Project description:Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) of 14 cases with suspected primary eosinophilia was performed to identify recurrent mutations which could be used as new diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as potential targets for therapy.
Project description:Histiocytic neoplasms are clonal, hematopoietic disorders characterized by an accumulation of abnormal, monocyte-derived dendritic cells or macrophages in Langerhans Cell (LCH) and non-Langerhans (non-LCH) histiocytoses, respectively. The discovery of BRAFV600E mutations in ~50% of these patients provided the first molecular therapeutic target in histiocytosis. However, recurrent driving mutations in the majority of BRAFV600E-wildtype, non-LCH patients are unknown, and recurrent cooperating mutations in non-MAP kinase pathways are undefined for the histiocytic neoplasms. Through combined whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, we identified recurrent kinase fusions involving BRAF, ALK, and NTRK1, as well as recurrent, activating MAP2K1 and ARAF mutations in BRAFV600E-wildtype, non-LCH patients. In addition to MAP kinase pathway lesions, recurrently altered genes involving diverse cellular pathways were identified. Treatment of MAP2K1- and ARAF-mutated, non-LCH patients using MEK and RAF inhibitors, respectively, resulted in clinical efficacy demonstrating the importance of detecting and targeting diverse kinase alterations in these disorders. 13 patient samples were analyzed by RNA-seq and had 2 replicates.
Project description:<p>Patients with myeloid malignancies bearing high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities lack effective therapies and have a poor overall survival. -7/del(7q) is identified in half of high-risk myeloid neoplasms. We recently identified <i>CUX1</i> to be a haploinsufficient myeloid tumor suppressor gene located within the commonly deleted segment of 7q22. Here we identify the spectrum of somatic mutations that co-occur with loss of <i>CUX1</i> and chromosome 7 in patients with <i>de novo</i> acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or a therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. -7/del(7q) leukemias have a distinct mutational profile characterized by low frequencies of alterations in major leukemogenic pathways, including genes encoding transcription factors, cohesin, and DNA-methylation-related proteins. In contrast, RAS pathway activating mutations occurred in 40% of -7/del(7q) samples, a significantly higher frequency than other AMLs and higher than previously reported. As targeted therapeutics advance, our data provide guidance for which pathways are most relevant in the treatment of adverse-risk myeloid leukemia. </p>
Project description:Histiocytic neoplasms are clonal, hematopoietic disorders characterized by an accumulation of abnormal, monocyte-derived dendritic cells or macrophages in Langerhans Cell (LCH) and non-Langerhans (non-LCH) histiocytoses, respectively. The discovery of BRAFV600E mutations in ~50% of these patients provided the first molecular therapeutic target in histiocytosis. However, recurrent driving mutations in the majority of BRAFV600E-wildtype, non-LCH patients are unknown, and recurrent cooperating mutations in non-MAP kinase pathways are undefined for the histiocytic neoplasms. Through combined whole exome and transcriptome sequencing, we identified recurrent kinase fusions involving BRAF, ALK, and NTRK1, as well as recurrent, activating MAP2K1 and ARAF mutations in BRAFV600E-wildtype, non-LCH patients. In addition to MAP kinase pathway lesions, recurrently altered genes involving diverse cellular pathways were identified. Treatment of MAP2K1- and ARAF-mutated, non-LCH patients using MEK and RAF inhibitors, respectively, resulted in clinical efficacy demonstrating the importance of detecting and targeting diverse kinase alterations in these disorders.
Project description:A series of dual-channel gene expression profiles obtained using Rosetta/Merck Mouse TOE 75k microarrays was used to examine the sex-dependent and STAT5b-dependent differences in gene expression in adult mouse liver. This series is comprised of 4 pools of 3 randomly chosen independent wildtype male and female mouse liver cDNA samples and 4 pools of 3 randomly chosen independent STAT5b-deficient male and female mouse liver cDNA samples, totaling 16 pools. The pools were paired randomly to generate 4 comparisons of M-WT:F-WT, M-WT:M-KO, F-KO:F-WT, and F-KO:M-KO. Comparison of the set of sex-dependent genes with the set of genes responsive to the loss of STAT5b in males shows that 75% of the sex-specific genes were also regulated by STAT5b in males. Only 20% of the sex-specific genes retained sex-specificity in the absence of STAT5b, indicating a large role for STAT5b in sex-specific liver gene expression. Keywords: genetic knockout and sex response