image: Genomic alterations in gastrointestinal system neuroendocrine carcinomas (GIS-NECs). Landscape of genomic alterations in samples from patients with GIS-NEC. The left oncoplot shows whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and representative gene expression data obtained from frozen samples. The cases are arranged from left to right in descending order of the number of structural variants in each primary organ. Asterisks, organoid samples. The right oncoplot shows whole-exome sequencing data from a different subset of patients than those for whom WGS data were available. H&E staining and synaptophysin immunolabeling of TP53 and RB1 double knockout (TR-KO) organoids before and after Notch signaling was blocked with a γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT). The number of synaptophysin-positive cells was increased by treatment with the Notch inhibitor. Scale bar, 100 µM.
Credit: ©2021 Shinichi Yachida et al., Cancer Discovery
Osaka, Japan - Researchers from Osaka University investigated a highly lethal form of cancer in a large group of patients, and identified the genetic culprits that lead to deadly outcomes.
In a study published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, researchers from Osaka University have thoroughly revealed the genetic basis of the pathogenesis of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the gastrointestinal system, a rare and deadly cancer that is highly resistant to treatment.
NECs are cancers that originate in most epithelial organs of the body and most often in the digestive system, typically the pancreas. In addition to NEC being a rare cancer, patients with NEC do not often undergo surgery, so tissue samples that can be used for research purposes are hard to find.
“Because of this, the genetic changes that contribute to the development of this cancer have remained largely unexplored until now,” says lead author of the study Shinichi Yachida. “By taking part in an international collaboration, we were able to conduct a comprehensive genomic analysis of a relatively large number of cases.”
To investigate the genetic basis of NEC in these patients, the researchers performed a variety of analyses, including whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, DNA methylation analysis, assay of transposase accessible chromatin sequencing, and whole-exome sequencing on tissue samples taken from patients.
“The results provided us with an unprecedented level of insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of NEC,” states Tatsuhiro Shibata, senior author. “For example, we found that pancreatic NECs are genetically distinct from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and may not be involved in the same carcinogenesis.”
Structural variants, in which part of a chromosome is inserted, deleted, or inverted, were far more common in nonpancreatic NECs than they were in pancreatic NECs. In addition, pancreatic NECs could be classified into two different groups (“ductal-type” and “acinar-type”) based on their genomic features. Intriguingly, the researchers also identified unusually high levels of methylation on the promoter of a transcription factor associated with NEC; a previously unknown genetic event where two genes became fused together, creating a new hybrid gene that disrupted cellular function; and deletion of an RNA splicing factor that has not previously been linked to NEC.
“Our study suggests that different types of NECs arise due to very different sets of driver mutations and genomic changes, which could have important implications for patients’ treatment,” explains Yachida.
Given that this is one of the most comprehensive studies of this cancer to date, it is likely that the findings will help develop new, more effective treatments for affected patients. Existing drugs could be used in some of these patients to specifically target the genomic changes leading to disease, and the targets defined in this study could even promote new drug discovery.
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The article, “Comprehensive genomic profiling of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the gastrointestinal system,” was published in Cancer Discovery at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0669
About Osaka University
Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is now one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities with a broad disciplinary spectrum. This strength is coupled with a singular drive for innovation that extends throughout the scientific process, from fundamental research to the creation of applied technology with positive economic impacts. Its commitment to innovation has been recognized in Japan and around the world, being named Japan's most innovative university in 2015 (Reuters 2015 Top 100) and one of the most innovative institutions in the world in 2017 (Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017). Now, Osaka University is leveraging its role as a Designated National University Corporation selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to contribute to innovation for human welfare, sustainable development of society, and social transformation.
Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en
Journal
Cancer Discovery
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Human tissue samples
Article Title
Comprehensive genomic profiling of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the gastrointestinal system
Article Publication Date
8-Dec-2021