3D genomic analysis reveals novel enhancer-hijacking caused by complex structural alterations that drive oncogene overexpression.

Cancer genomes are composed of many complex structural alterations on chromosomes and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), making it difficult to identify non-coding enhancer regions that are hijacked to activate oncogene expression. Here, we describe a 3D genomics-based analysis called HAPI (Highly Active Promoter Interactions) to characterize enhancer hijacking. HAPI analysis of HiChIP data from 34 cancer cell lines identified enhancer hijacking events that activate both known and potentially novel oncogenes such as MYC, CCND1 , ETV1 , CRKL , and ID4 . Furthermore, we found enhancer hijacking among multiple oncogenes from different chromosomes, often including MYC , on the same complex amplicons such as ecDNA. We characterized a MYC - ERBB2 chimeric ecDNA, in which ERBB2 heavily hijacks MYC 's enhancers. Notably, CRISPRi of the MYC promoter led to increased interaction of ERBB2 with MYC enhancers and elevated ERBB2 expression. Our HAPI analysis tool provides a robust strategy to detect enhancer hijacking and reveals novel insights into oncogene activation.

TRß Agonism Induces Tumor Suppression and Enhances Drug Efficacy in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in Female Mice.

Thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRß) is a recognized tumor suppressor in numerous solid cancers. The molecular signaling of TRß has been elucidated in several cancer types through re-expression models. Remarkably, the potential impact of selective activation of endogenous TRß on tumor progression remains largely unexplored. We used cell-based and in vivo assays to evaluate the effects of the TRß agonist sobetirome (GC-1) on a particularly aggressive and dedifferentiated cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Here we report that GC-1 reduced the tumorigenic phenotype, decreased cancer stem-like cell populations, and induced redifferentiation of the ATC cell lines with different mutational backgrounds. Of note, this selective activation of TRß amplified the effects of therapeutic agents in blunting the aggressive cell phenotype and stem cell growth. In xenograft assays, GC-1 alone inhibited tumor growth and was as effective as the kinase inhibitor, sorafenib. These results indicate that selective activation of TRß not only induces a tumor suppression program de novo but enhances the effectiveness of anticancer agents, revealing potential novel combination therapies for ATC and other aggressive solid tumors.

EWSR1::ATF1 Orchestrates the Clear Cell Sarcoma Transcriptome in Human Tumors and a Mouse Genetic Model.

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) is a rare, aggressive malignancy that most frequently arises in the soft tissues of the extremities. It is defined and driven by expression of one member of a family of related translocation-generated fusion oncogenes, the most common of which is EWSR1::ATF1. The EWSR1::ATF1 fusion oncoprotein reprograms transcription. However, the binding distribution of EWSR1::ATF1 across the genome and its target genes remain unclear. Here, we interrogated the genomic distribution of V5-tagged EWSR1::ATF1 in tumors it had induced upon expression in mice that also recapitulated the transcriptome of human CCS. ChIP-sequencing of V5-EWSR1::ATF1 identified previously unreported motifs including the AP1 motif and motif comprised of TGA repeats that resemble GGAA-repeating microsatellites bound by EWSR1::FLI1 in Ewing sarcoma. ChIP-sequencing of H3K27ac identified super enhancers in the mouse model and human contexts of CCS, which showed a shared super enhancer structure that associates with activated genes.

Do illness perceptions and mood predict healing time for burn wounds? a prospective, preliminary study.

UNLABELLED: Some burn wounds take longer to heal than others, but this cannot be fully explained by physical factors such as burn size and depth. Research interest has therefore focussed on the potential contribution of psychological factors, such as perception of the burn and distress, to the wound healing process. OBJECTIVES: Using the framework of Leventhal's Common-Sense Model, we investigated whether patients' perceptions of their burn wounds and distress contributed to healing time, and whether this was via the mediating role of adherence to treatment recommendations. METHOD: Seventy-two adult burn-injured outpatients completed questionnaire measures of burn perceptions (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire), distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), trauma symptoms (Impact of Event Scale-Revised) and appearance concerns (Derriford Appearance Scale-24). Burn characteristics, healing time and adherence data were taken from clinic notes. RESULTS: Distress, trauma symptoms and appearance concerns were positively correlated with negative burn perceptions. In regression analysis, burn perceptions added significantly to the prediction of burn healing time after age, medical factors and burn characteristics had been controlled for. Adherence measures were not significantly correlated with burns perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that patients' perceptions of their burns contribute to healing time. Further research on the mechanisms of this association is warranted.