Project description:DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification involved in various diseases, including cancer, and serves as a biomarker for early disease detection. Traditional detection methods, such as bisulfite sequencing, offer base-pair resolution but are costly and require high sequencing depths. We developed CmeCUT&Tag, a novel approach using methylation-binding domain fusion proteins coupled to hyperactive Tn5 transposase that selectively targets methylated DNA regions in both chromatinized and isolated DNA. These fusion proteins insert sequencing adapters into methylated regions, allowing low-depth sequencing for quantitative methylation assessment or bisulfite treatment for base pair resolution. Our approach enables comprehensive genome-wide DNA methylation profiling with minimal sequencing coverage. We demonstrated its efficacy in detecting DNA methylation in human stem cells and organoid systems. The system exhibits a high correlation with traditional bisulfite sequencing. It efficiently identifies CpG islands and DNA methylation dynamics during brain organoid development, highlighting its potential for biomedical applications in disease monitoring and aging research.
Project description:Accrue samples for the further development and clinical validation of a blood-based cell-free DNA (cfDNA) quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay as a potential biomarker for early non-response to therapy in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC).
Project description:Pivotal trials of SDC2 methylation biomarker test in stool DNA to estimate clinical sensitivity and specificity in detection of colorectal cancer.
Project description:The DNA methylation patterns associated with the development and progression of cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify novel methylation markers that can discriminate between normal and Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and between good and poor prognosis using microarray analysis of DNA methylation and RNA expression patterns in NMIBC patients. From the 24 matched microarray-based DNA methylation and gene expression profiling data set, tumor specific hypermethylated genes were selected and clinical relevance of these genes were verified by quantitative PQS analyses. Methylation statues of several genes were significantly associated with decreased gene expression levels and aggressive clinicopathological characteristics. In multivariate regression analyses, hypermethylation of these genes were the independent predictors of recurrence and progression. Genomic DNA was extracted by standard methods using the Wizard Genomic DNA Purification System (Promega, Madison, WI). Total RNA was extracted with TRIzol reagent (Life Technologies, NY) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Methylation patterns were assayed using the genome-wide Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadChip array (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). Methylation assays were carried out according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Bisulfite conversion of genomic DNA was performed using the EZ DNA Methylation Kit (Zymo Research, Orange, CA). Fluorescence signals corresponding to C or T nucleotides were measured and the data were used to assign a quantitative measure of methylation level (β value). The β value is a quantitative measure of DNA methylation levels of specific CpGs and ranges from 0 for completely unmethylated to 1 for completely methylated.
Project description:Extracellular RNA (exRNA) is an emerging paradigm as endocrine signals in cellular communication, biomarker development, therapeutic applications and systemic physiology. This project is to test the hypothesis that salivary extracellular RNA (exRNA) can be developed for the clinical detection of human diseases. Our laboratory first reported the existence of a transcriptome and microRNA profile in cell free saliva followed by its scientific characterizations and clinical utilities including biomarker development for molecular oncology applications. Most recently we have performed RNA-sequencing in cell free saliva and reported three major types of RNA in saliva (mRNA, miRNA and snoRNA). This study is to test the hypothesis that salivary exRNA can be developed to detect gastric cancer by performing a biomarker development study to definitively validate salivary exRNA biomarkers for the detection of gastric cancer.
Project description:This study addresses this gap by conducting a direct comparison of eight platforms, representing both affinity-based and diverse mass spectrometry approaches, and covering over 13,000 proteins. By applying these platforms to the same cohort, we systematically assess their performance, identifying key differences and complementary strengths. Our findings offer valuable insights for researchers, highlighting trade-offs in coverage and their implications for biomarker discovery and clinical applications. This study serves as an essential resource, offering both technical evaluation and biological insights to support the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics through plasma proteomics.
Project description:This study addresses this gap by conducting a direct comparison of eight platforms, representing both affinity-based and diverse mass spectrometry approaches, and covering over 13,000 proteins. By applying these platforms to the same cohort, we systematically assess their performance, identifying key differences and complementary strengths. Our findings offer valuable insights for researchers, highlighting trade-offs in coverage and their implications for biomarker discovery and clinical applications. This study serves as an essential resource, offering both technical evaluation and biological insights to support the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics through plasma proteomics.
Project description:This study addresses this gap by conducting a direct comparison of eight platforms, representing both affinity-based and diverse mass spectrometry approaches, and covering over 13,000 proteins. By applying these platforms to the same cohort, we systematically assess their performance, identifying key differences and complementary strengths. Our findings offer valuable insights for researchers, highlighting trade-offs in coverage and their implications for biomarker discovery and clinical applications. This study serves as an essential resource, offering both technical evaluation and biological insights to support the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics through plasma proteomics.