P53 Loss Of Heterozygosity Research Articles

Copy Number Variations in Wilms Tumor: A Pilot Study From India.

The prognostic role of copy number variation is upcoming in Wilms tumor, and its identification will help in tailored therapy for improved cure. This was a retrospective, nested case-control, pilot study. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of nephrectomy specimens were retrieved for the study and control groups (children with relapse and survivors for ≥2 y). Multiplex ligand probe amplification (MRC-Holland probe-mix P 380 A1) was performed, with 3 reference samples of normal kidney DNA run for every 7 cases. At least 1 variation was detected in 41 (97.8%) specimens. Loss of heterozygosity 1p was not observed. Loss of 16q, 1q gain, and MYCN gain were observed in 5 (11.9%), 29 (69%), and 39 (92.9%) specimens, respectively. The occurrence of copy number variations was similar in both groups: 1q gain: 15 versus 14 (P=1.0), 16q loss: 4 versus 1 (P=0.34), MYCN gain: 19 versus 20 (P=1.0). The gain of 1q, 16p loss, and MYCN gain did not differ across stage or age. The gain of 1q, MYCN gain, and 16p loss were identified. A higher occurrence of 1q gain and MYCN gain and a lack of difference in the distribution of variations among survivors and those with a relapse suggest a different molecular profile of Wilms tumor in Indian children.

Predictors of differential response to induction therapy in high-risk neuroblastoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group (COG)

BackgroundInduction chemotherapy plays an important role in the management of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Predictors of response to induction therapy are largely lacking. We sought to describe clinical and biological features associated with induction response. MethodsPatients from four consecutive COG high-risk trials were included. Response was evaluated by the 1993 International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria. The primary end-point was end-induction partial response (PR) or better. Univariate analyses were performed to compare response as a function of clinical or biologic predictors. A multivariate logistic regression model using significant predictors from univariate analyses was constructed to model PR or better. ResultsThe analytic cohort included 1242 patients. End-induction response ≥PR was significantly associated with higher event-free and overall survival. Baseline factors associated with ≥PR included age <18 months (87.4% with ≥PR vs. 78.7% if older; p = 0.0103), International Neuroblastoma Staging System non-stage 4 (89.0% vs. 78.4% if stage 4; p = 0.0016), MYCN amplification (85.5% vs. 77.1% if non-amplified; p = 0.0006), 1p loss of heterozygosity (LOH; 85.6% vs. 76.0% if no LOH; p = 0.0085), no 11q LOH (84.8% vs. 70.9% if 11q LOH; p = 0.0004) and high mitosis-karyorrhexis index (MKI; 84.5% vs. 77.5% if low-intermediate MKI; p = 0.0098). On multivariable analysis (n = 407), the absence of 11q LOH was the only factor that remained significantly associated with ≥PR (odds ratio: 1.962 vs. 11q LOH; 95% confidence interval 1.104–3.487; p = 0.0216). ConclusionsImproved end-induction response in high-risk neuroblastoma is associated with longer survival. Patients with 11q LOH are less likely to respond to induction therapies and should be prioritised for novel approaches in future trials.

Copy number changes at 8p11-12 predict adverse clinical outcome and chemo- and radiotherapy response in breast cancer

PurposeThe short arm of chromosome 8 (8p) is a frequent target of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in cancer, and 8p LOH is commonly associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype. The 8p11-12 region is a recurrent breakpoint area characterized by a sharp decrease in gains/amplifications and increase in allelic loss towards 8pter. However, the clustering of genomic aberrations in this region, even in the absence of proximal amplifications or distal LOH, suggests that the 8p11-12 region could play a pivotal role in oncogenesis.ResultsLoss in the FGFR1 and ZNF703-containing 8p11 region was seen in 25% of patients, correlated with lower mRNA expression levels and independently predicted poor survival, particularly in systemic treatment-naïve patients and even without adjacent 8p12 loss. Amplification of FGFR1 at 8p11 and loss of DUSP26 and UNC5D, located in the 8p12 breakpoint region, independently predicted worse event free survival. Gains in the 8p12 region encompassing WRN, NRG1, DUSP26 and UNC5D, seen in 20-30% of patients, were associated with higher mRNA expression and independently predicted chemotherapy sensitivity. Losses at 8p12 independently predicted radiotherapy resistance.Material and methodsMultiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to investigate copy number aberrations at 8p11-12 in 234 female breast cancers. Alterations were correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics, survival and response to therapy. Results were validated using public METABRIC dataConclusionAllelic loss and amplification in the 8p11-12 breakpoint region predict poor survival and chemo- and radiotherapy response. Assessment of 8p11-12 gene copy number status seems to augment existing prognostic and predictive tools.

Outcome and Prognostic Factors in Stage III Favorable-Histology Wilms Tumor: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group Study AREN0532.

Background The National Wilms Tumor Study (NWTS) approach to treating stage III favorable-histology Wilms tumor (FHWT) is Regimen DD4A (vincristine, dactinomycin, and doxorubicin) and radiation therapy. Further risk stratification is required to improve outcomes and reduce late effects. We evaluated clinical and biologic variables for patients with stage III FHWT without combined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosomes 1p and 16q treated in the Children's Oncology Group protocol AREN0532. Methods From October 2006 to August 2013, 588 prospectively treated, centrally reviewed patients with stage III FHWT were treated with Regimen DD4A and radiation therapy. Tumor LOH at 1p and 16q was determined by microsatellite analysis. Ineligible patients (n = 5) and those with combined LOH 1p/16q (n = 40) were excluded. Results A total of 535 patients with stage III disease were studied. Median follow-up was 5.2 years (range, 0.2 to 9.5). Four-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival estimates were 88% (95% CI, 85% to 91%) and 97% (95% CI, 95% to 99%), respectively. A total of 58 of 66 relapses occurred in the first 2 years, predominantly pulmonary (n = 36). Eighteen patients died, 14 secondary to disease. A better EFS was associated with negative lymph node status ( P < .01) and absence of LOH 1p or 16q ( P < .01), but not with gross residual disease or peritoneal implants. In contrast, the 4-year EFS was only 74% in patients with combined positive lymph node status and LOH 1p or 16q. A total of 123 patients (23%) had delayed nephrectomy. Submitted delayed nephrectomy histology showed anaplasia (n = 8; excluded from survival analysis); low risk/completely necrotic (n = 7; zero relapses), intermediate risk (n = 63; six relapses), and high-risk/blastemal type (n=7; five relapses). Conclusion Most patients with stage III FHWT had good EFS/overall survival with DD4A and radiation therapy. Combined lymph node and LOH status was highly predictive of EFS and should be considered as a potential prognostic marker for future trials.

Microsatellite Alterations and Protein Expression of 5 Major Tumor Suppressor Genes in Gastric Adenocarcinomas

PURPOSE: In gastric adenocarcinoma (GC), the major tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) such as p16, PTEN, Rb, E-cadherin, and p53, may play important roles in various regulatory pathways and in tumor suppression. This study evaluated the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of microsatellite and protein expression of 5 TSGs and the results were examined for their correlation with clinicopathological factors. METHODS: LOH analysis was carried out using polymerase chain reactions with 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers of 5 chromosomes containing TSGs in 100 surgically resected tumors. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: LOH was detected in 83% of GCs. LOH of 9p21, 10q23, 13q14, 16q22, and 17p13 were detected in 26%, 31%, 24%, 22%, and 35% of cases, respectively. Protein expression of p16, PTEN, Rb, E-cadherin, and p53 were found to be 31%, 39%, 28%, 32%, and 46% of cases. Advanced GCs showed significantly higher rates of 17p13 LOH and p53 expression. 9p21 LOH and E-cadherin IHC were correlated with higher tumor grade. Lymph node metastasis was correlated with the LOH of 9p21, 16q22, and 17p13 and IHC of the Rb and p53. A higher stage was correlated with 10q23 and 17p13 in LOH and p53 for IHC. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LOH and protein expression of various TSGs are important in carcinogenesis and tumor invasion. Additionally, LOH and IHC may be useful clinical indicators for determining the prognosis of patients with GCs. In particular, the 17p13 LOH and p53 for IHC can be applied as simple evaluations in the clinic.

Roles of Loss of Chromosome 14q Allele in the Prognosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma with C-reactive Protein Abnormity.

Background:Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is frequently associated with paraneoplastic inflammatory syndrome (PIS). This study aimed at exploring the connections between the survival rate and specific gene alterations and the potential mechanism.Methods:We retrospectively studied 69 surgical RCC cases from August 2014 to February 2016, including 18 cases of clear cell RCC (ccRCC) demonstrating elevated pretreatment serum C-reactive protein (CRP, Group A). Twelve of the 18 cases were symptomized with febrile episode. We also selected 49 cases of ccRCC with normal pretreatment CRP (Group B). Using 22 microsatellite markers, we compared the incidence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) between Group A and Group B. All statistical tests are two-sided.Results:The 3p LOH was common in both Group A (89%) and Group B (92%). The frequency of 14q LOH in Group A (16 of 18) was higher than Group B (4 of 49, χ2 = 40.97 P < 0.0001). The 3p and 14q LOH were the characteristics of ccRCC with elevated acute phase reactants, including PIS, regardless of the presence of metastasis. On the contrary, 14q LOH was a rare genomic alternation in advanced-staged ccRCC without PIS. The overall survival of patients with elevated CRP (33.3%) was lower than its counterparts (6.1%, hazard ratio=1.852, P < 0.0001) in Kaplan-Meier curve.Conclusions:The results imply that the disruption of a 14q gene(s) might result in not only the inflammatory manifestations in the tumor host but also the poor survival rate as well. The isolation of the gene(s) on 14q might be a vital goal in the treatment of PIS-associated RCC.

Interim results from the CATNON trial (EORTC study 26053-22054) of treatment with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide for 1p/19q non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma: a phase 3, randomised, open-label intergroup study

The role of temozolomide chemotherapy in newly diagnosed 1p/19q non-co-deleted anaplastic gliomas, which are associated with lower sensitivity to chemotherapy and worse prognosis than 1p/19q co-deleted tumours, is unclear. We assessed the use of radiotherapy with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide in adults with non-co-deleted anaplastic gliomas. This was a phase 3, randomised, open-label study with a 2 × 2 factorial design. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older and had newly diagnosed non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma with WHO performance status scores of 0-2. The randomisation schedule was generated with the electronic EORTC web-based ORTA system. Patients were assigned in equal numbers (1:1:1:1), using the minimisation technique, to receive radiotherapy (59·4 Gy in 33 fractions of 1·8 Gy) alone or with adjuvant temozolomide (12 4-week cycles of 150-200 mg/m2 temozolomide given on days 1-5); or to receive radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide 75 mg/m2 per day, with or without adjuvant temozolomide. The primary endpoint was overall survival adjusted for performance status score, age, 1p loss of heterozygosity, presence of oligodendroglial elements, and MGMT promoter methylation status, analysed by intention to treat. We did a planned interim analysis after 219 (41%) deaths had occurred to test the null hypothesis of no efficacy (threshold for rejection p<0·0084). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00626990. At the time of the interim analysis, 745 (99%) of the planned 748 patients had been enrolled. The hazard ratio for overall survival with use of adjuvant temozolomide was 0·65 (99·145% CI 0·45-0·93). Overall survival at 5 years was 55·9% (95% CI 47·2-63·8) with and 44·1% (36·3-51·6) without adjuvant temozolomide. Grade 3-4 adverse events were seen in 8-12% of 549 patients assigned temozolomide, and were mainly haematological and reversible. Adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy was associated with a significant survival benefit in patients with newly diagnosed non-co-deleted anaplastic glioma. Further analysis of the role of concurrent temozolomide treatment and molecular factors is needed. Schering Plough and MSD.

P53 loss-of-heterozygosity is a necessary prerequisite for mutant p53 stabilization and gain-of-function in vivo

Missense mutations in TP53 comprise >75% of all p53 alterations in cancer, resulting in highly stabilized mutant p53 proteins that not only lose their tumor-suppressor activity, but often acquire oncogenic gain-of-functions (GOFs). GOF manifests itself in accelerated tumor onset, increased metastasis, increased drug resistance and shortened survival in patients and mice. A known prerequisite for GOF is mutant p53 protein stabilization, which itself is linked to aberrant protein conformation. However, additional determinants for mutant p53 stabilization likely exist. Here we show that in initially heterozygous mouse tumors carrying the hotspot GOF allele R248Q (p53Q/+), another necessary prerequisite for mutant p53 stabilization and GOF in vivo is loss of the remaining wild-type p53 allele, termed loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH). Thus, in mouse tumors with high frequency of p53 LOH (osteosarcomas and fibrosarcomas), we find that mutant p53 protein is stabilized (16/17 cases, 94%) and tumor onset is significantly accelerated compared with p53+/− tumors (GOF). In contrast, in mouse tumors with low frequency of p53 LOH (MMTV-Neu breast carcinomas), mutant p53 protein is not stabilized (16/20 cases, 80%) and GOF is not observed. Of note, human genomic databases (TCGA, METABRIC etc.) show a high degree of p53 LOH in all examined tumor types that carry missense p53 mutations, including sarcomas and breast carcinomas (with and without HER2 amplification). These data – while cautioning that not all genetic mouse models faithfully represent the human situation – demonstrate for the first time that p53 LOH is a critical prerequisite for missense mutant p53 stabilization and GOF in vivo.

Immune deficiency augments the prevalence of p53 loss of heterozygosity in spontaneous tumors but not bi-directional loss of heterozygosity in bone marrow progenitors.

p53 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is a frequent event in tumors of somatic and Li-Fraumeni syndrome patients harboring p53 mutation. Here, we focused on resolving a possible crosstalk between the immune-system and p53 LOH. Previously, we reported that p53 heterozygous bone-marrow mesenchymal progenitor cells undergo p53 LOH in-vivo. Surprisingly, the loss of either the wild-type p53 allele or mutant p53 allele was detected with a three-to-one ratio in favor of losing the mutant allele. In this study, we examined whether the immune-system can affect the LOH directionality in bone marrow progenitors. We found that mesenchymal progenitor cells derived from immune-deficient mice exhibited the same preference of losing the mutant p53 allele as immune-competent matched cells, nevertheless, these animals showed a significantly shorter tumor-free survival, indicating the possible involvement of immune surveillance in this model. Surprisingly, spontaneous tumors of p53 heterozygous immune-deficient mice exhibited a significantly higher incidence of p53 LOH compared to that observed in tumors derived of p53 heterozygous immune-competent mice. These findings indicate that the immune-system may affect the p53 LOH prevalence in spontaneous tumors. Thus suggesting that the immune-system may recognize and clear cells that underwent p53 LOH, whereas in immune-compromised mice, those cells will form tumors with shorter latency. In individuals with a competent immune-system, p53 LOH independent pathways may induce malignant transformation which requires a longer tumor latency. Moreover, this data may imply that the current immunotherapy treatment aimed at abrogating the inhibition of cellular immune checkpoints may be beneficial for LFS patients.

Catecholamines profiles at diagnosis: Increased diagnostic sensitivity and correlation with biological and clinical features in neuroblastoma patients

IntroductionNeuroblastoma (NBL) accounts for 10% of the paediatric malignancies and is responsible for 15% of the paediatric cancer-related deaths. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) are most commonly analysed in urine of NBL patients. However, their diagnostic sensitivity is suboptimal (82%). Therefore, we performed in-depth analysis of the diagnostic sensitivity of a panel of urinary catecholamine metabolites. Patients and methodsRetrospective study of a panel of 8 urinary catecholamine metabolites (VMA, HVA, 3-methoxytyramine [3MT], dopamine, epinephrine, metanephrine, norepinephrine and normetanephrine [NMN]) from 301 NBL patients at diagnosis. Special attention was given to subgroups, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) non-avid tumours and VMA/HVA negative patients. ResultsElevated catecholamine metabolites, especially 3MT, correlated with nine out of 12 NBL characteristics such as stage, age, MYCN amplification, loss of heterozygosity for 1p and bone-marrow invasion. The combination of the classical markers VMA and HVA had a diagnostic sensitivity of 84%. NMN was the most sensitive single diagnostic metabolite with overall sensitivity of 89%. When all 8 metabolites were combined, a diagnostic sensitivity of 95% was achieved. Among the VMA and HVA negative patients, were also 29% with stage 4 disease, which usually had elevation of other catecholamine metabolites (93%). Diagnostic sensitivity for patients with MIBG non-avid tumour was improved from 33% (VMA and/or HVA) to 89% by measuring the panel. ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that analysis of a urinary catecholamine metabolite panel, comprising 8 metabolites, ensures the highest sensitivity to diagnose NBL patients.

Genomics, Epigenetics and Molecular Considerations in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: What You Need to Know?

Esophageal malignancies are usually encountered in patients over 50 years old and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Efforts to improve patient outcomes are slowly shifted towards unravelling the molecular basis of esophageal cancer as this approach could lead to designing individualized treatment protocols and implementing precision medicine paradigms. Our aim was to present recent advances in esophageal adenocarcinoma genomics, epigenetics and molecular biology with regards to their role on disease pathophysiology, patient outcomes and applications to clinical care. Disease progression is correlated with missense mutations and in-frame deletions of EGFR, as well as with upregulation of a variety of genes (CXCL1 CXCL3, GATA6 and DMBT1), microsatellite instability and telomerase overexpression. On the other hand, p53 loss of heterozygosity as well as HER2 and c-MYC amplifications tend to develop in later stages of the disease and are associated with poor prognosis. Downregulation of CDKN2A, e-cadherin, SMAD4, RUNX3 and aneuploidy/tetraploidy are also correlated with unfavorable outcomes. Lastly, p53 immunohistochemistry and methylation panels are already being applied in clinical practice.

Clinical Significance of Mutations and Copy Number Lesions on Prognosis of Patients with MDS after Unrelated Bone Marrow Transplantation

Background:Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of heterogeneous disorders of hematopoietic stem cells, characterized by defective hematopoiesis and dysplasia of multiple blood lineages. Patients with MDS could achieve complete remission only by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, because of its high mortality and morbidity, long-term survival is accomplished only in the half of the patients, underscoring the importance of accurate prognostication before the therapeutic choice. For this purpose, several systems, such as the International Prognostic Scoring System, are being successfully applied to predicting patients' clinical outcomes. Advanced molecular diagnostics of recent years might further improve the prediction. Nevertheless, originally established based on the data from patients who are untreated or only supportively treated, existing systems may not always be applied properly to the prediction of outcomes of the patients who are treated by HSCT.Methods:We enrolled 790 patients with MDS who were treated by unrelated bone marrow transplantation between 2006 and 2013 through the Japan Marrow Donor Program. Oncogenic variants and copy number alterations were identified by targeted-capture sequencing of peripheral blood-derived DNA using RNA baits designed for 69 known or putative driver genes in myeloid neoplasms and 1,674 single nucleotide polymorphisms.Results:The median age at HSCT and observation period were 51 years old (16-66) and 1106 days (48-6018), respectively. At the time of transplant, 29%, 34%, 24%, and 5.2% of the cases were diagnosed as low-risk MDS, high-risk MDS, secondary acute myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplastic / myeloproliferative neoplasms, respectively, while the disease subtype was unknown for the remaining 8.2% of the cases. Mutations were observed in 73% of the patients, where U2AF1 was most frequently mutated (13.8%), followed by RUNX1 (12.9%), ASXL1 (12.8%), TP53 (12.4%), and NRAS (7.1%). The mean number of mutations was 2.0 per patient with a mean allelic burden of 43.8%. Sequencing data were successfully used for sensitive detection of CNVs and copy-neutral loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) (or uniparental disomy; UPD). Among the most frequent lesions were 7q LOH, complex karyotype-like CNVs as defined by 3 or more CNVs excluding UPD in targeted sequencing), 5q LOH, trisomy 8, and 17p LOH, observed in 15.5%, 12.9%, 10.1%, 7.0%, and 6.8% of the patients, respectively. Mutations in TP53, CBL, and EZH2 significantly co-occurred with LOH in 17p, 11q, and 7q, with odds ratios of 190, 75.5, and 11.7, respectively. On the basis of these findings, we combined frequently identified LOH lesions with associated mutations for further analyses of survival. In univariate analysis of overall survival (OS), 9 lesions were significantly associated with shorter OS; TP53 mutation and/or 17p LOH (TP53 / 17p LOH) (HR 2.76, P = 1.6 x 10-14), CSNK1A1 / 5q LOH (HR 2.66, P = 2.13 x 10-12), CBL / 11q LOH (HR 2.42, P = 3.88 x 10-7), EZH2 / 7q LOH (HR 2.29, P = 1.46 x 10-12), NRAS mutations (HR 1.86, P = 2.0 x10-4), ETV6 / 12p LOH (HR 1.83, P = 2.84 x 10-5), 1q gain (HR 1.73, P = 0.0037), 20p LOH (HR 1.57, P = 0.030), and FLT3 mutations (HR 1.53, P = 0.027). The number of these unfavorable lesions significantly correlated with OS (P=8.9 x 10-16). Specifically, those with at least one mutation showed a significantly shorter OS, compared to those with none of these mutations (HR 2.54, P<2.0 x 10-16). TP53 / 17p LOH was the most unfavorable among the 9 lesions by multivariate analysis (HR 1.97, P=1.6 x 10-14). Multivariate analysis with clinical factors revealed that the presence of at least 1 of the 9 lesions was independently associated with poor OS (HR 2.05, P<2.0 x 10-16), together with well-known clinical factors negatively affecting OS, including red blood cell transfusion before HSCT (HR 1.93, P=0.0036), 3 or more grade of the performance status at HSCT (HR 1.92, P=1.6 x 10-4), and older age (HR 1.69, P=2.0 x 10-4). The presence of at least one lesion negatively affected OS irrespective of the presence of complex karyotype-like CNVs.Conclusions:The present study highlights the clinical significance of somatic mutations and CNVs in MDS cases treated by HSCT. Our findings suggest that the novel set of lesions identified in this study could be successfully used for the prediction of outcome in MDS in the setting of stem cell transplantation. DisclosuresKataoka:Yakult: Honoraria; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Honoraria; Boehringer Ingelheim: Honoraria. Kanda:Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding. Makishima:The Yasuda Medical Foundation: Research Funding. Ogawa:Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma: Research Funding; Kan research institute: Consultancy, Research Funding.

High Frequency of Loss of Heterozygosity and Chromosomal Imbalances in Patients with Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder belonging to the non-chronic-myeloid-leukemia myeloproliferative neoplasms. Cardinal features of myelofibrosis include extramedullary hematopoiesis, hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenias. The disease can occur de novo as primary MF or result from the progression of polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia with no differences in clinical or histological characteristics. Though several large chromosome abnormalities have been described in patients with myelofibrosis there are no previous studies screening for both CNVs and LOH (loss of heterozygosity) in patients with MF. We studied 11 patients using CytoScan platform (750k or HD- Affymetrix). This platform allows the identification of copy number variations as well as segments of loss of heterozygosity. Forty-five percent (5/11) presented pathogenic/possibly pathogenic CNVs and 72% (8/11) presented large segments of loss of heterozygosity (>10Mb). Two patients had a single CNV without any LOH. Two patients had a single LOH. All others have multiple LOH with (3) or without (4) CNVs. The most frequent abnormality was LOH of 9p (3/11) and deletion 13q (2/11). All other alterations were non-recurrent. One patient had a small deletion including exons 1 and 2 of NOTCH2, a gene known to be involved in hematological malignancies. The most frequent abnormality reported in the literature is 20q deletion. In our cohort only one patient had the 20q deletion and also had multiple complex chromosome rearrangements on chromosomes 7 and 12 and a large LOH on chromosome 3p. The study shows that CNV and LOH are frequent and may be involved in pathogenesis of the disease. However, the role of these changes in the pathogenesis are not yet clear. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Clonal dynamics following p53 loss of heterozygosity in Kras-driven cancers.

Although it has become increasingly clear that cancers display extensive cellular heterogeneity, the spatial growth dynamics of genetically distinct clones within developing solid tumours remain poorly understood. Here we leverage mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM) to trace subclonal populations retaining or lacking p53 within oncogenic Kras-initiated lung and pancreatic tumours. In both models, p53 constrains progression to advanced adenocarcinomas. Comparison of lineage-related p53 knockout and wild-type clones reveals a minor role of p53 in suppressing cell expansion in lung adenomas. In contrast, p53 loss promotes both the initiation and expansion of low-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs), likely through differential expression of the p53 regulator p19ARF. Strikingly, lineage-related cells are often dispersed in lung adenomas and PanINs, contrasting with more contiguous growth of advanced subclones. Together, these results support cancer type-specific suppressive roles of p53 in early tumour progression and offer insights into clonal growth patterns during tumour development.

Independent Tumor Origin in Two Cases of Synchronous Bilateral Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Bilateral renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) pose a challenge for clinical treatment and management. Most bilateral RCCs are sporadic, and do not show a hereditary pattern indicative of VHL syndrome or other inherited cancers. The origin and evolution of these sporadic bilateral RCCs remains elusive. We obtained normal and tumor samples from two male patients suffering from early stage synchronous bilateral clear cell RCC (ccRCC), and analyzed genomic DNA using whole exome sequencing and bisulfite pyrosequencing. We detected distinct 3p loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in both tumors in each patient. Two tumors within the same patient harbored distinct driver mutations and different CpG hypermethylation sites in the VHL promoter. Moreover, tumors exhibit independent evolutionary trajectories. Therefore, distinct 3p LOH, combined with contingent driver gene mutations and independent VHL hypermethylation, led to independent tumor origin and parallel evolution of bilateral ccRCC in these two patients. Our results indicate that tumors in these two cases were not due to common germline oncogenic mutations. They were results of multiple de novo mutations in each kidney, rather than primary ccRCC with contralateral renal metastasis. Therefore, histopathologic and genetic profiling from single tumor specimen may underestimate the mutational burden and somatic heterogeneity of bilateral ccRCCs.

Loss of Chromosome 8p Governs Tumor Progression and Drug Response by Altering Lipid Metabolism

Large-scale heterozygous deletions are a hallmark of cancer genomes. The concomitant loss of multiple genes creates vulnerabilities that are impossible to reveal through the study of individual genes. To delineate the functional outcome of chromosome 8p loss of heterozygosity (LOH), a common aberration in breast cancer, we modeled 8p LOH using TALEN-based genomic engineering. 8p LOH alters fatty acid and ceramide metabolism. The shift in lipid metabolism triggers invasiveness and confers tumor growth under stress conditions due to increased autophagy. The resistance of 8p-deleted cells to chemotherapeutic drugs concurs with poorer survival rates of breast cancer patients harboring an 8p LOH. The autophagy dependency of 8p-deleted cells provides the rational basis for treatment of 8p LOH tumors with autophagy inhibitors.

Coordinated Tumor Suppression by Chromosome 8p

In this issue of Cancer Cell, Cai etal. use genome editing to study 8p deletions in a mammary epithelial cellmodel and show that 8p loss of heterozygosity (LOH) attenuates the action of several genes that collectively promote cell invasion and enhance cellular sensitivity to autophagy inhibitors.

Skull base chordomas: clinical outcome in a consecutive series of 45 patients with long-term follow-up and evaluation of clinical and biological prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVE Skull base chordomas (SBCs) are rare dysembryogenetic invasive tumors with a variable tendency for recurrence. According to previous studies, the recurrence rate seems to be affected by both clinical variables and tumor biological features. The authors present the results of treatment of SBCs in a large series of patients and investigate the role of 1p36 chromosomal region loss of heterozygosity (LOH) as a prognostic factor. METHODS Between 1990 and 2011, 45 patients were treated for SBCs. The mean follow-up was 76 months (range 1-240 months). An LOH analysis was performed in 27 cases. Survival analysis was performed to determine clinical and biological parameters correlating with clinical outcome. RESULTS The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 67% and 57%, respectively. Five- and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 58% and 44%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that extent of resection, adjuvant radiation therapy, and absence of rhinopharynx invasion were positive independent predictors of overall survival. The latter 2 variables and a younger patient age were positive independent predictors of progression-free survival. Twenty-one patients showed 1p36 LOH. All events of recurrence and death clustered in the group of patients with 1p36 LOH; however, this biological marker was not statistically significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Resection is the treatment of choice in primary and recurrent SBC. Patient age, rhinopharynx invasion at diagnosis, extent of tumor removal, and postoperative radiation therapy influence SBC prognosis. Genetic analysis, even while showing interesting results, did not reveal 1p36 LOH as an independent predictor of clinical outcome.

Loss of Heterozygosity of 9p Is Associated with Poorer Survival in Patients with Gliomas.

The prognostic factors associated with the survival of glioma patients have not been well established. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 9p was known to be a typical molecular signature of gliomas, but it was still unclear whether LOH of 9p was associated with poorer survival in patients with gliomas. We searched PubMed and Embase databases from the earliest records to May 2015 to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Either a fixed- or a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled hazard ratio (HR) according to the between-study heterogeneity. Thirteen eligible studies involving 1465 cases of gliomas were included in the meta-analysis. There was little between-study heterogeneity (I 2 = 15%), and the fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled HR. Meta-analysis of total 13 studies showed that LOH of 9p was significantly associated with poorer prognosis of glioma patients (HR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.17-1.64, P = 0.0002). Meta-analysis of eight studies reporting adjusted estimates showed that LOH of 9p was independently associated with poorer prognosis of glioma patients (HR = 1.40, 95%CI 1.14-1.72, P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis by types of gliomas showed that LOH of 9p was significantly associated with poorer prognosis in patients with glioblastoma (HR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.01-1.78, P = 0.04). There was no obvious risk of publication bias shown in the funnel plot. LOH of 9p is significantly associated with poorer prognosis of glioma patients, which is a useful biomarker in predicting patients' survival.

Profiling Loss of Heterozygosity Patterns in a Cohort of Favorable Histology Nephroblastoma Egyptian Patients: What is Consistent With the Rest of the World

According to the Fifth National Wilms Tumor Study (NWTS-5), tumor-specific loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for chromosomes 1p and 16q identifies a subset of patients with Wilms tumor (WT) who despite having favorable histology (FH) have a significantly increased risk of relapse and death. We aimed to find out 1p and 16q LOH frequencies in patients with FH-WT as well as its correlation to survival outcome and epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. Data of patients with FH-WT presenting to the National Cancer Institute, Egypt, were retrospectively analyzed. Paraffin blocks were tested for 1p and 16q LOH using polymorphic loci that span the minimal regions of LOH at this area. The study included 100 patients with a median age of 5 years. Thirty-nine patients (39%) showed LOH at 1p (n = 14), 16q (n = 13), or both (n = 12). LOH was most frequently encountered in patients above 10 years (5/5), advanced stages disease (80% of stage V and 50% of stages IV and III each). The 3-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were significantly lower in patients with double LOH (75% and 50%, respectively), followed by 16q (92% and 54%), in comparison with 1p (93% each) and negative LOH (97% and 100%) cases, respectively (p = 0.001). Combined LOH (1p+16q), followed by 16q LOH alone, was predictive of poorer outcome and was associated with lower OS and EFS in patients with FH-WT. Our results showed a higher-risk disease that would suggest the need for an intensified upfront therapy in this group of patients.