Molecular prognostic assays, such as Oncotype DX, are increasingly incorporated into the management of patients with invasive breast carcinoma. BreastPRS is a new molecular assay developed and validated from a meta-analysis of publically available genomic datasets. We applied the assay to matched fresh-frozen (FF) and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor samples to translate the assay to FFPE. A linear relationship of the BreastPRS prognostic score was observed between tissue preservation formats. BreastPRS recurrence scores were compared with Oncotype DX recurrence scores from 246 patients with invasive breast carcinoma and known Oncotype DX results. Using this series, a 120-gene linear discriminant algorithm (LDA) was trained to predict Oncotype DX risk groups and then applied to series of untreated, node-negative, estrogen receptor (ER) positive patients from previously published studies with known clinical outcomes. Correlation of recurrence score and risk group between Oncotype DX and BreastPRS was statistically significant (P<0.0001). 59 of 260 (23%) patients from four previously published studies were classified as intermediate-risk when the 120-gene LDA was applied. BreastPRS reclassified the 59 patients into binary risk groups (high vs. low-risk). 23 (39%) patients were classified as low-risk 36 (61%) as high-risk [P=0.029, HR: 3.64, 95% CI: 1.40 to 9.50]. At 10 years from diagnosis, the low-risk group had a 90% recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, compared to 60% for the high-risk group. BreastPRS recurrence score is comparable to Oncotype DX and can reclassify Oncotype DX intermediate-risk patients into two groups with significant differences in RFS. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.
BreastPRS is a gene expression assay that stratifies intermediate-risk Oncotype DX patients into high- or low-risk for disease recurrence.
Disease stage
View SamplesThe progression of cancer to metastatic disease is a major cause of death. We identified miR-708 being transcriptionally repressed by polycomb repressor complex (PRC2)-induced H3-K27 trimethylation in metastatic breast cancer. miR-708 targets the endoplasmic reticulum protein neuronatin (Nnat) to decrease intracellular calcium (Ca2+) level, resulting in reduction of activation of ERK and FAK, decreased cell migration, and impaired metastases. Functional complementation experiments with Nnat-3’UTR mutant, which is refractory to suppression by miR-708, rescued cell migration and metastasis defects. In breast cancer patients, miR-708 expression was decreased in lymph node and distal metastases, suggesting a metastasis-suppressive role. Our findings uncover a mechanistic role for miR-708 in metastasis and provide a rationale for developing miR-708 as a therapeutic agent against metastatic breast cancer. Overall design: Sequencing miRNAs from Human breast cancer cells: MCF10A, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-LM2
Suppression of miRNA-708 by polycomb group promotes metastases by calcium-induced cell migration.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesPurpose: To identify regulatory proteins that are potential drivers of a coordinated breast cancer metastasis gene expression signatures. Methods: Knockdown of target genes in breast cancer cell lines was achieved using scramble and/or gene-specific siRNA (ON-TARGET SMARTpool, Thermo Scientific) and Lipofectamine RNAiMAX. 48h post transfection, total RNA was isolated from cell lines using the RNeasy Plus mini prep kit (Qiagen). Nucleic acid quality was determined with the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer. RNA Sequencing was also performed at the New York Genome Center (Manhattan, NY, USA) using a HiSeq 2500 Ultra-High-Throughput Sequencing System (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: Raw reads in the fastq format were aligned to Human Genome HG19 using the RNA-seq STAR aligner version 2.4.0d (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23104886, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26334920) as recommended by user manual downloaded along with the software. STAR aligner was chosen for mapping accuracy and speed (http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v10/n12/full/nmeth.2722.html). Mapped reads for each sample were counted for each gene in annotation files in GTF format (gencode.v19.annotation.gtf available for download from GENECODE website (http://www.gencodegenes.org/releases/19.html)) using the FeatureCounts read summarization program (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24227677) following the user guide (http://bioinf.wehi.edu.au/subread-package/SubreadUsersGuide.pdf). Individual count files were merged to generate the raw-counts matrix by an in-house R script, normalized to account for differences in library size and the variance was stabilized by fitting the dispersion to a negative-binomial distribution as implemented in the DESeq R package (http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/DESeq.html)(Anders and Huber, 2010). Conclusions: Our data suggest that targeting keystone proteins in the breast cancer metastasis transcriptome can effectively collapse transcriptional hierarchies necessary for metastasis formation, thus representing a formidable cancer intervention strategy. Overall design: Examination of mRNA profiling of breast cancer cell lines after knock-down of putative master regulators of the breast cancer metastasis transcriptome
An Integrated Systems Biology Approach Identifies TRIM25 as a Key Determinant of Breast Cancer Metastasis.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesCancer-specific changes in DNA methylation can alter genetic stability, genomic structure, and gene expression. Promoter CpG island methylation can result in transcriptional silencing and plays an important role in the oncogenic process. We used genome-wide analysis to characterize the methylomes of breast cancers with diverse metastatic behavior. Here, we describe the identification of novel groups of breast tumors characterized by the presence or absence of coordinate hypermethylation at a large number of genes, demonstrating the existence of a breast-CpG island methylator phenotype (B-CIMP). B-CIMP imparts a distinct epigenomic profile and is a strong determinant of metastatic potential.
Breast cancer methylomes establish an epigenomic foundation for metastasis.
Specimen part
View SamplesEstrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) mutations have been identified in hormone therapy resistant breast cancer and primary endometrial cancer. Analyses in breast cancer suggests that mutant ESR1 exhibits estrogen independent activity. In endometrial cancer, ESR1 mutations are associated with worse outcomes and less obesity, however experimental investigation of these mutations has not been performed. Using a unique CRISPR/Cas9 strategy, we introduced the D538G mutation, a common endometrial cancer mutation that alters the ligand binding domain of ESR1, while epitope tagging the endogenous locus. We discovered estrogen-independent mutant ESR1 genomic binding that is significantly altered from wildtype ESR1. The D538G mutation impacted expression, including a large set of non-estrogen regulated genes, and chromatin accessibility, with most affected loci bound by mutant ESR1. Mutant ESR1 is unique from constitutive ESR1 activity as mutant-specific changes are not recapitulated with prolonged estrogen exposure. Overall, D538G mutant ESR1 confers estrogen-independent activity while causing additional regulatory changes in endometrial cancer cells that are distinct from breast cancer cells. Overall design: RNA-seq was used to study the effects of the D538G mutation on gene expression
Estrogen-independent molecular actions of mutant estrogen receptor 1 in endometrial cancer.
Cell line, Treatment, Subject, Time
View SamplesCharacterization of the underlying genetic defects in patients with a rare and peculiar phenotype is challenging. Here we have utilized whole genome expression profiling, and identified a homozygous germline mutation in the DDB2 gene in a patient with several facial tumors. The feasibility of using blood derived RNA, diminishing costs of the technology, and the limited number of samples needed provide this approach a powerful new tool that may substantially aid in such gene identification efforts.
Blood-derived gene-expression profiling in unravelling susceptibility to recessive disease.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesSteroid hormone receptors are simultaneously active in many tissues and capable of altering each other's function. Estrogen receptor ? (ER) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) are expressed in the uterus and their ligands have opposing effects on uterine growth. In endometrial tumors expressing high levels of ER, we surprisingly found that expression of GR is associated with poor prognosis. Dexamethasone reduced normal uterine growth in vivo; however, this growth inhibition was abolished in estrogen-induced endometrial hyperplasia. We observed low genomic binding site overlap when ER and GR are induced with their respective ligands; however, upon simultaneous induction they co-occupy more sites. GR binding is significantly altered by estradiol with GR recruited to ER bound loci that become more accessible upon estradiol induction. Gene expression responses to co-treatment were more similar to estradiol, but with novel regulated genes. Our results suggest phenotypic and molecular interplay between ER and GR in endometrial cancer. Overall design: ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq data collected from endometrial cancer cell lines induced with dexamethasone, estradiol, or the combination
FFPEcap-seq: a method for sequencing capped RNAs in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples.
Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesPiriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, colonizes the roots of many plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana. The symbiotic interaction promotes plant per-formance, growth and resistance/tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress. We demonstrate that exudated compounds from the fungus activate stress and defense responses in the Arabidopsis roots and shoots before the two partners are in physical contact. They induce stomata closure, stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, stress-related phytohormone accumulation and activate defense and stress genes in the roots and/or shoots. Once a physical contact is established, the stomata re-open, ROS and phytohormone levels decline, and the gene expression pattern indicates a shift from defense to mutualistic interaction.
The interaction of Arabidopsis with Piriformospora indica shifts from initial transient stress induced by fungus-released chemical mediators to a mutualistic interaction after physical contact of the two symbionts.
Age, Specimen part
View Samples183 breast tumors from the Helsinki Univerisity Central Hospital with survival information
Variants on the promoter region of PTEN affect breast cancer progression and patient survival.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesVolunteers were assessed at study entry, the day of the third vaccination and 24, 72 hours, two weeks after vaccination, and 5 days after challenge. 13/39 vaccinees were protected and 26/39 were not protected. Eleven vaccinees exhibited delayed onset of parasitemia. All infectivity controls developed parasitemia. Prediction Analysis of Microarrays (PAM-R) identified genes corresponding with protection. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) identified sets of genes associated with protection after the third immunization, before challenge.
Expression of genes associated with immunoproteasome processing of major histocompatibility complex peptides is indicative of protection with adjuvanted RTS,S malaria vaccine.
Specimen part
View Samples