Jarle Hakas

Whole genome sequencing of matched primary and metastatic acral melanomas

Next generation sequencing has enabled systematic discovery of mutational spectra in cancer samples. Here, we used whole genome sequencing to characterize somatic mutations and structural variation in a primary acral melanoma and its lymph node metastasis. Our data show that the somatic mutational rates in this acral melanoma sample pair were more comparable to the rates reported in cancer genomes not associated with mutagenic exposure than in the genome of a melanoma cell line or the transcriptome of melanoma short-term cultures. Despite the perception that acral skin is sun-protected, the dominant mutational signature in these samples is compatible with damage due to ultraviolet light exposure. A nonsense mutation in ERCC5 discovered in both the primary and metastatic tumors could also have contributed to the mutational signature through accumulation of unrepaired dipyrimidine lesions. However, evidence of transcription-coupled repair was suggested by the lower mutational rate in the transcribed regions and expressed genes. The primary and the metastasis are highly similar at the level of global gene copy number alterations, loss of heterozygosity and single nucleotide variation (SNV). Furthermore, the majority of the SNVs in the primary tumor were propagated in the metastasis and one nonsynonymous coding SNV and one splice site mutation appeared to arise de novo in the metastatic lesion.

Genome-wide functional screen identifies a compendium of genes affecting sensitivity to tamoxifen

Therapies that target estrogen signaling have made a very considerable contribution to reducing mortality from breast cancer. However, resistance to tamoxifen remains a major clinical problem. Here we have used a genome-wide functional profiling approach to identify multiple genes that confer resistance or sensitivity to tamoxifen. Combining whole-genome shRNA screening with massively parallel sequencing, we have profiled the impact of more than 56,670 RNA interference reagents targeting 16,487 genes on the cellular response to tamoxifen. This screen, along with subsequent validation experiments, identifies a compendium of genes whose silencing causes tamoxifen resistance (including BAP1, CLPP, GPRC5D, NAE1, NF1, NIPBL, NSD1, RAD21, RARG, SMC3, and UBA3) and also a set of genes whose silencing causes sensitivity to this endocrine agent (C10orf72, C15orf55/NUT, EDF1, ING5, KRAS, NOC3L, PPP1R15B, RRAS2, TMPRSS2, and TPM4). Multiple individual genes, including NF1, a regulator of RAS signaling, also correlate with clinical outcome after tamoxifen treatment.

High-throughput RNA interference screening using pooled shRNA libraries and next generation sequencing

RNA interference (RNAi) screening is a state-of-the-art technology that enables the dissection of biological processes and disease-related phenotypes. The commercial availability of genome-wide, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) libraries has fueled interest in this area but the generation and analysis of these complex data remain a challenge. Here, we describe complete experimental protocols and novel open source computational methodologies, shALIGN and shRNAseq, that allow RNAi screens to be rapidly deconvoluted using next generation sequencing. Our computational pipeline offers efficient screen analysis and the flexibility and scalability to quickly incorporate future developments in shRNA library technology.

Characterization of the genomic features and expressed fusion genes in micropapillary carcinomas of the breast

Micropapillary carcinoma (MPC) is a rare histological special type of breast cancer, characterized by an aggressive clinical behaviour and a pattern of copy number aberrations (CNAs) distinct from that of grade‐ and oestrogen receptor (ER)‐matched invasive carcinomas of no special type (IC‐NSTs). The aims of this study were to determine whether MPCs are underpinned by a recurrent fusion gene(s) or mutations in 273 genes recurrently mutated in breast cancer. Sixteen MPCs were subjected to microarray‐based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis and Sequenom OncoCarta mutation analysis. Eight and five MPCs were subjected to targeted capture and RNA sequencing, respectively. aCGH analysis confirmed our previous observations about the repertoire of CNAs of MPCs. Sequencing analysis revealed a spectrum of mutations similar to those of luminal B IC‐NSTs, and recurrent mutations affecting mitogen‐activated protein kinase family genes and NBPF10. RNA‐sequencing analysis identified 17 high‐confidence fusion genes, eight of which were validated and two of which were in‐frame. No recurrent fusions were identified in an independent series of MPCs and IC‐NSTs. Forced expression of in‐frame fusion genes (SLC2A1–FAF1 and BCAS4–AURKA) resulted in increased viability of breast cancer cells. In addition, genomic disruption of CDK12 caused by out‐of‐frame rearrangements was found in one MPC and in 13% of HER2‐positive breast cancers, identified through a re‐analysis of publicly available massively parallel sequencing data. In vitro analyses revealed that CDK12 gene disruption results in sensitivity to PARP inhibition, and forced expression of wild‐type CDK12 in a CDK12‐null cell line model resulted in relative resistance to PARP inhibition. Our findings demonstrate that MPCs are neither defined by highly recurrent mutations in the 273 genes tested, nor underpinned by a recurrent fusion gene. Although seemingly private genetic events, some of the fusion transcripts found in MPCs may play a role in maintenance of a malignant phenotype and potentially offer therapeutic opportunities.

Genome-wide analysis of p63 binding sites identifies AP-2 factors as co-regulators of epidermal differentiation

The p63 transcription factor (TP63) is critical in development, growth and differentiation of stratifying epithelia. This is highlighted by the severity of congenital abnormalities caused by TP63 mutations in humans, the dramatic phenotypes in knockout mice and de-regulation of TP63 expression in neoplasia altering the tumour suppressive roles of the TP53 family. In order to define the normal role played by TP63 and provide the basis for better understanding how this network is perturbed in disease, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with massively parallel sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify >7500 high-confidence TP63-binding regions across the entire genome, in primary human neonatal foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs). Using integrative strategies, we demonstrate that only a subset of these sites are bound by TP53 in response to DNA damage. We identify a role for TP63 in transcriptional regulation of multiple genes genetically linked to cleft palate and identify AP-2alpha (TFAP2A) as a co-regulator of a subset of these genes. We further demonstrate that AP-2gamma (TFAP2C) can bind a subset of these regions and that acute depletion of either TFAP2A or TFAP2C alone is sufficient to reduce terminal differentiation of organotypic epidermal skin equivalents, indicating overlapping physiological functions with TP63.

Genomic characterisation of acral melanoma cell lines

Acral melanoma is a rare melanoma subtype with distinct epidemiological, clinical and genetic features. To determine if acral melanoma cell lines are representative of this melanoma subtype, six lines were analysed by whole‐exome sequencing and array comparative genomic hybridisation. We demonstrate that the cell lines display a mutation rate that is comparable to that of published primary and metastatic acral melanomas and observe a mutational signature suggestive of UV‐induced mutagenesis in two of the cell lines. Mutations were identified in oncogenes and tumour suppressors previously linked to melanoma including BRAF, NRAS, KIT, PTEN and TP53, in cancer genes not previously linked to melanoma and in genes linked to DNA repair such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Our findings provide strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that acral melanoma cell lines and acral tumours share genetic features in common and that these cells are therefore valuable tools to investigate the biology of this aggressive melanoma subtype. Data are available at: http://rock.icr.ac.uk/collaborations/Furney_et_al_2012/.

Deriving a mutation index of carcinogenicity using protein structure and protein interfaces.

With the advent of Next Generation Sequencing the identification of mutations in the genomes of healthy and diseased tissues has become commonplace. While much progress has been made to elucidate the aetiology of disease processes in cancer, the contributions to disease that many individual mutations make remain to be characterised and their downstream consequences on cancer phenotypes remain to be understood. Missense mutations commonly occur in cancers and their consequences remain challenging to predict. However, this knowledge is becoming more vital, for both assessing disease progression and for stratifying drug treatment regimes. Coupled with structural data, comprehensive genomic databases of mutations such as the 1000 Genomes project and COSMIC give an opportunity to investigate general principles of how cancer mutations disrupt proteins and their interactions at the molecular and network level. We describe a comprehensive comparison of cancer and neutral missense mutations; by combining features derived from structural and interface properties we have developed a carcinogenicity predictor, InCa (Index of Carcinogenicity). Upon comparison with other methods, we observe that InCa can predict mutations that might not be detected by other methods. We also discuss general limitations shared by all predictors that attempt to predict driver mutations and discuss how this could impact high-throughput predictions. A web interface to a server implementation is publicly available at http://inca.icr.ac.uk/.

Comprehensive genomic analysis of a BRCA2 deficient human pancreatic cancer.

Capan-1 is a well-characterised BRCA2-deficient human cell line isolated from a liver metastasis of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Here we report a genome-wide assessment of structural variations and high-depth exome characterization of single nucleotide variants and small insertion/deletions in Capan-1. To identify potential somatic and tumour-associated variations in the absence of a matched-normal cell line, we devised a novel method based on the analysis of HapMap samples. We demonstrate that Capan-1 has one of the most rearranged genomes sequenced to date. Furthermore, small insertions and deletions are detected more frequently in the context of short sequence repeats than in other genomes. We also identify a number of novel mutations that may represent genetic changes that have contributed to tumour progression. These data provide insight into the genomic effects of loss of BRCA2 function.

Abstract 4829: Massively parallel RNA sequencing analysis of micropapillary carcinomas of the breast

Micropapillary carcinomas of the breast are a special type of breast cancer that account for up to 3% of breast cancers and which have an aggressive clinical behaviour. They are preferentially of intermediate to high histological grade and consistently express oestrogen receptor (ER). Previous genomic studies have demonstrated that micropapillary carcinomas are characterized by a constellation of genetic aberrations that is distinct from that of grade and ER-matched ductal carcinomas of the breast. Akin to sarcomas and leukaemias, it has recently been demonstrated that some special types of breast cancer (e.g. secretory and adenoid cystic carcinomas) are characterised by recurrent specific chromosomal translocations leading to the formation of oncogenic fusion genes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether micropapillary carcinomas of the breast harbour novel recurrent fusion genes. A series of six pure micropapillary carcinomas and two secretory carcinomas (positive controls harbouring the ETV6-NTRK3 translocation) were subjected to paired-end massively parallel RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). cDNA libraries were prepared according to standard mRNA prep Illumina protocols and run on the GAII sequencers (read length of each mate pair = 54bp; 2 lanes per sample). Data were aligned to the genome and transcriptome using Eland and mate-pairs supporting novel chimeras identified using previously validated pipelines. Fusion genes identified were validated using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), Sanger sequencing and investigated in separate cohorts of micropapillary carcinomas (n=25) and other types of breast cancer (n=163) using fluorescence in situ hybridisation and RT-PCR. The sensitivity of the approach was validated by the analysis of the two secretory carcinomas, as the ETV6-NTRK3 reciprocal fusion gene was identified using our pipeline. Analysis of micropapillary carcinomas identified four novel intra-chromosomal fusion genes. Three of the fusions; SLC2A1-FAF1, ELMO2-RAE1, BCAS4-AURKA were present in a single tumour and spanned breakpoints of amplification. A fourth, TSPAN14-DYDC2, was a copy neutral event in a separate tumour sample. We also observed that the three fusions from a single patient were also present in the lymph node metastasis. All fusions were validated with RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing and/or FISH. One of the fusion genes was shown to be recurrent (index case and a mixed micropapillary carcinoma). Our results demonstrate that a proportion of micropapillary carcinomas of the breast harbour fusion transcripts. Further investigations are being undertaken to determine the functionality of these fusion genes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4829. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4829