The identification of gene signatures in patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma from a pair of twins

Background There is no unified treatment standard for patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL). Cancer neoantigens are the result of somatic mutations and cancer-specific. Increased number of somatic mutations are associated with anti-cancer effects. Screening out ENKTL-specific neoantigens on the surface of cancer cells relies on the understanding of ENKTL mutation patterns. Hence, it is imperative to identify ENKTL-specific genes for ENKTL diagnosis, the discovery of tumor-specific neoantigens and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. We investigated the gene signatures of ENKTL patients. Methods We collected the peripheral blood of a pair of twins for sequencing to identify unique variant genes. One of the twins is diagnosed with ENKTL. Seventy samples were analyzed by Robust Multi-array Analysis (RMA). Two methods (elastic net and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination) were used to select unique genes. Next, we performed functional enrichment analysis and pathway enrichment analysis. Then, we conducted single-sample gene set enrichment analysis of immune infiltration and validated the expression of the screened markers with limma packages. Results We screened out 126 unique variant genes. Among them, 11 unique genes were selected by the combination of elastic net and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination. Subsequently, GO and KEGG analysis indicated the biological function of identified unique genes. GSEA indicated five immunity-related pathways with high signature scores. In patients with ENKTL and the group with high signature scores, a proportion of functional immune cells are all of great infiltration. We finally found that CDC27, ZNF141, FCGR2C and NES were four significantly differential genes in ENKTL patients. ZNF141, FCGR2C and NES were upregulated in patients with ENKTL, while CDC27 was significantly downregulated. Conclusion We identified four ENKTL markers (ZNF141, FCGR2C, NES and CDC27) in patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Nrf2 Promotes Inflammation in Early Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion via Recruitment and Activation of Macrophages

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis in response to inflammation is a primary cause of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) reportedly plays an important role in myocardial IRI, but the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Expression data from the normal heart tissues of mice or heart tissues treated with reperfusion for 6 h after ischemia (IR6h) were acquired from the GEO database; changes in biological function and infiltrating immune cells were analyzed. The binding between the molecules was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Based on confirmation that early myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (myocardial ischemia/reperfusion for 6 hours, IR6h) promoted myocardial apoptosis and inflammatory response, we found that Nrf2, cooperating with Programmed Cell Death 4, promoted transcription initiation of C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 3 (Ccl3) in myocardial tissues of mice treated with IR6h. Moreover, Ccl3 contributed to the high signature score of C-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (Ccr1)-positive macrophages. The high signature score of Ccr1-positive macrophages leads to the release of pro-inflammatory factors interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 6. This study is the first to elucidate the damaging effect of Nrf2 via remodeling of the immune microenvironment in early myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, which provides us with new perspectives and treatment strategies for myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.

Tumor Signature Analysis Implicates Hereditary Cancer Genes in Endometrial Cancer Development

Risk of endometrial cancer (EC) is increased ~2-fold for women with a family history of cancer, partly due to inherited pathogenic variants in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. We explored the role of additional genes as explanation for familial EC presentation by investigating germline and EC tumor sequence data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 539; 308 European ancestry), and germline data from 33 suspected familial European ancestry EC patients demonstrating immunohistochemistry-detected tumor MMR proficiency. Germline variants in MMR and 26 other known/candidate EC risk genes were annotated for pathogenicity in the two EC datasets, and also for European ancestry individuals from gnomAD as a population reference set (n = 59,095). Ancestry-matched case–control comparisons of germline variant frequency and/or sequence data from suspected familial EC cases highlighted ATM, PALB2, RAD51C, MUTYH and NBN as candidates for large-scale risk association studies. Tumor mutational signature analysis identified a microsatellite-high signature for all cases with a germline pathogenic MMR gene variant. Signature analysis also indicated that germline loss-of-function variants in homologous recombination (BRCA1, PALB2, RAD51C) or base excision (NTHL1, MUTYH) repair genes can contribute to EC development in some individuals with germline variants in these genes. These findings have implications for expanded therapeutic options for EC cases.

Distinguishable Prognostic miRNA Signatures of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer With or Without HPV Infection

Since their discovery in the 1990’s, microRNAs (miRNA) have opened up new vistas in the field of cancer biology and are found to have fundamental roles in tumorigenesis and progression. As head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with positive human papillomavirus (HPV+) is significantly distinct from its HPV negative (HPV−) counterpart in terms of both molecular mechanisms and clinical prognosis, the current study aimed to separately develop miRNA signatures for HPV+ and HPV− HNSCC as well as to explore the potential functions. Both signatures were reliable for the prediction of prognosis in their respective groups. Then Enrichment analysis was performed to predict the potential biological functions of the signatures. Importantly, combining previous studies and our results, we speculated that HPV+ HNSCC patients with low signature score had better immunity against the tumors and enhanced the sensitivity of therapies leading to improved prognosis, while HPV− HNSCC patients with high signature score acquired resistance to therapeutic approaches as well as dysregulation of cell metabolism leading to poor prognosis. Hence, we believe that the identified signatures respectively for HPV+ and HPV− HNSCC, are of great significance in accessing patient outcomes as well as uncovering new biomarkers and therapeutic targets, which are worth further investigation through molecular biology experiments.

Beyond BRCA? clinical utility of homologous recombination deficiency in gastrointestinal cancers.

472 Background: There is emerging evidence about the predictive role of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in multiple cancers. The clinical utility of HRD is less well defined in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Methods: We reviewed the whole genome (WGS) and transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) data of patients with advanced GI cancers between 2012-2018 in the Personalized Oncogenomics trial (NCT02155621). Scores were calculated as the sum of loss of heterozygosity, telomeric allelic imbalance, and large-scale state transitions scores. HRD was defined as a score ≥34. Mutational analysis was performed to determine the presence of mutational signature 3, which is usually strongly associated with BRCA status. Retrospective chart review was conducted to extract treatment and survival outcomes. Overall survival (OS) from initiation of first-line systemic therapy and time to progression on platinum therapy (TTPp) were calculated. Linear and multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results: Of 154 patients with GI primaries, 56% were male and 105 (68%) were exposed to a platinum agent in the metastatic setting. Primary sites included upper GI (N=20, 9%), pancreas (N=35, 16%), colorectal (N=74, 33%), and other GI primary (N=25, 11%). Ten patients (6%) had a BRCA1/2 mutation, 20 (13%) had a high HRD score, and 11 (7%) had a high signature 3 score (>0.05). Six patients had both high HRD and high signature 3 scores (Table). On linear regression, high HRD scores and mutational signature 3 were independently associated with longer TTPp (β=4.17, 95% CI 0.15-8.19, p=0.04; β=8.03, 95% CI 2.87-13.18, p<0.05, respectively). On multivariable linear regression, after adjusting for HRD score, BRCA1/2 status, and tumor site, only cases with a mutational signature 3 retained significance ( p<0.05). HRD status was not prognostic for OS (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.65-1.62, p=0.92). Conclusions: Within a cohort of patients with GI malignancies characterized by WGS and RNA-Seq, mutational signature 3 was more strongly associated with TTPp compared to HRD score. These data highlight potential predictive implications of Signature 3 to complement HRD and BRCA status in identifying patients who may benefit from exposure to platinum therapy. [Table: see text]

Tumor Edge-to-Core Transition Promotes Malignancy in Primary-to-Recurrent Glioblastoma Progression in a PLAGL1/CD109-mediated mechanism

Background Glioblastoma remains highly lethal due to its inevitable recurrence. Most of this recurrence is found locally, indicating that post-surgical tumor-initiating cells (TICs) accumulate at the tumor edge. These edge-TICs then generate local recurrence harboring new core lesions. Here, we investigated the clinical significance of the edge-to-core (E-to-C) signature generating glioblastoma recurrence and sought to identify its central mediators. Methods First, we examined the association of E-to-C-related expression changes to patient outcome in matched primary and recurrent samples (n=37). Specifically, we tested whether the combined decrease of the edge-TIC marker PROM1 (CD133) with the increase of the core-TIC marker CD109, representing E-to-C transition during the primary-to-recurrence progression, indicates poorer patient outcome. We then investigated the specific molecular mediators that trigger tumor recurrence driven by the E-to-C progression. Subsequently, the functional and translational significance of the identified molecule was validated with our patient-derived edge-TIC models in vitro and in vivo. Results Patients exhibiting the CD133 low/CD109 high signature upon recurrence representing E-to-C transition displayed a strong association with poorer progression-free survival and overall survival among all tested patients. Differential gene expression identified that PLAGL1 was tightly correlated with the core TIC marker CD109 and was linked to shorter patient survival. Experimentally, forced PLAGL1 overexpression enhanced, while its knockdown reduced, glioblastoma edge-derived tumor growth in vivo and subsequent mouse survival, suggesting its essential role in the E-to-C-mediated glioblastoma progression. Conclusions E-to-C axis represents an ongoing lethal process in primary glioblastoma contributing to its recurrence, partly in a PLAGL1/CD109-mediated mechanism.

Development of Autophagy Signature-Based Prognostic Nomogram for Refined Glioma Survival Prognostication

The current glioma classification could be optimized to cover such a separate and individualized prognosis ranging from a few months to over ten years. Considering its highly conserved role and potential in therapies, autophagy might be a promising element to be incorporated as a refinement for improved survival prognostication. The expression and RNA-seq data of 881 glioma patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas were included, mapped with autophagy-related genes. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis and Cox regression analysis were used for the autophagy signature establishment, which composed of MUL1, NPC1, and TRIM13. Validations were represented by Kaplan-Meier plots and receiver operating curves (ROC). Cluster analysis suggested the IDH1 mutant involved in the favorable prognosis of the signature clusters. The signature was also immune-related shown by the Gene Ontology analysis and the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. The high signature risk group held a higher ESTIMATE score (p=2.6e−11) and stromal score (p=1.8e−10). CD276 significantly correlated with the signature (r=0.51, p<0.05). The final nomogram integrated with the autophagy signature, IDH1 mutation, and pathological grade was built with accuracy and discrimination (1-year survival AUC=0.812, 5-year survival AUC=0.822, and 10-year survival AUC=0.834). Its prognostic value and clinical utility were well-defined by the superiority in the comparisons with the current World Health Organization glioma classification in ROC (p<0.05) and decision curve analysis. The autophagy signature-based IDH1 mutation and grade nomogram refined glioma classification for a more individualized and clinically applicable survival estimation and inspired potential autophagy-related therapies.

Novel Type 2-high gene clusters associated with corticosteroid sensitivity in COPD

RationaleSevere asthma and COPD share common pathophysiologic traits such as relative corticosteroid insensitivity. We recently published three transcriptome-associated clusters (TACs) using hierarchical analysis of the sputum transcriptome in asthmatics from the U-BIOPRED cohort with one Type 2-high signature (TAC1) and 2 Type 2-low signatures.ObjectiveWe examined whether gene-expression signatures obtained in asthma can be used to identify the subgroup of COPD patients with steroid sensitivity.MethodsUsing gene set variation analysis (GSVA), we examined the distribution and enrichment scores (ES) of the 3 TACs in the transcriptome of bronchial biopsies from 46 patients who participated in the GLUCOLD COPD study that received 30 months of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with and without an added long-acting β-agonist (LABA). The identified signatures were then associated with longitudinal clinical variables after treatment.Measurements and main resultsBronchial biopsies in COPD patients at baseline showed a wide range of expression of the 3 TACs. After ICS±LABA treatment, the ES of TAC1 was significantly reduced at 30 months, but those of TAC2 and TAC3 were unaffected. A corticosteroid-sensitive TAC1 (sub)signature was developed from the TAC1 ICS-responsive genes. This signature consisted of mast cell-specific genes identified by single-cell RNA-seq and positively correlated with bronchial biopsy mast cell numbers following ICS±LABA. Baseline levels of gene transcription predicted change in FEV1 %predicted following 30-month ICS±LABA.ConclusionsSputum-derived transcriptomic signatures from an asthma cohort can be recapitulated in bronchial biopsies of COPD patients and identified airway wall mast cells as a predictor of those COPD patients who will benefit from inhaled corticosteroids.

Longitudinal Tracking of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells in Xenografts and Patients By microRNA Reporters and Single Cell RNA Sequencing

Current understanding of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) assumes a developmental hierarchy, in which a minor fraction of primitive and quiescent leukemia stem cells (LSC) sustain clonal propagation of disease. These therapy-resistant LSC may be the basis of relapse, as supported by data correlating the presence of LSC gene expression signatures at diagnosis with poor prognosis (Ng et al, Nature 2016). Novel approaches tracing LSC fates at single cell level before, during and after chemotherapy (CTX) are needed to confirm their biological relevance and derive new, LSC-focused diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We and others have previously linked key LSC properties, such as quiescence and therapy resistance, to complex transcriptional regulation orchestrated by miR-126 (Lechman et al, Cancer Cell 2016). Furthermore, we provided proof of concept that LSCs could be prospectively isolated as miR-126(high) cells exploiting a lentiviral reporter vector capturing miR-126 bioactivity in live cells with single cell resolution. To extend these studies, we transduced primary blasts from n=3 AML patients (pts) carrying NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations with the miR-126 reporter, followed by xenografting (PDX). Blasts showed intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) in terms of miR-126 activity, with a minor fraction identified as miR-126(high). Limiting dilution secondary transplantation of FACS sorted miR-126(high) and -(low) blasts proved strong enrichment of repopulating activity within the miR-126(high) compartment in all 3 pts. On the contrary, no LSC enrichment could be verified in the CD34+CD38- fraction in 1 patient, suggesting that high miR-126 activity represents a more robust LSC identifier than commonly used surface markers. Next, we investigated the impact of daunorubicin and cytarabine CTX on miR-126-reporter+ blasts (n=3 AML) in PDX. Surprisingly, overall miR-126 activity diminished in post CTX residual AML compared to controls, compatible with a loss of blast quiescence. CTX accentuated ITH by uncovering a subset of blasts with very high levels of miR-126, distinct from the bulk population, which may correspond to residual quiescent LSC (Fig A). We then performed bulk RNA sequencing on miR-126(high) and miR-126(low) subsets from CTX and control PDX. While miR-126(low) blasts from both groups expressed markers of myeloid differentiation, miR-126(high) blasts were enriched for published hematopoietic stem cell hallmark signatures. Integrating differentially expressed genes between miR-126(high) and-(low) subsets at steady state and post CTX, we extrapolated a novel 8 gene signature associated with miR-126(high) blasts. Of note, patients from the AML TCGA PanCancer Atlas Cohort (n=161) harboring overexpression in one or more of these 8 genes had significantly decreased overall survival (10 vs 19 months, Logrank test p-value = 0.018). To further test whether our 8-gene miR-126(high) signature reveals ITH in patients, we performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) of AML patient BM aspirates at diagnosis (n= 6). Blasts were identified based on the detection of mutated NPM1 transcripts in single cells. In 5 out of 7 patients expression of the miR-126 signature mapped to specific clusters of blasts identified by unsupervised shared nearest neighbor algorithm, confirming that it identifies ITH in patient samples. Interestingly, we detected miR-126 signature(high) blasts in pts with poor prognosis (n=4) and not in those with favorable outcome (n=2) (Fig B). To investigate ITH across longitudinal samples, we next performed scRNAseq of residual AML from a representative patient assessed early after CTX. In line with our PDX CTX model displaying increased miR-126 ITH, blasts on day14 of induction CTX segregated into 2 different clusters: cluster 1 containing LSC-like cells with miR-126(high) signature and similar transcriptional profile to the diagnosis counterpart; cluster 2, instead, was composed of actively cycling blasts. Residual blasts at day30, in addition to uniformly expressing the miR-126(high) signature, differed from diagnosis and day14 blasts by displaying cell cycle quiescence and induction of oxidative phosphorylation genes (Fig C). In summary, we have set up and applied PDX LSC modeling to clinically relevant patient samples to address AML intra-tumor heterogeneity and to pinpoint novel relevant transcriptomic features of LSC at diagnosis and after chemotherapy. Figure Disclosures Gentner: Genenta Science: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Research Funding.