Genomic Hallmarks and Structural Variation in Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Cell. 2018 Jul 26;174(3):758-769.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.06.039. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

Abstract

While mutations affecting protein-coding regions have been examined across many cancers, structural variants at the genome-wide level are still poorly defined. Through integrative deep whole-genome and -transcriptome analysis of 101 castration-resistant prostate cancer metastases (109X tumor/38X normal coverage), we identified structural variants altering critical regulators of tumorigenesis and progression not detectable by exome approaches. Notably, we observed amplification of an intergenic enhancer region 624 kb upstream of the androgen receptor (AR) in 81% of patients, correlating with increased AR expression. Tandem duplication hotspots also occur near MYC, in lncRNAs associated with post-translational MYC regulation. Classes of structural variations were linked to distinct DNA repair deficiencies, suggesting their etiology, including associations of CDK12 mutation with tandem duplications, TP53 inactivation with inverted rearrangements and chromothripsis, and BRCA2 inactivation with deletions. Together, these observations provide a comprehensive view of how structural variations affect critical regulators in metastatic prostate cancer.

Keywords: BRCA2; androgen receptor; castration resistant prostate cancer; chromothripsis; gene fusion; genomics; metastases; structural variation; tandem duplication; whole-genome sequencing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • BRCA2 Protein / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Exome
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Genomic Structural Variation / genetics*
  • Genomics / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Whole Genome Sequencing / methods

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • MYC protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • CDK12 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases