loss.
- Ning Qing Liu
- , Irene Paassen
- & Jarno Drost
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Article
| Open AccessHDAC8-mediated inhibition of EP300 drives a transcriptional state that increases melanoma brain metastasis
The drivers of melanoma brain metastases (MBM) remain poorly understood. Here, the authors identify stress-induced HDAC8 activity as the driver of a neural crest-stem cell like transcriptional state that leads to MBM, and explore the molecular mechanism that drives this transition.
- Michael F. Emmons
- , Richard L. Bennett
- & Keiran S. M. Smalley
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Article
| Open AccessSystematic characterization of the HOXA9 downstream targets in MLL-r leukemia by noncoding CRISPR screens
The role of HOXA9 in binding to noncoding regulatory sequences and regulates the downstream genes in MLL gene rearrangements (MLL-r) leukemia. Here, the use of CRISPR-mediated loss-of-function screen against HOXA9-bound peaks and integrative approaches reveal the noncoding regulation mechanism of HOXA9.
- Shaela Wright
- , Xujie Zhao
- & Chunliang Li
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Article
| Open AccessComprehensive analysis reveals potential therapeutic targets and an integrated risk stratification model for solitary fibrous tumors
Solitary fibrous tumours are mesenchymal tumours with an unpredictable progression and current medical treatments for relapsed SFTs remain ineffective. Here, the authors identified potential therapeutic targets and risk factors for SFTs and created an integrated risk model using 101 patients, and validated in 3 independent cohorts to successfully predict tumour progression.
- Renjing Zhang
- , Yang Yang
- & Ziming Du
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Article
| Open AccessThe chromatin network helps prevent cancer-associated mutagenesis at transcription-replication conflicts
Epigenetic alterations are frequent in human malignancies and have been shown to threaten genome integrity. Here the authors show that a chromatin network prevents R-loops and transcription-replication conflicts from genomic instability and mutagenic signatures frequently associated with cancer.
- Aleix Bayona-Feliu
- , Emilia Herrera-Moyano
- & Andrés Aguilera
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Article
| Open AccessSleeping Beauty transposon mutagenesis identified genes and pathways involved in inflammation-associated colon tumor development
Chronic inflammation promotes the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) while the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, the authors perform in vivo transposon mutagenesis screening to identify that TNFα-activated senescence signaling acts as selective pressure to drive mutation of Cdkn2a and other senescence-related genes in inflammation-accelerated CRC.
- Kana Shimomura
- , Naoko Hattori
- & Haruna Takeda
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Article
| Open AccessOncogenic context shapes the fitness landscape of tumor suppression
Alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are a hallmark of cancer, yet how they interact remains poorly understood. Here, the authors describe a quantitative functional cancer genomics platform in genetically engineered mice, and uncover complex interactions between tumor suppressors and KRAS, BRAF, and EGFR oncogenes across more than 100 different lung tumor genotypes.
- Lily M. Blair
- , Joseph M. Juan
- & Ian P. Winters
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Article
| Open AccessCSTF2 mediated mRNA N6-methyladenosine modification drives pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma m6A subtypes
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has important implications in different cancer subtypes. Here, the authors perform transcriptomic m6A profiling to identify two subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with differential m6A modifications and different clinical outcomes, which is driven by m6A regulator CSTF2.
- Yanfen Zheng
- , Xingyang Li
- & Zhixiang Zuo
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Article
| Open AccessCombining Asian and European genome-wide association studies of colorectal cancer improves risk prediction across racial and ethnic populations
Most genetic studies have been done on European cohorts, which affects the efficacy of polygenic risk scores in non-European populations. Here, the authors demonstrate that a colorectal cancer PRS including Asian and European ancestries has improved performance over the European-centric PRS across racial and ethnic groups.
- Minta Thomas
- , Yu-Ru Su
- & Li Hsu
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide enhancer-gene regulatory maps link causal variants to target genes underlying human cancer risk
Here, the authors apply the Activity-by-Contact (ABC) model to infer enhancer-gene regulation and the effect of associated variants across multiple cancer types, integrating genetic and multi-omics data. Then, they explore the mechanisms associated with ABC regulatory variants in colorectal cancer.
- Pingting Ying
- , Can Chen
- & Xiaoping Miao
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Article
| Open AccessEvolutionary signatures of human cancers revealed via genomic analysis of over 35,000 patients
The identification of cancer type-specific evolutionary signatures could be used for patient stratification. Here, the authors develop a method, ASCETIC, that utilises bulk and single-cell sequencing data and identifies evolutionary signatures associated with different prognostic outcomes across different cancer types.
- Diletta Fontana
- , Ilaria Crespiatico
- & Daniele Ramazzotti
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| Open AccessStromal heterogeneity may explain increased incidence of metaplastic breast cancer in women of African descent
Breast cancer patients of African ancestry face worse clinical outcomes, so understanding related cellular and molecular features remains critical. Here, the authors show that stromal cells that are particularly enriched in breast cancer patients with African ancestry can trans-differentiate into different lineages and can be transformed into metaplastic carcinoma.
- Brijesh Kumar
- , Aditi S. Khatpe
- & Harikrishna Nakshatri
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| Open AccessThe mutational landscape of the adult healthy parous and nulliparous human breast
While many tissues have been investigated for natural somatic mutations, human breast tissue has not been well studied. Here, the authors characterize somatic mutations in human breast tissue, finding effects of age and parity.
- Biancastella Cereser
- , Angela Yiu
- & Justin Stebbing
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| Open AccessAndrogen receptor binding sites enabling genetic prediction of mortality due to prostate cancer in cancer-free subjects
The prediction of mortality due to prostate cancer remains challenging. Here, the authors perform trans-ancestry metaanalysis with a focus on binding sites of the androgen receptor and develop a polygenic risk score.
- Shuji Ito
- , Xiaoxi Liu
- & Chikashi Terao
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| Open AccessA biallelic multiple nucleotide length polymorphism explains functional causality at 5p15.33 prostate cancer risk locus
Here, the authors functionally characterize a complex genetic variant relevant in prostate cancer that regulates IRX4 expression through epigenetic activation. This work highlights the significance of non-single nucleotide polymorphism causal variants in explaining disease risk.
- Sandor Spisak
- , Viktoria Tisza
- & Matthew L. Freedman
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Article
| Open AccessConvergent somatic evolution commences in utero in a germline ribosomopathy
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) is an inherited ribosome assembly disorder that increases the risk for haematopoietic malignancies. Here, the authors analysed clonal selection and evolution in SDS by sequencing patient-derived haematopoietic stem/progenitor cell colonies and exploring the function of key drivers in model organisms.
- Heather E. Machado
- , Nina F. Øbro
- & Alan J. Warren
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Article
| Open AccessCirculating trans fatty acids are associated with prostate cancer in Ghanaian and American men
Analyses of the association between fatty acids and prostate cancer have often neglected African patients. Here, the authors analyse 24 circulating fatty acids in Ghanaian, African American, and European American men, and explore the associations with socio-demographic factors, diet, FADS1/2 locus, and prostate cancer.
- Tsion Zewdu Minas
- , Brittany D. Lord
- & Stefan Ambs
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Article
| Open AccessContext-defined cancer co-dependency mapping identifies a functional interplay between PRC2 and MLL-MEN1 complex in lymphoma
Co-dependency mapping assays have revealed genetic dependencies in cancer and could shed light on chromatin crosstalk mechanisms. Here, the authors establish a pipeline to integrate co-dependency mapping screens with molecular information in pan-cancer cell lines in order to reveal chromatin complexes and potential drug targets.
- Xiao Chen
- , Yinglu Li
- & Chao Lu
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Article
| Open AccessEngineered MED12 mutations drive leiomyoma-like transcriptional and metabolic programs by altering the 3D genome compartmentalization
There are currently a lack of genetic models to study the biology of Uterine fibroids (UFs) tumours. Here the authors precisely engineer cells with mutant MED12 Gly-44 and generate myometrial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) that recapitulate major UFs-like cellular, transcriptional, and metabolic alterations.
- Kadir Buyukcelebi
- , Xintong Chen
- & Mazhar Adli
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide mapping of cancer dependency genes and genetic modifiers of chemotherapy in high-risk hepatoblastoma
The availability of relevant animal models that can recapitulate high-risk hepatoblastoma will help to better understand its pathogenesis. Here the authors report and characterize a hepatocyte-specific, MYC-driven hepatoblastoma mouse model and show it recapitulates the human hepatoblastoma pathophysiology.
- Jie Fang
- , Shivendra Singh
- & Jun Yang
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Article
| Open AccessSingle-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics unravel the role of monocytes in neuroblastoma bone marrow metastasis
The bone marrow is a common site of metastasis for neuroblastoma patients. Here, the authors perform single cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq of bone marrow aspirates from 16 subjects and show conservation of tumor cell plasticity in metastases and identify tumor-to-bone marrow cell signals that trigger tumor promoting monocytes.
- Irfete S. Fetahu
- , Wolfgang Esser-Skala
- & Sabine Taschner-Mandl
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Article
| Open AccessPan-cancer and cross-population genome-wide association studies dissect shared genetic backgrounds underlying carcinogenesis
Investigating genetically correlated cancers can enhance our understanding of carcinogenesis. Here, the authors perform Pan-cancer and cross-population GWAS meta-analysis to identify novel cancer risk loci and highlight shared heritability between breast and prostate cancer.
- Go Sato
- , Yuya Shirai
- & Yukinori Okada
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Article
| Open AccessImpaired histone inheritance promotes tumor progression
Here the authors show disturbing parental histone inheritance in cancer cells drives tumor progression by reprogramming the epigenetic profile and conferring fitness advantages to some of the newly emerged subclones.
- Congcong Tian
- , Jiaqi Zhou
- & Haiyun Gan
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Article
| Open AccessIdentification of BRCA1/2 mutation female carriers using circulating microRNA profiles
BRCA1/2 mutations are known to increase risk of breast and ovarian cancer but carrier status in healthy individuals is unknown without genetic testing. Here, the authors created a circulating miRNA signature to predict BRCA1/2 carrier status in healthy individuals to aid the decision process on genetic testing.
- Kevin Elias
- , Urszula Smyczynska
- & Dipanjan Chowdhury
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-omic features of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy
It remains critical to understand the genomic events in response to treatment of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). Here, the authors perform a multi-omics analysis of OAC patients from the DOCTOR phase II clinical trial, finding genomic features and immune clusters associated with survival.
- Marjan M. Naeini
- , Felicity Newell
- & Nicola Waddell
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Article
| Open AccessLeukemia relapse via genetic immune escape after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Graft-versus-leukemia reactions are required for the eradication of myeloid malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, treatment efficacy is variable, depending on the immunological response. Here the authors show that dysfunction of HLA heterogeneity is associated with post-transplant leukemia relapse.
- Simona Pagliuca
- , Carmelo Gurnari
- & Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular patterns identify distinct subclasses of myeloid neoplasia
Myeloid neoplasias can show complex mutation patterns and molecular features. Here, the authors apply machine learning to classify risk groups of myeloid neoplasia which may correlate with differential response to treatment.
- Tariq Kewan
- , Arda Durmaz
- & Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski
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Article
| Open AccessSMARCB1 regulates a TFCP2L1-MYC transcriptional switch promoting renal medullary carcinoma transformation and ferroptosis resistance
The molecular mechanisms involved in the development of SMARCB1-deficient renal medullary carcinomas (RMCs) remain to be characterised. Here, the authors integrated RMC omics data to show that ferroptosis resistance contributes to transformation of renal thick ascending limb cells into several RMC cell states.
- Bujamin H. Vokshi
- , Guillaume Davidson
- & Gabriel G. Malouf