Bulk RNA-seq of stromal cells from multiple cancer types
We sorted CD45-CD44+CD90+ stromal cells from multiple tumor types and performed bulk RNA-seq. The data allows to infer CAF programs active across indications.
Study
EGAS00001006497
Adaptive Therapy Exploits Fitness Deficits in Chemotherapy-Resistant Ovarian Cancer to Achieve Long-Term Tumor Control Open Access
Drug resistance results in poor outcomes for cancer patients. Adaptive therapy is a potential strategy to address drug resistance that exploits competitive interactions between sensitive and resistant subclones. Here, we showed that adapting carboplatin dose according to tumor response (adaptive therapy) significantly prolonged survival of murine ovarian cancer models compared to standard carboplatin dosing, without increasing mean daily drug dose or toxicity. Platinum resistant ovarian cancer cells exhibited diminished fitness when drug was absent in vitro and in vivo, which caused selective decline of resistant populations due to reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. Conversely fitter, sensitive cells re-grew when drug was withdrawn. Using a bioinformatics pipeline that exploits copy number changes to quantify the emergence of treatment resistance, analysis of cell‐free DNA obtained longitudinally from ovarian cancer patients during treatment showed subclonal selection through therapy, and measurements of resistant population growth correlated strongly with disease burden. These preclinical findings pave the way for future clinical testing of personalized adaptive therapy regimens tailored to the evolution of carboplatin resistance in individual ovarian cancer patients.
Study
EGAS50000001142
Whole genome sequencing data of pediatric hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare subtype of B-cell ALL characterized by chromosome number < 45 , encompassing near-haploid (24–29 chromosomes) and low-hypodiploid (30–39 chromosomes) subgroups. These subgroups display distinct genetic landscapes, including Ras and receptor tyrosine kinase pathway alterations in near-haploid ALL, and frequent IKZF2, RB1, and germline TP53 alterations in low-hypodiploid ALL. Clinically, hypodiploid ALL is associated with dismal prognosis, with 5-year overall survival rates often between 50-70% in children and markedly worse in adults. Despite advances in risk stratification and MRD-guided therapy, allogeneic stem cell transplantation remains the current standard recommendation for affected patients.
Study
EGAS50000001305
Whole genome sequencing data of paediatric T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy accounting for approximately 15–25% of pediatric and adult ALL cases. Despite significant therapeutic improvements over the last decade, the prognosis of T-ALL remains less favorable than that of B-ALL, with 5-year EFS and OS of around 76–82% and 80–88%, respectively, depending on the treatment protocol used. T-ALL patients often suffer from failure of induction therapy or early relapse, which is associated with a dismal prognosis. Approximately 10–15% of T-ALL patients experience relapse, and survival after relapse is poor.
Study
EGAS50000001387
Limited Association between HRR Gene Alterations and HRD in Molecular Tumor Board Cancer Samples: Who should be tested for HRD?
Alterations in Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) Pathway genes have been found to be associated with HR-Deficiency (HRD), which is an approved biomarker for PARP Inhibitor (PARPi) treatment. The aim of a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) is to identify molecular alterations in cancer patients with advanced tumors that may suggest off-label treatment options. So far, few studies have analyzed the presence of HRR gene mutations and their association with HRD outside of clinical studies. Currently, no data on HRD testing in the setting of a MTB have been published. For the present study, a cohort of 237 patients encompassing 24 different tumor entities was collected from the MTB of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN.
We show that an elevated Genomic Instability Score (GIS ≥ 42) can occur in samples with and without mutations in HRR-related genes. Overall, 38.1% of cancer samples with BRCA1/2 mutations, 10.9% of tumors with alterations in HRR genes other than BRCA1/2, and 4.3% of cancer samples without HRR gene mutations harbored an elevated GIS. Notably, our data show that various inactivating BRCA1/2 mutations are not associated with an elevated GIS.
Taken together, panCancer assessment of HRD in addition to BRCA1/2 and other HRR gene mutational analysis is recommended to guide decisions regarding PARPi treatment. Further studies are needed to establish thresholds for GIS in non-ovarian cancer entities. Finally, HRD can be observed in 4.3% of BRCA1/2 and other HRR gene wildtype cancer samples, and may emerge as an independent biomarker for PARPi in the future.
Study
EGAS00001008063
Real-time response profiling through serial plasma analyses during FOLFOX treatment in patients with colorectal cancer
Response evaluation of cancer therapeutics relies on the assessment of the change in tumor burden, which is performed in accordance with defined criteria every 8-12 weeks. However, predictive factors for response are not available for the majority of patients with advanced stage colorectal cancer. Here we show that measurement of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels during one of the most commonly administered drug regimens, i.e. FOLFOX, allows an early, real-time assessment of treatment response. During the 48-hour FOLFOX application, we serially assessed plasma DNA and observed that ctDNA levels initially decreased during the first 23 hours. In patients with stable disease or partial response, ctDNA levels remained low, whereas in patients with progressive disease, ctDNA levels increased at the end of the treatment cycle predicting clinical and radiologic response correctly. Hence, ctDNA monitoring during treatment may contribute to an early outcome prediction with significant implications for the management of patients.
Study
EGAS00001004213
Genome-wide cell-free DNA mutational integration enables ultra-sensitive cancer monitoring
In many areas of oncology, we lack sensitive tools to track low burden disease. While cell-free DNA (cfDNA) shows promise in detecting cancer mutations, we found that the combination of low tumor fraction (TF) and limited number of DNA fragments restricts low disease burden monitoring through the prevailing deep targeted sequencing paradigm. We reasoned that breadth may supplant depth of sequencing to overcome the barrier of cfDNA abundance. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of cfDNA allowed ultra-sensitive detection, capitalizing on the cumulative signal of thousands of somatic mutations observed in solid malignancies, with TF detection sensitivity as low as 10-5. The WGS approach enabled dynamic tumor burden tracking and post-operative residual disease detection, associated with adverse outcome. Thus, we present an orthogonal framework for cfDNA cancer monitoring via genome wide mutational integration, enabling ultra-sensitive detection, overcoming the limitation of cfDNA abundance, and empowering treatment optimization in low-disease burden oncology care
Study
EGAS00001004406
RNAseq of Colorectal cancer organoid-stroma biobank cohort
In colorectal cancers (CRC) the tumor microenvironment plays a key role for prognosis and therapy efficacy. Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) show enormous potential for preclinical testing, however, in purely epithelial cultures features including the ‘consensus molecular subtypes’ (CMS) are largely eradicated. To better reflect cell heterogeneity, we established the CRC organoid-stroma biobank of matched PDTOs and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from 30 patients. Context-specific phenotyping showed that xenotransplantation or co-culture with CAFs restores the individual transcriptomic status and instructs subtype-specific stromal gene expression. Furthermore, co-culture exposed CMS4-specific resistance to Gefitinib and SN-38 and revealed prognostic gene expression signatures. Chemogenomic library screening identified patient- and therapy-dependent mechanisms of stromal resistance including MET as common target. Our results demonstrate that CRC phenotypes are encrypted in the cancer epithelium in a plastic fashion that strongly depends on the context. Consequently, CAFs are essential for faithful representation of molecular subtypes and therapy responses ex vivo.
Study
EGAS00001007300
WES of Colorectal cancer organoid-stroma biobank cohort
In colorectal cancers (CRC) the tumor microenvironment plays a key role for prognosis and therapy efficacy. Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) show enormous potential for preclinical testing, however, in purely epithelial cultures features including the ‘consensus molecular subtypes’ (CMS) are largely eradicated. To better reflect cell heterogeneity, we established the CRC organoid-stroma biobank of matched PDTOs and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from 30 patients. Context-specific phenotyping showed that xenotransplantation or co-culture with CAFs restores the individual transcriptomic status and instructs subtype-specific stromal gene expression. Furthermore, co-culture exposed CMS4-specific resistance to Gefitinib and SN-38 and revealed prognostic gene expression signatures. Chemogenomic library screening identified patient- and therapy-dependent mechanisms of stromal resistance including MET as common target. Our results demonstrate that CRC phenotypes are encrypted in the cancer epithelium in a plastic fashion that strongly depends on the context. Consequently, CAFs are essential for faithful representation of molecular subtypes and therapy responses ex vivo.
Study
EGAS00001007301
Carcinoma of the oral tongue (OTSCC) genomic landscape characterisation
Carcinoma of the oral tongue (OTSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity, characterized by frequent recurrence and poor survival. The last three decades has witnessed a change in the OTSCC epidemiological profile, with increasing incidence in younger patients, females and never-smokers. Here, we sought to characterize the OTSCC genomic landscape and to determine factors that may delineate the genetic basis of this disease, inform prognosis and identify targets for therapeutic intervention.
Study
EGAS00001001329