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101 results on '"Al-Ejeh, F."'

1. EphA3 as a target for antibody immunotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Author

Charmsaz, S, Al-Ejeh, F, Yeadon, TM, Miller, KJ, Smith, FM, Stringer, BW, Moore, AS, Lee, Fook-Thean, Cooper, LT, Stylianou, C, Yarranton, GT, Woronicz, J, Scott, Andrew, Lackmann, M, and Boyd, AW

Subjects
Uncategorized
Abstract

The human EphA3 gene was discovered in a pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B-ALL) using the EphA3-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), IIIA4, which binds and activates both human and mouse EphA3. We use two models of human pre-B-ALL to examine EphA3 function, demonstrating effects on pre-B-cell receptor signaling. In therapeutic targeting studies, we demonstrated antitumor effects of the IIIA4 mAb in EphA3-expressing leukemic xenografts and no antitumor effect in the xenografts with no EphA3 expression providing evidence that EphA3 is a functional therapeutic target in pre-B-ALL. Here we show that the therapeutic effect of the anti-EphA3 antibody was greatly enhanced by adding an α-particle-emitting 213 Bismuth payload.

Published
2023
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4. Differential gene expression of tumor-infiltrating CD4+T cells in advanced versus early stage colorectal cancer and identification of a gene signature of poor prognosis

Author

Nair, VS, Saleh, R, Taha, RZ, Toor, SM, Murshed, K, Ahmed, AA, Kurer, MA, Abu Nada, M, Al Ejeh, F, Elkord, E, Nair, VS, Saleh, R, Taha, RZ, Toor, SM, Murshed, K, Ahmed, AA, Kurer, MA, Abu Nada, M, Al Ejeh, F, and Elkord, E

Abstract

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play indispensable roles in the progression and response to treatment of solid tumors. However, the prognostic significance of CD4+ TILs is not fully disclosed in cancers generally and in CRC in particular, mainly due to the existence of different functional subsets of CD4+ T cells. We performed transcriptomic profiling of CD4+ TILs isolated from CRC patients in order to identify differentially expressed genes and their functional pathways in early versus advanced disease stages. We found that in advanced stages, genes related to immune and inflammatory responses, in particular Th1-mediated immune response and cytotoxicity-mediated genes, were downregulated; while epigenetic-mediated silencing genes were upregulated. Interestingly, we identified genes, which were steadily upregulated or downregulated in CD4+ TILs with CRC progression from stage I to IV. Additionally, of the top 200 deregulated genes, 43 upregulated and 64 downregulated genes showed similar deregulation trends in the cancer genome atlas CRC dataset. From these 97 deregulated genes, we identified a "poor prognosis CD4 gene signature (ppCD4sig)". Patients with high ppCD4sig score showed shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free interval (PFI). The ppCD4sig was an independent prognostic indicator for DSS (HR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.32-2.27, P = 0.0001) and PFI (HR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.3-2.35, P = 0.0016). Additionally, patients at advanced stages and at a younger age (<55 years) were more likely to have a high ppCD4sig score. Altogether, our data provide novel insights and a unique prognostic gene signature of CD4+ TILs in the CRC microenvironment.

Published
2020

5. Overexpression of miRNA-25-3p inhibits Notch1 signaling and TGF-β-induced collagen expression in hepatic stellate cells

Author

Genz, B., Coleman, M.A., Irvine, K.M., Kutasovic, J.R., Miranda, M., Gratte, F.D., Tirnitz-Parker, J.E.E., Olynyk, J.K., Calvopina, D.A., Weis, A., Cloonan, N., Robinson, H., Hill, M.M., Al-Ejeh, F., Ramm, G.A., Genz, B., Coleman, M.A., Irvine, K.M., Kutasovic, J.R., Miranda, M., Gratte, F.D., Tirnitz-Parker, J.E.E., Olynyk, J.K., Calvopina, D.A., Weis, A., Cloonan, N., Robinson, H., Hill, M.M., Al-Ejeh, F., and Ramm, G.A.

Abstract

During chronic liver injury hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the principal source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic liver, transdifferentiate into pro-fibrotic myofibroblast-like cells - a process potentially regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Recently, we found serum miRNA-25-3p (miR-25) levels were upregulated in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) without liver disease, compared to children with CF-associated liver disease and healthy individuals. Here we examine the role of miR-25 in HSC biology. MiR-25 was detected in the human HSC cell line LX-2 and in primary murine HSCs, and increased with culture-induced activation. Transient overexpression of miR-25 inhibited TGF-β and its type 1 receptor (TGFBR1) mRNA expression, TGF-β-induced Smad2 phosphorylation and subsequent collagen1α1 induction in LX-2 cells. Pull-down experiments with biotinylated miR-25 revealed Notch signaling (co-)activators ADAM-17 and FKBP14 as miR-25 targets in HSCs. NanoString analysis confirmed miR-25 regulation of Notch- and Wnt-signaling pathways. Expression of Notch signaling pathway components and endogenous Notch1 signaling was downregulated in miR-25 overexpressing LX-2 cells, as were components of Wnt signaling such as Wnt5a. We propose that miR-25 acts as a negative feedback anti-fibrotic control during HSC activation by reducing the reactivity of HSCs to TGF-β-induced collagen expression and modulating the cross-talk between Notch, Wnt and TGF-β signaling.

Published
2019

6. Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify target genes and risk loci for breast cancer.

Author

Herold N., Rantala J., Rennert G., Risch H.A., Saloustros E., Sanden K., Sawyer E.J., Schmidt M.K., Schmutzler R.K., Sharma P., Shu X.-O., Simard J., Singer C.F., Soucy P., Southey M.C., Spinelli J.J., Spurdle A.B., Stone J., Swerdlow A.J., Tapper W.J., Taylor J.A., Teixeira M.R., Terry M.B., Teule A., Thomassen M., Thone K., Thull D.L., Tischkowitz M., Toland A.E., Torres D., Truong T., Tung N., Vachon C.M., van Asperen C.J., van den Ouweland A.M.W., van Rensburg E.J., Vega A., Viel A., Wang Q., Wappenschmidt B., Weitzel J.N., Wendt C., Winqvist R., Yang X.R., Yannoukakos D., Ziogas A., Kraft P., Antoniou A.C., Zheng W., Easton D.F., Milne R.L., Beesley J., Chenevix-Trench G., Ferreira M.A., Gamazon E.R., Al-Ejeh F., Aittomaki K., Andrulis I.L., Anton-Culver H., Arason A., Arndt V., Aronson K.J., Arun B.K., Asseryanis E., Azzollini J., Balmana J., Barnes D.R., Barrowdale D., Beckmann M.W., Behrens S., Benitez J., Bermisheva M., Bialkowska K., Blomqvist C., Bogdanova N.V., Bojesen S.E., Bolla M.K., Borg A., Brauch H., Brenner H., Broeks A., Burwinkel B., Caldes T., Caligo M.A., Campa D., Campbell I., Canzian F., Carter J., Carter B.D., Castelao J.E., Chang-Claude J., Chanock S.J., Christiansen H., Chung W.K., Claes K.B.M., Clarke C.L., Adlard J., Ahmed M., Barwell J., Brady A., Brewer C., Cook J., Davidson R., Donaldson A., Eason J., Eeles R., Evans D.G., Gregory H., Hanson H., Henderson A., Hodgson S., Izatt L., Kennedy M.J., Lalloo F., Miller C., Morrison P.J., Ong K.-R., Perkins J., Porteous M.E., Rogers M.T., Side L.E., Snape K., Walker L., Harrington P.A., Arnold N., Auber B., Bogdanova-Markov N., Borde J., Caliebe A., Ditsch N., Dworniczak B., Engert S., Faust U., Gehrig A., Hahnen E., Hauke J., Hentschel J., Honisch E., Just W., Kast K., Larsen M., Lemke J., Nguyen H.P., Niederacher D., Ott C.-E., Platzer K., Pohl-Rescigno E., Ramser J., Rhiem K., Steinemann D., Sutter C., Varon-Mateeva R., Wang-Gohrke S., Weber B.H.F., Prieur F., Pujol P., Sagne C., Sevenet N., Sobol H., Sokolowska J., Stoppa-Lyonnet D., Venat-Bouvet L., Couch F.J., Cox A., Cross S.S., Czene K., Daly M.B., de la Hoya M., Dennis J., Devilee P., Diez O., Dork T., Dunning A.M., Dwek M., Eccles D.M., Ejlertsen B., Ellberg C., Engel C., Eriksson M., Fasching P.A., Fletcher O., Flyger H., Friedman E., Frost D., Gabrielson M., Gago-Dominguez M., Ganz P.A., Gapstur S.M., Garber J., Garcia-Closas M., Garcia-Saenz J.A., Gaudet M.M., Giles G.G., Glendon G., Godwin A.K., Goldberg M.S., Goldgar D.E., Gonzalez-Neira A., Greene M.H., Gronwald J., Guenel P., Haiman C.A., Hall P., Hamann U., He W., Heyworth J., Hogervorst F.B.L., Hollestelle A., Hoover R.N., Hopper J.L., Hulick P.J., Humphreys K., Imyanitov E.N., Balleine R., Baxter R., Braye S., Carpenter J., Dahlstrom J., Forbes J., Lee S.C., Marsh D., Morey A., Pathmanathan N., Simpson P., Spigelman A., Wilcken N., Yip D., Heemskerk-Gerritsen B.A.M., Rookus M.A., Seynaeve C.M., van der Baan F.H., van der Hout A.H., van der Kolk L.E., van der Luijt R.B., van Deurzen C.H.M., van Doorn H.C., van Engelen K., van Hest L., van Os T.A.M., Verhoef S., Vogel M.J., Wijnen J.T., Miron A., Kapuscinski M., Bane A., Ross E., Buys S.S., Conner T.A., Isaacs C., Jakimovska M., Jakubowska A., James P.A., Janavicius R., Jankowitz R.C., John E.M., Johnson N., Joseph V., Karlan B.Y., Khusnutdinova E., Kiiski J.I., Ko Y.-D., Jones M.E., Konstantopoulou I., Kristensen V.N., Laitman Y., Lambrechts D., Lazaro C., Leslie G., Lester J., Lesueur F., Lindstrom S., Long J., Loud J.T., Lubinski J., Makalic E., Mannermaa A., Manoochehri M., Margolin S., Maurer T., Mavroudis D., McGuffog L., Meindl A., Menon U., Michailidou K., Miller A., Montagna M., Moreno F., Moserle L., Mulligan A.M., Nathanson K.L., Neuhausen S.L., Nevanlinna H., Nevelsteen I., Nielsen F.C., Nikitina-Zake L., Nussbaum R.L., Offit K., Olah E., Olopade O.I., Olsson H., Osorio A., Papp J., Park-Simon T.-W., Parsons M.T., Pedersen I.S., Peixoto A., Peterlongo P., Pharoah P.D.P., Plaseska-Karanfilska D., Poppe B., Presneau N., Radice P., Herold N., Rantala J., Rennert G., Risch H.A., Saloustros E., Sanden K., Sawyer E.J., Schmidt M.K., Schmutzler R.K., Sharma P., Shu X.-O., Simard J., Singer C.F., Soucy P., Southey M.C., Spinelli J.J., Spurdle A.B., Stone J., Swerdlow A.J., Tapper W.J., Taylor J.A., Teixeira M.R., Terry M.B., Teule A., Thomassen M., Thone K., Thull D.L., Tischkowitz M., Toland A.E., Torres D., Truong T., Tung N., Vachon C.M., van Asperen C.J., van den Ouweland A.M.W., van Rensburg E.J., Vega A., Viel A., Wang Q., Wappenschmidt B., Weitzel J.N., Wendt C., Winqvist R., Yang X.R., Yannoukakos D., Ziogas A., Kraft P., Antoniou A.C., Zheng W., Easton D.F., Milne R.L., Beesley J., Chenevix-Trench G., Ferreira M.A., Gamazon E.R., Al-Ejeh F., Aittomaki K., Andrulis I.L., Anton-Culver H., Arason A., Arndt V., Aronson K.J., Arun B.K., Asseryanis E., Azzollini J., Balmana J., Barnes D.R., Barrowdale D., Beckmann M.W., Behrens S., Benitez J., Bermisheva M., Bialkowska K., Blomqvist C., Bogdanova N.V., Bojesen S.E., Bolla M.K., Borg A., Brauch H., Brenner H., Broeks A., Burwinkel B., Caldes T., Caligo M.A., Campa D., Campbell I., Canzian F., Carter J., Carter B.D., Castelao J.E., Chang-Claude J., Chanock S.J., Christiansen H., Chung W.K., Claes K.B.M., Clarke C.L., Adlard J., Ahmed M., Barwell J., Brady A., Brewer C., Cook J., Davidson R., Donaldson A., Eason J., Eeles R., Evans D.G., Gregory H., Hanson H., Henderson A., Hodgson S., Izatt L., Kennedy M.J., Lalloo F., Miller C., Morrison P.J., Ong K.-R., Perkins J., Porteous M.E., Rogers M.T., Side L.E., Snape K., Walker L., Harrington P.A., Arnold N., Auber B., Bogdanova-Markov N., Borde J., Caliebe A., Ditsch N., Dworniczak B., Engert S., Faust U., Gehrig A., Hahnen E., Hauke J., Hentschel J., Honisch E., Just W., Kast K., Larsen M., Lemke J., Nguyen H.P., Niederacher D., Ott C.-E., Platzer K., Pohl-Rescigno E., Ramser J., Rhiem K., Steinemann D., Sutter C., Varon-Mateeva R., Wang-Gohrke S., Weber B.H.F., Prieur F., Pujol P., Sagne C., Sevenet N., Sobol H., Sokolowska J., Stoppa-Lyonnet D., Venat-Bouvet L., Couch F.J., Cox A., Cross S.S., Czene K., Daly M.B., de la Hoya M., Dennis J., Devilee P., Diez O., Dork T., Dunning A.M., Dwek M., Eccles D.M., Ejlertsen B., Ellberg C., Engel C., Eriksson M., Fasching P.A., Fletcher O., Flyger H., Friedman E., Frost D., Gabrielson M., Gago-Dominguez M., Ganz P.A., Gapstur S.M., Garber J., Garcia-Closas M., Garcia-Saenz J.A., Gaudet M.M., Giles G.G., Glendon G., Godwin A.K., Goldberg M.S., Goldgar D.E., Gonzalez-Neira A., Greene M.H., Gronwald J., Guenel P., Haiman C.A., Hall P., Hamann U., He W., Heyworth J., Hogervorst F.B.L., Hollestelle A., Hoover R.N., Hopper J.L., Hulick P.J., Humphreys K., Imyanitov E.N., Balleine R., Baxter R., Braye S., Carpenter J., Dahlstrom J., Forbes J., Lee S.C., Marsh D., Morey A., Pathmanathan N., Simpson P., Spigelman A., Wilcken N., Yip D., Heemskerk-Gerritsen B.A.M., Rookus M.A., Seynaeve C.M., van der Baan F.H., van der Hout A.H., van der Kolk L.E., van der Luijt R.B., van Deurzen C.H.M., van Doorn H.C., van Engelen K., van Hest L., van Os T.A.M., Verhoef S., Vogel M.J., Wijnen J.T., Miron A., Kapuscinski M., Bane A., Ross E., Buys S.S., Conner T.A., Isaacs C., Jakimovska M., Jakubowska A., James P.A., Janavicius R., Jankowitz R.C., John E.M., Johnson N., Joseph V., Karlan B.Y., Khusnutdinova E., Kiiski J.I., Ko Y.-D., Jones M.E., Konstantopoulou I., Kristensen V.N., Laitman Y., Lambrechts D., Lazaro C., Leslie G., Lester J., Lesueur F., Lindstrom S., Long J., Loud J.T., Lubinski J., Makalic E., Mannermaa A., Manoochehri M., Margolin S., Maurer T., Mavroudis D., McGuffog L., Meindl A., Menon U., Michailidou K., Miller A., Montagna M., Moreno F., Moserle L., Mulligan A.M., Nathanson K.L., Neuhausen S.L., Nevanlinna H., Nevelsteen I., Nielsen F.C., Nikitina-Zake L., Nussbaum R.L., Offit K., Olah E., Olopade O.I., Olsson H., Osorio A., Papp J., Park-Simon T.-W., Parsons M.T., Pedersen I.S., Peixoto A., Peterlongo P., Pharoah P.D.P., Plaseska-Karanfilska D., Poppe B., Presneau N., and Radice P.

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 breast cancer susceptibility loci. Here we hypothesize that some risk-associated variants might act in non-breast tissues, specifically adipose tissue and immune cells from blood and spleen. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) reported in these tissues, we identify 26 previously unreported, likely target genes of overall breast cancer risk variants, and 17 for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, several with a known immune function. We determine the directional effect of gene expression on disease risk measured based on single and multiple eQTL. In addition, using a gene-based test of association that considers eQTL from multiple tissues, we identify seven (and four) regions with variants associated with overall (and ER-negative) breast cancer risk, which were not reported in previous GWAS. Further investigation of the function of the implicated genes in breast and immune cells may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer.Copyright © 2019, The Author(s).

Published
2019

7. Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify target genes and risk loci for breast cancer

Author

Ferreira, M.A., Gamazon, E. (Eric), Al-Ejeh, F., Aittomäki, K. (Kristiina), Andrulis, I.L. (Irene), Anton-Culver, H. (Hoda), Ferreira, M.A., Gamazon, E. (Eric), Al-Ejeh, F., Aittomäki, K. (Kristiina), Andrulis, I.L. (Irene), and Anton-Culver, H. (Hoda)

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 breast cancer susceptibility loci. Here we hypothesize that some risk-associated variants might act in nonbreast tissues, specifically adipose tissue and immune cells from blood and spleen. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) reported in these tissues, we identify 26 previously unreported, likely target genes of overall breast cancer risk variants, and 17 for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, several with a known immune function. We determine the directional effect of gene expression on disease risk measured based on single and multiple eQTL. In addition, using a gene-based test of association that considers eQTL from multiple tissues, we identify seven (and four) regions with variants associated with overall (and ER-negative) breast cancer risk, which were not reported in previous GWAS. Further investigation of the function of the implicated genes in breast and immune cells may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer.

Published
2019
Full Text
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8. Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify target genes and risk loci for breast cancer

Author

Ferreira, MA, Gamazon, ER, Al-Ejeh, F, Aittomaki, K, Andrulis, IL, Anton-Culver, H, Arason, A, Arndt, V, Aronson, KJ, Arun, BK, Asseryanis, E, Azzollini, J, Balmana, J, Barnes, DR, Barrowdale, D, Beckmann, MW, Behrens, S, Benitez, J, Bermisheva, M, Bialkowska, K, Blomqvist, C, Bogdanova, N, Bojesen, SE, Bolla, MK, Borg, A, Brauch, H, Brenner, H, Broeks, A, Burwinkel, B, Caldes, T, Caligo, MA, Campa, D, Campbell, I, Canzian, F, Carter, J, Carter, BD, Castelao, JE, Chang-Claude, J, Chanock, SJ, Christiansen, H, Chung, WK, Claes, KBM, Clarke, CL, Couch, FJ, Cox, A, Cross, SS, Czene, K, Daly, MB, de la Hoya, M, Dennis, J, Devilee, P, Diez, O, Doerk, T, Dunning, AM, Dwek, M, Eccles, DM, Ejlertsen, B, Ellberg, C, Engel, C, Eriksson, M, Fasching, PA, Fletcher, O, Flyger, H, Friedman, E, Frost, D, Gabrielson, M, Gago-Dominguez, M, Ganz, PA, Gapstur, SM, Garber, J, Garcia-Closas, M, Garcia-Saenz, JA, Gaudet, MM, Giles, GG, Glendon, G, Godwin, AK, Goldberg, MS, Goldgar, DE, Gonzalez-Neira, A, Greene, MH, Gronwald, J, Guenel, P, Haiman, CA, Hall, P, Hamann, U, He, W, Heyworth, J, Hogervorst, FBL, Hollestelle, A, Hoover, RN, Hopper, JL, Hulick, PJ, Humphreys, K, Imyanitov, EN, Isaacs, C, Jakimovska, M, Jakubowska, A, James, PA, Janavicius, R, Jankowitz, RC, John, EM, Johnson, N, Joseph, V, Karlan, BY, Khusnutdinova, E, Kiiski, J, Ko, Y-D, Jones, ME, Konstantopoulou, I, Kristensen, VN, Laitman, Y, Lambrechts, D, Lazaro, C, Leslie, G, Lester, J, Lesueur, F, Lindstrom, S, Long, J, Loud, JT, Lubinski, J, Makalic, E, Mannermaa, A, Manoochehri, M, Margolin, S, Maurer, T, Mavroudis, D, McGuffog, L, Meindl, A, Menon, U, Michailidou, K, Miller, A, Montagna, M, Moreno, F, Moserle, L, Mulligan, AM, Nathanson, KL, Neuhausen, SL, Nevanlinna, H, Nevelsteen, I, Nielsen, FC, Nikitina-Zake, L, Nussbaum, RL, Offit, K, Olah, E, Olopade, O, Olsson, H, Osorio, A, Papp, J, Park-Simon, T-W, Parsons, MT, Pedersen, IS, Peixoto, A, Peterlongo, P, Pharoah, PDP, Plaseska-Karanfilska, D, Poppe, B, Presneau, N, Radice, P, Rantala, J, Rennert, G, Risch, HA, Saloustros, E, Sanden, K, Sawyer, EJ, Schmidt, MK, Schmutzler, RK, Sharma, P, Shu, X-O, Simard, J, Singer, CF, Soucy, P, Southey, MC, Spinelli, JJ, Spurdle, AB, Stone, J, Swerdlow, AJ, Tapper, WJ, Taylor, JA, Teixeira, MR, Terry, MB, Teule, A, Thomassen, M, Thoene, K, Thull, DL, Tischkowitz, M, Toland, AE, Torres, D, Truong, T, Tung, N, Vachon, CM, van Asperen, CJ, van den Ouweland, AMW, van Rensburg, EJ, Vega, A, Viel, A, Wang, Q, Wappenschmidt, B, Weitzel, JN, Wendt, C, Winqvist, R, Yang, XR, Yannoukakos, D, Ziogas, A, Kraft, P, Antoniou, AC, Zheng, W, Easton, DF, Milne, RL, Beesley, J, Chenevix-Trench, G, Arnold, N, Auber, B, Bogdanova-Markov, N, Borde, J, Caliebe, A, Ditsch, N, Dworniczak, B, Engert, S, Faust, U, Gehrig, A, Hahnen, E, Hauke, J, Hentschel, J, Herold, N, Honisch, E, Just, W, Kast, K, Larsen, M, Lemke, J, Huu, PN, Niederacher, D, Ott, C-E, Platzer, K, Pohl-Rescigno, E, Ramser, J, Rhiem, K, Steinemann, D, Sutter, C, Varon-Mateeva, R, Wang-Gohrke, S, Weber, BHF, Prieur, F, Pujol, P, Sagne, C, Sevenet, N, Sobol, H, Sokolowska, J, Stoppa-Lyonnet, D, Venat-Bouvet, L, Adlard, J, Ahmed, M, Barwell, J, Brady, A, Brewer, C, Cook, J, Davidson, R, Donaldson, A, Eason, J, Eeles, R, Evans, DG, Gregory, H, Hanson, H, Henderson, A, Hodgson, S, Izatt, L, Kennedy, MJ, Lalloo, F, Miller, C, Morrison, PJ, Ong, K-R, Perkins, J, Porteous, ME, Rogers, MT, Side, LE, Snape, K, Walker, L, Harrington, PA, Heemskerk-Gerritsen, BAM, Rookus, MA, Seynaeve, CM, van der Baan, FH, van der Hout, AH, van der Kolk, LE, van der Luijt, RB, van Deurzen, CHM, van Doorn, HC, van Engelen, K, van Hest, L, van Os, TAM, Verhoef, S, Vogel, MJ, Wijnen, JT, Miron, A, Kapuscinski, M, Bane, A, Ross, E, Buys, SS, Conner, TA, Balleine, R, Baxter, R, Braye, S, Carpenter, J, Dahlstrom, J, Forbes, J, Lee, SC, Marsh, D, Morey, A, Pathmanathan, N, Simpson, P, Spigelman, A, Wilcken, N, Yip, D, Ferreira, MA, Gamazon, ER, Al-Ejeh, F, Aittomaki, K, Andrulis, IL, Anton-Culver, H, Arason, A, Arndt, V, Aronson, KJ, Arun, BK, Asseryanis, E, Azzollini, J, Balmana, J, Barnes, DR, Barrowdale, D, Beckmann, MW, Behrens, S, Benitez, J, Bermisheva, M, Bialkowska, K, Blomqvist, C, Bogdanova, N, Bojesen, SE, Bolla, MK, Borg, A, Brauch, H, Brenner, H, Broeks, A, Burwinkel, B, Caldes, T, Caligo, MA, Campa, D, Campbell, I, Canzian, F, Carter, J, Carter, BD, Castelao, JE, Chang-Claude, J, Chanock, SJ, Christiansen, H, Chung, WK, Claes, KBM, Clarke, CL, Couch, FJ, Cox, A, Cross, SS, Czene, K, Daly, MB, de la Hoya, M, Dennis, J, Devilee, P, Diez, O, Doerk, T, Dunning, AM, Dwek, M, Eccles, DM, Ejlertsen, B, Ellberg, C, Engel, C, Eriksson, M, Fasching, PA, Fletcher, O, Flyger, H, Friedman, E, Frost, D, Gabrielson, M, Gago-Dominguez, M, Ganz, PA, Gapstur, SM, Garber, J, Garcia-Closas, M, Garcia-Saenz, JA, Gaudet, MM, Giles, GG, Glendon, G, Godwin, AK, Goldberg, MS, Goldgar, DE, Gonzalez-Neira, A, Greene, MH, Gronwald, J, Guenel, P, Haiman, CA, Hall, P, Hamann, U, He, W, Heyworth, J, Hogervorst, FBL, Hollestelle, A, Hoover, RN, Hopper, JL, Hulick, PJ, Humphreys, K, Imyanitov, EN, Isaacs, C, Jakimovska, M, Jakubowska, A, James, PA, Janavicius, R, Jankowitz, RC, John, EM, Johnson, N, Joseph, V, Karlan, BY, Khusnutdinova, E, Kiiski, J, Ko, Y-D, Jones, ME, Konstantopoulou, I, Kristensen, VN, Laitman, Y, Lambrechts, D, Lazaro, C, Leslie, G, Lester, J, Lesueur, F, Lindstrom, S, Long, J, Loud, JT, Lubinski, J, Makalic, E, Mannermaa, A, Manoochehri, M, Margolin, S, Maurer, T, Mavroudis, D, McGuffog, L, Meindl, A, Menon, U, Michailidou, K, Miller, A, Montagna, M, Moreno, F, Moserle, L, Mulligan, AM, Nathanson, KL, Neuhausen, SL, Nevanlinna, H, Nevelsteen, I, Nielsen, FC, Nikitina-Zake, L, Nussbaum, RL, Offit, K, Olah, E, Olopade, O, Olsson, H, Osorio, A, Papp, J, Park-Simon, T-W, Parsons, MT, Pedersen, IS, Peixoto, A, Peterlongo, P, Pharoah, PDP, Plaseska-Karanfilska, D, Poppe, B, Presneau, N, Radice, P, Rantala, J, Rennert, G, Risch, HA, Saloustros, E, Sanden, K, Sawyer, EJ, Schmidt, MK, Schmutzler, RK, Sharma, P, Shu, X-O, Simard, J, Singer, CF, Soucy, P, Southey, MC, Spinelli, JJ, Spurdle, AB, Stone, J, Swerdlow, AJ, Tapper, WJ, Taylor, JA, Teixeira, MR, Terry, MB, Teule, A, Thomassen, M, Thoene, K, Thull, DL, Tischkowitz, M, Toland, AE, Torres, D, Truong, T, Tung, N, Vachon, CM, van Asperen, CJ, van den Ouweland, AMW, van Rensburg, EJ, Vega, A, Viel, A, Wang, Q, Wappenschmidt, B, Weitzel, JN, Wendt, C, Winqvist, R, Yang, XR, Yannoukakos, D, Ziogas, A, Kraft, P, Antoniou, AC, Zheng, W, Easton, DF, Milne, RL, Beesley, J, Chenevix-Trench, G, Arnold, N, Auber, B, Bogdanova-Markov, N, Borde, J, Caliebe, A, Ditsch, N, Dworniczak, B, Engert, S, Faust, U, Gehrig, A, Hahnen, E, Hauke, J, Hentschel, J, Herold, N, Honisch, E, Just, W, Kast, K, Larsen, M, Lemke, J, Huu, PN, Niederacher, D, Ott, C-E, Platzer, K, Pohl-Rescigno, E, Ramser, J, Rhiem, K, Steinemann, D, Sutter, C, Varon-Mateeva, R, Wang-Gohrke, S, Weber, BHF, Prieur, F, Pujol, P, Sagne, C, Sevenet, N, Sobol, H, Sokolowska, J, Stoppa-Lyonnet, D, Venat-Bouvet, L, Adlard, J, Ahmed, M, Barwell, J, Brady, A, Brewer, C, Cook, J, Davidson, R, Donaldson, A, Eason, J, Eeles, R, Evans, DG, Gregory, H, Hanson, H, Henderson, A, Hodgson, S, Izatt, L, Kennedy, MJ, Lalloo, F, Miller, C, Morrison, PJ, Ong, K-R, Perkins, J, Porteous, ME, Rogers, MT, Side, LE, Snape, K, Walker, L, Harrington, PA, Heemskerk-Gerritsen, BAM, Rookus, MA, Seynaeve, CM, van der Baan, FH, van der Hout, AH, van der Kolk, LE, van der Luijt, RB, van Deurzen, CHM, van Doorn, HC, van Engelen, K, van Hest, L, van Os, TAM, Verhoef, S, Vogel, MJ, Wijnen, JT, Miron, A, Kapuscinski, M, Bane, A, Ross, E, Buys, SS, Conner, TA, Balleine, R, Baxter, R, Braye, S, Carpenter, J, Dahlstrom, J, Forbes, J, Lee, SC, Marsh, D, Morey, A, Pathmanathan, N, Simpson, P, Spigelman, A, Wilcken, N, and Yip, D

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 breast cancer susceptibility loci. Here we hypothesize that some risk-associated variants might act in non-breast tissues, specifically adipose tissue and immune cells from blood and spleen. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) reported in these tissues, we identify 26 previously unreported, likely target genes of overall breast cancer risk variants, and 17 for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, several with a known immune function. We determine the directional effect of gene expression on disease risk measured based on single and multiple eQTL. In addition, using a gene-based test of association that considers eQTL from multiple tissues, we identify seven (and four) regions with variants associated with overall (and ER-negative) breast cancer risk, which were not reported in previous GWAS. Further investigation of the function of the implicated genes in breast and immune cells may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer.

Published
2019

9. Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify target genes and risk loci for breast cancer

Author

Ferreira, M. A. (Manuel A.), Gamazon, E. R. (Eric R.), Al-Ejeh, F. (Fares), Aittomaki, K. (Kristiina), Andrulis, I. L. (Irene L.), Anton-Culver, H. (Hoda), Arason, A. (Adalgeir), Arndt, V. (Volker), Aronson, K. J. (Kristan J.), Arun, B. K. (Banu K.), Asseryanis, E. (Ella), Azzollini, J. (Jacopo), Balmana, J. (Judith), Barnes, D. R. (Daniel R.), Barrowdale, D. (Daniel), Beckmann, M. W. (Matthias W.), Behrens, S. (Sabine), Benitez, J. (Javier), Bermisheva, M. (Marina), Bialkowska, K. (Katarzyna), Blomqvist, C. (Carl), Bogdanova, N. V. (Natalia, V), Bojesen, S. E. (Stig E.), Bolla, M. K. (Manjeet K.), Borg, A. (Ake), Brauch, H. (Hiltrud), Brenner, H. (Hermann), Broeks, A. (Annegien), Burwinkel, B. (Barbara), Caldes, T. (Trinidad), Caligo, M. A. (Maria A.), Campa, D. (Daniele), Campbell, I. (Ian), Canzian, F. (Federico), Carter, J. (Jonathan), Carter, B. D. (Brian D.), Castelao, J. E. (Jose E.), Chang-Claude, J. (Jenny), Chanock, S. J. (Stephen J.), Christiansen, H. (Hans), Chung, W. K. (Wendy K.), Claes, K. B. (Kathleen B. M.), Clarke, C. L. (Christine L.), Couch, F. J. (Fergus J.), Cox, A. (Angela), Cross, S. S. (Simon S.), Czene, K. (Kamila), Daly, M. B. (Mary B.), de la Hoya, M. (Miguel), Dennis, J. (Joe), Devilee, P. (Peter), Diez, O. (Orland), Doerk, T. (Thilo), Dunning, A. M. (Alison M.), Dwek, M. (Miriam), Eccles, D. M. (Diana M.), Ejlertsen, B. (Bent), Ellberg, C. (Carolina), Engel, C. (Christoph), Eriksson, M. (Mikael), Fasching, P. A. (Peter A.), Fletcher, O. (Olivia), Flyger, H. (Henrik), Friedman, E. (Eitan), Frost, D. (Debra), Gabrielson, M. (Marike), Gago-Dominguez, M. (Manuela), Ganz, P. A. (Patricia A.), Gapstur, S. M. (Susan M.), Garber, J. (Judy), Garcia-Closas, M. (Montserrat), Garcia-Saenz, J. A. (Jose A.), Gaudet, M. M. (Mia M.), Giles, G. G. (Graham G.), Glendon, G. (Gord), Godwin, A. K. (Andrew K.), Goldberg, M. S. (Mark S.), Goldgar, D. E. (David E.), Gonzalez-Neira, A. (Anna), Greene, M. H. (Mark H.), Gronwald, J. (Jacek), Guenel, P. (Pascal), Haiman, C. A. (Christopher A.), Hall, P. (Per), Hamann, U. (Ute), He, W. (Wei), Heyworth, J. (Jane), Hogervorst, F. B. (Frans B. L.), Hollestelle, A. (Antoinette), Hoover, R. N. (Robert N.), Hopper, J. L. (John L.), Hulick, P. J. (Peter J.), Humphreys, K. (Keith), Imyanitov, E. N. (Evgeny N.), Isaacs, C. (Claudine), Jakimovska, M. (Milena), Jakubowska, A. (Anna), James, P. A. (Paul A.), Janavicius, R. (Ramunas), Jankowitz, R. C. (Rachel C.), John, E. M. (Esther M.), Johnson, N. (Nichola), Joseph, V. (Vijai), Karlan, B. Y. (Beth Y.), Khusnutdinova, E. (Elza), Kiiski, J. I. (Johanna, I), Ko, Y.-D. (Yon-Dschun), Jones, M. E. (Michael E.), Konstantopoulou, I. (Irene), Kristensen, V. N. (Vessela N.), Laitman, Y. (Yael), Lambrechts, D. (Diether), Lazaro, C. (Conxi), Leslie, G. (Goska), Lester, J. (Jenny), Lesueur, F. (Fabienne), Lindstrom, S. (Sara), Long, J. (Jirong), Loud, J. T. (Jennifer T.), Lubinski, J. (Jan), Makalic, E. (Enes), Mannermaa, A. (Arto), Manoochehri, M. (Mehdi), Margolin, S. (Sara), Maurer, T. (Tabea), Mavroudis, D. (Dimitrios), McGuffog, L. (Lesley), Meindl, A. (Alfons), Menon, U. (Usha), Michailidou, K. (Kyriaki), Miller, A. (Austin), Montagna, M. (Marco), Moreno, F. (Fernando), Moserle, L. (Lidia), Mulligan, A. M. (Anna Marie), Nathanson, K. L. (Katherine L.), Neuhausen, S. L. (Susan L.), Nevanlinna, H. (Heli), Nevelsteen, I. (Ines), Nielsen, F. C. (Finn C.), Nikitina-Zake, L. (Liene), Nussbaum, R. L. (Robert L.), Offit, K. (Kenneth), Olah, E. (Edith), Olopade, O. I. (Olufunmilayo, I), Olsson, H. (Hakan), Osorio, A. (Ana), Papp, J. (Janos), Park-Simon, T.-W. (Tjoung-Won), Parsons, M. T. (Michael T.), Pedersen, I. S. (Inge Sokilde), Peixoto, A. (Ana), Peterlongo, P. (Paolo), Pharoah, P. D. (Paul D. P.), Plaseska-Karanfilska, D. (Dijana), Poppe, B. (Bruce), Presneau, N. (Nadege), Radice, P. (Paolo), Rantala, J. (Johanna), Rennert, G. (Gad), Risch, H. A. (Harvey A.), Saloustros, E. (Emmanouil), Sanden, K. (Kristin), Sawyer, E. J. (Elinor J.), Schmidt, M. K. (Marjanka K.), Schmutzler, R. K. (Rita K.), Sharma, P. (Priyanka), Shu, X.-O. (Xiao-Ou), Simard, J. (Jacques), Singer, C. F. (Christian F.), Soucy, P. (Penny), Southey, M. C. (Melissa C.), Spinelli, J. J. (John J.), Spurdle, A. B. (Amanda B.), Stone, J. (Jennifer), Swerdlow, A. J. (Anthony J.), Tapper, W. J. (William J.), Taylor, J. A. (Jack A.), Teixeira, M. R. (Manuel R.), Terry, M. B. (Mary Beth), Teule, A. (Alex), Thomassen, M. (Mads), Thoene, K. (Kathrin), Thull, D. L. (Darcy L.), Tischkowitz, M. (Marc), Toland, A. E. (Amanda E.), Torres, D. (Diana), Truong, T. (Therese), Tung, N. (Nadine), Vachon, C. M. (Celine M.), van Asperen, C. J. (Christi J.), van den Ouweland, A. M. (Ans M. W.), van Rensburg, E. J. (Elizabeth J.), Vega, A. (Ana), Viel, A. (Alessandra), Wang, Q. (Qin), Wappenschmidt, B. (Barbara), Weitzel, J. N. (Jeffrey N.), Wendt, C. (Camilla), Winqvist, R. (Robert), Yang, X. R. (Xiaohong R.), Yannoukakos, D. (Drakoulis), Ziogas, A. (Argyrios), Kraft, P. (Peter), Antoniou, A. C. (Antonis C.), Zheng, W. (Wei), Easton, D. F. (Douglas F.), Milne, R. L. (Roger L.), Beesley, J. (Jonathan), Chenevix-Trench, G. (Georgia), Arnold, N. (Norbert), Auber, B. (Bernd), Bogdanova-Markov, N. (Nadja), Borde, J. (Julika), Caliebe, A. (Almuth), Ditsch, N. (Nina), Dworniczak, B. (Bernd), Engert, S. (Stefanie), Faust, U. (Ulrike), Gehrig, A. (Andrea), Hahnen, E. (Eric), Hauke, J. (Jan), Hentschel, J. (Julia), Herold, N. (Natalie), Honisch, E. (Ellen), Just, W. (Walter), Kast, K. (Karin), Larsen, M. (Mirjam), Lemke, J. (Johannes), . (), Niederacher, D. (Dieter), Ott, C.-E. (Claus-Eric), Platzer, K. (Konrad), Pohl-Rescigno, E. (Esther), Ramser, J. (Juliane), Rhiem, K. (Kerstin), Steinemann, D. (Doris), Sutter, C. (Christian), Varon-Mateeva, R. (Raymonda), Wang-Gohrke, S. (Shan), Weber, B. H. (Bernhard H. F.), Prieur, F. (Fabienne), Pujol, P. (Pascal), Sagne, C. (Charlotte), Sevenet, N. (Nicolas), Sobol, H. (Hagay), Sokolowska, J. (Johanna), Stoppa-Lyonnet, D. (Dominique), Venat-Bouvet, L. (Laurence), Adlard, J. (Julian), Ahmed, M. (Munaza), Barwell, J. (Julian), Brady, A. (Angela), Brewer, C. (Carole), Cook, J. (Jackie), Davidson, R. (Rosemarie), Donaldson, A. (Alan), Eason, J. (Jacqueline), Eeles, R. (Ros), Evans, D. G. (D. Gareth), Gregory, H. (Helen), Hanson, H. (Helen), Henderson, A. (Alex), Hodgson, S. (Shirley), Izatt, L. (Louise), Kennedy, M. J. (M. John), Lalloo, F. (Fiona), Miller, C. (Clare), Morrison, P. J. (Patrick J.), Ong, K.-r. (Kai-ren), Perkins, J. (Jo), Porteous, M. E. (Mary E.), Rogers, M. T. (Mark T.), Side, L. E. (Lucy E.), Snape, K. (Katie), Walker, L. (Lisa), Harrington, P. A. (Patricia A.), Heemskerk-Gerritsen, B. A. (Bernadette A. M.), Rookus, M. A. (Matti A.), Seynaeve, C. M. (Caroline M.), van der Baan, F. H. (Frederieke H.), van der Hout, A. H. (Annemieke H.), van der Kolk, L. E. (Lizet E.), van der Luijt, R. B. (Rob B.), van Deurzen, C. H. (Carolien H. M.), van Doorn, H. C. (Helena C.), van Engelen, K. (Klaartje), van Hest, L. (Liselotte), van Os, T. A. (Theo A. M.), Verhoef, S. (Senno), Vogel, M. J. (Maartje J.), Wijnen, J. T. (Juul T.), Miron, A. (Alexander), Kapuscinski, M. (Miroslav), Bane, A. (Anita), Ross, E. (Eric), Buys, S. S. (Saundra S.), Conner, T. A. (Thomas A.), Balleine, R. (Rosemary), Baxter, R. (Robert), Braye, S. (Stephen), Carpenter, J. (Jane), Dahlstrom, J. (Jane), Forbes, J. (John), Lee, S. C. (Soon C.), Marsh, D. (Deborah), Morey, A. (Adrienne), Pathmanathan, N. (Nirmala), Simpson, P. (Peter), Spigelman, A. (Allan), Wilcken, N. (Nicholas), Yip, D. (Desmond), Ferreira, M. A. (Manuel A.), Gamazon, E. R. (Eric R.), Al-Ejeh, F. (Fares), Aittomaki, K. (Kristiina), Andrulis, I. L. (Irene L.), Anton-Culver, H. (Hoda), Arason, A. (Adalgeir), Arndt, V. (Volker), Aronson, K. J. (Kristan J.), Arun, B. K. (Banu K.), Asseryanis, E. (Ella), Azzollini, J. (Jacopo), Balmana, J. (Judith), Barnes, D. R. (Daniel R.), Barrowdale, D. (Daniel), Beckmann, M. W. (Matthias W.), Behrens, S. (Sabine), Benitez, J. (Javier), Bermisheva, M. (Marina), Bialkowska, K. (Katarzyna), Blomqvist, C. (Carl), Bogdanova, N. V. (Natalia, V), Bojesen, S. E. (Stig E.), Bolla, M. K. (Manjeet K.), Borg, A. (Ake), Brauch, H. (Hiltrud), Brenner, H. (Hermann), Broeks, A. (Annegien), Burwinkel, B. (Barbara), Caldes, T. (Trinidad), Caligo, M. A. (Maria A.), Campa, D. (Daniele), Campbell, I. (Ian), Canzian, F. (Federico), Carter, J. (Jonathan), Carter, B. D. (Brian D.), Castelao, J. E. (Jose E.), Chang-Claude, J. (Jenny), Chanock, S. J. (Stephen J.), Christiansen, H. (Hans), Chung, W. K. (Wendy K.), Claes, K. B. (Kathleen B. M.), Clarke, C. L. (Christine L.), Couch, F. J. (Fergus J.), Cox, A. (Angela), Cross, S. S. (Simon S.), Czene, K. (Kamila), Daly, M. B. (Mary B.), de la Hoya, M. (Miguel), Dennis, J. (Joe), Devilee, P. (Peter), Diez, O. (Orland), Doerk, T. (Thilo), Dunning, A. M. (Alison M.), Dwek, M. (Miriam), Eccles, D. M. (Diana M.), Ejlertsen, B. (Bent), Ellberg, C. (Carolina), Engel, C. (Christoph), Eriksson, M. (Mikael), Fasching, P. A. (Peter A.), Fletcher, O. (Olivia), Flyger, H. (Henrik), Friedman, E. (Eitan), Frost, D. (Debra), Gabrielson, M. (Marike), Gago-Dominguez, M. (Manuela), Ganz, P. A. (Patricia A.), Gapstur, S. M. (Susan M.), Garber, J. (Judy), Garcia-Closas, M. (Montserrat), Garcia-Saenz, J. A. (Jose A.), Gaudet, M. M. (Mia M.), Giles, G. G. (Graham G.), Glendon, G. (Gord), Godwin, A. K. (Andrew K.), Goldberg, M. S. (Mark S.), Goldgar, D. E. (David E.), Gonzalez-Neira, A. (Anna), Greene, M. H. (Mark H.), Gronwald, J. (Jacek), Guenel, P. (Pascal), Haiman, C. A. (Christopher A.), Hall, P. (Per), Hamann, U. (Ute), He, W. (Wei), Heyworth, J. (Jane), Hogervorst, F. B. (Frans B. L.), Hollestelle, A. (Antoinette), Hoover, R. N. (Robert N.), Hopper, J. L. (John L.), Hulick, P. J. (Peter J.), Humphreys, K. (Keith), Imyanitov, E. N. (Evgeny N.), Isaacs, C. (Claudine), Jakimovska, M. (Milena), Jakubowska, A. (Anna), James, P. A. (Paul A.), Janavicius, R. (Ramunas), Jankowitz, R. C. (Rachel C.), John, E. M. (Esther M.), Johnson, N. (Nichola), Joseph, V. (Vijai), Karlan, B. Y. (Beth Y.), Khusnutdinova, E. (Elza), Kiiski, J. I. (Johanna, I), Ko, Y.-D. (Yon-Dschun), Jones, M. E. (Michael E.), Konstantopoulou, I. (Irene), Kristensen, V. N. (Vessela N.), Laitman, Y. (Yael), Lambrechts, D. (Diether), Lazaro, C. (Conxi), Leslie, G. (Goska), Lester, J. (Jenny), Lesueur, F. (Fabienne), Lindstrom, S. (Sara), Long, J. (Jirong), Loud, J. T. (Jennifer T.), Lubinski, J. (Jan), Makalic, E. (Enes), Mannermaa, A. (Arto), Manoochehri, M. (Mehdi), Margolin, S. (Sara), Maurer, T. (Tabea), Mavroudis, D. (Dimitrios), McGuffog, L. (Lesley), Meindl, A. (Alfons), Menon, U. (Usha), Michailidou, K. (Kyriaki), Miller, A. (Austin), Montagna, M. (Marco), Moreno, F. (Fernando), Moserle, L. (Lidia), Mulligan, A. M. (Anna Marie), Nathanson, K. L. (Katherine L.), Neuhausen, S. L. (Susan L.), Nevanlinna, H. (Heli), Nevelsteen, I. (Ines), Nielsen, F. C. (Finn C.), Nikitina-Zake, L. (Liene), Nussbaum, R. L. (Robert L.), Offit, K. (Kenneth), Olah, E. (Edith), Olopade, O. I. (Olufunmilayo, I), Olsson, H. (Hakan), Osorio, A. (Ana), Papp, J. (Janos), Park-Simon, T.-W. (Tjoung-Won), Parsons, M. T. (Michael T.), Pedersen, I. S. (Inge Sokilde), Peixoto, A. (Ana), Peterlongo, P. (Paolo), Pharoah, P. D. (Paul D. P.), Plaseska-Karanfilska, D. (Dijana), Poppe, B. (Bruce), Presneau, N. (Nadege), Radice, P. (Paolo), Rantala, J. (Johanna), Rennert, G. (Gad), Risch, H. A. (Harvey A.), Saloustros, E. (Emmanouil), Sanden, K. (Kristin), Sawyer, E. J. (Elinor J.), Schmidt, M. K. (Marjanka K.), Schmutzler, R. K. (Rita K.), Sharma, P. (Priyanka), Shu, X.-O. (Xiao-Ou), Simard, J. (Jacques), Singer, C. F. (Christian F.), Soucy, P. (Penny), Southey, M. C. (Melissa C.), Spinelli, J. J. (John J.), Spurdle, A. B. (Amanda B.), Stone, J. (Jennifer), Swerdlow, A. J. (Anthony J.), Tapper, W. J. (William J.), Taylor, J. A. (Jack A.), Teixeira, M. R. (Manuel R.), Terry, M. B. (Mary Beth), Teule, A. (Alex), Thomassen, M. (Mads), Thoene, K. (Kathrin), Thull, D. L. (Darcy L.), Tischkowitz, M. (Marc), Toland, A. E. (Amanda E.), Torres, D. (Diana), Truong, T. (Therese), Tung, N. (Nadine), Vachon, C. M. (Celine M.), van Asperen, C. J. (Christi J.), van den Ouweland, A. M. (Ans M. W.), van Rensburg, E. J. (Elizabeth J.), Vega, A. (Ana), Viel, A. (Alessandra), Wang, Q. (Qin), Wappenschmidt, B. (Barbara), Weitzel, J. N. (Jeffrey N.), Wendt, C. (Camilla), Winqvist, R. (Robert), Yang, X. R. (Xiaohong R.), Yannoukakos, D. (Drakoulis), Ziogas, A. (Argyrios), Kraft, P. (Peter), Antoniou, A. C. (Antonis C.), Zheng, W. (Wei), Easton, D. F. (Douglas F.), Milne, R. L. (Roger L.), Beesley, J. (Jonathan), Chenevix-Trench, G. (Georgia), Arnold, N. (Norbert), Auber, B. (Bernd), Bogdanova-Markov, N. (Nadja), Borde, J. (Julika), Caliebe, A. (Almuth), Ditsch, N. (Nina), Dworniczak, B. (Bernd), Engert, S. (Stefanie), Faust, U. (Ulrike), Gehrig, A. (Andrea), Hahnen, E. (Eric), Hauke, J. (Jan), Hentschel, J. (Julia), Herold, N. (Natalie), Honisch, E. (Ellen), Just, W. (Walter), Kast, K. (Karin), Larsen, M. (Mirjam), Lemke, J. (Johannes), . (), Niederacher, D. (Dieter), Ott, C.-E. (Claus-Eric), Platzer, K. (Konrad), Pohl-Rescigno, E. (Esther), Ramser, J. (Juliane), Rhiem, K. (Kerstin), Steinemann, D. (Doris), Sutter, C. (Christian), Varon-Mateeva, R. (Raymonda), Wang-Gohrke, S. (Shan), Weber, B. H. (Bernhard H. F.), Prieur, F. (Fabienne), Pujol, P. (Pascal), Sagne, C. (Charlotte), Sevenet, N. (Nicolas), Sobol, H. (Hagay), Sokolowska, J. (Johanna), Stoppa-Lyonnet, D. (Dominique), Venat-Bouvet, L. (Laurence), Adlard, J. (Julian), Ahmed, M. (Munaza), Barwell, J. (Julian), Brady, A. (Angela), Brewer, C. (Carole), Cook, J. (Jackie), Davidson, R. (Rosemarie), Donaldson, A. (Alan), Eason, J. (Jacqueline), Eeles, R. (Ros), Evans, D. G. (D. Gareth), Gregory, H. (Helen), Hanson, H. (Helen), Henderson, A. (Alex), Hodgson, S. (Shirley), Izatt, L. (Louise), Kennedy, M. J. (M. John), Lalloo, F. (Fiona), Miller, C. (Clare), Morrison, P. J. (Patrick J.), Ong, K.-r. (Kai-ren), Perkins, J. (Jo), Porteous, M. E. (Mary E.), Rogers, M. T. (Mark T.), Side, L. E. (Lucy E.), Snape, K. (Katie), Walker, L. (Lisa), Harrington, P. A. (Patricia A.), Heemskerk-Gerritsen, B. A. (Bernadette A. M.), Rookus, M. A. (Matti A.), Seynaeve, C. M. (Caroline M.), van der Baan, F. H. (Frederieke H.), van der Hout, A. H. (Annemieke H.), van der Kolk, L. E. (Lizet E.), van der Luijt, R. B. (Rob B.), van Deurzen, C. H. (Carolien H. M.), van Doorn, H. C. (Helena C.), van Engelen, K. (Klaartje), van Hest, L. (Liselotte), van Os, T. A. (Theo A. M.), Verhoef, S. (Senno), Vogel, M. J. (Maartje J.), Wijnen, J. T. (Juul T.), Miron, A. (Alexander), Kapuscinski, M. (Miroslav), Bane, A. (Anita), Ross, E. (Eric), Buys, S. S. (Saundra S.), Conner, T. A. (Thomas A.), Balleine, R. (Rosemary), Baxter, R. (Robert), Braye, S. (Stephen), Carpenter, J. (Jane), Dahlstrom, J. (Jane), Forbes, J. (John), Lee, S. C. (Soon C.), Marsh, D. (Deborah), Morey, A. (Adrienne), Pathmanathan, N. (Nirmala), Simpson, P. (Peter), Spigelman, A. (Allan), Wilcken, N. (Nicholas), and Yip, D. (Desmond)

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 breast cancer susceptibility loci. Here we hypothesize that some risk-associated variants might act in non-breast tissues, specifically adipose tissue and immune cells from blood and spleen. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) reported in these tissues, we identify 26 previously unreported, likely target genes of overall breast cancer risk variants, and 17 for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, several with a known immune function. We determine the directional effect of gene expression on disease risk measured based on single and multiple eQTL. In addition, using a gene-based test of association that considers eQTL from multiple tissues, we identify seven (and four) regions with variants associated with overall (and ER-negative) breast cancer risk, which were not reported in previous GWAS. Further investigation of the function of the implicated genes in breast and immune cells may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer.

Published
2019

10. A transcriptome-wide association study of 229,000 women identifies new candidate susceptibility genes for breast cancer

Author

Wu, L. (Lang), Shi, W. (Wei), Long, J. (Jirong), Guo, X. (Xingyi), Michailidou, K. (Kyriaki), Beesley, J. (Jonathan), Bolla, M. K. (Manjeet K.), Shu, X.-O. (Xiao-Ou), Lu, Y. (Yingchang), Cai, Q. (Qiuyin), Al-Ejeh, F. (Fares), Rozali, E. (Esdy), Wang, Q. (Qin), Dennis, J. (Joe), Li, B. (Bingshan), Zeng, C. (Chenjie), Feng, H. (Helian), Gusev, A. (Alexander), Barfield, R. T. (Richard T.), Andrulis, I. L. (Irene L.), Anton-Culver, H. (Hoda), Arndt, V. (Volker), Aronson, K. J. (Kristan J.), Auer, P. L. (Paul L.), Barrdahl, M. (Myrto), Baynes, C. (Caroline), Beckmann, M. W. (Matthias W.), Benitez, J. (Javier), Bermisheva, M. (Marina), Blomqvist, C. (Carl), Bogdanova, N. V. (Natalia V.), Bojesen, S. E. (Stig E.), Brauch, H. (Hiltrud), Brenner, H. (Hermann), Brinton, L. (Louise), Broberg, P. (Per), Brucker, S. Y. (Sara Y.), Burwinkel, B. (Barbara), Caldes, T. (Trinidad), Canzian, F. (Federico), Carter, B. D. (Brian D.), Castelao, J. E. (J. Esteban), Chang-Claude, J. (Jenny), Chen, X. (Xiaoqing), Cheng, T. D. (Ting-Yuan David), Christiansen, H. (Hans), Clarke, C. L. (Christine L.), Collee, M. (Margriet), Cornelissen, S. (Sten), Couch, F. J. (Fergus J.), Cox, D. (David), Cox, A. (Angela), Cross, S. S. (Simon S.), Cunningham, J. M. (Julie M.), Czene, K. (Kamila), Daly, M. B. (Mary B.), Devilee, P. (Peter), Doheny, K. F. (Kimberly F.), Dork, T. (Thilo), dos-Santos-Silva, I. (Isabel), Dumont, M. (Martine), Dwek, M. (Miriam), Eccles, D. M. (Diana M.), Eilber, U. (Ursula), Eliassen, A. H. (A. Heather), Engel, C. (Christoph), Eriksson, M. (Mikael), Fachal, L. (Laura), Fasching, P. A. (Peter A.), Figueroa, J. (Jonine), Flesch-Janys, D. (Dieter), Fletcher, O. (Olivia), Flyger, H. (Henrik), Fritschi, L. (Lin), Gabrielson, M. (Marike), Gago-Dominguez, M. (Manuela), Gapstur, S. M. (Susan M.), Garcia-Closas, M. (Montserrat), Gaudet, M. M. (Mia M.), Ghoussaini, M. (Maya), Giles, G. G. (Graham G.), Goldberg, M. S. (Mark S.), Goldgar, D. E. (David E.), Gonzalez-Neira, A. (Anna), Guenel, P. (Pascal), Hahnen, E. (Eric), Haiman, C. A. (Christopher A.), Hakansson, N. (Niclas), Hall, P. (Per), Hallberg, E. (Emily), Hamann, U. (Ute), Harrington, P. (Patricia), Hein, A. (Alexander), Hicks, B. (Belynda), Hillemanns, P. (Peter), Hollestelle, A. (Antoinette), Hoover, R. N. (Robert N.), Hopper, J. L. (John L.), Huang, G. (Guanmengqian), Humphreys, K. (Keith), Hunter, D. J. (David J.), Jakubowska, A. (Anna), Janni, W. (Wolfgang), John, E. M. (Esther M.), Johnson, N. (Nichola), Jones, K. (Kristine), Jones, M. E. (Michael E.), Jung, A. (Audrey), Kaaks, R. (Rudolf), Kerin, M. J. (Michael J.), Khusnutdinova, E. (Elza), Kosma, V.-M. (Veli-Matti), Kristensen, V. N. (Vessela N.), Lambrechts, D. (Diether), Le Marchand, L. (Loic), Li, J. (Jingmei), Lindstrom, S. (Sara), Lissowska, J. (Jolanta), Lo, W.-Y. (Wing-Yee), Loibl, S. (Sibylle), Lubinski, J. (Jan), Luccarini, C. (Craig), Lux, M. P. (Michael P.), MacInnis, R. J. (Robert J.), Maishman, T. (Tom), Kostovska, I. M. (Ivana Maleva), Mannermaa, A. (Arto), Manson, J. E. (Joann E.), Margolin, S. (Sara), Mavroudis, D. (Dimitrios), Meijers-Heijboer, H. (Hanne), Meindl, A. (Alfons), Menon, U. (Usha), Meyer, J. (Jeffery), Mulligan, A. M. (Anna Marie), Neuhausen, S. L. (Susan L.), Nevanlinna, H. (Heli), Neven, P. (Patrick), Nielsen, S. F. (Sune F.), Nordestgaard, B. G. (Borge G.), Olopade, O. I. (Olufunmilayo I.), Olson, J. E. (Janet E.), Olsson, H. (Hakan), Peterlongo, P. (Paolo), Peto, J. (Julian), Plaseska-Karanfilska, D. (Dijana), Prentice, R. (Ross), Presneau, N. (Nadege), Pylkäs, K. (Katri), Rack, B. (Brigitte), Radice, P. (Paolo), Rahman, N. (Nazneen), Rennert, G. (Gad), Rennert, H. S. (Hedy S.), Rhenius, V. (Valerie), Romero, A. (Atocha), Romm, J. (Jane), Rudolph, A. (Anja), Saloustros, E. (Emmanouil), Sandler, D. P. (Dale P.), Sawyer, E. J. (Elinor J.), Schmidt, M. K. (Marjanka K.), Schmutzler, R. K. (Rita K.), Schneeweiss, A. (Andreas), Scott, R. J. (Rodney J.), Scott, C. G. (Christopher G.), Seal, S. (Sheila), Shah, M. (Mitul), Shrubsole, M. J. (Martha J.), Smeets, A. (Ann), Southey, M. C. (Melissa C.), Spinelli, J. J. (John J.), Stone, J. (Jennifer), Surowy, H. (Harald), Swerdlow, A. J. (Anthony J.), Tamimi, R. M. (Rulla M.), Tapper, W. (William), Taylor, J. A. (Jack A.), Terry, M. B. (Mary Beth), Tessier, D. C. (Daniel C.), Thomas, A. (Abigail), Thone, K. (Kathrin), Tollenaar, R. A. (Rob A. E. M.), Torres, D. (Diana), Truong, T. (Therese), Untch, M. (Michael), Vachon, C. (Celine), Van den Berg, D. (David), Vincent, D. (Daniel), Waisfisz, Q. (Quinten), Weinberg, C. R. (Clarice R.), Wendt, C. (Camilla), Whittemore, A. S. (Alice S.), Wildiers, H. (Hans), Willett, W. C. (Walter C.), Winqvist, R. (Robert), Wolk, A. (Alicja), Xia, L. (Lucy), Yang, X. R. (Xiaohong R.), Ziogas, A. (Argyrios), Ziv, E. (Elad), Dunning, A. M. (Alison M.), Pharoah, P. D. (Paul D. P.), Simard, J. (Jacques), Milne, R. L. (Roger L.), Edwards, S. L. (Stacey L.), Kraft, P. (Peter), Easton, D. F. (Douglas F.), Chenevix-Trench, G. (Georgia), Zheng, W. (Wei), Wu, L. (Lang), Shi, W. (Wei), Long, J. (Jirong), Guo, X. (Xingyi), Michailidou, K. (Kyriaki), Beesley, J. (Jonathan), Bolla, M. K. (Manjeet K.), Shu, X.-O. (Xiao-Ou), Lu, Y. (Yingchang), Cai, Q. (Qiuyin), Al-Ejeh, F. (Fares), Rozali, E. (Esdy), Wang, Q. (Qin), Dennis, J. (Joe), Li, B. (Bingshan), Zeng, C. (Chenjie), Feng, H. (Helian), Gusev, A. (Alexander), Barfield, R. T. (Richard T.), Andrulis, I. L. (Irene L.), Anton-Culver, H. (Hoda), Arndt, V. (Volker), Aronson, K. J. (Kristan J.), Auer, P. L. (Paul L.), Barrdahl, M. (Myrto), Baynes, C. (Caroline), Beckmann, M. W. (Matthias W.), Benitez, J. (Javier), Bermisheva, M. (Marina), Blomqvist, C. (Carl), Bogdanova, N. V. (Natalia V.), Bojesen, S. E. (Stig E.), Brauch, H. (Hiltrud), Brenner, H. (Hermann), Brinton, L. (Louise), Broberg, P. (Per), Brucker, S. Y. (Sara Y.), Burwinkel, B. (Barbara), Caldes, T. (Trinidad), Canzian, F. (Federico), Carter, B. D. (Brian D.), Castelao, J. E. (J. Esteban), Chang-Claude, J. (Jenny), Chen, X. (Xiaoqing), Cheng, T. D. (Ting-Yuan David), Christiansen, H. (Hans), Clarke, C. L. (Christine L.), Collee, M. (Margriet), Cornelissen, S. (Sten), Couch, F. J. (Fergus J.), Cox, D. (David), Cox, A. (Angela), Cross, S. S. (Simon S.), Cunningham, J. M. (Julie M.), Czene, K. (Kamila), Daly, M. B. (Mary B.), Devilee, P. (Peter), Doheny, K. F. (Kimberly F.), Dork, T. (Thilo), dos-Santos-Silva, I. (Isabel), Dumont, M. (Martine), Dwek, M. (Miriam), Eccles, D. M. (Diana M.), Eilber, U. (Ursula), Eliassen, A. H. (A. Heather), Engel, C. (Christoph), Eriksson, M. (Mikael), Fachal, L. (Laura), Fasching, P. A. (Peter A.), Figueroa, J. (Jonine), Flesch-Janys, D. (Dieter), Fletcher, O. (Olivia), Flyger, H. (Henrik), Fritschi, L. (Lin), Gabrielson, M. (Marike), Gago-Dominguez, M. (Manuela), Gapstur, S. M. (Susan M.), Garcia-Closas, M. (Montserrat), Gaudet, M. M. (Mia M.), Ghoussaini, M. (Maya), Giles, G. G. (Graham G.), Goldberg, M. S. (Mark S.), Goldgar, D. E. (David E.), Gonzalez-Neira, A. (Anna), Guenel, P. (Pascal), Hahnen, E. (Eric), Haiman, C. A. (Christopher A.), Hakansson, N. (Niclas), Hall, P. (Per), Hallberg, E. (Emily), Hamann, U. (Ute), Harrington, P. (Patricia), Hein, A. (Alexander), Hicks, B. (Belynda), Hillemanns, P. (Peter), Hollestelle, A. (Antoinette), Hoover, R. N. (Robert N.), Hopper, J. L. (John L.), Huang, G. (Guanmengqian), Humphreys, K. (Keith), Hunter, D. J. (David J.), Jakubowska, A. (Anna), Janni, W. (Wolfgang), John, E. M. (Esther M.), Johnson, N. (Nichola), Jones, K. (Kristine), Jones, M. E. (Michael E.), Jung, A. (Audrey), Kaaks, R. (Rudolf), Kerin, M. J. (Michael J.), Khusnutdinova, E. (Elza), Kosma, V.-M. (Veli-Matti), Kristensen, V. N. (Vessela N.), Lambrechts, D. (Diether), Le Marchand, L. (Loic), Li, J. (Jingmei), Lindstrom, S. (Sara), Lissowska, J. (Jolanta), Lo, W.-Y. (Wing-Yee), Loibl, S. (Sibylle), Lubinski, J. (Jan), Luccarini, C. (Craig), Lux, M. P. (Michael P.), MacInnis, R. J. (Robert J.), Maishman, T. (Tom), Kostovska, I. M. (Ivana Maleva), Mannermaa, A. (Arto), Manson, J. E. (Joann E.), Margolin, S. (Sara), Mavroudis, D. (Dimitrios), Meijers-Heijboer, H. (Hanne), Meindl, A. (Alfons), Menon, U. (Usha), Meyer, J. (Jeffery), Mulligan, A. M. (Anna Marie), Neuhausen, S. L. (Susan L.), Nevanlinna, H. (Heli), Neven, P. (Patrick), Nielsen, S. F. (Sune F.), Nordestgaard, B. G. (Borge G.), Olopade, O. I. (Olufunmilayo I.), Olson, J. E. (Janet E.), Olsson, H. (Hakan), Peterlongo, P. (Paolo), Peto, J. (Julian), Plaseska-Karanfilska, D. (Dijana), Prentice, R. (Ross), Presneau, N. (Nadege), Pylkäs, K. (Katri), Rack, B. (Brigitte), Radice, P. (Paolo), Rahman, N. (Nazneen), Rennert, G. (Gad), Rennert, H. S. (Hedy S.), Rhenius, V. (Valerie), Romero, A. (Atocha), Romm, J. (Jane), Rudolph, A. (Anja), Saloustros, E. (Emmanouil), Sandler, D. P. (Dale P.), Sawyer, E. J. (Elinor J.), Schmidt, M. K. (Marjanka K.), Schmutzler, R. K. (Rita K.), Schneeweiss, A. (Andreas), Scott, R. J. (Rodney J.), Scott, C. G. (Christopher G.), Seal, S. (Sheila), Shah, M. (Mitul), Shrubsole, M. J. (Martha J.), Smeets, A. (Ann), Southey, M. C. (Melissa C.), Spinelli, J. J. (John J.), Stone, J. (Jennifer), Surowy, H. (Harald), Swerdlow, A. J. (Anthony J.), Tamimi, R. M. (Rulla M.), Tapper, W. (William), Taylor, J. A. (Jack A.), Terry, M. B. (Mary Beth), Tessier, D. C. (Daniel C.), Thomas, A. (Abigail), Thone, K. (Kathrin), Tollenaar, R. A. (Rob A. E. M.), Torres, D. (Diana), Truong, T. (Therese), Untch, M. (Michael), Vachon, C. (Celine), Van den Berg, D. (David), Vincent, D. (Daniel), Waisfisz, Q. (Quinten), Weinberg, C. R. (Clarice R.), Wendt, C. (Camilla), Whittemore, A. S. (Alice S.), Wildiers, H. (Hans), Willett, W. C. (Walter C.), Winqvist, R. (Robert), Wolk, A. (Alicja), Xia, L. (Lucy), Yang, X. R. (Xiaohong R.), Ziogas, A. (Argyrios), Ziv, E. (Elad), Dunning, A. M. (Alison M.), Pharoah, P. D. (Paul D. P.), Simard, J. (Jacques), Milne, R. L. (Roger L.), Edwards, S. L. (Stacey L.), Kraft, P. (Peter), Easton, D. F. (Douglas F.), Chenevix-Trench, G. (Georgia), and Zheng, W. (Wei)

Abstract

The breast cancer risk variants identified in genome-wide association studies explain only a small fraction of the familial relative risk, and the genes responsible for these associations remain largely unknown. To identify novel risk loci and likely causal genes, we performed a transcriptome-wide association study evaluating associations of genetically predicted gene expression with breast cancer risk in 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls of European ancestry. We used data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project to establish genetic models to predict gene expression in breast tissue and evaluated model performance using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Of the 8,597 genes evaluated, significant associations were identified for 48 at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P < 5.82 × 10−6, including 14 genes at loci not yet reported for breast cancer. We silenced 13 genes and showed an effect for 11 on cell proliferation and/or colony-forming efficiency. Our study provides new insights into breast cancer genetics and biology.

Published
2018

11. A transcriptome-wide association study of 229,000 women identifies new candidate susceptibility genes for breast cancer

Author

Wu, L., Shi, W., Long, J., Guo, X., Michailidou, K., Beesley, J., Bolla, M., Shu, X., Lu, Y., Cai, Q., Al-Ejeh, F., Rozali, E., Wang, Q., Dennis, J., Li, B., Zeng, C., Feng, H., Gusev, A., Barfield, R., Andrulis, I., Anton-Culver, H., Arndt, V., Aronson, K., Auer, P., Barrdahl, M., Baynes, C., Beckmann, M., Benitez, J., Bermisheva, M., Blomqvist, C., Bogdanova, N., Bojesen, S., Brauch, H., Brenner, H., Brinton, L., Broberg, P., Brucker, S., Burwinkel, B., Caldés, T., Canzian, F., Carter, B., Castelao, J., Chang-Claude, J., Chen, X., Cheng, T., Christiansen, H., Clarke, C., Collée, M., Cornelissen, S., Couch, F., Cox, D., Cox, A., Cross, S., Cunningham, J., Czene, K., Daly, M., Devilee, P., Doheny, K., Dörk, T., Dos-Santos-Silva, I., Dumont, M., Dwek, M., Eccles, D., Eilber, U., Eliassen, A., Engel, C., Eriksson, M., Fachal, L., Fasching, P., Figueroa, J., Flesch-Janys, D., Fletcher, O., Flyger, H., Fritschi, Lin, Gabrielson, M., Wu, L., Shi, W., Long, J., Guo, X., Michailidou, K., Beesley, J., Bolla, M., Shu, X., Lu, Y., Cai, Q., Al-Ejeh, F., Rozali, E., Wang, Q., Dennis, J., Li, B., Zeng, C., Feng, H., Gusev, A., Barfield, R., Andrulis, I., Anton-Culver, H., Arndt, V., Aronson, K., Auer, P., Barrdahl, M., Baynes, C., Beckmann, M., Benitez, J., Bermisheva, M., Blomqvist, C., Bogdanova, N., Bojesen, S., Brauch, H., Brenner, H., Brinton, L., Broberg, P., Brucker, S., Burwinkel, B., Caldés, T., Canzian, F., Carter, B., Castelao, J., Chang-Claude, J., Chen, X., Cheng, T., Christiansen, H., Clarke, C., Collée, M., Cornelissen, S., Couch, F., Cox, D., Cox, A., Cross, S., Cunningham, J., Czene, K., Daly, M., Devilee, P., Doheny, K., Dörk, T., Dos-Santos-Silva, I., Dumont, M., Dwek, M., Eccles, D., Eilber, U., Eliassen, A., Engel, C., Eriksson, M., Fachal, L., Fasching, P., Figueroa, J., Flesch-Janys, D., Fletcher, O., Flyger, H., Fritschi, Lin, and Gabrielson, M.

Abstract

© 2018 The Author(s) The breast cancer risk variants identified in genome-wide association studies explain only a small fraction of the familial relative risk, and the genes responsible for these associations remain largely unknown. To identify novel risk loci and likely causal genes, we performed a transcriptome-wide association study evaluating associations of genetically predicted gene expression with breast cancer risk in 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls of European ancestry. We used data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project to establish genetic models to predict gene expression in breast tissue and evaluated model performance using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Of the 8,597 genes evaluated, significant associations were identified for 48 at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P < 5.82 × 10-6, including 14 genes at loci not yet reported for breast cancer. We silenced 13 genes and showed an effect for 11 on cell proliferation and/or colony-forming efficiency. Our study provides new insights into breast cancer genetics and biology.

Published
2018

13. Identification of ten variants associated with risk of estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer

Author

Milne, R.L., Kuchenbaecker, K.B., Michailidou, K., Beesley, J., Kar, S., Lindstrom, S., Hui, S., Lemacon, A., Soucy, P., Dennis, J., Jiang, X, Rostamianfar, A., Finucane, H., Bolla, M.K., McGuffog, L., Wang, Q., Aalfs, C.M., Adams, M., Adlard, J., Agata, S., Ahmed, S., Ahsan, H., Aittomaki, K., Al-Ejeh, F., Allen, J., Ambrosone, C.B., Amos, C.I., Andrulis, I.L., Anton-Culver, H., Antonenkova, N.N., Arndt, V., Arnold, N., Aronson, K.J., Auber, B., Auer, P.L., Ausems, M., Azzollini, J., Bacot, F., Balmana, J., Barile, M., Barjhoux, L., Barkardottir, R.B., Barrdahl, M., Barnes, D., Barrowdale, D., Baynes, C., Beckmann, M.W., Benitez, J., Bermisheva, M., Bernstein, L., Bignon, Y.J., Blazer, K.R., Blok, M.J., Blomqvist, C., Blot, W., Bobolis, K., Boeckx, B., Bogdanova, N.V., Bojesen, A., Bojesen, S.E., Bonanni, B., Borresen-Dale, A.L., Bozsik, A., Bradbury, A.R., Brand, J.S., Brauch, H., Brenner, H., Bressac-de Paillerets, B., Brewer, C., Brinton, L., Broberg, P., Brooks-Wilson, A., Brunet, J., Bruning, T., Burwinkel, B., Buys, S.S., Byun, J., Cai, Q., Caldes, T., Caligo, M.A., Campbell, I., Canzian, F., Caron, O., Carracedo, A., Carter, B.D., Castelao, J.E., Castera, L., Caux-Moncoutier, V., Chan, S.B., Chang-Claude, J., Chanock, S.J., Chen, X, Cheng, T.D., Chiquette, J., Christiansen, H., Claes, K.B.M., Clarke, C.L., Conner, T., Conroy, D.M., Cook, J., Kets, C.M., Simard, J., Milne, R.L., Kuchenbaecker, K.B., Michailidou, K., Beesley, J., Kar, S., Lindstrom, S., Hui, S., Lemacon, A., Soucy, P., Dennis, J., Jiang, X, Rostamianfar, A., Finucane, H., Bolla, M.K., McGuffog, L., Wang, Q., Aalfs, C.M., Adams, M., Adlard, J., Agata, S., Ahmed, S., Ahsan, H., Aittomaki, K., Al-Ejeh, F., Allen, J., Ambrosone, C.B., Amos, C.I., Andrulis, I.L., Anton-Culver, H., Antonenkova, N.N., Arndt, V., Arnold, N., Aronson, K.J., Auber, B., Auer, P.L., Ausems, M., Azzollini, J., Bacot, F., Balmana, J., Barile, M., Barjhoux, L., Barkardottir, R.B., Barrdahl, M., Barnes, D., Barrowdale, D., Baynes, C., Beckmann, M.W., Benitez, J., Bermisheva, M., Bernstein, L., Bignon, Y.J., Blazer, K.R., Blok, M.J., Blomqvist, C., Blot, W., Bobolis, K., Boeckx, B., Bogdanova, N.V., Bojesen, A., Bojesen, S.E., Bonanni, B., Borresen-Dale, A.L., Bozsik, A., Bradbury, A.R., Brand, J.S., Brauch, H., Brenner, H., Bressac-de Paillerets, B., Brewer, C., Brinton, L., Broberg, P., Brooks-Wilson, A., Brunet, J., Bruning, T., Burwinkel, B., Buys, S.S., Byun, J., Cai, Q., Caldes, T., Caligo, M.A., Campbell, I., Canzian, F., Caron, O., Carracedo, A., Carter, B.D., Castelao, J.E., Castera, L., Caux-Moncoutier, V., Chan, S.B., Chang-Claude, J., Chanock, S.J., Chen, X, Cheng, T.D., Chiquette, J., Christiansen, H., Claes, K.B.M., Clarke, C.L., Conner, T., Conroy, D.M., Cook, J., Kets, C.M., and Simard, J.

Abstract

Item does not contain fulltext, Most common breast cancer susceptibility variants have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of predominantly estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease. We conducted a GWAS using 21,468 ER-negative cases and 100,594 controls combined with 18,908 BRCA1 mutation carriers (9,414 with breast cancer), all of European origin. We identified independent associations at P < 5 x 10(-8) with ten variants at nine new loci. At P < 0.05, we replicated associations with 10 of 11 variants previously reported in ER-negative disease or BRCA1 mutation carrier GWAS and observed consistent associations with ER-negative disease for 105 susceptibility variants identified by other studies. These 125 variants explain approximately 16% of the familial risk of this breast cancer subtype. There was high genetic correlation (0.72) between risk of ER-negative breast cancer and breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers. These findings may lead to improved risk prediction and inform further fine-mapping and functional work to better understand the biological basis of ER-negative breast cancer.

Published
2017

15. RAD51 inhibition in triple negative breast cancer cells is challenged by compensatory survival signaling and requires rational combination therapy.

Author

Wiegmans, AP, Miranda, M, Wen, SW, Al-Ejeh, F, Möller, A, Wiegmans, AP, Miranda, M, Wen, SW, Al-Ejeh, F, and Möller, A

Abstract

The molecular rationale to induce synthetic lethality, by targeting defective homologous recombination repair in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), has proven to have several shortcomings. Not meeting the expected minimal outcomes in clinical trials has highlighted common clinical resistance mechanisms including; increased expression of the target gene PARP1, increased expression or reversion mutation of BRCA1, or up-regulation of the compensatory homologous recombination protein RAD51. Indeed, RAD51 has been demonstrated to be an alternative synthetic lethal target in BRCA1-mutated cancers. To overcome selective pressure on DNA repair pathways, we examined new potential targets within TNBC that demonstrate synthetic lethality in association with RAD51 depletion. We confirmed complementary targets of PARP1/2 and DNA-PK as well as a new synthetic lethality combination with p38. p38 is considered a relevant target in breast cancer, as it has been implicated in resistance to chemotherapy, including tamoxifen. We show that the combination of targeting RAD51 and p38 inhibits cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, which was further enhanced by targeting of PARP1. Analysis of the molecular mechanisms revealed that depletion of RAD51 increased ERK1/2 and p38 signaling. Our results highlight a potential compensatory mechanism via p38 that limits DNA targeted therapy.

Published
2016

16. EphA3 as a target for antibody immunotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Author

Charmsaz, S, primary, Al-Ejeh, F, additional, Yeadon, T M, additional, Miller, K J, additional, Smith, F M, additional, Stringer, B W, additional, Moore, A S, additional, Lee, F-T, additional, Cooper, L T, additional, Stylianou, C, additional, Yarranton, G T, additional, Woronicz, J, additional, Scott, A M, additional, Lackmann, M, additional, and Boyd, A W, additional

Published
2016
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18. Using the MCF10A/MCF10CA1a Breast Cancer Progression Cell Line Model to Investigate the Effect of Active, Mutant Forms of EGFR in Breast Cancer Development and Treatment Using Gefitinib

Author

Lee, JW, Bessette, DC, Tilch, E, Seidens, T, Quinn, MCJ, Wiegmans, AP, Shi, W, Cocciardi, S, McCart-Reed, A, Saunus, JM, Simpson, PT, Grimmond, SM, Lakhani, SR, Khanna, KK, Waddell, N, Al-Ejeh, F, Chenevix-Trench, G, Lee, JW, Bessette, DC, Tilch, E, Seidens, T, Quinn, MCJ, Wiegmans, AP, Shi, W, Cocciardi, S, McCart-Reed, A, Saunus, JM, Simpson, PT, Grimmond, SM, Lakhani, SR, Khanna, KK, Waddell, N, Al-Ejeh, F, and Chenevix-Trench, G

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Basal-like and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) share common molecular features, poor prognosis and a propensity for metastasis to the brain. Amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occurs in ~50% of basal-like breast cancer, and mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been reported in up to ~ 10% of Asian TNBC patients. In non-small cell lung cancer several different mutations in the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain confer sensitivity to receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but the tumourigenic potential of EGFR mutations in breast cells and their potential for targeted therapy is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Constructs containing wild type, G719S or E746-A750 deletion mutant forms of EGFR were transfected into the MCF10A breast cells and their tumorigenic derivative, MCF10CA1a. The effects of EGFR over-expression and mutation on proliferation, migration, invasion, response to gefitinib, and tumour formation in vivo was investigated. Copy number analysis and whole exome sequencing of the MCF10A and MCF10CA1a cell lines were also performed. RESULTS: Mutant EGFR increased MCF10A and MCF10CA1a proliferation and MCF10A gefitinib sensitivity. The EGFR-E746-A750 deletion increased MCF10CA1a cell migration and invasion, and greatly increased MCF10CA1a xenograft tumour formation and growth. Compared to MCF10A cells, MCF10CA1a cells exhibited large regions of gain on chromosomes 3 and 9, deletion on chromosome 7, and mutations in many genes implicated in cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Mutant EGFR enhances the oncogenic properties of MCF10A cell line, and increases sensitivity to gefitinib. Although the addition of EGFR E746-A750 renders the MCF10CA1a cells more tumourigenic in vivo it is not accompanied by increased gefitinib sensitivity, perhaps due to additional mutations, including the PIK3CA H1047R mutation, that the MCF10CA1a cell line has acquired. Screening TNBC/basal-like breast cancer for EGFR mutations may prove useful fo

Published
2015

19. Rad51 supports triple negative breast cancer metastasis

Author

Wiegmans, AP, Al-Ejeh, F, Chee, N, Yap, P-Y, Gorski, JJ, Da Silva, L, Bolderson, E, Chenevix-Trench, G, Anderson, R, Simpson, PT, Lakhani, SR, Khanna, KK, Wiegmans, AP, Al-Ejeh, F, Chee, N, Yap, P-Y, Gorski, JJ, Da Silva, L, Bolderson, E, Chenevix-Trench, G, Anderson, R, Simpson, PT, Lakhani, SR, and Khanna, KK

Abstract

In contrast to extensive studies on familial breast cancer, it is currently unclear whether defects in DNA double strand break (DSB) repair genes play a role in sporadic breast cancer development and progression. We performed analysis of immunohistochemistry in an independent cohort of 235 were sporadic breast tumours. This analysis suggested that RAD51 expression is increased during breast cancer progression and metastasis and an oncogenic role for RAD51 when deregulated. Subsequent knockdown of RAD51 repressed cancer cell migration in vitro and reduced primary tumor growth in a syngeneic mouse model in vivo. Loss of RAD51 also inhibited associated metastasis not only in syngeneic mice but human xenografts and changed the metastatic gene expression profile of cancer cells, consistent with inhibition of distant metastasis. This demonstrates for the first time a new function of RAD51 that may underlie the proclivity of patients with RAD51 overexpression to develop distant metastasis. RAD51 is a potential biomarker and attractive drug target for metastatic triple negative breast cancer, with the capability to extend the survival of patients, which is less than 6 months.

Published
2014

20. Erratum: Meta-analysis of the global gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer identifies genes for the prognostication and treatment of aggressive breast cancer

Author

Al-Ejeh, F, primary, Simpson, P T, additional, Saunus, J M, additional, Klein, K, additional, Kalimutho, M, additional, Shi, W, additional, Miranda, M, additional, Kutasovic, J, additional, Raghavendra, A, additional, Madore, J, additional, Reid, L, additional, Krause, L, additional, Chenevix-Trench, G, additional, Lakhani, S R, additional, and Khanna, K K, additional

Published
2014
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21. Meta-analysis of the global gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer identifies genes for the prognostication and treatment of aggressive breast cancer

Author

Al-Ejeh, F, primary, Simpson, P T, additional, Sanus, J M, additional, Klein, K, additional, Kalimutho, M, additional, Shi, W, additional, Miranda, M, additional, Kutasovic, J, additional, Raghavendra, A, additional, Madore, J, additional, Reid, L, additional, Krause, L, additional, Chenevix-Trench, G, additional, Lakhani, S R, additional, and Khanna, K K, additional

Published
2014
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22. STEM CELLS

Author

Cheng, L., primary, Huang, Z., additional, Zhou, W., additional, Wu, Q., additional, Rich, J., additional, Bao, S., additional, Baxter, P., additional, Mao, H., additional, Zhao, X., additional, Liu, Z., additional, Huang, Y., additional, Voicu, H., additional, Gurusiddappa, S., additional, Su, J. M., additional, Perlaky, L., additional, Dauser, R., additional, Leung, H.-c. E., additional, Muraszko, K. M., additional, Heth, J. A., additional, Fan, X., additional, Lau, C. C., additional, Man, T.-K., additional, Chintagumpala, M., additional, Li, X.-N., additional, Clark, P., additional, Zorniak, M., additional, Cho, Y., additional, Zhang, X., additional, Walden, D., additional, Shusta, E., additional, Kuo, J., additional, Sengupta, S., additional, Goel-Bhattacharya, S., additional, Kulkarni, S., additional, Cochran, B., additional, Cusulin, C., additional, Luchman, A., additional, Weiss, S., additional, Wu, M., additional, Fernandez, N., additional, Agnihotri, S., additional, Diaz, R., additional, Rutka, J., additional, Bredel, M., additional, Karamchandani, J., additional, Das, S., additional, Day, B., additional, Stringer, B., additional, Al-Ejeh, F., additional, Ting, M., additional, Wilson, J., additional, Ensbey, K., additional, Jamieson, P., additional, Bruce, Z., additional, Lim, Y. C., additional, Offenhauser, C., additional, Charmsaz, S., additional, Cooper, L., additional, Ellacott, J., additional, Harding, A., additional, Lickliter, J., additional, Inglis, P., additional, Reynolds, B., additional, Walker, D., additional, Lackmann, M., additional, Boyd, A., additional, Berezovsky, A., additional, Poisson, L., additional, Hasselbach, L., additional, Irtenkauf, S., additional, Transou, A., additional, Mikkelsen, T., additional, deCarvalho, A. C., additional, Emlet, D., additional, Del Vecchio, C., additional, Gupta, P., additional, Li, G., additional, Skirboll, S., additional, Wong, A., additional, Figueroa, J., additional, Shahar, T., additional, Hossain, A., additional, Lang, F., additional, Fouse, S., additional, Nakamura, J., additional, James, C. D., additional, Chang, S., additional, Costello, J., additional, Frerich, J. M., additional, Rahimpour, S., additional, Zhuang, Z., additional, Heiss, J. D., additional, Golebiewska, A., additional, Stieber, D., additional, Evers, L., additional, Lenkiewicz, E., additional, Brons, N. H. C., additional, Nicot, N., additional, Oudin, A., additional, Bougnaud, S., additional, Hertel, F., additional, Bjerkvig, R., additional, Barrett, M., additional, Vallar, L., additional, Niclou, S. P., additional, Hao, X., additional, Rahn, J., additional, Ujack, E., additional, Lun, X., additional, Cairncross, G., additional, Senger, D., additional, Robbins, S., additional, Harness, J., additional, Lerner, R., additional, Ihara, Y., additional, Santos, R., additional, Torre, J. D. L., additional, Lu, A., additional, Ozawa, T., additional, Nicolaides, T., additional, James, D., additional, Petritsch, C., additional, Higgins, D., additional, Schroeder, M., additional, Ball, B., additional, Milligan, B., additional, Meyer, F., additional, Sarkaria, J., additional, Henley, J., additional, Flavahan, W., additional, Hitomi, M., additional, Rahim, N., additional, Kim, Y., additional, Sloan, A., additional, Weil, R., additional, Nakano, I., additional, Li, M., additional, Lathia, J., additional, Hjelmeland, A., additional, Kaluzova, M., additional, Platt, S., additional, Kent, M., additional, Bouras, A., additional, Machaidze, R., additional, Hadjipanayis, C., additional, Kang, S.-G., additional, Kim, S.-H., additional, Huh, Y.-M., additional, Kim, E.-H., additional, Park, E.-K., additional, Chang, J. H., additional, Kim, S. H., additional, Hong, Y. K., additional, Kim, D. S., additional, Lee, S.-J., additional, Kim, E. H., additional, Kang, S. G., additional, Deleyrolle, L., additional, Sinyuk, M., additional, Goan, W., additional, Otvos, B., additional, Rohaus, M., additional, Oli, M., additional, Vedam-Mai, V., additional, Schonberg, D., additional, Lee, S.-T., additional, Chu, K., additional, Lee, S. K., additional, Kim, M., additional, Roh, J.-K., additional, Griveau, A., additional, Reichholf, B., additional, McMahon, M., additional, Rowitch, D., additional, Nitta, R., additional, Mitra, S., additional, Agarwal, M., additional, Bui, T., additional, Lin, J., additional, Adamson, C., additional, Martinez-Quintanilla, J., additional, Choi, S.-H., additional, Bhere, D., additional, Heidari, P., additional, He, D., additional, Mahmood, U., additional, Shah, K., additional, Gholamin, S., additional, Feroze, A., additional, Achrol, A., additional, Kahn, S., additional, Weissman, I., additional, Cheshier, S., additional, Sulman, E. P., additional, Wang, Q., additional, Mostovenko, E., additional, Liu, H., additional, Lichti, C. F., additional, Shavkunov, A., additional, Kroes, R. A., additional, Moskal, J. R., additional, Conrad, C. A., additional, Lang, F. F., additional, Emmett, M. R., additional, Nilsson, C. L., additional, Osuka, S., additional, Sampetrean, O., additional, Shimizu, T., additional, Saga, I., additional, Onishi, N., additional, Sugihara, E., additional, Okubo, J., additional, Fujita, S., additional, Takano, S., additional, Matsumura, A., additional, Saya, H., additional, Saito, N., additional, Fu, J., additional, Wang, S., additional, Yung, W. K. A., additional, Koul, D., additional, Schmid, R. S., additional, Irvin, D. M., additional, Vitucci, M., additional, Bash, R. E., additional, Werneke, A. M., additional, Miller, C. R., additional, Shinojima, N., additional, Takezaki, T., additional, Fueyo, J., additional, Gumin, J., additional, Gao, F., additional, Nwajei, F., additional, Marini, F. C., additional, Andreeff, M., additional, Kuratsu, J.-I., additional, Singh, S., additional, Burrell, K., additional, Koch, E., additional, Jalali, S., additional, Vartanian, A., additional, Sulman, E., additional, Wouters, B., additional, Zadeh, G., additional, Spelat, R., additional, Singer, E., additional, Matlaf, L., additional, McAllister, S., additional, Soroceanu, L., additional, Spiegl-Kreinecker, S., additional, Loetsch, D., additional, Laaber, M., additional, Schrangl, C., additional, Wohrer, A., additional, Hainfellner, J., additional, Marosi, C., additional, Pichler, J., additional, Weis, S., additional, Wurm, G., additional, Widhalm, G., additional, Knosp, E., additional, Berger, W., additional, Kuratsu, J.-i., additional, Tam, Q., additional, Tanaka, S., additional, Nakada, M., additional, Yamada, D., additional, Todo, T., additional, Hayashi, Y., additional, Hamada, J.-i., additional, Hirao, A., additional, Tilghman, J., additional, Ying, M., additional, Laterra, J., additional, Venere, M., additional, Chang, C., additional, Summers, M., additional, Rosenfeld, S., additional, Luk, S., additional, Iafrate, J., additional, Cahill, D., additional, Martuza, R., additional, Rabkin, S., additional, Chi, A., additional, Wakimoto, H., additional, Wirsching, H.-G., additional, Krishnan, S., additional, Frei, K., additional, Krayenbuhl, N., additional, Reifenberger, G., additional, Weller, M., additional, Tabatabai, G., additional, Man, J., additional, Shoemake, J., additional, and Yu, J., additional

Published
2013
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24. EphA3 as a target for antibody immunotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Author

Charmsaz, S, Al-Ejeh, F, Yeadon, T M, Miller, K J, Smith, F M, Stringer, B W, Moore, A S, Lee, F-T, Cooper, L T, Stylianou, C, Yarranton, G T, Woronicz, J, Scott, A M, Lackmann, M, and Boyd, A W

Abstract

The human EphA3 gene was discovered in a pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B-ALL) using the EphA3-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), IIIA4, which binds and activates both human and mouse EphA3. We use two models of human pre-B-ALL to examine EphA3 function, demonstrating effects on pre-B-cell receptor signaling. In therapeutic targeting studies, we demonstrated antitumor effects of the IIIA4 mAb in EphA3-expressing leukemic xenografts and no antitumor effect in the xenografts with no EphA3 expression providing evidence that EphA3 is a functional therapeutic target in pre-B-ALL. Here we show that the therapeutic effect of the anti-EphA3 antibody was greatly enhanced by adding an α-particle-emitting 213Bismuth payload.

Published
2017
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28. Rational combination therapy against triple-negative breast cancer.

Author

Al-Ejeh, F., Miranda, M., Simpson, P. T., Chenevix-Trench, G., Lakhani, S. R., and Khanna, K. K.

Subjects
*BREAST cancer research, *METASTASIS, *GENE expression, *RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, *GENOMES
Abstract

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with higher incidence of recurrence, more distant metastasis, and poorer survival. This subtype is also characterized by complex genomes where little of their genomes remain at normal copy number but without high, focal copy number amplifications. At the transciptome level, the majority of TNBC (-75%) are classified as basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) according to the five intrinsic subtypes. Despite considerable genomic and gene expression characterization of TNBC, proteomic and phospho-proteomic investigations of this disease are limited with no available targeted therapies in clinical use. Methods & Results: We used the Kinex™ antibody array (http://www.kinexus.ca/) to interrogate protein/phosphoproteins levels in 43 primary breast cancer biopsies (16 TNBC, 16 ER/PR positive and 11 HER2-positive) and 16 breast cancer cell lines. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of protein/phosphoprotein levels revealed two subgroups of TNBC in comparison to other subtypes. Western blotting and Proteome Profiler™ Arrays (R&D Systems) were used to validate deregulated proteins/phosphoproteins in TNBC. Pathway analysis revealed that one subgroup of TNBC exploits overlapping and cross-talking networks for survival. These signaling networks are downstream from elevated activation of EGFR, integrins and Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R). Targeted molecular inhibitors of activated kinases in these pathways showed specificity against basal-like/TNBC cell lines compared to other subtypes in vitro. These activated kinases/networks represent druggable targets for the treatment of TNBC but may be limited by compensatory effect of the complex cross-talking signaling networks. To overcome compensatory downstream signaling that would limit the inhibition of a given pathway; we developed EGFR-targeted radioimmunotherapy (RIT) strategy to systemically deliver cytotoxic loads of beta particles (177Lu) that would kill targeted cells and surrounding cells by crossfire effect. The combination of EGFR-directed RIT with chemotherapy and PARP inhibition successfully treated orthotopic and metastatic TNBC models established from cell lines and patient-derived xenografts. The superior efficacy of this triple-agent combination therapy is explained by enhanced DNA damage and reduced DNA repair response, higher apoptotic cell death and the elimination of putative breast cancer stem cells. Conclusion: Proteomic analysis of TNBC provides a powerful tool to elucidate druggable signaling networks with therapeutic potential. TNBC utilizes complex interacting signaling networks and rational combination therapies are required for effective therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2012
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29. Harnessing the complexity of DNA-damage response pathways to improve cancer treatment outcomes

Author

Raman Kumar, Kum Kum Khanna, Sunil R. Lakhani, Fares Al-Ejeh, Michael P. Brown, Adrian P. Wiegmans, Al-Ejeh, F, Kumar, R, Wiegmans, A, Lakhani, SR, Brown, MP, and Khanna, KK

Subjects
Senescence, Cancer Research, DNA Repair, DNA damage, DNA repair, Mitosis, Apoptosis, DNA-Activated Protein Kinase, Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors, Biology, Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor, Neoplasms, Genetics, Animals, Humans, cellular senescence, CHEK1, Molecular Biology, Mitotic catastrophe, DNA-damage response, mitotic catastrophie, Cell cycle, Treatment Outcome, cell death, Checkpoint Kinase 1, Models, Animal, Immunology, Cancer cell, Cancer research, cell cycle checkpoints, Protein Kinases, DNA Damage, Signal Transduction
Abstract

The DNA-damage response (DDR) pathways consist of interconnected components that respond to DNA damage to allow repair and promote cell survival. The DNA repair pathways and downstream cellular responses have diverged in cancer cells compared with normal cells because of genetic alterations that underlie drug resistance, disabled repair and resistance to apoptosis. Consequently, abrogating DDR pathways represents an important mechanism for enhancing the therapeutic index of DNA-damaging anticancer agents. In this review, we discuss the DDR pathways that determine antitumor effects of DNA-damaging agents with a specific focus on treatment outcomes in tumors carrying a defective p53 pathway. Finely tuned survival and death pathways govern the cellular responses downstream of the cytotoxic insults inherent in anticancer treatment. The significance and relative contributions of cellular responses including apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe and senescence are discussed in relation to the web of molecular interactions that affect such outcomes. We propose that promising combinations of DNA-damaging anticancer treatments with DDR-pathway inhibition would be further enhanced by activating downstream apoptotic pathways. The proposed rationale ensures that actual cell death is the preferred outcome of cancer treatment instead of other responses, including reversible cell cycle arrest, autophagy or senescence. Finally, to better measure the contribution of different cellular responses to anticancer treatments, multiplex in vivo assessments of therapy-induced response pathways such as cell death, senescence and mitotic catastrophe is desirable rather than the current reliance on the measurement of a single response pathway such as apoptosis. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Published
2010

30. In vivo targeting of dead tumor cells in a murine tumor model using a monoclonal antibody specific for the La autoantigen

Author

Jocelyn M. Darby, Kerrilyn R. Diener, Michael P. Brown, Katherine Pensa, John D. Hayball, Fares Al-Ejeh, Al-Ejeh, F, Darby, Jocelyn, Pensa, Katherine, Diener, Kerrilyn, Hayball, John Dominic, and Brown, Michael

Subjects
Cancer Research, Pathology, medicine.medical_specialty, Immunoconjugates, medicine.drug_class, medicine.medical_treatment, Immunoblotting, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Apoptosis, Thymus Gland, Lymphoma, T-Cell, Monoclonal antibody, Autoantigens, Mice, In vivo, Tumor Cells, Cultured, medicine, Animals, Tissue Distribution, Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating, Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide, Chemotherapy, biology, Indium Radioisotopes, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma, Radioimmunotherapy, Flow Cytometry, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Combined Modality Therapy, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, In vitro, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Thymocyte, Ribonucleoproteins, Oncology, Cell culture, biology.protein, Cancer research, Antibody, DNA Damage
Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the potential of the La-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3B9 as an in vivo tumor-targeting agent. Experimental Design: The murine EL4 lymphoma cell line was used for in vitro studies and the EL4 model in which apoptosis was induced with cyclophosphamide and etoposide was used for in vivo studies. In vitro studies compared 3B9 binding in the EL4 cell with that in its counterpart primary cell type of the thymocyte. For in vivo studies, 3B9 was intrinsically or extrinsically labeled with carbon-14 or 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacylododecane-N,N′,N″,N″″-tetraacetic acid–indium-111, respectively, and biodistribution of the radiotracers was investigated in EL4 tumor-bearing mice, which were treated or not with chemotherapy. Results: La-specific 3B9 mAb bound EL4 cells rather than thymocytes, and binding was detergent resistant. 3B9 binding to dead EL4 cells in vitro was specific, rapid, and saturable. Significantly, more 3B9 bound dead EL4 tumor explant cells after host mice were treated with chemotherapy, which suggested that DNA damage induced 3B9 binding. Tumor binding of 3B9 in vivo was antigen specific and increased significantly after chemotherapy. Tumor accumulation of 3B9 peaked at ∼50% of the injected dose per gram of tumor 72 h after chemotherapy and correlated with increased tumor cell death. Tumor/organ ratios of 3B9 biodistribution, which included the tumor/blood ratio, exceeded unity 48 or more hours after chemotherapy. Conclusions: La-specific mAb selectively targeted dead tumor cells in vivo, and targeting was augmented by cytotoxic chemotherapy. This novel cell death radioligand may be useful both for radioimmunoscintigraphy and radioimmunotherapy.

Published
2007

31. EphA2 regulates vascular permeability and prostate cancer metastasis via modulation of cell junction protein phosphorylation.

Author

Offenhäuser C, Dave KA, Beckett KJ, Smith FM, Jayakody BA, Cooper LT, Agyei-Yeboah H, McCarron JK, Li Y, Bastick K, Al-Ejeh F, Cullen JK, Coulthard MG, Gorman JJ, Boyd AW, and Day BW

Subjects
Male, Humans, Phosphorylation, Animals, Mice, Neoplasm Metastasis, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Movement, Intercellular Junctions metabolism, Receptor, EphA2 metabolism, Prostatic Neoplasms pathology, Prostatic Neoplasms metabolism, Prostatic Neoplasms genetics
Abstract

Prostate cancer morbidity and mortality demonstrate a need for more effective targeted therapies. One potential target is EphA2, although paradoxically, pro- and anti-oncogenic effects have been shown to be mediated by EphA2. We demonstrate that unique activating and blocking EphA2-targeting monoclonal antibodies display opposing tumor-suppressive and oncogenic properties in vivo. To further explore this complexity, we performed detailed phosphoproteomic analysis following ligand-induced EphA2 activation. Our analysis identified altered phosphorylation of 73 downstream proteins related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK/MAPK pathways, with the majority implicated in cell junction and cytoskeletal organization, cell motility, and tumor metastasis. We demonstrate that the adapter protein SHB is an essential component in mediating the inhibition of the ERK/MAPK pathway in response to EphA2 receptor activation. Furthermore, we identify the adherence junction protein afadin as an EphA2-regulated phosphoprotein which is involved in prostate cancer migration and invasion., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Provisional patent applications claiming the anti-EphA2 monoclonal antibodies 1F7 and 4B3 that are described in this manuscript have been filed by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. All experimental protocols for the animal studies were approved by the QIMR Berghofer Animal Ethics Committee (Approval number: A0304-620M). The primary human glioblastoma cell lines WK1 and MN1 were generated in-house and have been reported previously [70, 71]. Patient tumor tissues to generate these cell lines were collected following informed consent and with approval from the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and QIMR Berghofer Human Research Ethics Committees (Approval number: P3420, HREC/17/QRBW/577 Novel Therapies for Brain Cancer)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Published
2025
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32. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Estimates in Arab Countries in 2018: A GLOBOCAN Data Analysis.

Author

Al-Muftah M and Al-Ejeh F

Subjects
Humans, Incidence, Arabs genetics, Neoplasms epidemiology
Abstract

Background: Arab countries are projecting increase in cancer incidence and mortality; however, there are limited studies that compare the epidemiology of cancer in Arab countries compared with other parts of the world., Methods: We used the 2018 Global Cancer Observatory data to compare the age-standardized incidence and mortality estimates in Arab-speaking countries to the rest of the world., Results: Rates for incidence and mortality for all cancers in Arab countries were lower than the world's rates but the incidence rates of non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder, breast, and liver cancers were higher. Arab countries generally had higher mortality-to-incidence ratio than the world's ratio. Incidence rates, even in age-specific groups, varied between subregions of Arab countries (the Levant, Arabian Gulf, and Arab African subregions), and Iraq and Egypt, suggesting some common and unique environmental factors and possible ethnic or genetic heritages., Conclusions: There are essential scopes for improvements in Arab countries including better treatments to reduce the high mortality-to-incidence ratio, and supporting vaccination programs and antiviral treatments that would prevent the prevalent viral infection-related cancers. The high incidence of several cancers in younger Arabs suggests genetic factors and underlines the importance of genetic epidemiology studies., Impact: This study is an essential reference to evaluate and monitor the progress of national cancer initiatives in Arab countries for surveillance and prevention programs and improving clinical management. The study also provides a comprehensive snapshot of cancers in a unique region that could shed light on the interplay of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors., (©2023 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

Published
2023
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33. Epigenome erosion and SOX10 drive neural crest phenotypic mimicry in triple-negative breast cancer.

Author

Saunus JM, De Luca XM, Northwood K, Raghavendra A, Hasson A, McCart Reed AE, Lim M, Lal S, Vargas AC, Kutasovic JR, Dalley AJ, Miranda M, Kalaw E, Kalita-de Croft P, Gresshoff I, Al-Ejeh F, Gee JMW, Ormandy C, Khanna KK, Beesley J, Chenevix-Trench G, Green AR, Rakha EA, Ellis IO, Nicolau DV Jr, Simpson PT, and Lakhani SR

Abstract

Intratumoral heterogeneity is caused by genomic instability and phenotypic plasticity, but how these features co-evolve remains unclear. SOX10 is a neural crest stem cell (NCSC) specifier and candidate mediator of phenotypic plasticity in cancer. We investigated its relevance in breast cancer by immunophenotyping 21 normal breast and 1860 tumour samples. Nuclear SOX10 was detected in normal mammary luminal progenitor cells, the histogenic origin of most TNBCs. In tumours, nuclear SOX10 was almost exclusive to TNBC, and predicted poorer outcome amongst cross-sectional (p = 0.0015, hazard ratio 2.02, n = 224) and metaplastic (p = 0.04, n = 66) cases. To understand SOX10's influence over the transcriptome during the transition from normal to malignant states, we performed a systems-level analysis of co-expression data, de-noising the networks with an eigen-decomposition method. This identified a core module in SOX10's normal mammary epithelial network that becomes rewired to NCSC genes in TNBC. Crucially, this reprogramming was proportional to genome-wide promoter methylation loss, particularly at lineage-specifying CpG-island shores. We propose that the progressive, genome-wide methylation loss in TNBC simulates more primitive epigenome architecture, making cells vulnerable to SOX10-driven reprogramming. This study demonstrates potential utility for SOX10 as a prognostic biomarker in TNBC and provides new insights about developmental phenotypic mimicry-a major contributor to intratumoral heterogeneity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Published
2022
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34. Prognostic tools and candidate drugs based on plasma proteomics of patients with severe COVID-19 complications.

Author

Al-Nesf MAY, Abdesselem HB, Bensmail I, Ibrahim S, Saeed WAH, Mohammed SSI, Razok A, Alhussain H, Aly RMA, Al Maslamani M, Ouararhni K, Khatib MY, Hssain AA, Omrani AS, Al-Kaabi S, Al Khal A, Al-Thani AA, Samsam W, Farooq A, Al-Suwaidi J, Al-Maadheed M, Al-Siddiqi HH, Butler AE, Decock JV, Mohamed-Ali V, and Al-Ejeh F

Subjects
Adult, Cytokines blood, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Proteomics methods, SARS-CoV-2 drug effects, Young Adult, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Blood Proteins analysis, COVID-19 mortality, COVID-19 pathology, Severity of Illness Index
Abstract

COVID-19 complications still present a huge burden on healthcare systems and warrant predictive risk models to triage patients and inform early intervention. Here, we profile 893 plasma proteins from 50 severe and 50 mild-moderate COVID-19 patients, and 50 healthy controls, and show that 375 proteins are differentially expressed in the plasma of severe COVID-19 patients. These differentially expressed plasma proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and present targets for candidate drugs to prevent or treat severe complications. Based on the plasma proteomics and clinical lab tests, we also report a 12-plasma protein signature and a model of seven routine clinical tests that validate in an independent cohort as early risk predictors of COVID-19 severity and patient survival. The risk predictors and candidate drugs described in our study can be used and developed for personalized management of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Published
2022
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35. G9a Inhibition Enhances Checkpoint Inhibitor Blockade Response in Melanoma.

Author

Kelly GM, Al-Ejeh F, McCuaig R, Casciello F, Ahmad Kamal N, Ferguson B, Pritchard AL, Ali S, Silva IP, Wilmott JS, Long GV, Scolyer RA, Rao S, Hayward NK, Gannon F, and Lee JS

Subjects
Animals, Biomarkers, Tumor, Cell Line, Tumor, Disease Models, Animal, Drug Synergism, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Histocompatibility Antigens genetics, Histocompatibility Antigens metabolism, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase genetics, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase metabolism, Humans, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors therapeutic use, Melanoma diagnosis, Melanoma drug therapy, Melanoma genetics, Mice, Microtubule-Associated Proteins genetics, Microtubule-Associated Proteins metabolism, Neoplastic Cells, Circulating, Prognosis, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase antagonists & inhibitors, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors pharmacology, Melanoma metabolism
Abstract

Purpose: G9a histone methyltransferase exerts oncogenic effects in several tumor types and its inhibition promotes anticancer effects. However, the impact on checkpoint inhibitor blockade response and the utility of G9a or its target genes as a biomarker is poorly studied. We aimed to examine whether G9a inhibition can augment the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor blockade and whether LC3B , a G9a target gene, can predict treatment response., Experimental Design: Clinical potential of LC3B as a biomarker of checkpoint inhibitor blockade was assessed using patient samples including tumor biopsies and circulating tumor cells from liquid biopsies. Efficacy of G9a inhibition to enhance checkpoint inhibitor blockade was examined using a mouse model., Results: Patients with melanoma who responded to checkpoint inhibitor blockade were associated with not only a higher level of tumor LC3B but also a higher proportion of cells expressing LC3B. A higher expression of MAP1LC3B or LC3B protein was associated with longer survival and lower incidence of acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitor blockade, suggesting LC3B as a potential predictive biomarker. We demonstrate that G9a histone methyltransferase inhibition is able to not only robustly induce LC3B level to augment the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor blockade, but also induces melanoma cell death., Conclusions: Checkpoint inhibitor blockade response is limited to a subset of the patient population. These results have implications for the development of LC3B as a predictive biomarker of checkpoint inhibitor blockade to guide patient selection, as well as G9a inhibition as a strategy to extend the proportion of patients responding to immunotherapy., (©2021 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Published
2021
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36. Differential gene expression of tumor-infiltrating CD4 + T cells in advanced versus early stage colorectal cancer and identification of a gene signature of poor prognosis.

Author

Sasidharan Nair V, Saleh R, Taha RZ, Toor SM, Murshed K, Ahmed AA, Kurer MA, Abu Nada M, Al Ejeh F, and Elkord E

Subjects
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Gene Expression, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, Colorectal Neoplasms genetics, Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
Abstract

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play indispensable roles in the progression and response to treatment of solid tumors. However, the prognostic significance of CD4 + TILs is not fully disclosed in cancers generally and in CRC in particular, mainly due to the existence of different functional subsets of CD4 + T cells. We performed transcriptomic profiling of CD4 + TILs isolated from CRC patients in order to identify differentially expressed genes and their functional pathways in early versus advanced disease stages. We found that in advanced stages, genes related to immune and inflammatory responses, in particular Th1-mediated immune response and cytotoxicity-mediated genes, were downregulated; while epigenetic-mediated silencing genes were upregulated. Interestingly, we identified genes, which were steadily upregulated or downregulated in CD4 + TILs with CRC progression from stage I to IV. Additionally, of the top 200 deregulated genes, 43 upregulated and 64 downregulated genes showed similar deregulation trends in the cancer genome atlas CRC dataset. From these 97 deregulated genes, we identified a "poor prognosis CD4 gene signature (ppCD4sig)". Patients with high ppCD4sig score showed shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free interval (PFI). The ppCD4sig was an independent prognostic indicator for DSS (HR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.32-2.27, P = 0.0001) and PFI (HR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.3-2.35, P = 0.0016). Additionally, patients at advanced stages and at a younger age (<55 years) were more likely to have a high ppCD4sig score. Altogether, our data provide novel insights and a unique prognostic gene signature of CD4 + TILs in the CRC microenvironment., (© 2020 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.)

Published
2020
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37. Differential gene expression of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells in advanced versus early-stage colorectal cancer and identification of a gene signature of poor prognosis.

Author

Saleh R, Sasidharan Nair V, Toor SM, Taha RZ, Murshed K, Al-Dhaheri M, Khawar M, Petkar MA, Abu Nada M, Al-Ejeh F, and Elkord E

Subjects
Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Young Adult, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes immunology, Colorectal Neoplasms genetics, Gene Expression genetics, Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating immunology
Abstract

Background: Cytotoxic CD8 + T cell-mediated response is the most important arm of adaptive immunity, which dictates the capacity of the host immune response in eradicating tumor cells. Due to tumor intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors, the density and function of CD8 + tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) could be compromised, leading to poor prognosis and survival., Methods: Using RNA-Seq, transcriptomes of sorted CD3 + CD8 + TILs from treatment-naïve colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at advanced stages (III and IV) were compared with those from patients with early stages (I and II). A signature referred to as 'poor prognosis CD8 gene signature (ppCD8sig)' was identified and analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas CRC dataset. Scores for the ppCD8sig were calculated and classified as high, intermediate and low, and its prognostic significance was assessed using multivariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard model. Densities of CD3 + and CD8 + T cell infiltration in tumors from patients with high and low ppCD8sig scores were assessed by flow cytometry and immunostaining., Results: Genes related to epigenetic regulation and response to hypoxia were upregulated in CD8 + TILs from patients with advanced stages, while genes related to T cell activation, cell proliferation and cell cycle were downregulated. Patients with high ppCD8sig score had poorer disease-specific survival (DSS) and shorter progression-free interval (PFI). The ppCD8sig was an independent prognostic indicator for DSS (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.38, p<0.0001) and PFI (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.93, p=0.026). Additionally, patients with high ppCD8sig score were more likely to have advanced stages (χ 2 p<0.0001) and residual disease after primary therapy (χ 2 p=0.046). Patients with high ppCD8sig score had reduced levels of CD3 + and CD8 + TILs and low Immunoscores (IS), compared to patients with low ppCD8sig score., Conclusions: Our data provided insights into the altered regulation of biological mechanisms and signaling pathways in CD8 + TILs during CRC progression, and revealed a gene signature as an independent prognostic indicator. Patients with high ppCD8sig score had lower levels of TILs and low IS. These data further confirm the prognostic value of the identified ppCD8sig and potentially highlight its clinical relevance., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Published
2020
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38. Clinicopathologic significance of nuclear HER4 and phospho-YAP(S 127 ) in human breast cancers and matching brain metastases.

Author

Kalita-de Croft P, Lim M, Chittoory H, de Luca XM, Kutasovic JR, Day BW, Al-Ejeh F, Simpson PT, McCart Reed AE, Lakhani SR, and Saunus JM

Abstract

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor-4 (HER4) and yes-associated protein-1 (YAP) are candidate therapeutic targets in oncology. YAP's transcriptional coactivation function is modulated by the HER4 intracellular domain (HER4-ICD) in vitro , but the clinical relevance of this has not been established. This study investigated the potential for targeting the HER4-YAP pathway in brain metastatic breast cancer., Methods: We performed immuno-phenotypic profiling of pathway markers in a consecutive breast cancer series with 25 years of clinical follow up ( n  = 371), and patient-matched breast and metastatic brain tumours ( n  = 91; 30 pairs)., Results: Membrane localisation of phospho-HER4 [pHER4(Y 1162 )] was infrequent in primary breast cancer, but very frequent in brain metastases (5.9% versus 75% positive), where it was usually co-expressed with pHER3(Y 1289 ) ( p  < 0.05). The presence of YAP in tumour cell nuclei was associated directly with nuclear pERK5(T 218 /Y 210 ) ( p  = 0.003). However, relationships with disease-specific survival depended on oestrogen receptor (ER) status. Nuclear pYAP(S 127 ) was associated with smaller, good prognostic ER+ breast tumours (log-rank hazard-ratio 0.53; p  = 9.6E -03 ), but larger, poor prognostic triple-negative cancers (log-rank hazard-ratio 2.78; p  = 1.7E -02 ), particularly when co-expressed with nuclear HER4-ICD ( p  = 0.02). This phenotype was associated with stemness and mitotic instability markers (vimentin, SOX9, ID1, SPAG5, TTK, geminin; p  < 0.05). YAP expression in brain metastases was higher than matched primary tumours; specifically, nuclear pYAP(S 127 ) in ER-negative cases ( p  < 0.05). Nuclear YAP was detected in ~70% of ER-negative, HER4-activated brain metastases., Discussion: Our findings suggest that the canonical-mechanism where Hippo pathway-mediated phosphorylation of YAP ostensibly excludes it from the nucleus is dysfunctional in breast cancer. The data are consistent with pYAP(S 127 ) having independent transcriptional functions, which may include transducing neuregulin signals in brain metastases. Consistent with mechanistic studies implicating it as an ER co-factor, nuclear pYAP(S 127 ) associations with breast cancer clinical outcomes were dependent on ER status., Conclusion: Preclinical studies investigating HER4 and nuclear YAP combination therapy strategies are warranted., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), 2020.)

Published
2020
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39. G9a-mediated repression of CDH10 in hypoxia enhances breast tumour cell motility and associates with poor survival outcome.

Author

Casciello F, Al-Ejeh F, Miranda M, Kelly G, Baxter E, Windloch K, Gannon F, and Lee JS

Subjects
Animals, Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism, Cell Line, Tumor, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Nude, Breast Neoplasms metabolism, Breast Neoplasms pathology, Cadherins metabolism, Cell Hypoxia, Cell Movement, Histocompatibility Antigens metabolism, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase metabolism, Lung Neoplasms metabolism, Lung Neoplasms secondary
Abstract

Rationale : Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamental processes that can modulate gene expression, allowing cellular adaptation to environmental conditions. Hypoxia is an important factor known to initiate the metastatic cascade in cancer, activating cell motility and invasion by silencing cell adhesion genes. G9a is a histone methyltransferase previously shown to accumulate in hypoxic conditions. While its oncogenic activity has been previously reported, not much is known about the role G9a plays in the hypoxia-mediated metastatic cascade. Methods : The role of G9a in cell motility in hypoxic condition was determined by inhibiting G9a either by short-hairpin mediated knock down or pharmacologically using a small molecule inhibitor. Through gene expression profiling, we identified CDH10 to be an important G9a target that regulates breast cancer cell motility. Lung metastasis assay in mice was used to determine the physiological significance of G9a. Results : We demonstrate that, while hypoxia enhances breast cancer migratory capacity, blocking G9a severely reduces cellular motility under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions and prevents the hypoxia-mediated induction of cellular movement. Moreover, inhibition of G9a histone methyltransferase activity in mice using a specific small molecule inhibitor significantly reduced growth and colonisation of breast cancer cells in the lung. We identify the type-II cadherin CDH10 as being a novel hypoxia-dependent gene, directly repressed by G9a through histone methylation. CDH10 overexpression significantly reduces cellular movements in breast cancer cell lines and prevents the hypoxia-mediated increase in cell motility. In addition, we show that CDH10 expression is prognostic in breast cancer and that it is inversely correlated to EHMT2 (G9a) transcript levels in many tumor-types, including breast cancer. Conclusion : We propose that G9a promotes cellular motility during hypoxic stress through the silencing of the cell adhesion molecule CDH10 and we describe CDH10 as a novel prognostic biomarker for breast cancer., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Published
2020
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40. Overexpression of miRNA-25-3p inhibits Notch1 signaling and TGF-β-induced collagen expression in hepatic stellate cells.

Author

Genz B, Coleman MA, Irvine KM, Kutasovic JR, Miranda M, Gratte FD, Tirnitz-Parker JEE, Olynyk JK, Calvopina DA, Weis A, Cloonan N, Robinson H, Hill MM, Al-Ejeh F, and Ramm GA

Subjects
Animals, Cell Line, Collagen genetics, Hepatic Stellate Cells, Humans, Mice, MicroRNAs genetics, Receptor, Notch1 genetics, Transforming Growth Factor beta genetics, Collagen biosynthesis, Gene Expression Regulation, MicroRNAs metabolism, Receptor, Notch1 metabolism, Transforming Growth Factor beta metabolism, Wnt Signaling Pathway
Abstract

During chronic liver injury hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the principal source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic liver, transdifferentiate into pro-fibrotic myofibroblast-like cells - a process potentially regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Recently, we found serum miRNA-25-3p (miR-25) levels were upregulated in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) without liver disease, compared to children with CF-associated liver disease and healthy individuals. Here we examine the role of miR-25 in HSC biology. MiR-25 was detected in the human HSC cell line LX-2 and in primary murine HSCs, and increased with culture-induced activation. Transient overexpression of miR-25 inhibited TGF-β and its type 1 receptor (TGFBR1) mRNA expression, TGF-β-induced Smad2 phosphorylation and subsequent collagen1α1 induction in LX-2 cells. Pull-down experiments with biotinylated miR-25 revealed Notch signaling (co-)activators ADAM-17 and FKBP14 as miR-25 targets in HSCs. NanoString analysis confirmed miR-25 regulation of Notch- and Wnt-signaling pathways. Expression of Notch signaling pathway components and endogenous Notch1 signaling was downregulated in miR-25 overexpressing LX-2 cells, as were components of Wnt signaling such as Wnt5a. We propose that miR-25 acts as a negative feedback anti-fibrotic control during HSC activation by reducing the reactivity of HSCs to TGF-β-induced collagen expression and modulating the cross-talk between Notch, Wnt and TGF-β signaling.

Published
2019
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41. Proteomic Analysis of the Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis Microenvironment.

Author

Kalita-de Croft P, Straube J, Lim M, Al-Ejeh F, Lakhani SR, and Saunus JM

Subjects
Animals, Brain Neoplasms pathology, Cell Line, Tumor, Female, Humans, Mice, Inbred NOD, Mice, SCID, Proteomics, Brain pathology, Brain Neoplasms secondary, Breast Neoplasms pathology, Proteins analysis, Tumor Microenvironment
Abstract

Patients with brain-metastatic breast cancer face a bleak prognosis marked by morbidity and premature death. A deeper understanding of molecular interactions in the metastatic brain tumour microenvironment may inform the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this study, triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells or PBS (modelling traumatic brain injury) were stereotactically injected into the cerebral cortex of NOD/SCID mice to model metastatic colonization. Brain cells were isolated from five tumour-associated samples and five controls (pooled uninvolved and injured tissue) by immunoaffinity chromatography, and proteomic profiles were compared using the Sequential Window Acquisition of All Theoretical Mass Spectra (SWATH-MS) discovery platform. Ontology and cell type biomarker enrichment analysis of the 125 differentially abundant proteins ( p < 0.05) showed the changes largely represent cellular components involved in metabolic reprogramming and cell migration (min q = 4.59 × 10 -5 ), with high-throughput PubMed text mining indicating they have been most frequently studied in the contexts of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and autophagy. Analysis of mouse brain cell type-specific biomarkers suggested the changes were paralleled by increased proportions of microglia, mural cells and interneurons. Finally, we orthogonally validated three of the proteins in an independent xenograft cohort, and investigated their expression in craniotomy specimens from triple-negative metastatic breast cancer patients, using a combination of standard and fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry. This included 3-Hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA Hydrolase (HIBCH), which is integral for gluconeogenic valine catabolism in the brain, and was strongly induced in both graft-associated brain tissue (13.5-fold by SWATH-MS; p = 7.2 × 10 -4 ), and areas of tumour-associated, reactive gliosis in human clinical samples. HIBCH was also induced in the tumour compartment, with expression frequently localized to margins and haemorrhagic areas. These observations raise the possibility that catabolism of valine is an effective adaptation in metastatic cells able to access it, and that intermediates or products could be transferred from tumour-associated glia. Overall, our findings indicate that metabolic reprogramming dominates the proteomic landscape of graft-associated brain tissue in the intracranial MDA-MB-231 xenograft model. Brain-derived metabolic provisions could represent an exploitable dependency in breast cancer brain metastases.

Published
2019
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42. Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify target genes and risk loci for breast cancer.

Author

Ferreira MA, Gamazon ER, Al-Ejeh F, Aittomäki K, Andrulis IL, Anton-Culver H, Arason A, Arndt V, Aronson KJ, Arun BK, Asseryanis E, Azzollini J, Balmaña J, Barnes DR, Barrowdale D, Beckmann MW, Behrens S, Benitez J, Bermisheva M, Białkowska K, Blomqvist C, Bogdanova NV, Bojesen SE, Bolla MK, Borg A, Brauch H, Brenner H, Broeks A, Burwinkel B, Caldés T, Caligo MA, Campa D, Campbell I, Canzian F, Carter J, Carter BD, Castelao JE, Chang-Claude J, Chanock SJ, Christiansen H, Chung WK, Claes KBM, Clarke CL, Couch FJ, Cox A, Cross SS, Czene K, Daly MB, de la Hoya M, Dennis J, Devilee P, Diez O, Dörk T, Dunning AM, Dwek M, Eccles DM, Ejlertsen B, Ellberg C, Engel C, Eriksson M, Fasching PA, Fletcher O, Flyger H, Friedman E, Frost D, Gabrielson M, Gago-Dominguez M, Ganz PA, Gapstur SM, Garber J, García-Closas M, García-Sáenz JA, Gaudet MM, Giles GG, Glendon G, Godwin AK, Goldberg MS, Goldgar DE, González-Neira A, Greene MH, Gronwald J, Guénel P, Haiman CA, Hall P, Hamann U, He W, Heyworth J, Hogervorst FBL, Hollestelle A, Hoover RN, Hopper JL, Hulick PJ, Humphreys K, Imyanitov EN, Isaacs C, Jakimovska M, Jakubowska A, James PA, Janavicius R, Jankowitz RC, John EM, Johnson N, Joseph V, Karlan BY, Khusnutdinova E, Kiiski JI, Ko YD, Jones ME, Konstantopoulou I, Kristensen VN, Laitman Y, Lambrechts D, Lazaro C, Leslie G, Lester J, Lesueur F, Lindström S, Long J, Loud JT, Lubiński J, Makalic E, Mannermaa A, Manoochehri M, Margolin S, Maurer T, Mavroudis D, McGuffog L, Meindl A, Menon U, Michailidou K, Miller A, Montagna M, Moreno F, Moserle L, Mulligan AM, Nathanson KL, Neuhausen SL, Nevanlinna H, Nevelsteen I, Nielsen FC, Nikitina-Zake L, Nussbaum RL, Offit K, Olah E, Olopade OI, Olsson H, Osorio A, Papp J, Park-Simon TW, Parsons MT, Pedersen IS, Peixoto A, Peterlongo P, Pharoah PDP, Plaseska-Karanfilska D, Poppe B, Presneau N, Radice P, Rantala J, Rennert G, Risch HA, Saloustros E, Sanden K, Sawyer EJ, Schmidt MK, Schmutzler RK, Sharma P, Shu XO, Simard J, Singer CF, Soucy P, Southey MC, Spinelli JJ, Spurdle AB, Stone J, Swerdlow AJ, Tapper WJ, Taylor JA, Teixeira MR, Terry MB, Teulé A, Thomassen M, Thöne K, Thull DL, Tischkowitz M, Toland AE, Torres D, Truong T, Tung N, Vachon CM, van Asperen CJ, van den Ouweland AMW, van Rensburg EJ, Vega A, Viel A, Wang Q, Wappenschmidt B, Weitzel JN, Wendt C, Winqvist R, Yang XR, Yannoukakos D, Ziogas A, Kraft P, Antoniou AC, Zheng W, Easton DF, Milne RL, Beesley J, and Chenevix-Trench G

Subjects
Female, Gene Expression Profiling, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Quantitative Trait Loci, Breast Neoplasms genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 breast cancer susceptibility loci. Here we hypothesize that some risk-associated variants might act in non-breast tissues, specifically adipose tissue and immune cells from blood and spleen. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) reported in these tissues, we identify 26 previously unreported, likely target genes of overall breast cancer risk variants, and 17 for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, several with a known immune function. We determine the directional effect of gene expression on disease risk measured based on single and multiple eQTL. In addition, using a gene-based test of association that considers eQTL from multiple tissues, we identify seven (and four) regions with variants associated with overall (and ER-negative) breast cancer risk, which were not reported in previous GWAS. Further investigation of the function of the implicated genes in breast and immune cells may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer.

Published
2019
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43. Secreted cellular prion protein binds doxorubicin and correlates with anthracycline resistance in breast cancer.

Author

Wiegmans AP, Saunus JM, Ham S, Lobb R, Kutasovic JR, Dalley AJ, Miranda M, Atkinson C, Foliaki ST, Ferguson K, Niland C, Johnstone CN, Lewis V, Collins SJ, Lakhani SR, Al-Ejeh F, and Möller A

Subjects
Adult, Anthracyclines therapeutic use, Antibiotics, Antineoplastic therapeutic use, Biomarkers, Tumor blood, Biomarkers, Tumor genetics, Breast Neoplasms blood, Breast Neoplasms genetics, Breast Neoplasms mortality, Cell Line, Tumor, Culture Media, Conditioned metabolism, Datasets as Topic, Disease-Free Survival, Doxorubicin pharmacology, Doxorubicin therapeutic use, Epirubicin pharmacology, Epirubicin therapeutic use, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Gene Knockdown Techniques, Humans, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Middle Aged, Patient Selection, Prion Proteins blood, Prion Proteins genetics, Prognosis, Protein Binding, Protein Isoforms blood, Protein Isoforms genetics, Protein Isoforms metabolism, RNA, Small Interfering metabolism, Anthracyclines pharmacology, Antibiotics, Antineoplastic pharmacology, Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism, Breast Neoplasms drug therapy, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm genetics, Prion Proteins metabolism
Abstract

Anthracyclines are amongst the most effective chemotherapeutics ever developed, but they produce grueling side-effects, serious adverse events and resistance often develops over time. We found that these compounds can be sequestered by secreted cellular Prion protein (PrPC), blocking their cytotoxic activity. This effect was dose-dependent using either cell line-conditioned medium or human serum as a source of PrPC. Genetic depletion of PrPC or inhibition of binding via chelation of ionic copper prevented the interaction and restored cytotoxic activity. This was more pronounced for doxorubicin than its epimer, epirubicin. Investigating the relevance to breast cancer management, we found that the levels of PRNP transcript in pre-treatment tumor biopsies stratified relapse-free survival after neoadjuvant treatment with anthracyclines, particularly amongst doxorubicin-treated patients with residual disease at surgery (p=2.8E-08). These data suggest that local sequestration could mediate treatment resistance. Consistent with this, tumor cell expression of PrPC protein correlated with poorer response to doxorubicin but not epirubicin in an independent cohort analyzed by immunohistochemistry, particularly soluble isoforms released into the extracellular environment by shedding (p=0.015). These findings have important potential clinical implications for frontline regimen decision-making. We suggest there is warranted utility for prognostic PrPC/PRNP assays to guide chemo-sensitization strategies that exploit an understanding of PrPC-anthracycline-copper ion complexes.

Published
2019
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44. Breast cancer metastasis to gynaecological organs: a clinico-pathological and molecular profiling study.

Author

Kutasovic JR, McCart Reed AE, Males R, Sim S, Saunus JM, Dalley A, McEvoy CR, Dedina L, Miller G, Peyton S, Reid L, Lal S, Niland C, Ferguson K, Fellowes AP, Al-Ejeh F, Lakhani SR, Cummings MC, and Simpson PT

Subjects
Adult, Aged, Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast genetics, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast pathology, Carcinoma, Lobular genetics, Carcinoma, Lobular pathology, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local genetics, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local pathology, Receptors, Estrogen genetics, Receptors, Progesterone genetics, Breast Neoplasms genetics, Breast Neoplasms pathology, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic genetics, Lymphatic Metastasis pathology
Abstract

Breast cancer metastasis to gynaecological organs is an understudied pattern of tumour spread. We explored clinico-pathological and molecular features of these metastases to better understand whether this pattern of dissemination is organotropic or a consequence of wider metastatic dissemination. Primary and metastatic tumours from 54 breast cancer patients with gynaecological metastases were analysed using immunohistochemistry, DNA copy-number profiling, and targeted sequencing of 386 cancer-related genes. The median age of primary tumour diagnosis amongst patients with gynaecological metastases was significantly younger compared to a general breast cancer population (46.5 versus 60 years; p < 0.0001). Median age at metastatic diagnosis was 54.4, time to progression was 4.8 years (range 0-20 years), and survival following a diagnosis of metastasis was 1.95 years (range 0-18 years). Patients had an average of five involved sites (most frequently ovary, fallopian tube, omentum/peritoneum), with fewer instances of spread to the lungs, liver, or brain. Invasive lobular histology and luminal A-like phenotype were over-represented in this group (42.8 and 87.5%, respectively) and most patients had involved axillary lymph nodes (p < 0.001). Primary tumours frequently co-expressed oestrogen receptor cofactors (GATA3, FOXA1) and harboured amplifications at 8p12, 8q24, and 11q13. In terms of phenotype conversion, oestrogen receptor status was generally maintained in metastases, FOXA1 increased, and expression of progesterone receptor, androgen receptor, and GATA3 decreased. ESR1 and novel AR mutations were identified. Metastasis to gynaecological organs is a complication frequently affecting young women with invasive lobular carcinoma and luminal A-like breast cancer, and hence may be driven by sustained hormonal signalling. Molecular analyses reveal a spectrum of factors that could contribute to de novo or acquired resistance to therapy and disease progression., (© 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research published by The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Published
2019
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45. EphA3 Pay-Loaded Antibody Therapeutics for the Treatment of Glioblastoma.

Author

Offenhäuser C, Al-Ejeh F, Puttick S, Ensbey KS, Bruce ZC, Jamieson PR, Smith FM, Stringer BW, Carrington B, Fuchs AV, Bell CA, Jeffree R, Rose S, Thurecht KJ, Boyd AW, and Day BW

Abstract

The EphA3 receptor has recently emerged as a functional tumour-specific therapeutic target in glioblastoma (GBM). EphA3 is significantly elevated in recurrent disease, is most highly expressed on glioma stem cells (GSCs), and has a functional role in maintaining self-renewal and tumourigenesis. An unlabelled EphA3-targeting therapeutic antibody is currently under clinical assessment in recurrent GBM patients. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of EphA3 antibody drug conjugate (ADC) and radioimmunotherapy (RIT) approaches using orthotopic animal xenograft models. Brain uptake studies, using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, show EphA3 antibodies are effectively delivered across the blood-tumour barrier and accumulate at the tumour site with no observed normal brain reactivity. A robust anti-tumour response, with no toxicity, was observed using EphA3, ADC, and RIT approaches, leading to a significant increase in overall survival. Our current research provides evidence that GBM patients may benefit from pay-loaded EphA3 antibody therapies.

Published
2018
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46. A transcriptome-wide association study of 229,000 women identifies new candidate susceptibility genes for breast cancer.

Author

Wu L, Shi W, Long J, Guo X, Michailidou K, Beesley J, Bolla MK, Shu XO, Lu Y, Cai Q, Al-Ejeh F, Rozali E, Wang Q, Dennis J, Li B, Zeng C, Feng H, Gusev A, Barfield RT, Andrulis IL, Anton-Culver H, Arndt V, Aronson KJ, Auer PL, Barrdahl M, Baynes C, Beckmann MW, Benitez J, Bermisheva M, Blomqvist C, Bogdanova NV, Bojesen SE, Brauch H, Brenner H, Brinton L, Broberg P, Brucker SY, Burwinkel B, Caldés T, Canzian F, Carter BD, Castelao JE, Chang-Claude J, Chen X, Cheng TD, Christiansen H, Clarke CL, Collée M, Cornelissen S, Couch FJ, Cox D, Cox A, Cross SS, Cunningham JM, Czene K, Daly MB, Devilee P, Doheny KF, Dörk T, Dos-Santos-Silva I, Dumont M, Dwek M, Eccles DM, Eilber U, Eliassen AH, Engel C, Eriksson M, Fachal L, Fasching PA, Figueroa J, Flesch-Janys D, Fletcher O, Flyger H, Fritschi L, Gabrielson M, Gago-Dominguez M, Gapstur SM, García-Closas M, Gaudet MM, Ghoussaini M, Giles GG, Goldberg MS, Goldgar DE, González-Neira A, Guénel P, Hahnen E, Haiman CA, Håkansson N, Hall P, Hallberg E, Hamann U, Harrington P, Hein A, Hicks B, Hillemanns P, Hollestelle A, Hoover RN, Hopper JL, Huang G, Humphreys K, Hunter DJ, Jakubowska A, Janni W, John EM, Johnson N, Jones K, Jones ME, Jung A, Kaaks R, Kerin MJ, Khusnutdinova E, Kosma VM, Kristensen VN, Lambrechts D, Le Marchand L, Li J, Lindström S, Lissowska J, Lo WY, Loibl S, Lubinski J, Luccarini C, Lux MP, MacInnis RJ, Maishman T, Kostovska IM, Mannermaa A, Manson JE, Margolin S, Mavroudis D, Meijers-Heijboer H, Meindl A, Menon U, Meyer J, Mulligan AM, Neuhausen SL, Nevanlinna H, Neven P, Nielsen SF, Nordestgaard BG, Olopade OI, Olson JE, Olsson H, Peterlongo P, Peto J, Plaseska-Karanfilska D, Prentice R, Presneau N, Pylkäs K, Rack B, Radice P, Rahman N, Rennert G, Rennert HS, Rhenius V, Romero A, Romm J, Rudolph A, Saloustros E, Sandler DP, Sawyer EJ, Schmidt MK, Schmutzler RK, Schneeweiss A, Scott RJ, Scott CG, Seal S, Shah M, Shrubsole MJ, Smeets A, Southey MC, Spinelli JJ, Stone J, Surowy H, Swerdlow AJ, Tamimi RM, Tapper W, Taylor JA, Terry MB, Tessier DC, Thomas A, Thöne K, Tollenaar RAEM, Torres D, Truong T, Untch M, Vachon C, Van Den Berg D, Vincent D, Waisfisz Q, Weinberg CR, Wendt C, Whittemore AS, Wildiers H, Willett WC, Winqvist R, Wolk A, Xia L, Yang XR, Ziogas A, Ziv E, Dunning AM, Pharoah PDP, Simard J, Milne RL, Edwards SL, Kraft P, Easton DF, Chenevix-Trench G, and Zheng W

Subjects
Case-Control Studies, Female, Gene Expression, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study methods, Humans, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk, Transcriptome, Breast Neoplasms genetics
Abstract

The breast cancer risk variants identified in genome-wide association studies explain only a small fraction of the familial relative risk, and the genes responsible for these associations remain largely unknown. To identify novel risk loci and likely causal genes, we performed a transcriptome-wide association study evaluating associations of genetically predicted gene expression with breast cancer risk in 122,977 cases and 105,974 controls of European ancestry. We used data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project to establish genetic models to predict gene expression in breast tissue and evaluated model performance using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Of the 8,597 genes evaluated, significant associations were identified for 48 at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P < 5.82 × 10 -6 , including 14 genes at loci not yet reported for breast cancer. We silenced 13 genes and showed an effect for 11 on cell proliferation and/or colony-forming efficiency. Our study provides new insights into breast cancer genetics and biology.

Published
2018
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47. Characterization of a novel breast cancer cell line derived from a metastatic bone lesion of a breast cancer patient.

Author

Johnson J, Bessette DC, Saunus JM, Smart CE, Song S, Johnston RL, Cocciardi S, Rozali EN, Johnstone CN, Vargas AC, Kazakoff SH, BioBank VC, Khanna KK, Lakhani SR, Chenevix-Trench G, Simpson PT, Nones K, Waddell N, and Al-Ejeh F

Subjects
Animals, Bone Neoplasms genetics, Bone Neoplasms secondary, Breast pathology, DNA Copy Number Variations genetics, Exome genetics, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Humans, MCF-7 Cells, Mice, Mutation, Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms genetics, Bone Neoplasms pathology, Cell Line, Tumor, Neoplasm Proteins genetics, Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms pathology
Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to generate and characterize a novel cell line from a breast cancer bone metastasis to better study the progression of the disease., Methods: The cell line, P7731, was derived from a metastatic bone lesion of a breast cancer patient and assessed for marker expression. P7731 was analyzed for DNA copy number variation, somatic mutations, and gene expression and was compared with the primary tumor., Results: P7731 cells are negative for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 (triple-negative); strongly express vimentin (100% of cells positive) and also express cytokeratins 8/18 and 19 but at lower frequencies. Flow cytometry indicates P7731 cells are predominantly CD44 + /CD49f + /EpCAM - , consistent with a primitive, mesenchymal-like phenotype. The cell line is tumorigenic in immunocompromised mice. Exome sequencing identified a total of 45 and 76 somatic mutations in the primary tumor and cell line, respectively, of which 32 were identified in both samples and included mutations in known driver genes PIK3CA, TP53, and ARID1A. P7731 retains the DNA copy number alterations present in the matching primary tumor. Homozygous deletions detected in the cell line and in the primary tumor were found in regions containing three known (CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and CDKN1B) and 23 putative tumor suppressor genes. Cell line-specific gene amplification coupled with mRNA expression analysis revealed genes and pathways with potential pro-metastatic functions., Conclusion: This novel human breast cancer-bone metastasis cell line will be a useful model to study aspects of breast cancer biology, particularly metastasis-related changes from breast to bone.

Published
2018
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48. Multidimensional phenotyping of breast cancer cell lines to guide preclinical research.

Author

Saunus JM, Smart CE, Kutasovic JR, Johnston RL, Kalita-de Croft P, Miranda M, Rozali EN, Vargas AC, Reid LE, Lorsy E, Cocciardi S, Seidens T, McCart Reed AE, Dalley AJ, Wockner LF, Johnson J, Sarkar D, Askarian-Amiri ME, Simpson PT, Khanna KK, Chenevix-Trench G, Al-Ejeh F, and Lakhani SR

Subjects
Cell Line, Tumor, Female, Flow Cytometry, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic genetics, Genotype, Humans, Phenotype, Breast Neoplasms genetics, Gene Expression Profiling, Genetic Heterogeneity, Neoplasm Proteins genetics
Abstract

Purpose: Cell lines are extremely useful tools in breast cancer research. Their key benefits include a high degree of control over experimental variables and reproducibility. However, the advantages must be balanced against the limitations of modelling such a complex disease in vitro. Informed selection of cell line(s) for a given experiment now requires essential knowledge about molecular and phenotypic context in the culture dish., Methods: We performed multidimensional profiling of 36 widely used breast cancer cell lines that were cultured under standardised conditions. Flow cytometry and digital immunohistochemistry were used to compare the expression of 14 classical breast cancer biomarkers related to intrinsic molecular profiles and differentiation states: EpCAM, CD24, CD49f, CD44, ER, AR, HER2, EGFR, E-cadherin, p53, vimentin, and cytokeratins 5, 8/18 and 19., Results: This cell-by-cell analysis revealed striking heterogeneity within cultures of individual lines that would be otherwise obscured by analysing cell homogenates, particularly amongst the triple-negative lines. High levels of p53 protein, but not RNA, were associated with somatic mutations (p = 0.008). We also identified new subgroups using the nanoString PanCancer Pathways panel (730 transcripts representing 13 canonical cancer pathways). Unsupervised clustering identified five groups: luminal/HER2, immortalised ('normal'), claudin-low and two basal clusters, distinguished mostly by baseline expression of TGF-beta and PI3-kinase pathway genes., Conclusion: These features are compared with other published genotype and phenotype information in a user-friendly reference table to help guide selection of the most appropriate models for in vitro and in vivo studies, and as a framework for classifying new patient-derived cancer cell lines and xenografts.

Published
2018
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49. Identification of ten variants associated with risk of estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer.

Author

Milne RL, Kuchenbaecker KB, Michailidou K, Beesley J, Kar S, Lindström S, Hui S, Lemaçon A, Soucy P, Dennis J, Jiang X, Rostamianfar A, Finucane H, Bolla MK, McGuffog L, Wang Q, Aalfs CM, Adams M, Adlard J, Agata S, Ahmed S, Ahsan H, Aittomäki K, Al-Ejeh F, Allen J, Ambrosone CB, Amos CI, Andrulis IL, Anton-Culver H, Antonenkova NN, Arndt V, Arnold N, Aronson KJ, Auber B, Auer PL, Ausems MGEM, Azzollini J, Bacot F, Balmaña J, Barile M, Barjhoux L, Barkardottir RB, Barrdahl M, Barnes D, Barrowdale D, Baynes C, Beckmann MW, Benitez J, Bermisheva M, Bernstein L, Bignon YJ, Blazer KR, Blok MJ, Blomqvist C, Blot W, Bobolis K, Boeckx B, Bogdanova NV, Bojesen A, Bojesen SE, Bonanni B, Børresen-Dale AL, Bozsik A, Bradbury AR, Brand JS, Brauch H, Brenner H, Bressac-de Paillerets B, Brewer C, Brinton L, Broberg P, Brooks-Wilson A, Brunet J, Brüning T, Burwinkel B, Buys SS, Byun J, Cai Q, Caldés T, Caligo MA, Campbell I, Canzian F, Caron O, Carracedo A, Carter BD, Castelao JE, Castera L, Caux-Moncoutier V, Chan SB, Chang-Claude J, Chanock SJ, Chen X, Cheng TD, Chiquette J, Christiansen H, Claes KBM, Clarke CL, Conner T, Conroy DM, Cook J, Cordina-Duverger E, Cornelissen S, Coupier I, Cox A, Cox DG, Cross SS, Cuk K, Cunningham JM, Czene K, Daly MB, Damiola F, Darabi H, Davidson R, De Leeneer K, Devilee P, Dicks E, Diez O, Ding YC, Ditsch N, Doheny KF, Domchek SM, Dorfling CM, Dörk T, Dos-Santos-Silva I, Dubois S, Dugué PA, Dumont M, Dunning AM, Durcan L, Dwek M, Dworniczak B, Eccles D, Eeles R, Ehrencrona H, Eilber U, Ejlertsen B, Ekici AB, Eliassen AH, Engel C, Eriksson M, Fachal L, Faivre L, Fasching PA, Faust U, Figueroa J, Flesch-Janys D, Fletcher O, Flyger H, Foulkes WD, Friedman E, Fritschi L, Frost D, Gabrielson M, Gaddam P, Gammon MD, Ganz PA, Gapstur SM, Garber J, Garcia-Barberan V, García-Sáenz JA, Gaudet MM, Gauthier-Villars M, Gehrig A, Georgoulias V, Gerdes AM, Giles GG, Glendon G, Godwin AK, Goldberg MS, Goldgar DE, González-Neira A, Goodfellow P, Greene MH, Alnæs GIG, Grip M, Gronwald J, Grundy A, Gschwantler-Kaulich D, Guénel P, Guo Q, Haeberle L, Hahnen E, Haiman CA, Håkansson N, Hallberg E, Hamann U, Hamel N, Hankinson S, Hansen TVO, Harrington P, Hart SN, Hartikainen JM, Healey CS, Hein A, Helbig S, Henderson A, Heyworth J, Hicks B, Hillemanns P, Hodgson S, Hogervorst FB, Hollestelle A, Hooning MJ, Hoover B, Hopper JL, Hu C, Huang G, Hulick PJ, Humphreys K, Hunter DJ, Imyanitov EN, Isaacs C, Iwasaki M, Izatt L, Jakubowska A, James P, Janavicius R, Janni W, Jensen UB, John EM, Johnson N, Jones K, Jones M, Jukkola-Vuorinen A, Kaaks R, Kabisch M, Kaczmarek K, Kang D, Kast K, Keeman R, Kerin MJ, Kets CM, Keupers M, Khan S, Khusnutdinova E, Kiiski JI, Kim SW, Knight JA, Konstantopoulou I, Kosma VM, Kristensen VN, Kruse TA, Kwong A, Lænkholm AV, Laitman Y, Lalloo F, Lambrechts D, Landsman K, Lasset C, Lazaro C, Le Marchand L, Lecarpentier J, Lee A, Lee E, Lee JW, Lee MH, Lejbkowicz F, Lesueur F, Li J, Lilyquist J, Lincoln A, Lindblom A, Lissowska J, Lo WY, Loibl S, Long J, Loud JT, Lubinski J, Luccarini C, Lush M, MacInnis RJ, Maishman T, Makalic E, Kostovska IM, Malone KE, Manoukian S, Manson JE, Margolin S, Martens JWM, Martinez ME, Matsuo K, Mavroudis D, Mazoyer S, McLean C, Meijers-Heijboer H, Menéndez P, Meyer J, Miao H, Miller A, Miller N, Mitchell G, Montagna M, Muir K, Mulligan AM, Mulot C, Nadesan S, Nathanson KL, Neuhausen SL, Nevanlinna H, Nevelsteen I, Niederacher D, Nielsen SF, Nordestgaard BG, Norman A, Nussbaum RL, Olah E, Olopade OI, Olson JE, Olswold C, Ong KR, Oosterwijk JC, Orr N, Osorio A, Pankratz VS, Papi L, Park-Simon TW, Paulsson-Karlsson Y, Lloyd R, Pedersen IS, Peissel B, Peixoto A, Perez JIA, Peterlongo P, Peto J, Pfeiler G, Phelan CM, Pinchev M, Plaseska-Karanfilska D, Poppe B, Porteous ME, Prentice R, Presneau N, Prokofieva D, Pugh E, Pujana MA, Pylkäs K, Rack B, Radice P, Rahman N, Rantala J, Rappaport-Fuerhauser C, Rennert G, Rennert HS, Rhenius V, Rhiem K, Richardson A, Rodriguez GC, Romero A, Romm J, Rookus MA, Rudolph A, Ruediger T, Saloustros E, Sanders J, Sandler DP, Sangrajrang S, Sawyer EJ, Schmidt DF, Schoemaker MJ, Schumacher F, Schürmann P, Schwentner L, Scott C, Scott RJ, Seal S, Senter L, Seynaeve C, Shah M, Sharma P, Shen CY, Sheng X, Shimelis H, Shrubsole MJ, Shu XO, Side LE, Singer CF, Sohn C, Southey MC, Spinelli JJ, Spurdle AB, Stegmaier C, Stoppa-Lyonnet D, Sukiennicki G, Surowy H, Sutter C, Swerdlow A, Szabo CI, Tamimi RM, Tan YY, Taylor JA, Tejada MI, Tengström M, Teo SH, Terry MB, Tessier DC, Teulé A, Thöne K, Thull DL, Tibiletti MG, Tihomirova L, Tischkowitz M, Toland AE, Tollenaar RAEM, Tomlinson I, Tong L, Torres D, Tranchant M, Truong T, Tucker K, Tung N, Tyrer J, Ulmer HU, Vachon C, van Asperen CJ, Van Den Berg D, van den Ouweland AMW, van Rensburg EJ, Varesco L, Varon-Mateeva R, Vega A, Viel A, Vijai J, Vincent D, Vollenweider J, Walker L, Wang Z, Wang-Gohrke S, Wappenschmidt B, Weinberg CR, Weitzel JN, Wendt C, Wesseling J, Whittemore AS, Wijnen JT, Willett W, Winqvist R, Wolk A, Wu AH, Xia L, Yang XR, Yannoukakos D, Zaffaroni D, Zheng W, Zhu B, Ziogas A, Ziv E, Zorn KK, Gago-Dominguez M, Mannermaa A, Olsson H, Teixeira MR, Stone J, Offit K, Ottini L, Park SK, Thomassen M, Hall P, Meindl A, Schmutzler RK, Droit A, Bader GD, Pharoah PDP, Couch FJ, Easton DF, Kraft P, Chenevix-Trench G, García-Closas M, Schmidt MK, Antoniou AC, and Simard J

Subjects
Breast Neoplasms ethnology, Breast Neoplasms metabolism, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease ethnology, Genome-Wide Association Study methods, Heterozygote, Humans, Receptors, Estrogen metabolism, Risk Factors, White People genetics, BRCA1 Protein genetics, Breast Neoplasms genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease genetics, Mutation, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Abstract

Most common breast cancer susceptibility variants have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of predominantly estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease. We conducted a GWAS using 21,468 ER-negative cases and 100,594 controls combined with 18,908 BRCA1 mutation carriers (9,414 with breast cancer), all of European origin. We identified independent associations at P < 5 × 10 -8 with ten variants at nine new loci. At P < 0.05, we replicated associations with 10 of 11 variants previously reported in ER-negative disease or BRCA1 mutation carrier GWAS and observed consistent associations with ER-negative disease for 105 susceptibility variants identified by other studies. These 125 variants explain approximately 16% of the familial risk of this breast cancer subtype. There was high genetic correlation (0.72) between risk of ER-negative breast cancer and breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers. These findings may lead to improved risk prediction and inform further fine-mapping and functional work to better understand the biological basis of ER-negative breast cancer.

Published
2017
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50. MITF and BRN2 contribute to metastatic growth after dissemination of melanoma.

Author

Simmons JL, Pierce CJ, Al-Ejeh F, and Boyle GM

Subjects
Animals, Cell Line, Tumor, Disease Models, Animal, Heterografts, Humans, Mice, Neoplasm Transplantation, Cell Proliferation, Homeodomain Proteins metabolism, Melanoma pathology, Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor metabolism, Neoplasm Metastasis pathology, POU Domain Factors metabolism
Abstract

Melanoma tumors are highly heterogeneous, comprising of different cell types that vary in their potential for growth and invasion. Heterogeneous expression of the Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF) and the POU domain transcription factor BRN2 (POU3F2) has been found in malignant melanoma. Changing expression of these transcription factors as the disease progresses has been linked to the metastatic mechanism of phenotype switching. We therefore investigated the effects of MITF and BRN2 expression in melanoma growth and metastasis. Depletion of MITF resulted in a cell population that had a slowed cell cycle progression, was less invasive in vitro and had hindered tumor and metastasis forming ability in mouse xenograft studies. BRN2 depletion left a cell population with intact proliferation and invasion in vitro; however metastatic growth was significantly reduced in the mouse xenograft model. These results suggest that the proliferative population within melanoma tumors express MITF, and both MITF and BRN2 are important for metastatic growth in vivo. This finding highlights the importance of BRN2 and MITF expression in development of melanoma metastasis.

Published
2017
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