Project description:The concept of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancers (CRCs) is widely accepted, though the timing of its occurrence and its interaction with other genetic defects early during carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. Our aim was to uncover the molecular evolution of CIMP CRCs through integrative analysis of endoscopic, histological and molecular signatures in precancerous and malignant colorectal lesions. A total of 84 endoscopically obtained human colorectal tumor was analyzed using Agilent CGH microarray. Copy number aberration was compared with clinicopathological features and DNA methylation status.
Project description:The concept of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is widely accepted, though the timing of its occurrence and its interaction with other genetic defects are not fully understood. Our aim in this study was to unravel the molecular development of CIMP cancers by dissecting their genetic and epigenetic signatures in precancerous and malignant colorectal lesions. A total of 88 samples (16 normal colon tissues taken from adjacent tumor tissue, 70 colorectal tumor tissues and 2 cell lines) was analyzed using MCA microarray. Aberrant DNA methylation was compared with clinicopathological features and copy number.
Project description:Ependymomas are common childhood brain tumors that occur throughout the nervous system, but are most common in the pediatric hindbrain. Current standard therapy comprises surgery and radiation, but not cytotoxic chemotherapy as it does not further increase survival. Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of 47 hindbrain ependymomas reveals an extremely low mutation rate, and zero significant recurrent somatic SNVs. While devoid of recurrent SNVs and focal copy number aberrations, poor prognosis hindbrain ependymomas exhibit a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). Transcriptional silencing driven by CpG methylation converges exclusively on targets of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2) that represses expression of differentiation genes through tri-methylation of H3K27. CIMP-positive (CIMP+) hindbrain ependymomas are responsive to clinical drugs that target either DNA or H3K27 methylation both in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that epigenetic modifiers are the first rational therapeutic candidates for this deadly malignancy, which is epigenetically de-regulated but genetically bland. 10 primary posterior fossa ependymomas have been analyzed
Project description:The concept of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is widely accepted, though the timing of its occurrence and its interaction with other genetic defects are not fully understood. Our aim in this study was to unravel the molecular development of CIMP cancers by dissecting their genetic and epigenetic signatures in precancerous and malignant colorectal lesions.
Project description:The concept of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancers (CRCs) is widely accepted, though the timing of its occurrence and its interaction with other genetic defects early during carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. Our aim was to uncover the molecular evolution of CIMP CRCs through integrative analysis of endoscopic, histological and molecular signatures in precancerous and malignant colorectal lesions.
Project description:Ependymomas are common childhood brain tumors that occur throughout the nervous system, but are most common in the pediatric hindbrain. Current standard therapy comprises surgery and radiation, but not cytotoxic chemotherapy as it does not further increase survival. Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of 47 hindbrain ependymomas reveals an extremely low mutation rate, and zero significant recurrent somatic SNVs. While devoid of recurrent SNVs and focal copy number aberrations, poor prognosis hindbrain ependymomas exhibit a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). Transcriptional silencing driven by CpG methylation converges exclusively on targets of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2) that represses expression of differentiation genes through tri-methylation of H3K27. CIMP-positive (CIMP+) hindbrain ependymomas are responsive to clinical drugs that target either DNA or H3K27 methylation both in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that epigenetic modifiers are the first rational therapeutic candidates for this deadly malignancy, which is epigenetically de-regulated but genetically bland.
Project description:Aberrant DNA methylation, one of the major epigenetic alterations in cancer, has been reported to accumulate in a subset of colorectal cancer (CRC), so-called CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), which was known to correlate with microsatellite instability (MSI)-high CRC. To select new methylation markers genome-widely and epigenotype CRC by DNA methylation comprehensively, we performed methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-on-chip analysis using MSI-high CRC cell line HCT116 and microsatellite-stable SW480, and re-expression array analysis by 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine/Trichostatin A. Methylation levels of 44 new markers selected and 16 previously reported markers were analyzed quantitatively in 149 clinical CRC samples using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. By unsupervised two-way hierarchical clustering, CRC was clustered into high-, intermediate-, and low-methylation epigenotypes. Methylation markers were clustered into two groups: Group-1 showing methylation in high-methylation epigenotype and including all the 11 CIMP-related markers except NEUROG1, and Group-2 showing methylation in high- and intermediate-methylation epigenotypes. Marker panel deciding methylation epigenotypes with the highest accuracy was developed: 1st-Panel consisting of Group-1 genes (CACNA1G, LOX, SLC30A10) to extract high-methylation epigenotype, and 2nd-Panel consisting of Group-2 genes (ELMO1, FBN2, THBD, HAND1) and SLC30A10 again to divide the remains into intermediate- and low-methylation epigenotypes. High-methylation epigenotype correlated significantly with BRAF mutation, MSI, proximal tumor location, and mucinous component, in concordance with reported CIMP. Intermediate- and low-methylation epigenotypes significantly correlated with KRAS-mutation(+) and KRAS-mutation(-), respectively. KRAS-mutation(+) intermediate-methylation epigenotype showed worse prognosis than KRAS-mutation(-) low-methylation epigenotype (p=0.030). These three epigenotypes with different genetic characteristics suggested different molecular CRC genesis, and the markers might be useful to predict prognosis.
Project description:The CpG island methylator phenotype is common in both BRAF mutant colorectal cancer and their precursors, the sessile serrated adenoma (SSA). SSAs acquire dysplasia immediate prior to progressing to invasive cancer. Here we examine the methylome of the remnant non-dysplastic portion of dysplastic sessile serrated adenomas to identify changes that occur immediately prior to the development of overt histological dysplasia.
Project description:Engineering Pluripotent DNA Methylation by CpG Island Methylation Response (CIMR) to Synthetic CpG-free ssDNA Insertion Cellular differentiation requires global changes to DNA methylation (DNAme), where it functions to regulate transcription factor and chromatin remodeling activity, and genome interpretation. Here, we describe a simple DNAme engineering approach in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), extending across large stretches of CpG dense “islands (CGIs).” Integration of synthetic CpG free single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) induces a target CpG Island Methylation Response (CIMR) in multiple PSC lines, Nt2d1 embryonal carcinoma cells, and mouse PSCs, but not in highly methylated CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP) positive cancer lines. CIMR DNAme at MLH1 spans the CGI, is robustly maintained throughout cellular differentiation, suppresses target gene activity, and sensitizes derived cardiomyocytes and thymic epithelial cells to the chemotherapy cisplatin. Additional CIMR DNAme is reported on at TP53 and ONECUT1 CGIs. Collectively, this new resource enables total CpG Island DNAme engineering in pluripotency and the genesis of novel epigenetic models of development and disease