TP63-TRIM29 axis regulates enhancer methylation and chromosomal instability in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. High variability in DNA methylation and a high rate of large genomic rearrangements are often observed in PRAD. RESULTS: To investigate the reasons for such high variance, we integrated DNA methylation, RNA-seq, and copy number alterations datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), focusing on PRAD, and employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Our results show that only single cluster of co-expressed genes is associated with genomic and epigenomic instability. Within this cluster, TP63 and TRIM29 are key transcription regulators and are downregulated in PRAD. We discovered that TP63 regulates the level of enhancer methylation in prostate basal epithelial cells. TRIM29 forms a complex with TP63 and together regulates the expression of genes specific to the prostate basal epithelium. In addition, TRIM29 binds DNA repair proteins and prevents the formation of the TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion typically observed in PRAD. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that TRIM29 and TP63 are important regulators in maintaining the identity of the basal epithelium under physiological conditions. Furthermore, we uncover the role of TRIM29 in PRAD development.

DNA methylation across the genome in aged human skeletal muscle tissue and muscle-derived cells: the role of HOX genes and physical activity.

Skeletal muscle tissue demonstrates global hypermethylation with age. However, methylome changes across the time-course of differentiation in aged human muscle derived cells, and larger coverage arrays in aged muscle tissue have not been undertaken. Using 850K DNA methylation arrays we compared the methylomes of young (27 ± 4.4 years) and aged (83 ± 4 years) human skeletal muscle and that of young/aged heterogenous muscle-derived human primary cells (HDMCs) over several time points of differentiation (0, 72 h, 7, 10 days). Aged muscle tissue was hypermethylated compared with young tissue, enriched for; pathways-in-cancer (including; focal adhesion, MAPK signaling, PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling, p53 signaling, Jak-STAT signaling, TGF-beta and notch signaling), rap1-signaling, axon-guidance and hippo-signalling. Aged cells also demonstrated a hypermethylated profile in pathways; axon-guidance, adherens-junction and calcium-signaling, particularly at later timepoints of myotube formation, corresponding with reduced morphological differentiation and reductions in MyoD/Myogenin gene expression compared with young cells. While young cells showed little alterations in DNA methylation during differentiation, aged cells demonstrated extensive and significantly altered DNA methylation, particularly at 7 days of differentiation and most notably in focal adhesion and PI3K-AKT signalling pathways. While the methylomes were vastly different between muscle tissue and HDMCs, we identified a small number of CpG sites showing a hypermethylated state with age, in both muscle tissue and cells on genes KIF15, DYRK2, FHL2, MRPS33, ABCA17P. Most notably, differential methylation analysis of chromosomal regions identified three locations containing enrichment of 6-8 CpGs in the HOX family of genes altered with age. With HOXD10, HOXD9, HOXD8, HOXA3, HOXC9, HOXB1, HOXB3, HOXC-AS2 and HOXC10 all hypermethylated in aged tissue. In aged cells the same HOX genes (and additionally HOXC-AS3) displayed the most variable methylation at 7 days of differentiation versus young cells, with HOXD8, HOXC9, HOXB1 and HOXC-AS3 hypermethylated and HOXC10 and HOXC-AS2 hypomethylated. We also determined that there was an inverse relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression for HOXB1, HOXA3 and HOXC-AS3. Finally, increased physical activity in young adults was associated with oppositely regulating HOXB1 and HOXA3 methylation compared with age. Overall, we demonstrate that a considerable number of HOX genes are differentially epigenetically regulated in aged human skeletal muscle and HDMCs and increased physical activity may help prevent age-related epigenetic changes in these HOX genes.

Data on somatic mutations obtained by whole exome sequencing of FFPE tissue samples from Russian patients with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed among men malignant disease that remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Advanced PCa is not curable, and the current treatment methods can only increase the life expectancy by several months. Identification of the genetic aberrations in tumor cells provides clues to understanding the mechanisms of PCa pathogenesis and the basis for developing new therapeutic approaches. Here we present data on somatic mutations, namely single nucleotide variations (SNVs), small insertions and deletions, detected in prostate tumor tissue obtained from Russian patients with PCa. Moreover, we provide a raw dataset on the whole exome and targeted DNA sequencing of tumor and non-tumor prostate tissue obtained from Russian patients with PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This data is available at NCBI Sequence Read Archive under Accession No. PRJNA506922.

LogLoss-BERAF: An ensemble-based machine learning model for constructing highly accurate diagnostic sets of methylation sites accounting for heterogeneity in prostate cancer.

Although modern methods of whole genome DNA methylation analysis have a wide range of applications, they are not suitable for clinical diagnostics due to their high cost and complexity and due to the large amount of sample DNA required for the analysis. Therefore, it is crucial to be able to identify a relatively small number of methylation sites that provide high precision and sensitivity for the diagnosis of pathological states. We propose an algorithm for constructing limited subsamples from high-dimensional data to form diagnostic panels. We have developed a tool that utilizes different methods of selection to find an optimal, minimum necessary combination of factors using cross-entropy loss metrics (LogLoss) to identify a subset of methylation sites. We show that the algorithm can work effectively with different genome methylation patterns using ensemble-based machine learning methods. Algorithm efficiency, precision and robustness were evaluated using five genome-wide DNA methylation datasets (totaling 626 samples), and each dataset was classified into tumor and non-tumor samples. The algorithm produced an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.94-0.99, 9 sites) for prostate adenocarcinoma and an AUC of 1.0 (from 2 to 6 sites) for urothelial bladder carcinoma, two types of kidney carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma. For prostate adenocarcinoma we showed that identified differential variability methylation patterns distinguish cluster of samples with higher recurrence rate (hazard ratio for recurrence = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.05-0.92; log-rank test, p-value < 0.03). We also identified several clusters of correlated interchangeable methylation sites that can be used for the elaboration of biological interpretation of the resulting models and for further selection of the sites most suitable for designing diagnostic panels. LogLoss-BERAF is implemented as a standalone python code and open-source code is freely available from https://github.com/bioinformatics-IBCH/logloss-beraf along with the models described in this article.

[Targeted gene sequencing panels: applicability for neoantigen profiling of colon and rectal adenocarcinoma]. / Vozmozhnosti primeneniia targetnykh panelei dlia opredeleniia neoantigennogo profilia obraztsov adenokartsinomy tolstoi i priamoi kishki.

Cancer immunotherapy represents a promising and rapidly developing approach for the treatment of oncological diseases. Among the methods of personalized adjuvant immunotherapy, neoantigenic peptide-based drugs have demonstrated substantial efficiency. These drugs are designed to target mutant proteins arising from somatic alterations in the genome of tumor cells and thus stimulate immune response against tumor tissues. The methods of individual screening for potentially immunogenic mutations are mostly based on next-generation exome sequencing of tumor samples, which is a complex and costly procedure for clinical application. Targeted gene sequencing panels limited to a certain set of genes represent a reasonable alternative to WES. Targeted sequencing is also more efficient when there is a low amount of the sample DNA available. We have estimated the potential efficiency of targeted oncological panels in terms of somatic neoantigen profiling in colorectal cancer (colon and rectal adenocarcinoma). The clinical practice of identification of frequent somatic variants does not provide enough data for designing an efficient personalized drug when applied to low and medium mutated cancers such as colorectal cancer. Our analysis of 11 commercially available panels containing different number of genes has shown that neither the larger size of a panel nor its initial customization for colorectal cancer provides a significantly better estimation of an individual somatic mutation profile. The optimal approach is to use the general-purpose medium-sized cancer panels (2300-11200 amplicons and/or 150-600 genes). These panels allow to detect a sufficient number of immunogenic epitopes (>3) per patient for over 30-50% of patients.

[GSTP1, APC and RASSF1 gene methylation in prostate cancer samples: comparative analysis of MS-HRM method and Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip beadchiparray diagnostic value]. / Status metilirovaniia genov GSTP1, APC i RASSF1 v obraztsakh raka predstatel'noi zhelezy cheloveka: sravnitel'nyi analiz diagnosticheskoi informativnosti metodov MS-HRM i gibridizatsii na DNK-chipakh illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip.

There is a clear need in molecular markers for prostate cancer (PC) risk stratification. Alteration of DNA methylation is one of processes that occur during ÐÑ progression. Methylation-sensitive PCR with high resolution melting curve analysis (MS-HRM) can be used for gene methylation analysis in routine laboratory practice. This method requires very small amounts of DNA for analysis. Numerous results have been accumulated on DNA methylation in PC samples analyzed by the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (HM450). However, the consistency of MS-HRM results with chip hybridization results has not been examined yet. The aim of this study was to assess the consistency of results of GSTP1, APC and RASSF1 gene methylation analysis in ÐÑ biopsy samples obtained by MS-HRM and chip hybridization. The methylation levels of each gene determined by MS-HRM were statistically different in the group of PC tissue samples and the samples without signs of tumor growth. Chip hybridization data analysis confirmed the results obtained with the MS-HRM. Differences in methylation levels between tumor tissue and histologically intact tissue of each sample determined by MS-HRM and chip hybridization, were consistent with each other. Thus, we showed that the assessment of GSTP1, APC and RASSF1 gene methylation analysis using MS-HRM is suitable for the design of laboratory assays that will differentiate the PC tissue from the tissue without signs of tumor growth.

[THE EVOLUTION OF MARKERS OF PROSTATE CANCER].

The implementation of biochemical laboratory tests in oncology practice increased exponentially during last decades and continues to be in progress nowadays. The application of modern molecular genetic technologies permits using diagnostic systems with greater diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The new tests are actively implemented permitting to diagnose physical presence of tumor systemic manifestations of malignant neoplasm (cachexia, pyrexia), paraneoplastic syndromes and also to detect tumor markers. The oncomarker permits to differentiate malignant from benign tumor on the basis of quantitative differences in content of corresponding antigene-tumor marker in blood serum independently of localization of tumor nidus. The prostate cancer is a medical social problem of male population. On initial stages, this disease can take its course asymptomatically or with symptomatic conditioned by such concomitant and more prevalent pathologies as chronic prostatitis and prostate benign hyperplasia. The early diagnostic ofprostate cancer permits implementing timely radical treatment frequently contributing to total recovery of patients. The article presents detailed description of evolutionary conception of markers using in diagnostic, staging and prognostication of course of prostate cancer. The acid phosphatase was applied for the first time in early diagnostic of staging of prostate cancer in 1974. Nowadays, in century of "OMX"-technologies, in common clinical practice detection of RNA in urine of patient is used for staging diagnostic and prognostication of progression of process of tissue neotransformation.

[Current principles in the screening, diagnosis, and therapy of colorectal cancer].

The data available in the literature on the prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC), its risk factors and genetic aspects are analyzed. Basic screening tests and their diagnostic value are described. The paper indicates the importance of methods (colonoscopy, occult blood feces analysis, fecal immunochemical test, determination of molecular genetic profile of fecal enterocytes) for the early primary diagnosis of colonic epithelial tumors and techniques (echography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography) that are required to specify clinical TNM staging and enable one to choose an optimal treatment policy for CRC patients owing to the estimation of tumor volume and to the diagnosis of reginal and distant metastases. It also shows that new screening methods based on the detection of molecular markers for early (premorphological) tumor stages are promising. The role of primary CRC prevention aimed at molding and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the population is demonstrated.

[Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in prostate cancer using the technology of Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (HM450)].

Using the technology of DNA chips Infinium HumanMethylation 450 BeadChip it was analyzed quantitative DNA methylation status in 12 paired samples of prostate adenocarcinoma, and morphologically altered tissues. Analysis of differentially methylated regions of the genome showed an association with abnormal status for 21610 and 3852 hypomethylated hyper-methylated CpG sites. Dominance in the cancer genome hypermethylated sites and their predominant localization in the regulatory regions of genes indicate their possible role in the implementation of mechanisms of gene suppression in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa). For 14 genes studied were characterized array maximum values hypermethylation in promoter region (> 50% CpG sites) in combination with a high level of methylation differences between treatment groups (> 40%). Role of hypermethylation in some of them: AOX1, KLF8, ZNF154, TMEM106A in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer has been showed previously. Hypermethylation of genes ACSS3, TAC1, TUBA4B, ZSCAN12 not previously been shown for prostate cancer, but is characterized by the association with other cancers. In turn, the differences in the levels of methylation in genes GPRASP1, NKX2-6, ARX, CYBA, EPSTI1, RHCG been documented as a result of a number of genome-research oncology, but has not been studied in detail. To assess the diagnostic potential of epigenetic markers of prostate cancer there was carried out unbiased selection of individual CpG sites most reliably discriminate against tumor samples from a group of no tumor samples. In selected diagnostic model based on logistic regression included 9 CpG sites. Validation of the model was carried out on an independent dataset of methylation of 40 paired samples from the prostate cancer project Atlas of Cancer Genome (TCGA) analyzed on the same version of the DNA chip. Summarized rates of diagnostic informativeness of a model (specificity 95%, sensitivity of 97%, the area under the curve of the diagnostic test (ROC) - 0,96), obtained after validation, allow us to consider these CpG Sites as potential markers for molecular diagnosis of prostate cancer.

[Molecular mechanisms of lung cancer development at its different stages in nuclear industry workers].

OBJECTIVE: to assess mutational events in exons 5, 7, and 8 of the p53 gene and to reveal mutant p53 protein in verified cases of morphologically altered (proliferative and precancerous changes, lung cancer) and histologically unaltered, lung tissues in workers exposed to occupational radiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded unaltered and altered lung tissue blocks (FFPBs) obtained from the human radiobiological tissue repository. The shelf-life of FFPBs was 5-31 years. An immunohistochemical technique using mouse antibodies against p53 protein (<>, Denmark), stained with diaminobenzidine (DAB) chromogen, was employed to determine p53 protein. DNA was isolated from lung tissue FFPBs with QIAmp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit, (<>, USA). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the p53 gene exons 5, 7, and 8 selected for examination, by applying the sequences of genes and primers, the specificity of which was checked using the online resource (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast). PCR products were detected by temporal temperature gradient gel-electrophoresis and the Sanger sequencing method. The obtained DNA fragments were analyzed on a sequencer ABI Prism 3100 Genetic Analizer (<>, USA). Computer-aided DNA analysis was made using the BLAST program. A package of applied Statistica 6.0 programs was employed for statistical data processing. Results. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that mutant p53 protein was absent in the cells of unaltered lung tissue and the number of cells with mutant p53 protein increased in all the patients with proliferative and precancerous changes and lung cancer, suggesting p53 protein dysfunction. The total number of p53 gene mutations in exons 5, 7, and 8, if there were proliferative and precancerous lung tissue changes and lung cancer, were 25, 20, and 40%, respectively. All the found mutations were transversions (the substitution of purine for pyrimidine or, conversely), indicating the action of exogenous mutagens. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation have confirmed other investigators' data showing that p53 gene mutations in lung cancer are observed in 40-70% of cases. The differences in the number of cases of altered lung tissue with mutations in the p53 gene (not more than 40%) and in those of p53 protein expression were found in 100%, suggesting the regulation of p53 gene function in the cell at multiple levels.

Associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms with malignant and borderline bone tumors.

Bone neoplasms - are a rare group of diseases, which ethiology and pathogenesis are not fully understood. We have studied 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs792/(GHI), rs7956547(IGFI), rs3761243(GNRH2), rs11737764(FGF2), rs6599400(FGFR3), and rs1690916(MDM2) associations with bone tumors. In our work we've detected significant associations with some single nucleotide polymorphisms: IGFl.rs7956547, GNRH2.rs3761243 and FGFR3.rs6599400 in patients with malignant and borderline bone tumors.

Association of FGFR3 and MDM2 gene nucleotide polymorphisms with bone tumors.

Association study of 6 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs7921, rs7956547, rs3761243, rs11737764, rs6599400, rs1690916) was carried out in a group of patients with bone tumors of different histological structure (n=68) and control group of normal subjects (n=96). Significant associations of rs6599400 and rs1690916 polymorphisms with disease risk were detected (odds ratio 2.15 [1.06-4.24] and 0.39 [0.19-0.78], respectively). These polymorphisms were located in untranslated genome regions: polymorphism rs6599400 in the 5' region of fibroblast growth factor-3 receptor gene (FGFR3), rs1690916 in the 3' region of mouse MDM2 p53-binding protein homolog (MDM2). These data indicated a possible role of hereditary genetic factors in the formation of predisposition to bone sarcomas and confirmed previous findings according to which these genes should be regarded among the most probable factors involved in tumor development, including tumors of the bone and cartilage tissues.

[Influence of genetic mutations on clinical presentation of subretinal neovascularization. Report 1: The impact of CFH and IL-8 genes polymorphism].

Genetic analysis was performed in patients with subretinal neovascularization (CNV). The results showed significant association of CFH (compliment factor H) gene polymorphism with increase (rs1061170, rs514943 and rs380390) or decrease (rs529825, rs7524776, rs1831281, rs2274700, rs1576340, rs12144939, rs7540032) of CNV development risk. The incidence of IL-8 gene mutation was significantly (p = 0.008) higher in patients after chorioretinitis. Apparently -125 > A polymorphism in patients with chorioretinitis increases risk of CNV development, thus promoting raise of proangiogenic factors concentration in eyes with inflammatory background. The clinical presentation in patients with AMD and myopic disease associated with (-125) A mutation of promoter region of IL-8 gene was similar to that of patients with chorioretinitis. The features are the following: focal pattern, no drusen and RPE detachment, predominantly classic form of CNV (without occult pattern), formation of well-organized newly developed vessels.

[Hypermethylation of the CDH1, SEPT9, HLTF and ALX4 genes and their diagnostic significance in colorectal cancer].

Sequential treatment of bisulfate-converted DNA was used to study methylation of promoter areas of SEPT9, HLTF, ALX4 and CDH1 genes. Methylation profiles were evaluated by comparing bioptical findings on colorectal cancer (n=55) and morphologically intact areas of the large bowel (n=71). Significant differences between groups were established for SEPT9, HLTF and ALX4 genes (p < or = 10(-9)) in evaluating medium-rate methylation of CpG. Diagnostic sensitivity (Se) peaked for SEPT9 (78 +/- 7%); specificity--(86 +/- 4%) (Sp). On site CpG (position "+14"), similar findings were reported: Se=81 +/- 6%, Sp=77 +/- 5%. Therefore, CpG(14)SEPT9 may be used as a separate marker. As a result of the use of HLTF as marker on all 23 sites, Se was 67 +/- 6% and Sp--87 +/- 3%; ALX4 diagnostic sensitivity--59 +/- 6%. Specificity level was similar to those of the other genes (88 +/- 3%). Despite the role of CDH1 gene in colorectal cancer, the group-to-group differences in methylation rates were minimal. Such values of Se and Sp as 54 +/- 6% and 67 +/- 5%, respectively, could not support methylation of the CDH1 promoter area for diagnostic purposes. Therefore, combined evaluation of SEPT9, HLTF and ALX4 genes offered more advantage as far as diagnosis is concerned. Hypermethylation in two of the three genes was assumed as a criterion for diagnosis. Under such conditions, diagnostic sensitivity was 81 +/- 7% (Sp=93 +/- 3%). With such high values, the criterion has a potential of being instrumental in working out diagnostic tests for colorectal cancer.

[Problems and prospects of non-invasive screening for colorectal cancer].

High prevalence of colorectal cancer makes it a most serious socio-medical problem. Hence, the necessity of overall screening for prodromal changes and malignant neoplasms at the early stages of the disease. Despite a variety of efficacious instrumental diagnostic tools, the development of non-invasive screening techniques based on recent progress in understanding molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis remains a highly topical issue. A pathogenetic model of colorectal cancer and pathophysiological basis of screening for colonic neoplasms are considered with the emphasis on the detection of tumour cells in faeces and their DNA carrying mutations in suppressor genes and oncogenes. Results of the studies with the use of one or several DNA oncomarkers are analysed in the context of their value for the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms. High sensitivity and specificity of these methods make them very promising for application to the screening for colorectal cancer.

[Familial transthyretin amyloidosis].

A case of familial transthyretin amyloidosis with TTR Cys 114 gene polymorphism is described (first in Russia and third in the world). The clinical picture of the proband was dominated by symptoms of autonomous polyneuropathy (orthostatic hypotension, erectile dysfunction, diarrhea, tachycardia, foot dyshydrosis) and of somatic nerve lesions (dumbness, impaired surface and deep sensitivity in the limbs). The patient presented with vitreous body opacity, disturbed eye movements, lateralized sensory symptoms, and difficulty of speech (baryphonia). Electromyographic quantitative autonomous testing and measurement of evoked sympathetic skin potentials confirmed affection of peripheral nerves. Heart ultrasound revealed restrictive amyloid cardiopathy. Histological analysis showed amyloid deposition in the intestines and sural nerve. The proband, his daughter, brother (monozygous twin), and brother's daughter had mutant TTR Cys 114 gene. The brother also had amyloid deposits in the absence of clinical signs of the disease. Analysis of familial medical history demonstrated autosomal dominant inheritance of this mutation in 4 generations. Its possible origin and clinical features of the disease are discussed.

Association of haplotypes of interleukin-10 gene with the risk of cancer.

Polymorphisms of promotor region of IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 genes were analyzed in cancer patients and subjects without history of cancer. The distribution of alleles of the analyzed polymorphisms in the control group coincided with that in other Caucasian populations. The incidences of three IL-10 gene polymorphisms (G-1082A, C-819T, and C-592A) significantly differed in controls and patients. Of 8 theoretically probable IL-10 gene haplotypes determined by these polymorphisms, 3 variants were revealed. Haplotype ACC was more incident in cancer patients, while ATA haplotype was rarer. The results are in line with the findings of other studies indicating the involvement of the immune system genes in the pathogenesis of cancer.