Project description:Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the third most common cancer worldwide. Next generation sequencing (NGS) appearance has allowed us to produce huge amount of data and, in order to fully exploit its usage, copy number variants (CVN) detection software have been developed. In this study, we analyze germline DNA whole-exome sequencing (WES) data from 38 families with strong CRC aggregation without alterations in known hereditary genes to detect rare candidate CNVs to CRC predisposition using ExomeDepth and CoNIFER tools. Variants shared between family members were compared to Database of Genomic Variants (DGV) catalogue and our Spanish database. CNVs finally selected were validated and segregation analysis were performed using Comparative Genome Hybridization (CGH). Gene expression arrays and qRT-PCR were conducted in both germline and tumor cDNA to check possible effects at transcription level. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies were also carried out. Whith this, 21 candidate CNV corresponding to 16 duplications and 5 deletions were detected by calling tools. After multiple filtering steps, only the duplication in chromosome 1 in family 7 stood out as interesting. Validation by CGH confirmed the duplication and correct family segregation. TTF2, TRIM45, VTCN1 and miR942 are embedded in chromosome 1 duplication. Expression studies pointed to TTF2 and miR942 overexpression in carriers, and tumor IHC showed TTF2 protein overexpression and underexpression of the TMEM158 protein. Also known as RIS1, TMEM158 is a predicted target of miR942 and has been claimed to be a candidate tumor-supressor. All in all, chromosome 1 duplication may correspond to the mutational event involved in CRC predisposition in the carrier family by overexpressing TTF2 and miR942, leading to TMEM158 underexpression. Keywords: colorectal cancer, next generation sequencing, copy number variant, duplication, predisposition.
Project description:In the majority of colorectal cancers (CRC) under clinical suspicion for a hereditary cause, the disease-causing genetic factors are still to be discovered. In order to identify such genetic factors we stringently selected a discovery cohort of 41 CRC index patients with microsatellite-stable tumors. All patients were below 40 years of age at diagnosis and/or exhibited an overt family history. We employed genome-wide copy number profiling using high-resolution SNP-based array CGH on germline DNA, which resulted in the identification of novel copy number variants (CNVs) in 6 patients (15%) encompassing, among others, the cadherin gene CDH18, the bone morphogenetic protein antagonist family gene GREM1, and the breakpoint cluster region gene BCR. In addition, two genomic deletions were encountered encompassing two microRNA genes, hsa-mir-491/KIAA1797 and hsa-mir-646/AK309218. None of these CNVs has previously been reported in relation to CRC predisposition in humans, nor were they encountered in large control cohorts (>1,600 unaffected individuals). Since several of these newly identified candidate genes may be functionally linked to CRC development, our results illustrate the potential of this approach for the identification of novel candidate genes involved in CRC predisposition. Copy number detection was performed using CNAG2.0 software for 250k SNP arrays and using the Affymetrix Genotyping Console v2.1 software for SNP 6.0 arrays, Reference genomes are included in this data set. Germline genomic DNA from 41 patients with early-onset microsatellite stable colorectal cancer was hybridized on Affymetrix Nsp/6.0 SNP-based arrays according to manufacturer's procedures.
Project description:Within the frame of inherited cancer predisposition, single gene carriers of pathogenic variants (PVs) have been extensively represented in the literature, whereas the oligogenic coinheritance of heterozygous PVs in cancer-related genes is a poorly studied event. Currently, due to the increment of cancer survivors, the probability of presenting multiple primary cancers (MPC) is higher. This study included MPC patients ≤45 years without known PVs in common cancer predisposition genes. We used whole exome sequencing (WES) of germline and tumoral DNA, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) on germline DNA (patient 1-7, and patient 9-10), and karyotype of patient 8to detect variants associated with the disease. The ten patients included in the study presented a mean of 3 cancers per patient. CMA showed two microduplications and one microdeletion, while WES of the germline DNA identified 1-3 single nucleotide variants of potential interest to the disease in each patient and two additional copy number variants. Most of the identified variants were classified as variants of uncertain significance. The mapping of the germline variants into their pathways showed a possible additive effect of these as the cause of the cancer. Twelve somatic samples from 5 patients were available for sequencing. All the germline variants were also present in the somatic samples, while no second hits were identified in the same genes. The sequencing of patients with early cancers, family history and multiple tumors is already a standard of care. However, the growing evidence suggests that patient´s assessment should not stop at the identification of one PV in a cancer predisposition gene.
Project description:In the majority of colorectal cancers (CRC) under clinical suspicion for a hereditary cause, the disease-causing genetic factors are still to be discovered. In order to identify such genetic factors we stringently selected a discovery cohort of 41 CRC index patients with microsatellite-stable tumors. All patients were below 40 years of age at diagnosis and/or exhibited an overt family history. We employed genome-wide copy number profiling using high-resolution SNP-based array CGH on germline DNA, which resulted in the identification of novel copy number variants (CNVs) in 6 patients (15%) encompassing, among others, the cadherin gene CDH18, the bone morphogenetic protein antagonist family gene GREM1, and the breakpoint cluster region gene BCR. In addition, two genomic deletions were encountered encompassing two microRNA genes, hsa-mir-491/KIAA1797 and hsa-mir-646/AK309218. None of these CNVs has previously been reported in relation to CRC predisposition in humans, nor were they encountered in large control cohorts (>1,600 unaffected individuals). Since several of these newly identified candidate genes may be functionally linked to CRC development, our results illustrate the potential of this approach for the identification of novel candidate genes involved in CRC predisposition. Copy number detection was performed using CNAG2.0 software for 250k SNP arrays and using the Affymetrix Genotyping Console v2.1 software for SNP 6.0 arrays, Reference genomes are included in this data set.
Project description:Mounting evidence suggests that copy number variations (CNVs) can contribute to cancer susceptibility. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the role of germline CNVs in melanoma predisposition in high-risk melanoma families. We used genome-wide tiling comparative genomic hybridization and SNP arrays to characterize CNVs in 335 individuals (240 melanoma cases) from American melanoma-prone families (22 with germline CDKN2A or CDK4 mutations). We found that the global burden of overall CNVs (or deletions or duplications separately) was not significantly associated with case-control or CDKN2A/CDK4 mutation status after accounting for the familial dependence. However, we identified several rare CNVs that either involved known melanoma genes (e.g. PARP1, CDKN2A) or co-segregated with melanoma (duplication on 10q23.23, 3p12.2 and deletions on 8q424.3, 2q22.1) in families without mutations in known melanoma high-risk genes. Some of these CNVs were correlated with expression changes in disrupted genes based on RNASeq data from a subset of melanoma cases included in the CNV study. These results suggest that rare co-segregating CNVs may influence melanoma susceptibility in some melanoma-prone families and genes found in our study warrant further evaluation in future genetic analyses of melanoma.
Project description:Lynch syndrome, caused by germline heterozygous mutations of the DNA mismatch repair genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, or deletions affecting the EPCAM gene upstream of MSH2, is characterized by a predisposition to early-onset colorectal and additional extracolonic cancers. An alternative but rare cause of Lynch syndrome is a constitutional epimutation of MLH1, which is characterized by promoter methylation and transcriptional silencing of a single allele in normal tissues. Worldwide, five families with autosomal dominant transmission of a constitutional MLH1 epimutation linked to an MLH1 haplotype with two single nucleotide variants (c.-27C>A and c.85G>T) have been identified. Array-based genotyping using Affymetrix SNP 6.0 data in four of these families revealed a shared haplotype extending across a ≤2.6 Mb region of chromosome 3p22 encompassing MLH1 and additional flanking genes, indicating common ancestry. Genomic DNA from 5 carriers of the c.-27C>A and c.85G>T variants was hybridized on Affymetrix SNP6.0 array according to manufacturer's procedures
Project description:Effective molecular diagnosis of congenital diseases hinges on comprehensive genomic analysis, traditionally reliant on various methodologies specific to each variant type — whole exome or genome sequencing for single nucleotide variants (SNVs), array CGH for copy-number variants (CNVs), and microscopy for structural variants (SVs). We introduce a novel, integrative approach combining exome sequencing with chromosome conformation capture, termed Exo-C. This method enables the concurrent identification of SNVs in clinically relevant genes and SVs across the genome and allows analysis of heterozygous and mosaic carriers. Enhanced with targeted long-read sequencing, Exo-C evolves into a cost-efficient solution capable of resolving complex SVs at base-pair accuracy. Through several case studies, we demonstrate how Exo-C's multifaceted application can effectively uncover diverse causative variants and elucidate disease mechanisms in patients with rare disorders.
Project description:Nuclear deubiquitinase BAP1 (BRCA1-Associated Protein 1) is a core component of multiprotein complexes that promote transcription by reversing the ubiquitination of histone 2A (H2A). BAP1 is a tumor suppressor gene whose germline loss-of-function variants predispose to cancer. To our knowledge, there are very rare examples of different germline variants in the same gene causing either a NDD or a tumor predisposition syndrome. Here, we report a series of 11 de novo germline heterozygous missense BAP1 variants associated with a rare syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). Functional analysis showed that most of the variants cannot rescue the consequences of BAP1 inactivation, suggesting a loss-of-function mechanism. In T cells isolated from two affected children, H2A deubiquitination was impaired in matching peripheral blood mononuclear cells, histone H3 K27 acetylation ChIP-seq indicated that these BAP1 variants induced genome-wide chromatin state alterations, with enrichment for regulatory regions surrounding genes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Altogether, these results define a clinical syndrome caused by rare germline missense BAP1 variants that alter chromatin remodeling through abnormal histone ubiquitination and lead to transcriptional dysregulation of developmental genes.