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Integration of multi-omics data uncovers novel germline susceptibility candidates in early-onset colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasingly diagnosed in individuals under 50 years of age, yet the underlying genetic predisposition remains largely unexplained, particularly in mismatch repair (MMR)-proficient cases. This study aimed to identify novel hereditary CRC susceptibility genes by integrating germline and tumour whole-exome sequencing (WES) with transcriptomic profiling across a cohort of early-onset CRC (EOCRC) patients. Tumours were categorised using Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMS) classification and analysed for mutational signature and burden. We used a novel 'All vs One' multi-omic integration approach to identify loss-of-function rare germline variants with concordant gene expression alterations in tumour tissue. Five candidate genes (ADCY4, NOXO1, CDHR2, ARHGAP10, EEF2K) were prioritised based on this approach and potential biological relevance in CRC. These findings highlight the molecular heterogeneity of EOCRC and demonstrate the utility of multi-omic approaches in refining germline variant interpretation. Integrating tumour transcriptomics enhances gene discovery efforts and supports a more comprehensive understanding of CRC heritability in younger individuals.

Humans

Integrating germline and tumor sequencing to improve hereditary cancer diagnosis and care.

A subset of cancers arises due to inherited germline pathogenic variants in specific genes, known as hereditary cancers. These genes typically include tumor suppressors, DNA repair and replication fidelity genes, and occasionally oncogenes. In most hereditary cancer syndromes, Knudson's two-hit hypothesis applies, where a second somatic event inactivates the remaining allele of a tumor suppressor or DNA repair gene, leading to tumorigenesis. Advancements in genome-wide sequencing have significantly enhanced our understanding of the mutational processes involved in hereditary cancers. In particular, the assessment of microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), and mutational signatures has emerged as a powerful tool for the identification of hereditary tumors. Tumors with high or ultra-high TMB often reflect underlying DNA repair deficiencies, while specific mutational signatures can pinpoint the defective pathway. These tumor mutational features are especially informative in syndromes involving mismatch repair (MMR), homologous recombination (HR), base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), and polymerase proofreading. Moreover, tumor sequencing aids in the interpretation of germline variants, identifies somatic mosaicism, and helps differentiate hereditary from sporadic cancers. Additionally, tumor molecular features associated with DNA repair deficiencies offer insights into personalized therapies, such as the use of PARP inhibitors for BRCA1/2-deficient tumors and immune checkpoint inhibitors for MMR- and polymerase proofreading-deficient cancers. Tumor profiling also uncovers actionable mutations in oncogenes like RET and VHL, which can be targeted with specific therapies. This review explores the integration of tumor molecular features with germline genetic data to refine diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapeutic strategies in hereditary cancer.

Humans

Nonhypermutator Cancers Access Driver Mutations Through Reversals in Germline Mutational Bias.

Cancer is an evolutionary disease driven by mutations in asexually reproducing somatic cells. In asexual microbes, bias reversals in the mutation spectrum can speed adaptation by increasing access to previously undersampled beneficial mutations. By analyzing tumors from 20 tissues, along with normal tissue and the germline, we demonstrate this effect in cancer. Nonhypermutated tumors reverse the germline mutation bias and have consistent spectra across tissues. These spectra changes carry the signature of hypoxia, and they facilitate positive selection in cancer genes. Hypermutated and nonhypermutated tumors thus acquire driver mutations differently: hypermutated tumors by higher mutation rates and nonhypermutated tumors by changing the mutation spectrum to reverse the germline mutation bias.

Neoplasms

Non-hypermutator cancers access driver mutations through reversals in germline mutational bias.

Cancer is an evolutionary disease driven by mutations in asexually-reproducing somatic cells. In asexual microbes, bias reversals in the mutation spectrum can speed adaptation by increasing access to previously undersampled beneficial mutations. By analyzing tumors from 20 tissues, along with normal tissue and the germline, we demonstrate this effect in cancer. Non-hypermutated tumors reverse the germline mutation bias and have consistent spectra across tissues. These spectra changes carry the signature of hypoxia, and they facilitate positive selection in cancer genes. Hypermutated and non-hypermutated tumors thus acquire driver mutations differently: hypermutated tumors by higher mutation rates and non-hypermutated tumors by changing the mutation spectrum to reverse the germline mutation bias.

Journal Article

Early germline sequestration in a basidiomycete fungus.

In sexual organisms, inheritance of new mutations is highly dependent on the timing of germline definition. Here, we used the fairy ring-forming fungus Marasmius oreades to challenge the general assumption of a late germline separation in the Fungi. We collected mushrooms from different parts of rings over a 7-year period and identified new mutations in different tissues by whole-genome sequencing. We found evidence that fertile and sterile tissues had accumulated different mutations, suggesting that the germ line, destined for spore production, is already defined in the mycelium in this species. Moreover, the germ line carried fewer mutations than sterile tissues, indicating a lower mutation rate. Our findings suggest that early germline sequestration is more widespread than previously considered across multicellular life.

Genome, Fungal

Divergent PTEN-p53 interaction upon DNA damage in a human thyroid organoid model with germline PTEN mutations.

Germline mutations in the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) cause PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS). PHTS is characterized by an elevated lifetime risk of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), 30 times higher than the general population. However, only 1 in 3 PHTS patients develop DTC, and it remains unknown whether specific PTEN variants are associated with an increased risk of DTC. PTEN antagonizes the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathway, a frequently affected pathway in sporadic DTC. PTEN also acts as a guardian of the genome by interacting with other tumor suppressors. Here, we report how ionizing radiation, an environmental tumorigenic contributor, modifies the DNA damage response based on the type of germline PTEN variants. We hypothesized that certain PTEN variants associated with DTC create a pro-oncogenic molecular signature upon radiation-induced DNA damage. DTC-associated (PTEN M134R ) or DTC-non-associated (PTEN G132D ) germline PTEN mutant alleles were introduced into a human induced pluripotent cell (hiPSC) line derived from a healthy donor utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. We determined radiation-induced transcriptomic changes in functional thyroid organoids induced from wild-type and both heterozygous PTEN mutant hiPSCs. Both bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that radiation upregulated the p53 network more potently in the thyroid organoids with PTEN WT/G132D than those with PTEN WT/M134R , which could be mediated by AKT-dependent MDM2 inactivation and PTEN-p53 physical interaction. Our data suggest that the lack of p53 pathway activation through PTEN-p53 network interactions explains why PTEN M134R is a DTC-susceptible variant.

Humans

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer With Poorly Differentiated Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report Suggesting Carcinogenesis in the Stomach and Gallbladder Caused by a Pathogenic Germline Variant in CDH1.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome primarily characterized by a high lifetime risk of diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer. It is predominantly caused by inactivating germline variants in the tumor suppressor gene CDH1. While the association between HDGC and these two specific malignancies is well-established, the co-occurrence of extra-gastric malignancies in other organs remains exceptionally rare. In particular, the clinical and genetic relationship between HDGC and gallbladder adenocarcinoma has not been previously clarified. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 67-year-old female initially referred for surgical management of gallbladder cancer (GBC) following an initial cholecystectomy for progressive wall thickening. Pathological examination of the gallbladder revealed a de novo, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma invading the subserosal layer with reduced E-cadherin expression. Given the atypical histopathology and a significant family history-her father and brother both died of gastric cancer at young ages-a preoperative gastric endoscopy was performed. The endoscopy identified multiple faded mucosal lesions, which biopsy confirmed as signet-ring cell carcinoma. The patient subsequently underwent total gastrectomy and gallbladder bed resection. Postoperative pathology identified 22 distinct malignant gastric lesions, predominantly signet-ring cell carcinoma (pT1a), showing variable or lost E-cadherin expression. Germline genetic testing via direct sequencing identified a pathogenic frameshift mutation in exon 5 of the CDH1 gene. CONCLUSION: This represents the first reported case of synchronous HDGC and primary gallbladder adenocarcinoma associated with a germline CDH1 mutation. Our findings suggest that pathogenic CDH1 variants may contribute to the carcinogenesis of poorly differentiated gallbladder adenocarcinoma. Clinicians should consider the possibility of extra-gastric malignancies in HDGC patients.

Humans

An integrated human immunoglobulin germline resource linking allele diversity to expressed repertoire structure.

Human immunoglobulin (IG) loci are highly polymorphic, yet existing germline resources remain noisy and incomplete, limiting our ability to link inherited variation to antibody repertoires. Here, we integrate high-fidelity long-read genomic sequencing with matched adaptive immune receptor repertoire sequencing (AIRR-seq) to construct HUSA, a population-scale, evidence-resolved germline resource. Using a conservative allele inference framework, HUSA expands current references more than three-fold, identifying over 1300 alleles while preserving allele-level evidence provenance across genomic and repertoire data. By linking genotype and expressed repertoires within individuals, we show that coding-region similarity predicts the structure of adjacent recombination signal sequences and leader regions, revealing that IG alleles are organized as linked cis-regulatory units associated with differences in recombination context and allele usage. These results define key germline constraints shaping repertoire formation and establish a robust, genotype-aware foundation for the analysis of immune receptor repertoires.

Journal Article

Germline determinants of risk and molecular subtype in young-onset lung cancer.

Young-onset lung cancer is enriched for never-smoking and oncogene-driven tumors, yet its inherited genetic basis remains poorly defined. We performed germline whole-genome sequencing in 251 young-onset lung cancer cases (median age 37), which we jointly analyzed with never-smoking cases (n=196; median age 68) and cancer-free controls (n=1,883). We identified enrichments of rare deleterious coding variants across 55 cancer-related gene sets, including EGFR/ERBB2 signaling and genes implicated by prior lung cancer GWAS. Exome-wide analyses of rare coding variants affirmed TP53 as a penetrant lung cancer predisposition gene (odds ratio [OR]=36.1, p=1.02x10-7) and discovered two novel exome-wide significant tumor subtype-dependent associations: IREB2 in cases with fusion-driven tumors (p=1.39x10-6) and SMAD6 in fusion-negative tumors (p=2.05x10-6). Structural variants contributed distinct risk, with enrichment in constrained, lung-expressed genes (OR=5.79, p=5.8x10-5) and very large germline deletions being markedly enriched in cases with fusion-driven tumors. Polygenic risk scores for lung cancer were inversely correlated with rare variant burden, consistent with additive risk from rare and common variants. Collectively, these findings delineate a complex germline architecture underlying susceptibility and molecular subtype in young-onset lung cancer.

Journal Article

Germline variants and impact on lung cancer outcomes following chemotherapy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer deaths in the UK and globally, and the main subtypes are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Many treatment options are available, with platinum-based chemotherapy being a key component for many patients. However, variation in survival outcomes exists among individuals of European ancestry, which makes it important to identify germline genetic variants that help guide decision-making and optimise patient treatment and outcomes. METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science for lung cancer studies investigating the impact of germline genetic variants on systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) outcomes in populations of European ancestry. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) and Synthesis without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included in the review out of 4469 on NSCLC and SCLC, encompassing 3639 patients. The most thoroughly investigated area was NSCLC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Genetic variants associated with overall survival and/or progression-free survival included XPD Lys751Gln, XPD Asp312Asn, ERCC1 C118T, and XRCC1 Arg399Gln. For non-platinum-treated NSCLC and SCLC, there was insufficient evidence to conduct a meaningful investigation. CONCLUSION: The XPD Lys751Gln, XPD Asp312Asn, ERCC1 C118T, and XRCC1 Arg399Gln variants showed potential associations with survival outcomes among patients of European ancestry with NSCLC after platinum-based chemotherapy. To support clinical implementation, large real-world pharmacogenomics studies stratified by ancestry are needed to overcome statistical power and heterogeneity limitations.

Humans

Germline ATM Testing in Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Feedback from a Five-Year Center Cohort.

PURPOSE: Germline ATM pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants are increasingly recognized as clinically relevant in hereditary cancer predisposition, their integration into routine testing remains heterogeneous across countries. We describe the prevalence, tumor spectrum and relative risk associated with germline ATM P/LP variants in individuals with breast and pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We conducted a five-year retrospective (2019-2025) reanalysis of the ATM gene in 1,707 probands tested with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) or pancreatic cancer panels in our center. For all probands that underwent targeted ATM reanalysis, relative risks (RR) and odds ratios (OR) were calculated. Family-based segregation was performed when possible. RESULTS: Targeted ATM re-analysis identified 33 additional probands with P/LP variants, increasing diagnostic yield from 7.3% to 9.1% in HBOC and from 4.3% to 9.7% in pancreatic cancer. Among 22 breast-cancer probands, mean age at diagnosis was 47 years. Case-control comparison yielded OR 3.85 (95% CI 2.43-6.08; P=8.5×10-9) for breast cancer and OR 15.81 (95% CI 6.31-39.66; P=4.0×10-9) for pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSION: This work strengthens the role of ATM in cancer predisposition panels and supports its inclusion in French national hereditary cancer panel recommendations, together with implementation of appropriate surveillance and counseling for individuals harboring ATM P/LP variants.

ATM

T-rex: standardized analysis of germline variants in whole-exome sequencing trios.

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) enables the identification of rare germline variants contributing to pediatric diseases. Trio-based sequencing, comparing affected children with their parents, is particularly effective for rare disease genetics. However, WES data analysis requires bioinformatics expertise, varies across institutions, and is often incompatible with clinical workflows. We developed T-Rex (Trio Rare variant analysis of EXomes), a cross-platform desktop application that enables the standardized and local analysis of WES germline Trio data without the need for programming knowledge. T-Rex integrates state-of-the-art tools for alignment, dual-variant calling (GATK HaplotypeCaller + VarScan2), annotation (SNPEff/SNPSift), rare-variant filtering based on population frequencies (gnomAD), and family-based statistical testing, including the Transmission Disequilibrium Test with multiple-testing correction. Benchmarking of the dual-caller strategy on the Genome in a Bottle Ashkenazim Trio demonstrates high precision (99.2%) while maintaining robust sensitivity (91.1%). User testing (n = 13) confirmed quick learning across clinicians and researchers. Application to a cohort of n = 121 pediatric cancer Trio datasets, filtering for rare protein-coding variants (MAF ≤ 0.1% in gnomAD v4.1), validated all assessable previously reported pathogenic variants. Overall, T-Rex enables clinicians to robustly analyze WES Trio data in compliance with data protection regulations without requiring additional software licenses. As one of the first platforms for comprehensive WES Trio analysis that requires no programming expertise while providing reproducible, end-to-end workflows for clinical genomics, T-Rex facilitates collaborative research between clinics and reduces reliance on external providers.

Humans

DNA methylation at retrotransposons protects the germline by preventing NRF1-mediated activation.

Silencing evolutionary young retrotransposons by cytosine DNA methylation is essential for spermatogenesis, as failure to methylate their promoters leads to reactivation, meiotic failure, and infertility. How retrotransposons reactivate in the absence of DNA methylation is poorly understood. We show that upon defective DNA methylation, distinct retrotransposon families display unique expression patterns and chromatin landscapes during mouse spermatogenesis. We find that their reactivation in meiotic spermatocytes correlates with the loss of bivalent H3K4me3-H3K27me3 chromatin marks. Through proteomics and chromatin profiling, we identify NRF1 as a DNA methylation-sensitive transcription factor that transactivates unmethylated retrotransposons. Conditional germline knockout of Nrf1 in the absence of DNA methylation rescues the silencing of the most mutagenic retrotransposon in mice, namely Intracisternal A-particle or IAP. Our findings reveal that chromatin modifications together with a DNA methylation-sensitive transcription factor regulate retrotransposon expression in the absence of DNA methylation in spermatogenesis, revealing a mechanism by which retrotransposons proliferate in the germline after evading DNA methylation-based silencing.

Animals

Clinical characteristic of isolated thrombocytopenia in patients with bone marrow failure-related germline variants: a retrospective study from a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) comprises the majority of thrombocytopenia. Some patients respond poorly to first-line ITP therapy or develop pancytopenia years later. Recent studies link heterozygous germline variants in acquired aplastic anemia (AA), yet their role in isolated thrombocytopenia carrying bone marrow failure-related germline variants (ITGV-BMFs) remains unclear. While whole-exome sequencing (WES) detects these variants, its cost limits routine use. This study compares prognosis and clinical features of isolated thrombocytopenia in patients with ITGV-BMFsand those with classic ITP. METHODS: The clinical data of patients diagnosed with ITGV-BMFs were retrospectively analyzed and compared with those of patients with classic ITP from August 2018 to February 2024. The baseline characteristics, genomic systematically background, previous treatment response as well as their follow-up outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Patients with ITGV-BMFs demonstrated earlier onset age (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), lower bleeding scores and CD34%, along with elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and reticulocyte (RET) counts (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patients with ITGV-BMFs may possess distinct characteristics, including an earlier age at onset (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.014) and lower bleeding score (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.048). Notably, MCV and RET showed promising performance in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. During the follow-up period, 57.69% (15/26) ITGV-BMFs patients were further confirmed as aplastic anemia (AA, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;13) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;2), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.25&#x2009;years (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). CONCLUSION: ITGV-BMFs may be diagnosed early using elevated MCV and reticulocyte counts, a diagnostic approach that may lead to earlier intervention and improved prognosis.

Humans

NuRD chromatin remodeling is required to repair exogenous DSBs in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline.

Organisms rely on coordinated networks of DNA repair pathways to protect genomes against toxic double-strand breaks (DSBs), particularly in germ cells. All repair mechanisms must successfully negotiate the local chromatin environment in order to access DNA. For example, nucleosomes can be repositioned by the highly conserved Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase (NuRD) complex. In Caenorhabditis elegans, NuRD functions in the germline to repair DSBs - the loss of NuRD's ATPase subunit, LET-418/CHD4, prevents DSB resolution and therefore reduces fertility. In this study, we challenge germlines with exogenous DNA damage to better understand NuRD's role in repairing DSBs. We find that let-418 mutants are sensitive to cisplatin and hydroxyurea: exposure to either mutagen impedes DSB repair, generates aneuploid oocytes, and reduces fertility and embryonic survival. These defects resemble those seen when the Fanconi anemia (FA) DNA repair pathway is compromised, and we find that LET-418's activity is epistatic to that of the FA component FCD-2/FANCD2. We propose a model in which NuRD is recruited to the site of DNA lesions to remodel chromatin and allow access for FA pathway components. Together, these results implicate NuRD in the repair of both endogenous DSBs and exogenous DNA lesions to preserve genome integrity in developing germ cells.

DNA repair

Novel Germline ELP1 Splice-Acceptor Variant in NF1-Negative Optic Pathway Glioma: Expanding the Clinical Spectrum Associated With ELP1 Variation.

We report a 7-year-old boy with NF1-negative optic pathway glioma harboring a novel germline ELP1 splice-acceptor variant (NM_003640.5:c.2205-2A>G) identified by whole-exome sequencing. The variant was likely pathogenic (ACMG/AMP: PVS1, PM2) and inherited from an asymptomatic father, consistent with incomplete penetrance, expanding the limited evidence linking germline ELP1 variation to gliomas.

Humans

The Germline SH2B3rs111340708 Splicing Variant Drives Intron Retention and Protein Instability by Impacting Clinical Outcomes in Core Binding Factor AML.

The SH2B3 gene, also known as LNK, encodes an adaptor protein that negatively regulates key hematopoietic signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT, thereby maintaining hematopoietic homeostasis. SH2B3 interacts with major signaling regulators such as JAK2, MPL, FLT3, and KIT. Loss-of-function alterations have been reported in several hematologic malignancies, supporting its role as a leukemia predisposition gene. We previously identified a germline start-loss mutation (c.3G&#xa0;>&#xa0;A) in SH2B3 in a family with early-onset myeloproliferative neoplasm, demonstrating that this variant causes SH2B3 haploinsufficiency. In the present study, next-generation sequencing of 149 de novo AML patients identified a frequent intronic polymorphism (rs111340708), located within intron 6 (IVS6) of SH2B3. Although this variant has a reported minor allele frequency (MAF) of approximately 12% in European populations, it was enriched in our AML cohort, reaching 34.2% in Core Binding Factor leukemias (CBFLs). The presence of the rs111340708 variant was associated with inferior overall survival, whereas no significant association with progression-free survival was observed. Functional analyses demonstrated that this polymorphism promotes aberrant IVS6 intron retention in AML cells, resulting in reduced abundance of correctly spliced SH2B3 transcripts and predicted generation of truncated peptides and/or nonsense-mediated decay. Consistently, immunoblot analyses of AML patient samples and hematologic cell lines revealed heterogeneous SH2B3 protein expression, including additional SH2B3-immunoreactive species in variant carriers, together with reduced levels of the canonical SH2B3 protein. Collectively, these findings identify a common germline splicing polymorphism as a novel mechanism contributing to SH2B3 functional impairment in AML and highlight the potential relevance of non-coding variants in leukemia pathogenesis, with possible implications for risk stratification and future therapeutic strategies.

Humans

Uptake of germline testing for Lynch Syndrome in patients with deficient mismatch repair/ microsatellite-high colorectal cancer in the public hospital system in South Australia.

Lynch syndrome (LS) accounts for approximately 4% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and arises from pathogenic variants in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Australian guidelines recommend universal MMR or microsatellite instability (MSI) screening in all CRC patients; however, real-world uptake remains variable. This study evaluated rates of MMR/MSI screening, germline testing, and genetics referrals across two major public hospitals in South Australia. A retrospective review of 1775 patients discussed at colorectal multidisciplinary team meetings in the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals between January 2021 and December 2023 was conducted to identify rates of MMR/MSI screening and subsequent referral of eligible patients to genetics. Of the 1129 colorectal cancer cases identified, MMR/MSI testing was performed in 93.2% (1052/1129), with deficiency detected in 12.5% (131/1052). Of these, 37% (49/131) were eligible for genetics referral after exclusion of somatic causes. Among eligible patients, 73.5% (36/49) were referred, and 43% (21/49) underwent germline testing. LS was confirmed in 12 patients (9% of deficient MMR CRC), while 9 patients (6.9%) were classified as having Lynch-like syndrome. Despite high screening rates, gaps remain in genetics referral and testing. Barriers included lack of reflex testing, loss to follow-up, and patient refusal. Targeted system-level interventions and improved genomic education are needed to enhance adherence to guidelines and optimise patient outcomes.

Humans