Chromothripsis in cancer cells: An update Rode, Agata; Maass, Kendra Korinna; Willmund, Karolin Viktoria ...
International journal of cancer,
May 15 2016, Volume:
138, Issue:
10
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
In 2011, a novel form of genome instability was reported by Stephens et al., characterized by tens to hundreds of locally clustered rearrangements affecting one or a few chromosome(s) in cancer ...cells. This phenomenon, termed chromothripsis, is likely due to a single catastrophic event leading to the simultaneous formation of multiple double‐strand breaks, which are repaired by error‐prone mechanisms. Since then, the occurrence of chromothripsis was detected in a wide range of tumor entities. In this review, we will discuss potential mechanisms of chromothripsis initiation in cancer and outline the prevalence of chromothripsis across entities. Furthermore, we will examine how chromothriptic events may promote cancer development and how they may affect cancer therapy.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Two recurrent mutations, K27M and G34R/V, within histone variant H3.3 were recently identified in ∼50% of pHGGs. Both mutations define clinically and biologically distinct subgroups of pHGGs. Here, ...we provide further insight about the dominant-negative effect of K27M mutant H3.3, leading to a global reduction of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3. We demonstrate that this is caused by aberrant recruitment of the PRC2 complex to K27M mutant H3.3 and enzymatic inhibition of the H3K27me3-establishing methyltransferase EZH2. By performing chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in primary pHGGs, we show that reduced H3K27me3 levels and DNA hypomethylation act in concert to activate gene expression in K27M mutant pHGGs.
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•Dominant-negative effect of K27M mutant H3.3 results in global loss of H3K27me3•Loss of H3K27me3 is caused by aberrant recruitment of PRC2 to K27M mutant H3.3•Genome-wide analysis of H3K27me3 and DNA methylation in primary pHGGs•H3K27me3 loss and DNA hypomethylation lead to gene activation in K27M mutant pHGGs
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We studied how intratumoral genetic heterogeneity shapes tumor growth and therapy response for isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastoma, a rapidly regrowing tumor. We inferred the ...evolutionary trajectories of matched pairs of primary and relapsed tumors based on deep whole-genome-sequencing data. This analysis suggests both a distant origin of de novo glioblastoma, up to 7 years before diagnosis, and a common path of early tumorigenesis, with one or more of chromosome 7 gain, 9p loss, or 10 loss, at tumor initiation. TERT promoter mutations often occurred later as a prerequisite for rapid growth. In contrast to this common early path, relapsed tumors acquired no stereotypical pattern of mutations and typically regrew from oligoclonal origins, suggesting sparse selective pressure by therapeutic measures.
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•We inferred evolutionary trajectories of pairs of primary/relapsed glioblastomas•Chromosome 7 gain, 9p loss, or 10 loss commonly occurred at tumor initiation•TERT promoter mutations often occurred later as a prerequisite for rapid growth•Relapsed tumors typically regrew from oligoclonal origins
By analyzing 21 paired primary and locally relapsed IDH-wild-type glioblastomas (GBM), Körber et al. show that most GBM initiate by gains and losses of specific chromosomes; TERT promoter mutations often occur later as a prerequisite for rapid growth, and relapsed GBM acquire few stereotypical mutations.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Clonal genome evolution is a key feature of asexually reproducing species and human cancer development. While many studies have described the landscapes of clonal genome evolution in cancer, few ...determine the underlying evolutionary parameters from molecular data, and even fewer integrate theory with data. We derived theoretical results linking mutation rate, time, expansion dynamics, and biological/clinical parameters. Subsequently, we inferred time-resolved estimates of evolutionary parameters from mutation accumulation, mutational signatures and selection. We then applied this framework to predict the time of speciation of the marbled crayfish, an enigmatic, globally invasive parthenogenetic freshwater crayfish. The results predict that speciation occurred between 1986 and 1990, which is consistent with biological records. We also used our framework to analyze whole-genome sequencing datasets from primary and relapsed glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. The results identified evolutionary subgroups and showed that tumor cell survival could be inferred from genomic data that was generated during the resection of the primary tumor. In conclusion, our framework allowed a time-resolved, integrated analysis of key parameters in clonally evolving genomes, and provided novel insights into the evolutionary age of marbled crayfish and the progression of glioblastoma.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Charting differences between tumors and normal tissue is a mainstay of cancer research. However, clonal tumor expansion from complex normal tissue architectures potentially obscures cancer-specific ...events, including divergent epigenetic patterns. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of normal B cell subsets, we observed broad epigenetic programming of selective transcription factor binding sites coincident with the degree of B cell maturation. By comparing normal B cells to malignant B cells from 268 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we showed that tumors derive largely from a continuum of maturation states reflected in normal developmental stages. Epigenetic maturation in CLL was associated with an indolent gene expression pattern and increasingly favorable clinical outcomes. We further uncovered that most previously reported tumor-specific methylation events are normally present in non-malignant B cells. Instead, we identified a potential pathogenic role for transcription factor dysregulation in CLL, where excess programming by EGR and NFAT with reduced EBF and AP-1 programming imbalances the normal B cell epigenetic program.
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IJS, NUK, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Epigenetic alterations, that is, disruption of DNA methylation and chromatin architecture, are now acknowledged as a universal feature of tumorigenesis. Medulloblastoma, a clinically challenging, ...malignant childhood brain tumour, is no exception. Despite much progress from recent genomics studies, with recurrent changes identified in each of the four distinct tumour subgroups (WNT-pathway-activated, SHH-pathway-activated, and the less-well-characterized Group 3 and Group 4), many cases still lack an obvious genetic driver. Here we present whole-genome bisulphite-sequencing data from thirty-four human and five murine tumours plus eight human and three murine normal controls, augmented with matched whole-genome, RNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data. This comprehensive data set allowed us to decipher several features underlying the interplay between the genome, epigenome and transcriptome, and its effects on medulloblastoma pathophysiology. Most notable were highly prevalent regions of hypomethylation correlating with increased gene expression, extending tens of kilobases downstream of transcription start sites. Focal regions of low methylation linked to transcription-factor-binding sites shed light on differential transcriptional networks between subgroups, whereas increased methylation due to re-normalization of repressed chromatin in DNA methylation valleys was positively correlated with gene expression. Large, partially methylated domains affecting up to one-third of the genome showed increased mutation rates and gene silencing in a subgroup-specific fashion. Epigenetic alterations also affected novel medulloblastoma candidate genes (for example, LIN28B), resulting in alternative promoter usage and/or differential messenger RNA/microRNA expression. Analysis of mouse medulloblastoma and precursor-cell methylation demonstrated a somatic origin for many alterations. Our data provide insights into the epigenetic regulation of transcription and genome organization in medulloblastoma pathogenesis, which are probably also of importance in a wider developmental and disease context.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Pediatric glioblastomas (GBM) including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) are devastating brain tumors with no effective therapy. Here, we investigated clinical and biological impacts of ...histone H3.3 mutations. Forty-two DIPGs were tested for H3.3 mutations. Wild-type versus mutated (K27M-H3.3) subgroups were compared for
HIST1H3B
,
IDH
,
ATRX
and
TP53
mutations, copy number alterations and clinical outcome. K27M-H3.3 occurred in 71 %,
TP53
mutations in 77 % and
ATRX
mutations in 9 % of DIPGs.
ATRX
mutations were more frequent in older children (
p
< 0.0001). No G34V/R-H3.3, IDH1/2 or H3.1 mutations were identified. K27M-H3.3 DIPGs showed specific copy number changes, including all gains/amplifications of
PDGFRA
and
MYC/PVT1
loci. Notably, all long-term survivors were H3.3 wild type and this group of patients had better overall survival. K27M-H3.3 mutation defines clinically and biologically distinct subgroups and is prevalent in DIPG, which will impact future therapeutic trial design. K27M- and G34V-H3.3 have location-based incidence (brainstem/cortex) and potentially play distinct roles in pediatric GBM pathogenesis. K27M-H3.3 is universally associated with short survival in DIPG, while patients wild-type for H3.3 show improved survival. Based on prognostic and therapeutic implications, our findings argue for H3.3-mutation testing at diagnosis, which should be rapidly integrated into the clinical decision-making algorithm, particularly in atypical DIPG.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in childhood. Molecular studies from several groups around the world demonstrated that medulloblastoma is not one disease but comprises a ...collection of distinct molecular subgroups. However, all these studies reported on different numbers of subgroups. The current consensus is that there are only four core subgroups, which should be termed WNT, SHH, Group 3 and Group 4. Based on this, we performed a meta-analysis of all molecular and clinical data of 550 medulloblastomas brought together from seven independent studies. All cases were analyzed by gene expression profiling and for most cases SNP or array-CGH data were available. Data are presented for all medulloblastomas together and for each subgroup separately. For validation purposes, we compared the results of this meta-analysis with another large medulloblastoma cohort (
n
= 402) for which subgroup information was obtained by immunohistochemistry. Results from both cohorts are highly similar and show how distinct the molecular subtypes are with respect to their transcriptome, DNA copy-number aberrations, demographics, and survival. Results from these analyses will form the basis for prospective multi-center studies and will have an impact on how the different subgroups of medulloblastoma will be treated in the future.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Toxicity and relapses from the immunochemotherapy used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) prompt continued interest in gentle but effective targeted treatment options for the mainly elderly ...population suffering from this disease. Here, we report the definition of critical CLL cell survival pathways that can be targeted by ectopic reexpression of the miRNA genes miR-130a and miR-143 which are widely downregulated in CLL. Notably, miR-130a inhibited autophagy by reducing autophagosome formation, an effect mediated by downregulation of the genes ATG2B and DICER1, the latter of which is a major component of the miRNA silencing machinery. In support of the concept of a fundamental connection between miRNA disregulation and altered autophagic flux in this cancer, we showed that RNA interference-mediated knockdown of DICER1 expression was sufficient to reduce autophagy in primary or established cultures of CLL cells. Together, our findings show that miR-130a modulates cell survival programs by regulating autophagic flux, and they define roles for miR-130a and Dicer1 in a regulatory feedback loop that mediates CLL cell survival.
Purpose: The CD133 antigen has been identified as a putative stem cell marker in normal and malignant brain tissues. In gliomas, it
is used to enrich a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic cancer ...cells. According to the cancer stem cell hypothesis, CD133-positive
cells determine long-term tumor growth and, therefore, are suspected to influence clinical outcome. To date, a correlation
between CD133 expression in primary tumor tissues and patients' prognosis has not been reported.
Experimental Design: To address this question, we analyzed the expression of the CD133 stem cell antigen in a series of 95 gliomas of various
grade and histology by immunohistochemistry on cryostat sections. Staining data were correlated with patient outcome.
Results: By multivariate survival analysis, we found that both the proportion of CD133-positive cells and their topological organization
in clusters were significant ( P < 0.001) prognostic factors for adverse progression-free survival and overall survival independent of tumor grade, extent
of resection, or patient age. Furthermore, proportion of CD133-positive cells was an independent risk factor for tumor regrowth
and time to malignant progression in WHO grade 2 and 3 tumors.
Conclusions: These findings constitute the first conclusive evidence that CD133 stem cell antigen expression correlates with patient survival
in gliomas, lending support to the current cancer stem cell hypothesis.