| 1. |
- Nord, Helena, 1980-
(författare)
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Application of Genomic and Expression Arrays for Identification of new Cancer Genes
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Copy number variation (CNV) comprises a recently discovered kind of variation involving deletion and duplication of DNA segments of variable size, ranging from a few hundred basepairs to several million. By altering gene dosage levels or disrupting proximal or distant regulatory elements CNVs create human diversity. They represent also an important factor in human evolution and play a role in many disorders including cancer. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization as well as expression arrays are powerful and suitable methods for determination of copy number variations or gene expression changes in the human genome. In paper I we established a 32K clone-based genomic array, covering 99% of the current assembly of the human genome with high resolution and applied it in the profiling of 71 healthy individuals from three ethnic groups. Novel and previously reported CNVs, involving ~3.5% of the genome, were identified. Interestingly, 87% of the detected CNV regions overlapped with known genes indicating that they probably have phenotypic consequences. In papers II through IV we applied this platform to different tumor types, namely two collections of brain tumors, glioblastoma (paper II) and medulloblastoma (paper III), and a set of bladder carcinoma (paper IV) to identify chromosomal alterations at the level of DNA copy number that could be related to tumor initiation/progression. Tumors of the central nervous system represent a heterogeneous group of both benign and malignant neoplasms that affect both children and adults. Glioblastoma and medulloblastoma are two malignant forms. Glioblastoma often affects adults while the embryonal tumor medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor among children. The detailed profiling of 78 glioblastomas, allowed us to identify a complex pattern of aberrations including frequent and high copy number amplicons (detected in 79% of samples) as well as a number of homozygously deleted loci. These regions encompassed not only previously reported oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes but also numerous novel genes. In paper III, a subset of 26 medulloblastomas was analyzed using the same genomic array. We observed that alterations involving chromosome 17, especially isochromosome 17q, were the most common genomic aberrations in this tumor type, but copy number alterations involving other chromosomes: 1, 7 and 8 were also frequent. Focal amplifications, on chromosome 1 and 3, not previously described, were also detected. These loci may encompass novel genes involved in medulloblastoma development. In paper IV we examined for the presence of DNA copy number alterations and their effect on gene expression in a subset of 21 well-characterized Ta bladder carcinomas, selected for the presence or absence of recurrences. We identified a number of novel genes as well as a significant association between amplifications and high-grade and recurrent tumors which might be clinically useful. The results derived from these studies increase our understanding of the genetic alterations leading to the development of these tumor forms and point out candidate genes that may be used in future as targets for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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| 2. |
- Pan, Gang, et al.
(författare)
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PATZ1 down-regulates FADS1 by binding to rs174557 and is opposed by SP1/SREBP1c
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 45:5, s. 2408-2422
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The FADS1 and FADS2 genes in the FADS cluster encode the rate-limiting enzymes in the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). Genetic variation in this region has been associated with a large number of diseases and traits many of them correlated to differences in metabolism of PUFAs. However, the causative variants leading to these associations have not been identified. Here we find that the multiallelic rs174557 located in an AluYe5 element in intron 1 of FADS1 is functional and lies within a PATZ1 binding site. The derived allele of rs174557, which is the common variant in most populations, diminishes binding of PATZ1, a transcription factor conferring allele-specific downregulation of FADS1 The PATZ1 binding site overlaps with a SP1 site. The competitive binding between the suppressive PATZ1 and the activating complex of SP1 and SREBP1c determines the enhancer activity of this region, which regulates expression of FADS1.
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| 3. |
- Cavalli, Marco, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic prevention of hepatitis C virus-induced liver fibrosis by allele-specific downregulation of MERTK
- 2017
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Ingår i: Hepatology Research. - : Wiley. - 1386-6346 .- 1872-034X. ; 47:8, s. 826-830
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: Infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) can result in the development of liver fibrosis and may eventually progress into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanisms for this process are not fully known. Several genome-wide association studies have been carried out to pinpoint causative variants in HCV-infected patient cohorts, but these variants are usually not the functional ones. The aim of this study was to identify the regulatory single nucleotide polymorphism associated with the risk of HCV-induced liver fibrosis and elucidate its molecular mechanism.METHODS: We utilized a bioinformatics approach to identify a non-coding regulatory variant, located in an intron of the MERTK gene, based on differential transcription factor binding between the alleles. We validated the results using expression reporter assays and electrophoresis mobility shift assays.RESULTS: Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing indicated that transcription factor(s) bind stronger to the A allele of rs6726639. Electrophoresis mobility shift assays supported these findings and suggested that the transcription factor is interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). Luciferase report assays showed lower enhancer activity from the A allele and that IRF1 may act as a repressor.CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of hepatitis C with interferon-α results in increased IRF1 levels and our data suggest that this leads to an allele-specific downregulation of MERTK mediated by an allelic effect on the regulatory element containing the functional rs6726639. This variant also shows the hallmarks for being the driver of the genome-wide association studies for reduced risk of liver fibrosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease at MERTK.
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| 4. |
- Elfving, Hedvig, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of NTRK immunohistochemistry as a screening method for NTRK gene fusion detection in non-small cell lung cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Lung Cancer. - : Elsevier. - 0169-5002 .- 1872-8332. ; 151, s. 53-59
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The small molecule inhibitors larotrectinib and entrectinib have recently been approved as cancer agnostic drugs in patients with tumours harbouring a rearrangement of the neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK). These oncogenic fusions are estimated to occur in 0.1-3 % of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Although molecular techniques are most reliable for fusion detection, immunohistochemical analysis is considered valuable for screening. Therefore, we evaluated the newly introduced diagnostic immunohistochemical assay (clone EPR17341) on a representative NSCLC cohort.Methods: Cancer tissue from 688 clinically and molecularly extensively annotated NSCLC patients were comprised on tissue microarrays and stained with the pan-TRK antibody clone EPR17341. Positive cases were further analysed with the TruSight Tumor 170 RNA assay (Illumina). Selected cases were also tested with a NanoString NTRK fusion assay. For 199 cases, NTRK RNA expression data were available from previous RNA sequencing analysis.Results: Altogether, staining patterns for 617 NSCLC cases were evaluable. Of these, four cases (0.6 %) demonstrated a strong diffuse cytoplasmic and membranous staining, and seven cases a moderate staining (1.1 %). NanoString or TST170-analysis could not confirm an NTRK fusion in any of the IHC positive cases, or any of the cases with high mRNA levels. In the four cases with strong staining intensity in the tissue microarray, whole section staining revealed marked heterogeneity of NTRK protein expression.Conclusion: The presence of NTRK fusion genes in non-small cell lung cancer is exceedingly rare. The use of the immunohistochemical NTRK assay will result in a small number of false positive cases. This should be considered when the assay is applied as a screening tool in clinical diagnostics.
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| 5. |
- Nord, Helena, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Novel amplicons in pediatric medulloblastoma identified by high-resolution genomic analysis : Genetic aberrations in medulloblastoma
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Medulloblastoma (MB) is an aggressive and invasive embryonal CNS tumor that mainly affects children. Despite treatment, ~30% of the patients die within 2 years from diagnosis. MB patients are currently categorized into high- or standard-risk based on the clinical criteria, with high-risk group including patients <3 years, with incomplete tumor resection or with concomitant metastatic disease at presentation. However, these clinical parameters do not always predict patient outcome and additional biomarkers are desirable. In this study we have profiled a series of 25 MB samples with a high-resolution 32K BAC-array covering 99% of the current assembly of the human genome for the identification of genetic copy number alterations. The most frequent observed alteration was the combination of 17p loss and 17q gain, indicative of an isochromosome 17q, which was identified in 40% of the patients. This aberration was detected in both high- and standard-risk groups and was not associated with worse outcome. We also defined minimal overlapping regions of aberrations, including 16 regions of gains and 18 regions of loss in different chromosomes. Noteworthy, are a few very narrow amplified loci identified on autosomes 1, 3 and 8, aberrations that were verified with an alternative platform (Illumina 610Q chips). Several genes as CYR61, LMO4, EOMES, and MLH1 encompassed within these loci were also found to present with transcript up-regulation. These genes represent novel candidate genes most probably involved in MB development.
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| 6. |
- Tsakonas, Georgios, et al.
(författare)
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An immune gene expression signature distinguishes central nervous system metastases from primary tumours in non-small-cell lung cancer
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 132, s. 24-34
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Dissemination of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the central nervous system is a frequent and challenging clinical problem. Systemic or local therapies rarely prolong survival and have modest activity regarding local control. Alterations in gene expression in brain metastasis versus primary tumour may increase aggressiveness and impair therapeutic efforts.Methods: We identified 25 patients with surgically removed NSCLC brain metastases in two different patient cohorts. For 13 of these patients, primary tumour samples were available. Gene expression analysis using the nCounter (R) PanCancer Immune Profiling gene expression panel (nanoString technologies Inc.) was performed in brain metastases and primary tumour samples. Identification of differentially expressed genes was conducted on normalized data using the nSolver analysis software.Results: We compared gene expression patterns in brain metastases with primary tumours. Brain metastasis samples displayed a distinct clustering pattern compared to primary tumour samples with a statistically significant downregulation of genes related to immune response and immune cell activation. Results from KEGG term analysis on differentially expressed genes revealed a concomitant enrichment of multiple KEGG terms associated with the immune system. We identified a 12-gene immune signature that clearly separated brain metastases from primary tumours.Conclusions: We identified a unique gene downregulation pattern in brain metastases compared with primary tumours. This finding may explain the lower intracranial efficacy of systemic therapy, especially immunotherapy, in brain metastasis of patients with NSCLC.
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| 7. |
- Tsakonas, Georgios, et al.
(författare)
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Matched Analyses of Brain Metastases versus Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Reveal a Unique microRNA Signature
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 24:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Distant spreading of tumor cells to the central nervous system in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occurs frequently and poses major clinical issues due to limited treatment options. RNAs displaying differential expression in brain metastasis versus primary NSCLC may explain distant tumor growth and may potentially be used as therapeutic targets. In this study, we conducted systematic microRNA expression profiling from tissue biopsies of primary NSCLC and brain metastases from 25 patients. RNA analysis was performed using the nCounter Human v3 miRNA Expression Assay, NanoString technologies, followed by differential expression analysis and in silico target gene pathway analysis. We uncovered a panel of 11 microRNAs with differential expression and excellent diagnostic performance in brain metastasis versus primary NSCLC. Five microRNAs were upregulated in brain metastasis (miR-129-2-3p, miR-124-3p, miR-219a-2-3p, miR-219a-5p, and miR-9-5p) and six microRNAs were downregulated in brain metastasis (miR-142-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-199b-5p, miR-199a-3p, miR-199b-5p, and miR-199a-5p). The differentially expressed microRNAs were predicted to converge on distinct target gene networks originating from five to twelve core target genes. In conclusion, we uncovered a unique microRNA profile linked to two target gene networks. Our results highlight the potential of specific microRNAs as biomarkers for brain metastasis in NSCLC and indicate plausible mechanistic connections.
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