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Comprehensive genomic sequencing is becoming a critical component in the assessment of hematologic malignancies, with broad implications for patient management. In this context, unequivocally discriminating somatic from germline events is challenging but greatly facilitated by matched analysis of tumor:normal pairs. In contrast to solid tumors, conventional sources of normal control (peripheral blood, buccal swabs, saliva) could be highly involved by the neoplastic process, rendering them unsuitable. In this work we describe our real-world experience using cell free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from nail clippings as an alternate source of normal control, through the dedicated review of 2,610 tumor:nail pairs comprehensively sequenced by MSK-IMPACT-heme. Overall, we find nail cfDNA is a robust source of germline control for paired genomic studies. In a subset of patients, nail DNA may have tumor DNA contamination, reflecting unique attributes of the hematologic disease and transplant history. Contamination is generally low level, but significantly more common among patients with myeloid neoplasms (20.5%; 304/1482) compared to lymphoid diseases (5.4%; 61/1128) and particularly enriched in myeloproliferative neoplasms with marked myelofibrosis. When identified in patients with lymphoid and plasma-cell neoplasms, mutations commonly reflected a myeloid profile and correlated with a concurrent/evolving clonal myeloid neoplasm. For nails collected after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation, donor DNA was identified in 22% (11/50). In this cohort, an association with recent history of graft-vs-host disease was identified. These findings should be considered as a potential limitation for the use of nail as normal control but could also provide important diagnostic information regarding the disease process.

Abstract Genomic profiling of hematologic malignancies has augmented our understanding of variants that contribute to disease pathogenesis and supported development of prognostic models that inform disease management in the clinic. Tumor only sequencing assays are limited in their ability to identify definitive somatic variants, which can lead to ambiguity in clinical reporting and patient management. Here, we describe the MSK-IMPACT Heme cohort, a comprehensive data set of somatic alterations from paired tumor and normal DNA using a hybridization capture-based next generation sequencing platform. We highlight patterns of mutations, copy number alterations, and mutation signatures in a broad set of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms. We also demonstrate the power of appropriate matching to make definitive somatic calls, including in patients who have undergone allogeneic stem cell transplant. We expect that this resource will further spur research into the pathobiology and clinical utility of clinical sequencing for patients with hematologic neoplasms.

Abstract Background Genetic testing (GT) for hereditary cancer predisposition is traditionally performed on selected genes based on established guidelines for each cancer type. Recently, expanded GT (eGT) using large hereditary cancer gene panels uncovered hereditary predisposition in a greater proportion of patients than previously anticipated. We sought to define the diagnostic yield of eGT and its clinical relevance in a broad cancer patient population over a 5-year period. Methods A total of 17,523 cancer patients with a broad range of solid tumors, who received eGT at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between July 2015 to April 2020, were included in the study. The patients were unselected for current GT criteria such as cancer type, age of onset, and/or family history of disease. The diagnostic yield of eGT was determined for each cancer type. For 9187 patients with five common cancer types frequently interrogated for hereditary predisposition (breast, colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer), the rate of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in genes that have been associated with each cancer type was analyzed. The clinical implications of additional findings in genes not known to be associated with a patients’ cancer type were investigated. Results 16.7% of patients in a broad cancer cohort had P/LP variants in hereditary cancer predisposition genes identified by eGT. The diagnostic yield of eGT in patients with breast, colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer was 17.5%, 15.3%, 24.2%, 19.4%, and 15.9%, respectively. Additionally, 8% of the patients with five common cancers had P/LP variants in genes not known to be associated with the patient’s current cancer type, with 0.8% of them having such a variant that confers a high risk for another cancer type. Analysis of clinical and family histories revealed that 74% of patients with variants in genes not associated with their current cancer type but which conferred a high risk for another cancer did not meet the current GT criteria for the genes harboring these variants. One or more variants of uncertain significance were identified in 57% of the patients. Conclusions Compared to targeted testing approaches, eGT can increase the yield of detection of hereditary cancer predisposition in patients with a range of tumors, allowing opportunities for enhanced surveillance and intervention. The benefits of performing eGT should be weighed against the added number of VUSs identified with this approach.

Sarcomas are rare tumours with many different subtypes and clinical outcomes; a broader knowledge of their genetic features is required. Here, the authors analyse 2138 soft tissue and bone sarcomas across 45 subtypes using MSK-IMPACT targeted sequencing and find genomic groups that are distinct from histological subgroups.

Abstract TP53 is one of the most ubiquitously altered genes in human cancer. The biological impact of rare variants, particularly those located within noncoding regions, remains poorly understood. From interrogation of clinical massively parallel sequencing data from over 55,000 tumors, which included 23,330 tumors with known TP53 mutations, TP53 intron 4 nucleotide substitutions at position c.375+5G were identified in 45 tumors (0.2% of TP53‐mutated cancers), comprising cancers of different organ sites. Loss‐of‐heterozygosity or a second‐hit somatic TP53 mutation was observed in 34 of 40 (85%) informative cases. RT‐PCR analysis showed the c.375+5G>T variant to be associated with aberrantly spliced TP53 mRNA transcripts with concomitant loss of the normal transcript. Immunohistochemical staining for p53 was performed on a representative subset of tumors with TP53 c.375+5G variants (n = 14), all of which showed loss of protein expression (100%; n = 13 complete loss, n = 1 subclonal loss). Our data are consistent with classification of TP53 c.375+5G variants as deleterious intronic mutations that interfere with proper mRNA splicing, ultimately resulting in loss of expression of functional p53 protein. The clinical scenario of a tumor with loss of p53 immunohistochemical staining, yet lacking a detectable TP53 exonic mutation, should therefore prompt consideration of splice‐altering intronic variants.

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) has been associated with altered inflammatory profiles and increased risk of cardiovascular and malignant diseases. Here, the authors analyze patient data from two different cohorts and show that CH is associated with severe infections and severe Covid19.

Liquid biopsies allow the non-invasive detection of somatic mutations from tumours. Here, the authors develop and test MSK-ACCESS, an NGS-based clinical assay for identifying low frequency mutations in 129 genes and describe how it benefits patients in the clinic.

Abstract Background Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) profiling is increasingly used to guide cancer care, yet mutations are not always identified. The ability to detect somatic mutations in plasma depends on both assay sensitivity and the fraction of circulating DNA in plasma that is tumor-derived (i.e., cfDNA tumor fraction). We hypothesized that cfDNA tumor fraction could inform the interpretation of negative cfDNA results and guide the choice of subsequent assays of greater genomic breadth or depth. Methods Plasma samples collected from 118 metastatic cancer patients were analyzed with cf-IMPACT, a modified version of the FDA-authorized MSK-IMPACT tumor test that can detect genomic alterations in 410 cancer-associated genes. Shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS) was also performed in the same samples to estimate cfDNA tumor fraction based on genome-wide copy number alterations using z-score statistics. Plasma samples with no somatic alterations detected by cf-IMPACT were triaged based on sWGS-estimated tumor fraction for analysis with either a less comprehensive but more sensitive assay (MSK-ACCESS) or broader whole exome sequencing (WES). Results cfDNA profiling using cf-IMPACT identified somatic mutations in 55/76 (72%) patients for whom MSK-IMPACT tumor profiling data were available. A significantly higher concordance of mutational profiles and tumor mutational burden (TMB) was observed between plasma and tumor profiling for plasma samples with a high tumor fraction (z-score≥5). In the 42 patients from whom tumor data was not available, cf-IMPACT identified mutations in 16/42 (38%). In total, cf-IMPACT analysis of plasma revealed mutations in 71/118 (60%) patients, with clinically actionable alterations identified in 30 (25%), including therapeutic targets of FDA-approved drugs. Of the 47 samples without alterations detected and low tumor fraction (z-score

An EGFR mutant with kinase domain duplication (EGFR-KDD) was previously identified in an index patient, but the functional and therapeutic implications remain unclear. Here, the authors show that KDD occurs in other ErbB receptors in multiple cancers, and characterize the mechanism and inhibition of EGFR-KDD.

There is an unmet clinical need for simple, accessible biomarkers to select patients who are more likely to respond to immune checkpoint therapy. Here the authors show that a lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with better overall and progressive-free survival, as well as higher rate of response, in a multi-cancer cohort of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Patients with solid cancers have high rates of clonal haematopoiesis associated with increased risk of secondary leukemias. Here, by using peripheral blood sequencing data from patients with solid non-hematologic cancer, the authors profile the landscape of mosaic chromosomal alterations and gene mutations, defining patients at high risk of leukemia progression.

Abstract To evaluate whether radiomic features from contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) can identify DNA mismatch repair deficient (MMR-D) and/or tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) endometrial cancers (ECs). Patients who underwent targeted massively parallel sequencing of primary ECs between 2014 and 2018 and preoperative CE-CT were included (n = 150). Molecular subtypes of EC were assigned using DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) hotspot mutations and immunohistochemistry-based p53 and MMR protein expression. TMB was derived from sequencing, with > 15.5 mutations-per-megabase as a cut-point to define TMB-H tumors. After radiomic feature extraction and selection, radiomic features and clinical variables were processed with the recursive feature elimination random forest classifier. Classification models constructed using the training dataset (n = 105) were then validated on the holdout test dataset (n = 45). Integrated radiomic-clinical classification distinguished MMR-D from copy number (CN)-low-like and CN-high-like ECs with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.78 (95% CI 0.58–0.91). The model further differentiated TMB-H from TMB-low (TMB-L) tumors with an AUROC of 0.87 (95% CI 0.73–0.95). Peritumoral-rim radiomic features were most relevant to both classifications (p ≤ 0.044). Radiomic analysis achieved moderate accuracy in identifying MMR-D and TMB-H ECs directly from CE-CT. Radiomics may provide an adjunct tool to molecular profiling, especially given its potential advantage in the setting of intratumor heterogeneity.

Introduction: For patients with advanced NSCLC, cytologic samples may be the only diagnostic specimen available for molecular profiling. Although both rapid and comprehensive assessment are essential in this setting, an integrated multitest approach remains an important strategy in many laboratories, despite the risks and challenges when working with scant samples. In this study, we describe our experience and high success rate in using a multitest approach, focusing on the clinical validation and incorporation of ultrarapid EGFR testing using the Idylla system followed by comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods: Cytology samples received for routine molecular testing were included in this study. The performance characteristics of the EGFR Idylla assay were assessed; tissue suitability parameters and interpretation criteria to supplement automated mutation calling were established. The assay performance was monitored for 1 year, comparing the results with those of concurrent NGS testing by MSK-IMPACT (primarily) or MSK-AmpliSeq and MSK-Fusion solid panel in a subset of cases. Results: Overall, 301 samples were studied; 83 samples were included in validation (60.2% [50 of 83] were positive for EGFR mutations). Concordance with the reference method was 96.4% (80 of 83) of the samples with excellent reproducibility. The limit of detection was variable depending on the total tissue input and the specific mutation tested. Unextracted tissue inputs that maintained total EGFR cycle of quantification at less than 23 allowed all mutations to be detected if present at greater than 5% variant allele frequency. Mutations could be detected at 1% variant allele frequency with total EGFR cycle of quantification of 18. During the clinical implementation phase, 218 NSCLC samples were tested by Idylla (24.3% [53 of 218] were EGFR mutation positive). Concurrent NGS testing was requested on 165 samples and successfully performed on 96.4% (159 of 165) of the samples. The Idylla automated results were concordant with those obtained by NGS in 96.2% (153 of 159) of cases and improved to 98.7% (157 of 159) after incorporation of manual review criteria to supplement automated calling, resulting in a diagnostic sensitivity of 95.6% (95% confidence interval: 84.9%–99.5%). In general, 9% (14 of 159) of the cases tested by NGS had EGFR mutations not covered by the Idylla assay, primarily insertions in exon 19 and 20 and minor mutations co-occurring with canonical sensitizing mutations. Conclusions: Comprehensive molecular testing is feasible and has a high success rate in NSCLC cytology samples when using a multitest approach. Testing with the Idylla system enables rapid and accurate determination of the EGFR status without compromising subsequent NGS testing.

BackgroundTumor mutational burden (TMB), defined as the number of somatic mutations per megabase of interrogated genomic sequence, demonstrates predictive biomarker potential for the identification of patients with cancer most likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. TMB is optimally calculated by whole exome sequencing (WES), but next-generation sequencing targeted panels provide TMB estimates in a time-effective and cost-effective manner. However, differences in panel size and gene coverage, in addition to the underlying bioinformatics pipelines, are known drivers of variability in TMB estimates across laboratories. By directly comparing panel-based TMB estimates from participating laboratories, this study aims to characterize the theoretical variability of panel-based TMB estimates, and provides guidelines on TMB reporting, analytic validation requirements and reference standard alignment in order to maintain consistency of TMB estimation across platforms.MethodsEleven laboratories used WES data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Multi-Center Mutation calling in Multiple Cancers (MC3) samples and calculated TMB from the subset of the exome restricted to the genes covered by their targeted panel using their own bioinformatics pipeline (panel TMB). A reference TMB value was calculated from the entire exome using a uniform bioinformatics pipeline all members agreed on (WES TMB). Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between WES and panel TMB for all 32 cancer types combined and separately. Variability in panel TMB values at various WES TMB values was also quantified using 95% prediction limits.ResultsStudy results demonstrated that variability within and between panel TMB values increases as the WES TMB values increase. For each panel, prediction limits based on linear regression analyses that modeled panel TMB as a function of WES TMB were calculated and found to approximately capture the intended 95% of observed panel TMB values. Certain cancer types, such as uterine, bladder and colon cancers exhibited greater variability in panel TMB values, compared with lung and head and neck cancers.ConclusionsIncreasing uptake of TMB as a predictive biomarker in the clinic creates an urgent need to bring stakeholders together to agree on the harmonization of key aspects of panel-based TMB estimation, such as the standardization of TMB reporting, standardization of analytical validation studies and the alignment of panel-based TMB values with a reference standard. These harmonization efforts should improve consistency and reliability of panel TMB estimates and aid in clinical decision-making.

Abstract Background The growing number of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) tests is transforming the routine clinical diagnosis of hereditary cancers. Identifying whether a cancer is the result of an underlying disease-causing mutation in a cancer predisposition gene is not only diagnostic for a cancer predisposition syndrome, but also has significant clinical implications in the clinical management of patients and their families. Methods Here, we evaluated the performance of MSK-IMPACT (Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets) in detecting genetic alterations in 76 genes implicated in cancer predisposition syndromes. Output from hybridization-based capture was sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500. A custom analysis pipeline was used to detect single nucleotide variants (SNVs), small insertions/deletions (indels) and copy number variants (CNVs). Results MSK-IMPACT detected all germline variants in a set of 233 unique patient DNA samples, previously confirmed by previous single gene testing. Reproducibility of variant calls was demonstrated using inter- and intra- run replicates. Moreover, in 16 samples, we identified additional pathogenic mutations other than those previously identified through a traditional gene-by-gene approach, including founder mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 and APC, and truncating mutations in TP53, TSC2, ATM and VHL. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of the NGS-based gene panel testing approach in comprehensively identifying germline variants contributing to cancer predisposition and simultaneous detection of somatic and germline alterations.

The degree of histologic cellular differentiation of a cancer has been associated with prognosis but is subjectively assessed. We hypothesized that information about tumor differentiation of individual cancers could be derived objectively from cancer gene expression data, and would allow creation of a cancer phylogenetic framework that would correlate with clinical, histologic and molecular characteristics of the cancers, as well as predict prognosis. Here we utilized mRNA expression data from 4,413 patient samples with 7 diverse cancer histologies to explore the utility of ordering samples by their distance in gene expression from that of stem cells. A differentiation baseline was obtained by including expression data of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) for solid tumors, and of hESC and CD34+ cells for liquid tumors. We found that the correlation distance (the degree of similarity) between the gene expression profile of a tumor sample and that of stem cells orients cancers in a clinically coherent fashion. For all histologies analyzed (including carcinomas, sarcomas, and hematologic malignancies), patients with cancers with gene expression patterns most similar to that of stem cells had poorer overall survival. We also found that the genes in all undifferentiated cancers of diverse histologies that were most differentially expressed were associated with up-regulation of specific oncogenes and down-regulation of specific tumor suppressor genes. Thus, a stem cell-oriented phylogeny of cancers allows for the derivation of a novel cancer gene expression signature found in all undifferentiated forms of diverse cancer histologies, that is competitive in predicting overall survival in cancer patients compared to previously published prediction models, and is coherent in that gene expression was associated with up-regulation of specific oncogenes and down-regulation of specific tumor suppressor genes associated with regulation of the multicellular state.