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Comprehensive Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Three Synchronous Primary Tumours and a Recurrence from a Head and Neck Cancer Patient. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147583. [PMID: 34299215 PMCID: PMC8305204 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synchronous primary malignancies occur in a small proportion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Here, we analysed three synchronous primaries and a recurrence from one patient by comparing the genomic and transcriptomic profiles among the tumour samples and determining the recurrence origin. We found remarkable levels of heterogeneity among the primary tumours, and through the patterns of shared mutations, we traced the origin of the recurrence. Interestingly, the patient carried germline variants that might have predisposed him to carcinogenesis, together with a history of alcohol and tobacco consumption. The mutational signature analysis confirmed the impact of alcohol exposure, with Signature 16 present in all tumour samples. Characterisation of immune cell infiltration highlighted an immunosuppressive environment in all samples, which exceeded the potential activity of T cells. Studies such as the one described here have important clinical value and contribute to personalised treatment decisions for patients with synchronous primaries and matched recurrences.
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2
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Issa AM, Carleton B, Gerhard T, Filipski KK, Freedman AN, Kimmel S, Liu G, Longo C, Maitland-van der Zee AH, Sansbury L, Zhou W, Bartlett G. Pharmacoepidemiology: A time for a new multidisciplinary approach to precision medicine. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2021; 30:985-992. [PMID: 33715268 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The advent of the genomic age has created a rapid increase in complexity for the development and selection of drug treatments. A key component of precision medicine is the use of genetic information to improve therapeutic effectiveness of drugs and prevent potential adverse drug reactions. Pharmacoepidemiology, as a field, uses observational methods to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drug treatments in populations. Pharmacoepidemiology by virtue of its focus, tradition, and research orientation can provide appropriate study designs and analysis methods for precision medicine. The objective of this manuscript is to demonstrate how pharmacoepidemiology can impact and shape precision medicine and serve as a reference for pharmacoepidemiologists interested in contributing to the science of precision medicine. This paper depicts the state of the science with respect to the need for pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoepidemiological methods, tools and approaches for precision medicine; the need for and how pharmacoepidemiologists use their skills to engage with the precision medicine community; and recommendations for moving the science of precision medicine pharmacoepidemiology forward. We propose a new integrated multidisciplinary approach dedicated to the emerging science of precision medicine pharmacoepidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia M Issa
- Personalized Precision Medicine & Targeted Therapeutics, Springfield, Pennsylvania, USA.,'Pharmaceutical Sciences' and 'Health Policy', University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,'Family Medicine' and `Centre of Genomics & Policy'; Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bruce Carleton
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital and Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tobias Gerhard
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kelly K Filipski
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew N Freedman
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen Kimmel
- 'College of Public Health & Health Professions' and 'College of Medicine', University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Geoffrey Liu
- Epidemiology; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cristina Longo
- Respiratory Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anke H Maitland-van der Zee
- Respiratory Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leah Sansbury
- Epidemiology, Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wei Zhou
- Center for Observational and Real-world Evidence, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Gillian Bartlett
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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3
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Severson TM, Zhu Y, De Marzo AM, Jones T, Simons JW, Nelson WG, Yegnasubramanian S, Freedman ML, Wessels L, Bergman AM, Haffner MC, Zwart W. Epigenetic and transcriptional analysis reveals a core transcriptional program conserved in clonal prostate cancer metastases. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:1942-1955. [PMID: 33576154 PMCID: PMC8253095 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenomic regulation of transcriptional programs in metastatic prostate cancer is poorly understood. We studied the epigenomic landscape of prostate cancer drivers using transcriptional profiling and ChIP‐seq in four clonal metastatic tumors derived from a single prostate cancer patient. Our epigenomic analyses focused on androgen receptor (AR), which is a key oncogenic driver in prostate cancer, the AR pioneer factor FOXA1, chromatin insulator CCCTC‐Binding Factor, as well as for modified histones H3K27ac and H3K27me3. The vast majority of AR binding sites were shared among healthy prostate, primary prostate cancer, and metastatic tumor samples, signifying core AR‐driven transcriptional regulation within the prostate cell lineage. Genes associated with core AR‐binding events were significantly enriched for essential genes in prostate cancer cell proliferation. Remarkably, the metastasis‐specific active AR binding sites showed no differential transcriptional output, indicating a robust transcriptional program across metastatic samples. Combined, our data reveal a core transcriptional program in clonal metastatic prostate cancer, despite epigenomic differences in the AR cistrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tesa M. Severson
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Division of Molecular OncogenesisOncode InstituteNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Yanyun Zhu
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Angelo M. De Marzo
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterDepartment of PathologyBrady Urological InstituteJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Tracy Jones
- Department of PathologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | | | - William G. Nelson
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterDepartment of PathologyBrady Urological InstituteJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | | | - Matthew L. Freedman
- Department of Medical OncologyDana‐Farber Cancer InstituteHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- The Eli and Edythe L. Broad InstituteCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Lodewyk Wessels
- Division of Molecular OncogenesisOncode InstituteNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Andries M. Bergman
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Department of Medical OncologyNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Michael C. Haffner
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical ResearchFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleWAUSA
- Department of PathologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- Department of PathologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of OncogenomicsOncode InstituteNetherlands Cancer InstituteAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoventhe Netherlands
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4
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Klusa D, Lohaus F, Furesi G, Rauner M, Benešová M, Krause M, Kurth I, Peitzsch C. Metastatic Spread in Prostate Cancer Patients Influencing Radiotherapy Response. Front Oncol 2021; 10:627379. [PMID: 33747899 PMCID: PMC7971112 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.627379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy and surgery are curative treatment options for localized prostate cancer (PCa) with a 5-year survival rate of nearly 100%. Once PCa cells spread into distant organs, such as bone, the overall survival rate of patients drops dramatically. The metastatic cascade and organotropism of PCa cells are regulated by different cellular subtypes, organ microenvironment, and their interactions. This cross-talk leads to pre-metastatic niche formation that releases chemo-attractive factors enforcing the formation of distant metastasis. Biological characteristics of PCa metastasis impacting on metastatic sites, burden, and latency is of clinical relevance. Therefore, the implementation of modern hybrid imaging technologies into clinical routine increased the sensitivity to detect metastases at earlier stages. This enlarged the number of PCa patients diagnosed with a limited number of metastases, summarized as oligometastatic disease. These patients can be treated with androgen deprivation in combination with local-ablative radiotherapy or radiopharmaceuticals directed to metastatic sites. Unfortunately, the number of patients with disease recurrence is high due to the enormous heterogeneity within the oligometastatic patient population and the lack of available biomarkers with predictive potential for metastasis-directed radiotherapy. Another, so far unmet clinical need is the diagnosis of minimal residual disease before onset of clinical manifestation and/or early relapse after initial therapy. Here, monitoring of circulating and disseminating tumor cells in PCa patients during the course of radiotherapy may give us novel insight into how metastatic spread is influenced by radiotherapy and vice versa. In summary, this review critically compares current clinical concepts for metastatic PCa patients and discuss the implementation of recent preclinical findings improving our understanding of metastatic dissemination and radiotherapy resistance into standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Klusa
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Lohaus
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Giulia Furesi
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden—Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden,Germany
| | - Martina Rauner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden—Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden,Germany
| | | | - Mechthild Krause
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ina Kurth
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Peitzsch
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Suhail Y, Cain MP, Vanaja K, Kurywchak PA, Levchenko A, Kalluri R, Kshitiz. Systems Biology of Cancer Metastasis. Cell Syst 2019; 9:109-127. [PMID: 31465728 PMCID: PMC6716621 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is no longer viewed as a linear cascade of events but rather as a series of concurrent, partially overlapping processes, as successfully metastasizing cells assume new phenotypes while jettisoning older behaviors. The lack of a systemic understanding of this complex phenomenon has limited progress in developing treatments for metastatic disease. Because metastasis has traditionally been investigated in distinct physiological compartments, the integration of these complex and interlinked aspects remains a challenge for both systems-level experimental and computational modeling of metastasis. Here, we present some of the current perspectives on the complexity of cancer metastasis, the multiscale nature of its progression, and a systems-level view of the processes underlying the invasive spread of cancer cells. We also highlight the gaps in our current understanding of cancer metastasis as well as insights emerging from interdisciplinary systems biology approaches to understand this complex phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasir Suhail
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA; Cancer Systems Biology @ Yale (CaSB@Yale), Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Margo P Cain
- Department of Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kiran Vanaja
- Cancer Systems Biology @ Yale (CaSB@Yale), Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul A Kurywchak
- Department of Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andre Levchenko
- Cancer Systems Biology @ Yale (CaSB@Yale), Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kshitiz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA; Cancer Systems Biology @ Yale (CaSB@Yale), Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA.
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6
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Prado K, Zhang KX, Pellegrini M, Chin AI. Sequencing of cancer cell subpopulations identifies micrometastases in a bladder cancer patient. Oncotarget 2018; 8:45619-45625. [PMID: 28487492 PMCID: PMC5542213 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Pathologic staging of bladder cancer patients remains a challenge. Standard-of-care histology exhibits limited sensitivity in detection of micrometastases, which can increase risk of cancer progression and delay potential adjuvant therapies. Here, we sought to develop a proof of concept novel molecular approach to improve detection of cancer micrometastasis. Experimental Design We combined fluorescence activated cell sorting and next-generation sequencing and performed whole-exome sequencing of total cancer cells and cancer cell subpopulations in multiple tumor specimens and regional lymph nodes in a single patient with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder following radical cystectomy. Results Mean allele frequency analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between primary tumor cancer cells and cancer cells isolated from the lymph nodes, confirming lymph node disease despite negative pathologic staging. RNA-sequencing revealed intratumoral heterogeneity as well as enrichment for immune system and lipid metabolism gene sets in the micrometastatic cancer cell subpopulations. Conclusions Our analysis illustrates how next-generation sequencing of cancer cell subpopulations may be utilized to enrich for cancer cell markers and enhance detection of bladder cancer micrometastases to improve pathologic staging and provide insight into cancer cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Prado
- Department of Urology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kelvin X Zhang
- Merck Sharp & Dohme Co., Computational Genomics and Informatics, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Broad Stem Cell Research Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Arnold I Chin
- Department of Urology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Broad Stem Cell Research Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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7
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Win TS, Murakami N, Borges TJ, Chandraker A, Murphy G, Lian C, Barrera V, Ho Sui S, Schoenfeld D, Teague J, Bueno E, Tullius SG, Pomahac B, Clark RA, Riella LV. Longitudinal immunological characterization of the first presensitized recipient of a face transplant. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93894. [PMID: 28679959 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rejection affects greater than 80% of face transplants, yet no diagnostic criteria for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) following face transplantation have been established. Given that different treatment strategies are required to address AMR and T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), there is a critical need to delineate the features that can differentiate these two alloimmune responses. Here, we report the longitudinal immunological examination of what we believe to be the first and only highly sensitized recipient of a crossmatch-positive face transplant up to 4 years following transplantation. We conducted gene expression profiling on allograft biopsies collected during suspected AMR and TCMR episodes as well as during 5 nonrejection time points. Our data suggest that there are distinctive molecular features in AMR, characterized by overexpression of endothelial-associated genes, including ICAM1, VCAM1, and SELE. Although our findings are limited to a single patient, these findings highlight the potential importance of developing and implementing molecular markers to differentiate AMR from TCMR to guide clinical management. Furthermore, our case illustrates that molecular assessment of allograft biopsies offers the potential for new insights into the mechanisms underlying rejection. Finally, our medium-term outcomes demonstrate that face transplantation in a highly sensitized patient with a positive preoperative crossmatch is feasible and manageable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thet Su Win
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery.,Department of Dermatology
| | - Naoka Murakami
- Schuster Transplantation Research Center, Renal Division, and
| | - Thiago J Borges
- Schuster Transplantation Research Center, Renal Division, and
| | - Anil Chandraker
- Schuster Transplantation Research Center, Renal Division, and
| | - George Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christine Lian
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Victor Barrera
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shannan Ho Sui
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Schoenfeld
- Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Ericka Bueno
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery
| | - Stefan G Tullius
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Exome analysis of the evolutionary path of hepatocellular adenoma-carcinoma transition, vascular invasion and brain dissemination. J Hepatol 2017; 67:186-191. [PMID: 28323122 PMCID: PMC5497691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign liver tumor, predominantly seen in young women. Its major complications are malignant transformation, spontaneous hemorrhage, and rupture. We describe a case of a young female with no underlying liver disease who presented with acute abdominal pain and was found to have a 17cm heterogeneous mass in the left lobe of the liver. She underwent left hepatectomy and pathology revealed a 14cm moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising in a shell of a HCA. At that time, vascular invasion was already present. She rapidly developed recurrent multifocal hepatic lesions and subsequent spread to the brain, leading to her death 18months after surgery. To investigate the underlying genetic events occurring during hepatocellular adenoma-carcinoma transition and extra-hepatic dissemination, we performed whole exome sequencing of DNA isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes, HCA, HCC, tumor thrombus and brain metastasis. Our data show a step-wise addition of somatic mutations and copy number variations with disease progression, suggesting a linear tumor evolution, which is supported by clonality analysis. Specifically, using a model based clustering of somatic mutations, one single founding clone arising in the HCA, which included catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) and IL6ST driver mutations, was identified and displayed an increasing clonality rate in HCC, tumor thrombus and brain metastasis. Our data highlight the feasibility of performing whole exome capture, sequencing and analysis using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, and we describe the first genomic longitudinal study of hepatocellular adenoma-carcinoma transition, vascular invasion and brain metastasis with detailed clinicopathologic annotation.
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Gupta S, Smith TR, Broekman ML. Ethical considerations of neuro-oncology trial design in the era of precision medicine. J Neurooncol 2017; 134:1-7. [PMID: 28555425 PMCID: PMC5543186 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-017-2502-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The field of oncology is currently undergoing a paradigm shift. Advances in the understanding of tumor biology and in tumor sequencing technology have contributed to the shift towards precision medicine, the therapeutic framework of targeting the individual oncogenic changes each tumor harbors. The success of precision medicine therapies, such as targeted kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies, in other cancers have motivated studies in brain cancers. The high specificity and cost of these therapies also encourage a shift in clinical trial design away from randomized control trials towards smaller, more exclusive early phase clinical trials. While these new trials advance the clinical application of increasingly precise and individualized therapies, their design brings ethical challenges . We review the pertinent ethical considerations for clinical trials of precision medicine in neuro-oncology and discuss methods to protect patients in this new era of trial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saksham Gupta
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cushing Neurosurgery Outcomes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Timothy R Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cushing Neurosurgery Outcomes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Marike L Broekman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cushing Neurosurgery Outcomes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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10
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Bødker JS, Severinsen MT, El-Galaly TC, Brøndum RF, Laursen MB, Falgreen S, Nyegaard M, Schmitz A, Jakobsen LH, Schönherz AA, Due H, Reinholdt L, Bøgsted M, Dybkær K, Johnsen HE. Molecular classification of tissue from a transformed non-Hogkin's lymphoma case with unexpected long-time remission. Exp Hematol Oncol 2017; 6:3. [PMID: 28097046 PMCID: PMC5225590 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-016-0063-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of precision medicine in cancer includes individual molecular studies to predict clinical outcomes. In the present N = 1 case we retrospectively have analysed lymphoma tissue by exome sequencing and global gene expression in a patient with unexpected long-term remission following relaps. The goals were to phenotype the diagnostic and relapsed lymphoma tissue and evaluate its pattern. Furthermore, to identify mutations available for targeted therapy and expression of genes to predict specific drug effects by resistance gene signatures (REGS) for R-CHOP as described at http://www.hemaclass.org. We expected that such a study could generate therapeutic information and a frame for future individual evaluation of molecular resistance detected at clinical relapse. CASE PRESENTATION The patient was diagnosed with a transformed high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma stage III and treated with conventional R-CHOP [rituximab (R), cyclophosphamide (C), doxorubicin (H), vincristine (O) and prednisone (P)]. Unfortunately, she suffered from severe toxicity but recovered during the following 6 months' remission until biopsy-verified relapse. The patient refused second-line combination chemotherapy, but accepted 3 months' palliation with R and chlorambucil. Unexpectedly, she obtained continuous complete remission and is at present >9 years after primary diagnosis. Molecular studies and data evaluation by principal component analysis, mutation screening and copy number variations of the primary and relapsed tumor, identified a pattern of branched lymphoma evolution, most likely diverging from an in situ follicular lymphoma. Accordingly, the primary diagnosed transformed lymphoma was classified as a diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the GCB/centrocytic subtype by "cell of origin BAGS" assignment and R sensitive and C, H, O and P resistant by "drug specific REGS" assignment. The relapsed DLBCL was classified as NC/memory subtype and R, C, H sensitive but O and P resistant. CONCLUSIONS Thorough analysis of the tumor DNA and RNA documented a branched evolution of the two clinical diagnosed tFL, most likely transformed from an unknown in situ lymphoma. Classification of the malignant tissue for drug-specific resistance did not explain the unexpected long-term remission and potential cure. However, it is tempting to consider the anti-CD20 immunotherapy as the curative intervention in the two independent tumors of this case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Støve Bødker
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Marianne Tang Severinsen
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Tarec Christoffer El-Galaly
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Froberg Brøndum
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Steffen Falgreen
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mette Nyegaard
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Alexander Schmitz
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lasse Hjort Jakobsen
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anna Amanda Schönherz
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Hanne Due
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Linn Reinholdt
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Bøgsted
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Karen Dybkær
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Hans Erik Johnsen
- Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
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11
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Beckmann JS, Lew D. Reconciling evidence-based medicine and precision medicine in the era of big data: challenges and opportunities. Genome Med 2016; 8:134. [PMID: 27993174 PMCID: PMC5165712 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-016-0388-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This era of groundbreaking scientific developments in high-resolution, high-throughput technologies is allowing the cost-effective collection and analysis of huge, disparate datasets on individual health. Proper data mining and translation of the vast datasets into clinically actionable knowledge will require the application of clinical bioinformatics. These developments have triggered multiple national initiatives in precision medicine—a data-driven approach centering on the individual. However, clinical implementation of precision medicine poses numerous challenges. Foremost, precision medicine needs to be contrasted with the powerful and widely used practice of evidence-based medicine, which is informed by meta-analyses or group-centered studies from which mean recommendations are derived. This “one size fits all” approach can provide inadequate solutions for outliers. Such outliers, which are far from an oddity as all of us fall into this category for some traits, can be better managed using precision medicine. Here, we argue that it is necessary and possible to bridge between precision medicine and evidence-based medicine. This will require worldwide and responsible data sharing, as well as regularly updated training programs. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities for achieving clinical utility in precision medicine. We project that, through collection, analyses and sharing of standardized medically relevant data globally, evidence-based precision medicine will shift progressively from therapy to prevention, thus leading eventually to improved, clinician-to-patient communication, citizen-centered healthcare and sustained well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques S Beckmann
- Clinical Bioinformatics, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Lew
- Clinical Bioinformatics, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Bass EJ, Ahmed HU. Focal therapy in prostate cancer: A review of seven common controversies. Cancer Treat Rev 2016; 51:27-34. [PMID: 27846402 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Radical treatments such as prostatectomy and radiotherapy have demonstrated success in terms of biochemical and disease-specific survival for localised prostate cancer. However, whilst the end goal of any cancer treatment is to control or cure disease it must also do so by minimising any side effects that may be experienced by the patient. Focal therapy as a concept aims to redress this established therapeutic ratio by treating areas of the prostate affected by significant disease as opposed to treating the entire gland. However, there are a number of common criticisms of focal therapy - we deem the seven sins - that require further interrogation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Bass
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK; Department of Urology, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Hashim U Ahmed
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK; Department of Urology, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Miah S, Ahmed HU, Freeman A, Emberton M. Does true Gleason pattern 3 merit its cancer descriptor? Nat Rev Urol 2016; 13:541-8. [DOI: 10.1038/nrurol.2016.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Vicini P, Fields O, Lai E, Litwack ED, Martin AM, Morgan TM, Pacanowski MA, Papaluca M, Perez OD, Ringel MS, Robson M, Sakul H, Vockley J, Zaks T, Dolsten M, Søgaard M. Precision medicine in the age of big data: The present and future role of large-scale unbiased sequencing in drug discovery and development. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2015; 99:198-207. [PMID: 26536838 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
High throughput molecular and functional profiling of patients is a key driver of precision medicine. DNA and RNA characterization has been enabled at unprecedented cost and scale through rapid, disruptive progress in sequencing technology, but challenges persist in data management and interpretation. We analyze the state-of-the-art of large-scale unbiased sequencing in drug discovery and development, including technology, application, ethical, regulatory, policy and commercial considerations, and discuss issues of LUS implementation in clinical and regulatory practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Vicini
- Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, La Jolla, California, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, USA
| | - O Fields
- Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, La Jolla, California, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, USA
| | - E Lai
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Deerfield, Illinois, USA
| | - E D Litwack
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - A-M Martin
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - T M Morgan
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - M A Pacanowski
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - O D Perez
- Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, La Jolla, California, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, USA
| | - M S Ringel
- Boston Consulting Group, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Robson
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - H Sakul
- Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, La Jolla, California, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, USA
| | - J Vockley
- Inova Translational Medicine Institute, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - T Zaks
- Sanofi, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Dolsten
- Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, La Jolla, California, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, USA
| | - M Søgaard
- Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, La Jolla, California, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, USA
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HDAC inhibition impedes epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and suppresses metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Oncogene 2015; 35:3781-95. [PMID: 26640144 PMCID: PMC4896852 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PI3K/AKT and RAS/MAPK pathway co-activation in the prostate epithelium promotes both epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which is currently incurable. To study the dynamic regulation of the EMT process, we developed novel genetically-defined cellular and in vivo model systems from which epithelial, EMT, and mesenchymal-like tumor cells with Pten deletion and Kras activation can be isolated. When cultured individually, each population has the capacity to regenerate all three tumor cell populations, indicative of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. Despite harboring the same genetic alterations, mesenchymal-like tumor cells are resistant to PI3K and MAPK pathway inhibitors, suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms may regulate the EMT process, as well as dictate the heterogeneous responses of cancer cells to therapy. Among differentially expressed epigenetic regulators, the chromatin remodeling protein HMGA2 is significantly upregulated in EMT and mesenchymal-like tumors cells, as well as in human mCRPC. Knockdown of HMGA2, or suppressing HMGA2 expression with the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor LBH589, inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and stemness activities in vitro and dramatically reduces tumor growth and metastasis in vivo through successful targeting of EMT and mesenchymal-like tumor cells. Importantly, LBH589 treatment in combination with castration prevents mCRPC development and significantly prolongs survival following castration by enhancing p53 and AR acetylation and in turn sensitizing castration-resistant mesenchymal-like tumor cells to ADT. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that cellular plasticity is regulated epigenetically, and that mesenchymal-like tumor cell populations in mCRPC that are resistant to conventional and targeted therapies can be effectively treated with the epigenetic inhibitor LBH589.
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Prasad V, Vandross A. Characteristics of Exceptional or Super Responders to Cancer Drugs. Mayo Clin Proc 2015; 90:1639-49. [PMID: 26546106 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize case reports of exceptional and super responders already published in the biomedical literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS We searched for published case reports or abstracts of exceptional or super responders to a cancer drug using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. Pooling such reports is widely considered a promising research strategy and the subject of several ongoing investigations, including the National Cancer Institute's Exceptional Responders Initiative. All articles were read in full, including relevant references. We extracted clinical characteristics of exceptional or super responders, including age, tumor type, drug, genetic mutations, depth of response, duration of response, number of previous lines of therapy, duration of response to a previous line of therapy, and the number of patients treated similarly to identify the exceptional case. This study was performed between March 1, 2015, and April 30, 2015. RESULTS Among 489 articles, 32 exceptional responders were identified. The most common malignancies described were renal cell cancer (5 of 32 [16%]) and urothelial carcinoma (4 of 32 [13%]). The use of targeted agents was common in these cases (26 of 32 [81%]), particularly inhibitors of the mTOR pathway (16 of 32 [50%]). The median duration of response among responders was 17.5 months, and 59% (19 of 32) of the patients were last known to be alive with continuing response or stable disease. Notably, 46% (12 of 26) of the patients had received 2 or more previous lines of therapy and 6 of the 32 cases (19%) did not report this information. Few authors report the number of patients treated similarly to observe the super response (12 of 32 [38%]). CONCLUSION Exceptional or super responders to cancer drugs have been described in the literature; however, there is incompleteness in the reporting of relevant data that may help clarify whether such responses are secondary to treatment or reflect underlying biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Prasad
- Division of Hematology Oncology in the Knight Cancer Institute, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.
| | - Andrae Vandross
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles
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Kadakia KC, Tomlins SA, Sanghvi SK, Cani AK, Omata K, Hovelson DH, Liu CJ, Cooney KA. Comprehensive serial molecular profiling of an "N of 1" exceptional non-responder with metastatic prostate cancer progressing to small cell carcinoma on treatment. J Hematol Oncol 2015; 8:109. [PMID: 26444865 PMCID: PMC4596504 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-015-0204-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Small cell carcinoma/neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NePC) is a lethal, poorly understood prostate cancer (PCa) subtype. Controversy exists about the origin of NePC in this setting. Objective To molecularly profile archived biopsy specimens from a case of early-onset PCa that rapidly progressed to NePC to identify drivers of the aggressive course and mechanisms of NePC origin and progression. Design, setting, and participants A 47-year-old patient presented with metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 9). After a 6-month response to androgen deprivation therapy, the patient developed jaundice and liver biopsy revealed exclusively NePC. Targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE)-isolated DNA was performed from the diagnostic prostate biopsy and the liver biopsy at progression. Intervention Androgen deprivation therapy for adenocarcinoma followed by multiagent chemotherapy for NePC. Main outcomes and measures Identification of the mutational landscape in primary adenocarcinoma and NePC liver metastasis. Whether the NePC arose independently or was derived from the primary adenocarcinoma was considered based on mutational profiles. Results A deleterious somatic SMAD4 L535fs variant was present in both prostate and liver specimens; however, a TP53 R282W mutation was exclusively enriched in the liver specimen. Copy number analysis identified concordant, low-level alterations in both specimens, with focal MYCL amplification and homozygous PTEN, RB1, and MAP2K4 losses identified exclusively in the NePC specimen. Integration with published genomic profiles identified MYCL as a recurrently amplified in NePC. Conclusions and relevance NGS of routine biopsy samples from an exceptional non-responder identified SMAD4 as a driver of the aggressive course and supports derivation of NePC from primary adenocarcinoma (transdifferentiation). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-015-0204-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunal C Kadakia
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 7216 Cancer Center, SPC 5948, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Scott A Tomlins
- Department of Pathology and Urology, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Saagar K Sanghvi
- Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, USA.
| | - Andi K Cani
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Kei Omata
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Daniel H Hovelson
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Chia-Jen Liu
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Kathleen A Cooney
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 7216 Cancer Center, SPC 5948, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Next-Generation Sequencing Approaches in Cancer: Where Have They Brought Us and Where Will They Take Us? Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:1925-58. [PMID: 26404381 PMCID: PMC4586802 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7030869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and data have revolutionized cancer research and are increasingly being deployed to guide clinicians in treatment decision-making. NGS technologies have allowed us to take an “omics” approach to cancer in order to reveal genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic landscapes of individual malignancies. Integrative multi-platform analyses are increasingly used in large-scale projects that aim to fully characterize individual tumours as well as general cancer types and subtypes. In this review, we examine how NGS technologies in particular have contributed to “omics” approaches in cancer research, allowing for large-scale integrative analyses that consider hundreds of tumour samples. These types of studies have provided us with an unprecedented wealth of information, providing the background knowledge needed to make small-scale (including “N of 1”) studies informative and relevant. We also take a look at emerging opportunities provided by NGS and state-of-the-art third-generation sequencing technologies, particularly in the context of translational research. Cancer research and care are currently poised to experience significant progress catalyzed by accessible sequencing technologies that will benefit both clinical- and research-based efforts.
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Subbiah IM, Subbiah V. Exceptional responders: in search of the science behind the miracle cancer cures. Future Oncol 2015; 11:1-4. [PMID: 25572778 DOI: 10.2217/fon.14.204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ishwaria Mohan Subbiah
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst prognostic cancers because of the late diagnosis and the absence of effective treatment. Within all subtypes of this disease, ductal adenocarcinoma has the shortest survival time. In recent years, global genomics profiling allowed the identification of hundreds of genes that are perturbed in pancreatic cancer. The integration of different omics sources in the study of pancreatic cancer has revealed several molecular mechanisms, indicating the complex history of its development. However, validation of these genes as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis or treatment efficacy is still incomplete but should lead to new approaches for the treatment of the disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Pilarsky
- Department of Vascular-, Thoracic and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Dresden, Technische Universit?t Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, Dresden 01307, Germany.
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Abstract
That each of us is truly biologically unique, extending to even monozygotic, "identical" twins, is not fully appreciated. Now that it is possible to perform a comprehensive "omic" assessment of an individual, including one's DNA and RNA sequence and at least some characterization of one's proteome, metabolome, microbiome, autoantibodies, and epigenome, it has become abundantly clear that each of us has truly one-of-a-kind biological content. Well beyond the allure of the matchless fingerprint or snowflake concept, these singular, individual data and information set up a remarkable and unprecedented opportunity to improve medical treatment and develop preventive strategies to preserve health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Topol
- The Scripps Translational Science Institute, The Scripps Research Institute and Scripps Health, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Brannon AR, Sawyers CL. "N of 1" case reports in the era of whole-genome sequencing. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:4568-70. [PMID: 24135144 DOI: 10.1172/jci70935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer has a range of clinical outcomes, from complete remission in response to treatment to death as a result of aggressive metastasis. Prognosis for individuals with prostate cancer is not readily predictable, and new diagnostics will be useful for treatment strategy determination. In this issue of the JCI, Haffner and colleagues use comprehensive tumor genome sequencing to investigate the origin of genetic mutations underlying a case of lethal prostate cancer. Surprisingly, the lethal clone in this individual arose from a tumor focus that is typically considered very low risk based on histology. Their report highlights the need to collect and curate "N of 1" cases to develop a database that can be used for clinical decision making.
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