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Janssen FW, Lak NSM, Janda CY, Kester LA, Meister MT, Merks JHM, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, van Noesel MM, Zsiros J, Tytgat GAM, Looijenga LHJ. A comprehensive overview of liquid biopsy applications in pediatric solid tumors. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:172. [PMID: 39097671 PMCID: PMC11297996 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00657-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsies are emerging as an alternative source for pediatric cancer biomarkers with potential applications during all stages of patient care, from diagnosis to long-term follow-up. While developments within this field are reported, these mainly focus on dedicated items such as a specific liquid biopsy matrix, analyte, and/or single tumor type. To the best of our knowledge, a comprehensive overview is lacking. Here, we review the current state of liquid biopsy research for the most common non-central nervous system pediatric solid tumors. These include neuroblastoma, renal tumors, germ cell tumors, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue sarcomas, and liver tumors. Within this selection, we discuss the most important or recent studies involving liquid biopsy-based biomarkers, anticipated clinical applications, and the current challenges for success. Furthermore, we provide an overview of liquid biopsy-based biomarker publication output for each tumor type based on a comprehensive literature search between 1989 and 2023. Per study identified, we list the relevant liquid biopsy-based biomarkers, matrices (e.g., peripheral blood, bone marrow, or cerebrospinal fluid), analytes (e.g., circulating cell-free and tumor DNA, microRNAs, and circulating tumor cells), methods (e.g., digital droplet PCR and next-generation sequencing), the involved pediatric patient cohort, and proposed applications. As such, we identified 344 unique publications. Taken together, while the liquid biopsy field in pediatric oncology is still behind adult oncology, potentially relevant publications have increased over the last decade. Importantly, steps towards clinical implementation are rapidly gaining ground, notably through validation of liquid biopsy-based biomarkers in pediatric clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michael T Meister
- Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes H M Merks
- Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marry M van den Heuvel-Eibrink
- Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Wilhelmina Children's Hospital-Division of CHILDHEALTH, University Medical Center Utrech, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Max M van Noesel
- Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Godelieve A M Tytgat
- Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Kyriazoglou A, Moutafi M, Zografos E, Konteles V, Sofianidis G, Mahaira L, Papakosta A, Tourkantoni N, Patereli A, Stefanaki K, Tzotzola V, Mpaka M, Polychronopoulou S, Dimitriadis E, Kattamis A. Expression of DNA Repair Genes in Ewing Sarcoma. CANCER DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS 2024; 4:231-238. [PMID: 38707718 PMCID: PMC11062174 DOI: 10.21873/cdp.10313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Background/Aim Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive mesenchymal malignancy commonly affecting children and young adolescents. The molecular basis of this neoplasia is well reported with the formation of the EWSR1/FLI1 fusion gene being the most common genetic finding. However, this fusion gene has not been targeted therapeutically nor is being used as a prognostic marker. Its relevance regarding the molecular steps leading to Ewing sarcoma genesis are yet to be defined. The generation of the oncogenic EWSR1/FLI1 fusion gene, can be attributed to the simultaneous introduction of two DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The scope of this study is to detect any association between DNA repair deficiency and the clinicopathological aspects of Ewing's sarcoma disease. Patients and Methods We have conducted an expression analysis of 35 patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma concerning the genes involved in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) repair pathways. We have analyzed the expression levels of 6 genes involved in NHEJ (XRCC4, XRCC5, XRCC6, POLλ, POLμ) and 9 genes involved in HR (RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, BRCA1, BRCA2, FANCC, FANCD, DNTM1, BRIT1) using real time PCR. Age, sex, location of primary tumor, tumor size, KI67, mitotic count, invasion of adjacent tissues and treatment were the clinicopathological parameters included in the statistical analysis. Results Our results show that both these DNA repair pathways are deregulated in Ewing sarcoma. In addition, low expression of the xrcc4 gene has been associated with better overall survival probability (p=0.032). Conclusion Our results, even though retrospective and in a small number of patients, highlight the importance of DSBs repair and propose a potential therapeutic target for this type of sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Kyriazoglou
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Unit, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Moutafi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Unit, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Zografos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Sofianidis
- Motor Control and Learning Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Louisa Mahaira
- Department of Genetics, Aghios Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Natalia Tourkantoni
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Amalia Patereli
- Department of Pathology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Stefanaki
- Department of Pathology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Tzotzola
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Margarita Mpaka
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Polychronopoulou
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Antonis Kattamis
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
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Sun J, Li X, Chen P, Gao Y. From Anti-HER-2 to Anti-HER-2-CAR-T Cells: An Evolutionary Immunotherapy Approach for Gastric Cancer. J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:4061-4085. [PMID: 35873388 PMCID: PMC9304417 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s368138] [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: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Current Therapeutic modalities provide no survival advantage to gastric cancer (GC) patients. Targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) is a viable therapeutic strategy against advanced HER-2 positive GC. Antibody-drug conjugates, small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and bispecific antibodies are emerging as novel drug forms that may abrogate the resistance to HER-2-specific drugs and monoclonal antibodies. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T) targeting HER-2 have shown considerable therapeutic potential in GC and other solid tumors. However, due to the high heterogeneity along with the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) of GC that often leads to immune escape, the immunological treatment of GC still faces many challenges. Here, we reviewed and discussed the current progress in the research of anti-HER-2-CAR-T cell immunotherapy against GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangang Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongshun Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
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Lak NSM, van der Kooi EJ, Enciso-Martinez A, Lozano-Andrés E, Otto C, Wauben MHM, Tytgat GAM. Extracellular Vesicles: A New Source of Biomarkers in Pediatric Solid Tumors? A Systematic Review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:887210. [PMID: 35686092 PMCID: PMC9173703 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.887210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Virtually every cell in the body releases extracellular vesicles (EVs), the contents of which can provide a "fingerprint" of their cellular origin. EVs are present in all bodily fluids and can be obtained using minimally invasive techniques. Thus, EVs can provide a promising source of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers, particularly in the context of cancer. Despite advances using EVs as biomarkers in adult cancers, little is known regarding their use in pediatric cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of published clinical and in vitro studies in order to assess the potential of using EV-derived biomarkers in pediatric solid tumors. We performed a systematic literature search, which yielded studies regarding desmoplastic small round cell tumor, hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. We then determined the extent to which the in vivo findings are supported by in vitro data, and vice versa. We also critically evaluated the clinical studies using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system, and we evaluated the purification and characterization of EVs in both the in vivo and in vitro studies in accordance with MISEV guidelines, yielding EV-TRACK and PedEV scores. We found that several studies identified similar miRNAs in overlapping and distinct tumor entities, indicating the potential for EV-derived biomarkers. However, most studies regarding EV-based biomarkers in pediatric solid tumors lack a standardized system of reporting their EV purification and characterization methods, as well as validation in an independent cohort, which are needed in order to bring EV-based biomarkers to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie S M Lak
- Research Department, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elvera J van der Kooi
- Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Estefanía Lozano-Andrés
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Cees Otto
- Medical Cell Biophysics Group, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Marca H M Wauben
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Godelieve A M Tytgat
- Research Department, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Immunohematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Peek R, Eijkenboom LL, Braat DDM, Beerendonk CCM. Complete Purging of Ewing Sarcoma Metastases from Human Ovarian Cortex Tissue Fragments by Inhibiting the mTORC1 Signaling Pathway. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10194362. [PMID: 34640378 PMCID: PMC8509560 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194362] [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: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoration of fertility by autologous transplantation of ovarian cortex tissue in former cancer patients may lead to the reintroduction of malignancy via the graft. Pharmacological ex vivo purging of ovarian cortex fragments prior to autotransplantation may reduce the risk of reseeding the cancer. In this study we have investigated the capacity of Everolimus (EVE), an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway, to eradicate Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) from ovarian tissue by a short-term ex vivo treatment. Exposure of experimentally induced ES tumor foci in ovarian tissue to EVE for 24 h completely eliminated the malignant cells without detrimental effects on follicle morphology, survival or early folliculogenesis. This indicates that effective purging of ovarian cortex tissue from contaminating ES tumor foci is possible by short-term exposure to EVE.
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DuBois SG, Krailo MD, Buxton A, Lessnick SL, Teot LA, Rakheja D, Crompton BD, Janeway KA, Gorlick RG, Glade-Bender J. Patterns of Translocation Testing in Patients Enrolling to a Cooperative Group Trial for Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 145:1564-1568. [PMID: 33769463 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0671-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Molecular diagnostics play an increasing role in the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma. The type of molecular testing used in clinical practice has been poorly described. OBJECTIVE.— To describe patterns of translocation testing for newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma. DESIGN.— Children's Oncology Group (COG) trial AEWS1221 was a phase III randomized trial enrolling patients with newly diagnosed metastatic Ewing sarcoma from 2014 to 2019. Patients were required to have a histologic diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma, but translocation testing was not required. Sites provided types and results of any molecular diagnostics performed. RESULTS.— Data from 305 enrolled patients were available. The most common type of molecular testing was fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) performed on the primary tumor (236 of 305 patients; 77.4%), with positive testing for an EWSR1 or FUS translocation in 211 (89.4%). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on the primary tumor was performed in 61 of 305 (20%), with positive results in 48 of 61 patients (78.7%). Next-generation sequencing was reported in 7 patients on primary tumor and in 3 patients on metastatic sites. Evaluating all types of testing on either primary or metastatic tumor, 16 of 305 patients (5.2%) had no reported translocation testing. Evaluating all results from all testing, 44 of 305 patients (14.4%) lacked documentation of an abnormality consistent with a molecular diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS.— COG sites enrolling in a Ewing sarcoma trial have high rates of testing by FISH or PCR. A small proportion of patients have no translocation testing on either primary or metastatic sites. Next-generation sequencing techniques are not yet commonly used in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G DuBois
- From Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (DuBois, Crompton, Janeway)
| | - Mark D Krailo
- Children's Oncology Group Statistics and Data Center, Monrovia, California (Krailo, Buxton)
| | - Allen Buxton
- Children's Oncology Group Statistics and Data Center, Monrovia, California (Krailo, Buxton)
| | - Stephen L Lessnick
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and The Division of Pediatric Heme/Onc/BMT, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus (Lessnick)
| | - Lisa A Teot
- the Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Teot)
| | - Dinesh Rakheja
- the Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas (Rakheja)
| | - Brian D Crompton
- From Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (DuBois, Crompton, Janeway)
| | - Katherine A Janeway
- From Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (DuBois, Crompton, Janeway)
| | - Richard G Gorlick
- the Department of Pediatrics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Gorlick)
| | - Julia Glade-Bender
- the Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (Glade-Bender)
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Hesla AC, Papakonstantinou A, Tsagkozis P. Current Status of Management and Outcome for Patients with Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1202. [PMID: 33801953 PMCID: PMC7998375 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone sarcoma in children after osteosarcoma. It is a very aggressive malignancy for which systemic treatment has greatly improved outcome for patients with localized disease, who now see survival rates of over 70%. However, for the quarter of patients presenting with metastatic disease, survival is still dismal with less than 30% of patients surviving past 5 years. Patients with disease relapse, local or distant, face an even poorer prognosis with an event-free 5-year survival rate of only 10%. Unfortunately, Ewing sarcoma patients have not yet seen the benefit of recent years' technical achievements such as next-generation sequencing, which have enabled researchers to study biological systems at a level never seen before. In spite of large multinational studies, treatment of Ewing sarcoma relies entirely on chemotherapeutic agents that have been largely unchanged for decades. As many promising modern therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, and immunotherapy, have been disappointing to date, there is no clear candidate as to which drug should be investigated in the next large-scale clinical trial. However, the mechanisms driving tumor development in Ewing sarcoma are slowly unfolding. New entities of Ewing-like tumors, with fusion transcripts that are related to the oncogenic EWSR1-FLI1 fusion seen in the majority of Ewing tumors, are being mapped. These tumors, although sharing much of the same morphologic features as classic Ewing sarcoma, behave differently and may require a different treatment. There are also controversies regarding local treatment of Ewing sarcoma. The radiosensitive nature of the disease and the tendency for Ewing sarcoma to arise in the axial skeleton make local treatment very challenging. Surgical treatment and radiotherapy have their pros and cons, which may give rise to different treatment strategies in different centers around the world. This review article discusses some of these controversies and reproduces the highlights from recent publications with regard to diagnostics, systemic treatment, and surgical treatment of Ewing sarcoma.
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Nacev BA, Jones KB, Intlekofer AM, Yu JSE, Allis CD, Tap WD, Ladanyi M, Nielsen TO. The epigenomics of sarcoma. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:608-623. [PMID: 32782366 PMCID: PMC8380451 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0288-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is critical to physiological control of development, cell fate, cell proliferation, genomic integrity and, fundamentally, transcriptional regulation. This epigenetic control occurs at multiple levels including through DNA methylation, histone modification, nucleosome remodelling and modulation of the 3D chromatin structure. Alterations in genes that encode chromatin regulators are common among mesenchymal neoplasms, a collection of more than 160 tumour types including over 60 malignant variants (sarcomas) that have unique and varied genetic, biological and clinical characteristics. Herein, we review those sarcomas in which chromatin pathway alterations drive disease biology. Specifically, we emphasize examples of dysregulation of each level of epigenetic control though mechanisms that include alterations in metabolic enzymes that regulate DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications, mutations in histone genes, subunit loss or fusions in chromatin remodelling and modifying complexes, and disruption of higher-order chromatin structure. Epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis have been implicated in mesenchymal tumours ranging from chondroblastoma and giant cell tumour of bone to chondrosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour, synovial sarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma and Ewing sarcoma - all diseases that present in a younger patient population than most cancers. Finally, we review current and potential future approaches for the development of sarcoma therapies based on this emerging understanding of chromatin dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Nacev
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin B Jones
- Department of Orthopaedics, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Andrew M Intlekofer
- Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jamie S E Yu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C David Allis
- The Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - William D Tap
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Torsten O Nielsen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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