Publications by authors named "Robert Huether"

Some patients with therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) may have unsuspected inherited cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS). We propose a set of clinical criteria to identify t-MN patients with high risk of CPS (HR-CPS). Among 225 t-MN patients with an antecedent non-myeloid malignancy, our clinical criteria identified 52 (23%) HR-CPS patients.

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Objective/background: We performed a retrospective analysis of longitudinal real-world data (RWD) from patients with breast cancer to replicate results from clinical studies and demonstrate the feasibility of generating real-world evidence. We also assessed the value of transcriptome profiling as a complementary tool for determining molecular subtypes.

Methods: De-identified, longitudinal data were analyzed after abstraction from records of patients with breast cancer in the United States (US) structured and stored in the Tempus database.

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Germline pathogenic variants in TP53 are associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a cancer predisposition disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern associated with a high risk of malignancy, including early-onset breast cancers, sarcomas, adrenocortical carcinomas, and brain tumors. Intense cancer surveillance for individuals with TP53 germline pathogenic variants is associated with reduced cancer-related mortality. Accurate and consistent classification of germline variants across clinical and research laboratories is important to ensure appropriate cancer surveillance recommendations.

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Heterozygous de novo variants in the eukaryotic elongation factor EEF1A2 have previously been described in association with intellectual disability and epilepsy but never functionally validated. Here we report 14 new individuals with heterozygous EEF1A2 variants. We functionally validate multiple variants as protein-damaging using heterologous expression and complementation analysis.

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Importance: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is an emerging factor associated with survival with immunotherapy. When tumor-normal pairs are available, TMB is determined by calculating the difference between somatic and germline sequences. In the case of commonly used tumor-only sequencing, additional steps are needed to estimate the somatic alterations.

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Genomic analysis of paired tumor-normal samples and clinical data can be used to match patients to cancer therapies or clinical trials. We analyzed 500 patient samples across diverse tumor types using the Tempus xT platform by DNA-seq, RNA-seq and immunological biomarkers. The use of a tumor and germline dataset led to substantial improvements in mutation identification and a reduction in false-positive rates.

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We developed and clinically validated a hybrid capture next generation sequencing assay to detect somatic alterations and microsatellite instability in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. This targeted oncology assay utilizes tumor-normal matched samples for highly accurate somatic alteration calling and whole transcriptome RNA sequencing for unbiased identification of gene fusion events. The assay was validated with a combination of clinical specimens and cell lines, and recorded a sensitivity of 99.

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Missense mutations in the gene, MAP3K1, are a common cause of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis, accounting for 15-20% of cases [Ostrer, 2014, Disorders of sex development (DSDs): an update. J. Clin.

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Article Synopsis
  • The ClinGen PTEN Expert Panel aimed to create specific guidelines for classifying PTEN genetic variants based on previous ACMG/AMP interpretations, bringing together experts in genetics and molecular diagnostics.
  • They developed criteria for four classifications of variants: benign/likely benign (BEN/LBEN), pathogenic/likely pathogenic (PATH/LPATH), uncertain significance (VUS), and conflicting (CONF), achieving high concordance with existing ClinVar data.
  • The study demonstrated the importance of gene-specific criteria and sharing laboratory data, successfully reclassifying some variants more accurately based on the new guidelines.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to expand the understanding of genetic factors contributing to breast and ovarian cancers, beyond the known BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
  • Through whole-exome sequencing, researchers analyzed a large sample of patients with cancer and non-cancer controls to identify new predisposition genes.
  • Results highlighted that specific non-BRCA genes, including ATM, may significantly increase breast cancer risk, particularly in early-onset cases and various breast cancer subtypes.
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We have developed a clinically validated NGS assay that includes tumor, germline and RNA sequencing. We apply this assay to clinical specimens and cell lines, and we demonstrate a clinical sensitivity of 98.4% and positive predictive value of 100% for the clinically actionable variants measured by the assay.

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Analysis of molecular aberrations across multiple cancer types, known as pan-cancer analysis, identifies commonalities and differences in key biological processes that are dysregulated in cancer cells from diverse lineages. Pan-cancer analyses have been performed for adult but not paediatric cancers, which commonly occur in developing mesodermic rather than adult epithelial tissues. Here we present a pan-cancer study of somatic alterations, including single nucleotide variants, small insertions or deletions, structural variations, copy number alterations, gene fusions and internal tandem duplications in 1,699 paediatric leukaemias and solid tumours across six histotypes, with whole-genome, whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing data processed under a uniform analytical framework.

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Objective: To evaluate the phenotypic spectrum caused by mutations in dynamin 1 (), encoding the presynaptic protein DNM1, and to investigate possible genotype-phenotype correlations and predicted functional consequences based on structural modeling.

Methods: We reviewed phenotypic data of 21 patients (7 previously published) with mutations. We compared mutation data to known functional data and undertook biomolecular modeling to assess the effect of the mutations on protein function.

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Importance: Germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 predispose to an increased lifetime risk of breast cancer. However, the relevance of germline variants in other genes from multigene hereditary cancer testing panels is not well defined.

Objective: To determine the risks of breast cancer associated with germline variants in cancer predisposition genes.

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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises a heterogeneous group of leukemias frequently defined by recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities, including rearrangements involving the core-binding factor (CBF) transcriptional complex. To better understand the genomic landscape of CBF-AMLs, we analyzed both pediatric (n = 87) and adult (n = 78) samples, including cases with RUNX1-RUNX1T1 (n = 85) or CBFB-MYH11 (n = 80) rearrangements, by whole-genome or whole-exome sequencing. In addition to known mutations in the Ras pathway, we identified recurrent stabilizing mutations in CCND2, suggesting a previously unappreciated cooperating pathway in CBF-AML.

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The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders with over 50 known causative genes. We identified a recurrent mutation in KCNA2 (c.881G>A, p.

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Purpose: Diagnostic exome sequencing (DES) is now a commonly ordered test for individuals with undiagnosed genetic disorders. In addition to providing a diagnosis for characterized diseases, exome sequencing has the capacity to uncover novel candidate genes for disease.

Methods: Family-based DES included analysis of both characterized and novel genetic etiologies.

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Genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE), formerly known as idiopathic generalized epilepsy, is the most common form of epilepsy and is thought to have predominant genetic etiology. GGE are clinically characterized by absence, myoclonic, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures with electroencephalographic pattern of bilateral, synchronous, and symmetrical spike-and-wave discharges. Despite their strong heritability, the genetic basis of generalized epilepsies remains largely elusive.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the MTOR gene, which plays a crucial role in regulating various cellular processes, particularly in the brain, and highlights a specific mutation (p.E1799K) linked to neurological and developmental issues in two brothers.
  • Diagnostic Exome Sequencing (DES) was successfully utilized to identify this mutation in the boys, who exhibited conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder and megalencephaly, with the mutation inherited through gonadal mosaicism, not present in their parents.
  • The findings suggest that the p.E1799K mutation leads to increased MTOR activation, contributing to the brothers' health issues, and emphasizes the importance of genetic testing in unexplained developmental disorders.
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Alterations of genes encoding transcriptional regulators of lymphoid development are a hallmark of B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and most commonly involve PAX5, encoding the DNA-binding transcription factor paired-box 5. The majority of PAX5 alterations in ALL are heterozygous, and key PAX5 target genes are expressed in leukemic cells, suggesting that PAX5 may be a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor. To examine the role of PAX5 alterations in leukemogenesis, we performed mutagenesis screens of mice heterozygous for a loss-of-function Pax5 allele.

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Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with MLL rearrangements (MLL-R) represents a distinct leukemia with a poor prognosis. To define its mutational landscape, we performed whole-genome, exome, RNA and targeted DNA sequencing on 65 infants (47 MLL-R and 18 non-MLL-R cases) and 20 older children (MLL-R cases) with leukemia. Our data show that infant MLL-R ALL has one of the lowest frequencies of somatic mutations of any sequenced cancer, with the predominant leukemic clone carrying a mean of 1.

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Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant vascular disorder caused by mutations in ENG, ACVRL1 and SMAD4, which function in regulating the transforming growth factor beta and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways. Symptoms of HHT can be present in individuals who test negative for mutations in these three genes indicating other genes may be involved. In this study, we tested for mutations in two genes, RASA1 and GDF2, which were recently reported to be involved in vascular disorders.

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Most influenza pandemics have been caused by H1N1 viruses of purely or partially avian origin. Here, using Cox proportional hazard model, we attempt to identify the genetic variations in the whole genome of wild-type North American avian H1N1 influenza A viruses that are associated with their virulence in mice by residue variations, host origins of virus (Anseriformes-ducks or Charadriiformes-shorebirds), and host-residue interactions. In addition, through structural modeling, we predicted that several polymorphic sites associated with pathogenicity were located in structurally important sites, especially in the polymerase complex and NS genes.

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Studies of paediatric cancers have shown a high frequency of mutation across epigenetic regulators. Here we sequence 633 genes, encoding the majority of known epigenetic regulatory proteins, in over 1,000 paediatric tumours to define the landscape of somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators in paediatric cancer. Our results demonstrate a marked variation in the frequency of gene mutations across 21 different paediatric cancer subtypes, with the highest frequency of mutations detected in high-grade gliomas, T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and medulloblastoma, and a paucity of mutations in low-grade glioma and retinoblastoma.

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