Browsing by Author "Vance, Gail"

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    A Mechanistic Approach to Identify Novel Therapeutic Drugs for Targeting FA-Disrupted Malignancies
    (2023-07) Sheth, Aditya Sukumar; Clapp, D. Wade; Vance, Gail; Angus, Steve; Herbert, Brittney-Shea
    The Fanconi anemia (FA) signaling network plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity during interphase and mitosis. Biallelic germline mutation of any of the 22 genes that constitute this pathway (FANCA-FANCW) results in Fanconi Anemia, a cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by congenital malformations, bone marrow failure, and pediatric acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs). Among the general population, acquired genetic disruptions of the FA pathway are found in 30% of all sporadic cancers and over 15% of sporadic pediatric AMLs underscoring the importance of this pathway in the prevention of malignant transformation. Therefore, the identification of precision therapies for FA-deficient AML is a critical need. The canonical tumor suppressive role of FA proteins in the repair of DNA damage during interphase is well established. We and others have uncovered the roles of FA proteins in mitotic regulation, suggesting additional mechanisms by which the FA pathway prevents genomic instability. Mutation of FANCA is the most common cause of FA and is one of the most frequently disrupted FA pathway genes in sporadic AML. To identify synthetic lethal targets of FANCA, we previously identified mitotic phospho-signaling pathways required for the survival of FANCA-/- patient-derived fibroblasts through a kinome-wide shRNA screen. We identified mitotic kinases CHEK1, PLK1, SLK, and TTK as potential targets, which suggests a mitosis-specific vulnerability of FA-deficient cells. These findings corroborate work by others who have identified synthetic lethal interactions between PLK1 and the FA pathway members, FANCG and BRCA1, suggesting that inactivation of the FA pathway may sensitize cancers to PLK1 inhibition. A more thorough understanding of FA pathway function in mitosis provides new insight into AML pathogenesis and suggests that genetic disruptions of the FA pathway may be predictive of sensitivity to PLK1 inhibition, providing a preclinical rationale for the development of precision therapies.
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    Multiple molecular diagnoses identified through genome sequencing in individuals with suspected rare disease
    (Elsevier, 2025-04-07) Malhotra, Alka; Thorpe, Erin; Coffey, Alison J.; Rajkumar, Revathi; Adjeman, Josephine; Adjeley Adjetey, Naomi Dianne Naa; Aglobitse, Sharron; Allotey, Felix; Arsov, Todor; Ashong, Joyce; Badoe, Ebenezer Vincent; Basel, Donald; Brew, Yvonne; Brown, Chester; Bosfield, Kerri; Casas, Kari; Cornejo-Olivas, Mario; Davis-Keppen, Laura; Freed, Abbey; Gibson, Kate; Jayakar, Parul; Jones, Marilyn C.; Kawome, Martina; Lumaka, Aimé; Maier, Ursula; Makay, Prince; Manassero, Gioconda; Marbell-Wilson, Marilyn; Marcuccilli, Charles; Masser-Frye, Diane; McCarrier, Julie; Mills, Hannah-Sharon; Balazar Montoya, Jeny; Mubungu, Gerrye; Ngole, Mamy; Perez, Jorge; Pivnick, Eniko; Duenas-Roque, Milagros M.; Salguero, Hildegard Pena; Serize, Arturo; Shinawi, Marwan; Sirchia, Fabio; Soler-Alfonso, Claudia; Taylor, Alan; Thompson, Lauren; Vance, Gail; Vanderver, Adeline; Vaux, Keith; Velasco, Danita; Wiafe, Samuel; Illumina Laboratory Services Interpretation and Reporting Team; Taft, Ryan J.; Perry, Denise L.; Kesari, Akanchha; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
    Genome sequencing is a powerful and comprehensive test that detects multiple variants of different types. The interrogation of variants across the genome enables the identification of multiple molecular diagnoses (MMDs) in a single individual. In this retrospective study, we describe individuals in whom MMDs were associated with the proband's indication for testing (IFT), secondary findings, or incidental findings. An MMD is considered where at least one of the findings is associated with the primary IFT and all variants are classified as either likely pathogenic or pathogenic. Clinical genome sequencing was performed for all individuals as part of the iHope program at the Illumina Laboratory Services between September 2017 and December 2023. The iHope cohort included 1,846 affected individuals, with 872 (47.2%) found to have at least one likely pathogenic or pathogenic variant associated with the primary IFT. Of these, 81 (9.3%) individuals had multiple clinically significant molecular findings, including 76 individuals with reported variants associated with 2 different conditions, and 5 individuals with more than 2 molecular findings. A total of 32 individuals (3.7%) had at least 2 molecular diagnoses related to the primary IFT, while in 49 (5.6%) individuals, the variant(s) reported for the second condition constituted a secondary or incidental finding. Our study highlights that among individuals with a likely pathogenic or pathogenic finding identified through genome sequencing, 9% have MMDs, which may have been missed with different testing methods. Of note, approximately 60% of the 81 individuals with an MMD had a potentially actionable secondary or incidental finding.