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Albitar M, Zhang H, Charifa A, Ip A, Ma W, McCloskey J, Donato M, Siegel D, Waintraub S, Gutierrez M, Pecora A, Goy A. Combining cell-free RNA with cell-free DNA in liquid biopsy for hematologic and solid tumors. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16261. [PMID: 37251903 PMCID: PMC10208940 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Current use of liquid biopsy is based on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and the evaluation of mutations or methylation pattern. However, expressed RNA can capture mutations, changes in expression levels due to methylation, and provide information on cell of origin, growth, and proliferation status. We developed an approach to isolate cell-free total nucleic acid (cfDNA) and used targeted next generation sequencing to sequence cell-free RNA (cfRNA) and cfDNA as new approach in liquid biopsy. We demonstrate that cfRNA is overall more sensitive than cfDNA in detecting mutations. We show that cfRNA is reliable in detecting fusion genes and cfDNA is reliable in detecting chromosomal gains and losses. cfRNA levels of various solid tumor biomarkers were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in samples from solid tumors as compared with normal control. Similarly, cfRNA lymphoid markers and cfRNA myeloid markers were all higher in lymphoid and myeloid neoplasms, respectively as compared with control (P < 0.0001). Using machine learning we demonstrate cfRNA was highly predictive of diagnosis (AUC >0.98) of solid tumors, B-cell lymphoid neoplasms, T-cell lymphoid neoplasms, and myeloid neoplasms. In evaluating the host immune system, cfRNA CD4:CD8B and CD3D:CD19 ratios in normal controls were as expected (median: 5.92 and 6.87, respectively) and were significantly lower in solid tumors (P < 0.0002). This data suggests that liquid biopsy combining analysis of cfRNA with cfDNA is practical and may provide helpful information in predicting genomic abnormalities, diagnosis of neoplasms and evaluating both the tumor biology and the host response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maher Albitar
- Genomic Testing Cooperative, LCA, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Hong Zhang
- Genomic Testing Cooperative, LCA, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Ahmad Charifa
- Genomic Testing Cooperative, LCA, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Andrew Ip
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - Wanlong Ma
- Genomic Testing Cooperative, LCA, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - James McCloskey
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - Michele Donato
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - David Siegel
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - Stanley Waintraub
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - Martin Gutierrez
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - Andrew Pecora
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
| | - Andre Goy
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA
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Rosic J, Miladinov M, Dragicevic S, Eric K, Bogdanovic A, Krivokapic Z, Nikolic A. Genetic analysis and allele-specific expression of SMAD7 3'UTR variants in human colorectal cancer reveal a novel somatic variant exhibiting allelic imbalance. Gene 2023; 859:147217. [PMID: 36690223 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147217] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the impact of SMAD7 deregulation in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and the significance of single nucleotide variant (SNV)-mediated disruptions of microRNA (miRNA)-dependent regulation for cancer susceptibility, our study aimed to analyze genetic variation in the SMAD7 3' untranslated region ( 3'UTR) in CRC, measure differences in allelic mRNA expression, and evaluate its interference with miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study included 80 patients with different CRC stages and six human colon cancer cell lines of various histological origins. SMAD7 3'UTR was analyzed by direct sequencing, followed by the relative quantification of differential allelic expression of detected variants by allele-specific qRT-PCR. In silico tools were employed for predictions of regulatory consequences of detected variants. RESULTS A total of four different SNVs in one cell line and nine patients were found, among which were a novel somatic point variant and three already known germline variants (rs16950113, rs1050799536, and rs1043778717). All evaluated SNVs exhibited variable extents of allelic imbalance in expression. In silico analysis predicted significant effects of SNVs on miRNA binding efficiency, with each SNV disrupting existing and creating new target sites for one or more miRNAs. CONCLUSION Imbalance observed in the expression of SNV alleles altering miRNA binding suggests that all investigated SNVs are potential contributing factors impacting SMAD7 expression regulation in CRC that further studies should investigate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Rosic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Marko Miladinov
- Clinic for Digestive Surgery - First Surgical Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sandra Dragicevic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Eric
- Department of Patohistology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar Bogdanovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic for Digestive Surgery - First Surgical Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zoran Krivokapic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic for Digestive Surgery - First Surgical Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Nikolic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Allele-specific expression of GATA2 due to epigenetic dysregulation in CEBPA double-mutant AML. Blood 2021; 138:160-177. [PMID: 33831168 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020009244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional deregulation is a central event in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To identify potential disturbances in gene regulation, we conducted an unbiased screen of allele-specific expression (ASE) in 209 AML cases. The gene encoding GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2) displayed ASE more often than any other myeloid- or cancer-related gene. GATA2 ASE was strongly associated with CEBPA double mutations (DMs), with 95% of cases presenting GATA2 ASE. In CEBPA DM AML with GATA2 mutations, the mutated allele was preferentially expressed. We found that GATA2 ASE was a somatic event lost in complete remission, supporting the notion that it plays a role in CEBPA DM AML. Acquisition of GATA2 ASE involved silencing of 1 allele via promoter methylation and concurrent overactivation of the other allele, thereby preserving expression levels. Notably, promoter methylation was also lost in remission along with GATA2 ASE. In summary, we propose that GATA2 ASE is acquired by epigenetic mechanisms and is a prerequisite for the development of AML with CEBPA DMs. This finding constitutes a novel example of an epigenetic hit cooperating with a genetic hit in the pathogenesis of AML.
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Abstract
Diploidy has profound implications for population genetics and susceptibility to genetic diseases. Although two copies are present for most genes in the human genome, they are not necessarily both active or active at the same level in a given individual. Genomic imprinting, resulting in exclusive or biased expression in favor of the allele of paternal or maternal origin, is now believed to affect hundreds of human genes. A far greater number of genes display unequal expression of gene copies due to cis-acting genetic variants that perturb gene expression. The availability of data generated by RNA sequencing applied to large numbers of individuals and tissue types has generated unprecedented opportunities to assess the contribution of genetic variation to allelic imbalance in gene expression. Here we review the insights gained through the analysis of these data about the extent of the genetic contribution to allelic expression imbalance, the tools and statistical models for gene expression imbalance, and what the results obtained reveal about the contribution of genetic variants that alter gene expression to complex human diseases and phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan Cleary
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland, Galway H91 H3CY, Ireland;
| | - Cathal Seoighe
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland, Galway H91 H3CY, Ireland;
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