Cited by 287Glioma Diagnosis and TreatmentCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsAcute Myeloid Leukemia Research

EGFR Variant Heterogeneity in Glioblastoma Resolved through Single-Nucleus Sequencing

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Francis, Joshua M., Zhang, Cheng-Zhong, Maire, Cecile L., Jung, Joonil, Manzo, Veronica E., Adalsteinsson, Viktor A., Homer, Heather, Haidar, Sam +6 more·2014·Cancer Discovery

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Glioblastomas (GBM) with EGFR amplification represent approximately 50% of newly diagnosed cases, and recent studies have revealed frequent coexistence of multiple EGFR aberrations within the same tumor, which has implications for mutation cooperation and treatment resistance. However, bulk tumor sequencing studies cannot resolve the patterns of how the multiple EGFR aberrations coexist with other mutations within single tumor cells. Here, we applied a population-based single-cell whole-genome sequencing methodology to characterize genomic heterogeneity in EGFR-amplified glioblastomas. Our analysis effectively identified clonal events, including a novel translocation of a super enhancer to the TERT promoter, as well as subclonal LOH and multiple EGFR mutational variants within tumors. Correlating the EGFR mutations onto the cellular hierarchy revealed that EGFR truncation variants (EGFRvII and EGFR carboxyl-terminal deletions) identified in the bulk tumor segregate into nonoverlapping subclonal populations. In vitro and in vivo functional studies show that EGFRvII is oncogenic and sensitive to EGFR inhibitors currently in clinical trials. Thus, the association between diverse activating mutations in EGFR and other subclonal mutations within a single tumor supports an intrinsic mechanism for proliferative and clonal diversification with broad implications in resistance to treatment. Significance: We developed a novel single-cell sequencing methodology capable of identifying unique, nonoverlapping subclonal alterations from archived frozen clinical specimens. Using GBM as an example, we validated our method to successfully define tumor cell subpopulations containing distinct genetic and treatment resistance profiles and potentially mutually cooperative combinations of alterations in EGFR and other genes. Cancer Discov; 4(8); 956–71. ©2014 AACR. See related commentary by Gini and Mischel, p. 876 This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 855

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Authors
Francis, J. M., Zhang, C.-Z., Maire, C. L., Jung, J., Manzo, V. E., Adalsteinsson, V. A., Homer, H., Haidar, S., Blumenstiel, B., Pedamallu, C. S., Ligon, A. H., Love, J. C., Meyerson, M., & Ligon, K. L.
Affiliations
  • Broad Institute (US)
  • 2Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
  • Meyerson, Matthew
  • Ligon, Keith L.
Venue
Cancer Discovery
Published
2014-08-01
Volume
4
Issue
8
Pages
956-971
ISSN
  • 2159-8274 (ISSN-L)
  • 2159-8290
OpenAlex
W2163676912
Cited by
287
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 5
FWCI
16.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Discovery (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PMC
Funders
National Cancer Institute (P01CA142536, R01CA116020, R01CA170592, P30CA014051, P50CA165962)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research
Keywords
glioblastoma, EGFR amplification, single-nucleus sequencing, single-cell whole-genome sequencing, tumor subclonal evolution, clonal heterogeneity, super-enhancers, loss of heterozygosity, treatment resistance, EGFR inhibitors, tumor cell hierarchy
MeSH terms
Cell Nucleus, Glioblastoma, Humans, Mutation, Genome, Human, Loss of Heterozygosity, Single-Cell Analysis, High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing, ErbB Receptors

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