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Kenneth H Buetow

Publications and source records attributed to Kenneth H Buetow.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2025

Reproducible autosomal gene expression changes with loss of typical X and Y complement across tumor types.

Although there are known sex differences in cancer incidence, severity, and treatment, the sex chromosomes are typically excluded from genomic analyses because of the unique technical challenges associated with assessing their copy number, sequence variation, and expression. Here we assess sex chromosome complement in three widely-used human genomics datasets from normal (non-cancerous) tissues, primary tumors, and cancer cell lines and study the effects on genome-wide gene expression. Expected sex chromosome complements based on reported patient sex were observed in non-cancerous tissues, but about half of tumors and cancer cell lines showed loss of typical sex chromosome gene expression across tissue types with three categories: loss of chromosome Y (LOY), loss of chromosome X (LOX) and reactivation of the inactive X chromosome (XaXa). Genes consistently differentially expressed in tumors with loss of chromosome X, loss of chromosome Y, or loss of X chromosome inactivation are associated with the hallmarks of cancer and include both sex-linked and autosomal genes from nearly all chromosomes, druggable genes, and genes with molecular functions relevant to cancer signaling, such as kinase activity. Strikingly, tumors that are X0, including tumors from female patients that have lost an X chromosome and tumors from male patients that have lost a Y chromosome, cluster together by gene expression profile. Patients with tumors that have LOX or LOY had poorer survival outcomes compared to those with tumors that had maintained their sex chromosome complement. Further, LOX and LOY eliminates nearly all of the differential gene expression between tumors from different patient sexes, affecting sex chromosomal and autosomal gene expression. Going forward, considering patient sex as well as the entire genome, including assessment of the sex chromosome complement, will provide additional insights into personalized tumor etiology, progression, treatment, and patient outcome.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Susceptibility to aflatoxin B1-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma in mice and humans.

The genetic basis of disease susceptibility can be studied by several means, including research on animal models and epidemiological investigations in humans. The two methods are infrequently used simultaneously, but their joint use may overcome the disadvantages of either method alone. We used both approaches in an attempt to understand the genetic basis of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-related susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ingestion of AFB(1) is a major risk factor for HCC in many areas of the world where HCC is common. Whether humans vary in their ability to detoxify the active intermediate metabolite of AFB(1), AFB(1)-exo-8,9-epoxide, is not certain but may explain why all exposed individuals do not develop HCC. To determine whether human variability in detoxification may exist, in a study of 231 HCC cases and 256 controls, we genotyped eleven loci in two families of AFB(1) detoxification genes; the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and the epoxide hydrolases (EPHX). After adjustment for multiple comparisons, only one polymorphism in the epoxide hydrolase family 2 locus remained significantly associated with HCC (odds ratio = 2.06, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-3.12). To determine whether additional susceptibility loci exist, we developed a mouse model system to examine AFB(1)-induced HCC. Susceptibility of 7-day-old mice from two common inbred strains (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J) was assessed. DBA/2J animals were 3-fold more sensitive to AFB(1)-induced HCC and significantly more sensitive to AFB(1) acute toxicity than were C57BL/6J animals. Analysis of the xenobiotic metabolizing genes in the two strains revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms in three genes, Gsta4, Gstt1, and Ephx1. Although the GSTT1 and EPHX1 loci did not appear to be related to HCC in the total population of the human study, a polymorphism in GSTA4 was significantly related to risk in the male subset. The mouse model also demonstrated that absent or compromised p53 was not necessary for the development of carcinogenesis. These results indicate that the comparison of results from human studies and the AFB(1)-susceptible mouse model may provide new insights into hepatocarcinogenesis.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed2003

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a putative tumor susceptibility gene, GNMT, in liver cancer.

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), a multifunctional protein involved in the maintenance of the genetic stability, is often down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using genotypic characterization of GNMT in hepatoma cell lines and in a Taiwanese population with a high incidence of liver cancer we have investigated the role of this gene in the progression of liver cancer. Six novel polymorphisms, including two short tandem repeats, one 4-nucleotide insertion/deletion polymorphism, and three single nucleotide polymorphisms, in GNMT were identified in this study. The rates of loss of heterozygosity at the GNMT locus in pairs of normal and tumor tissue from the HCC patients were approximately 36-47%. In addition, the observed heterozygosity of GNMT decreases in tumor adjacent liver DNA from HCC patients compared with that observed in blood DNA from normal individuals and HCC patients. This may result from the early event of loss of heterozygosity within the GNMT gene in the liver tissues of HCC patients. However, in this study, we did not observe the association of polymorphic GNMT alleles as inherited risk factors for HCC. We also elucidated the functional impact of genetic markers in the GNMT promoter by performing luciferase reporter gene and gel mobility shift assays. The results indicate that two polymorphisms, short tandem repeat 1 and insertion/deletion polymorphism, in the promoter region could cause allelic specific effects on the transcriptional activity of GNMT. The risk genotypes of GNMT, which presumably have a lower expression level, as estimated from in vitro functional studies, are over-represented in tumor-adjacent tissues from HCC patients. In summary, our results suggest that GNMT alteration may be an early event in HCC development and that GNMT could be a new tumor susceptibility gene for HCC.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

Computational analysis and experimental validation of tumor-associated alternative RNA splicing in human cancer.

A genome-wide computational screen was performed to identify tumor-associated alternative RNA splicing isoforms. A BLAST algorithm was used to compare 11,014 genes from RefSeq with 3,471,822 human expressed sequence tag sequences. The screen identified 26,258 alternative splicing isoforms of which 845 were significantly associated with human cancer, and 54 were specifically associated with liver cancer. Furthermore, canonical GT-AG splice junctions were used significantly less frequently in the alternative splicing isoforms in tumors. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments confirmed association of the alternative splicing isoforms with tumors. These results suggest that alternative splicing may have potential as a diagnostic marker for cancer.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2003

Genetic susceptibility and dietary patterns in lung cancer.

Cigarette smoking is the dominant risk factor for lung cancer, but only a minority of smokers ever develops tumors. Though genetic susceptibility is likely to explain some of the variability in risk, results from previous studies of genetic polymorphisms have been inconclusive. As diet may also affect the risk of lung cancer, it is possible that the degree of risk produced by smoking and genetic susceptibility varies, depending on diet. To assess this hypothesis, we conducted a case-control study to examine the effect of cigarette smoking, dietary patterns and variation in genes involved in phase II metabolism. A total of 254 individuals with lung cancer and 184 healthy controls were recruited for the study. To identify persons with similar dietary patterns, cluster analysis was performed using nutrient densities of four major dietary constituents: protein, carbohydrate, animal fat, and dietary fiber. Two groups of individuals were identified with distinct dietary patterns: (1) a group (n=241) with a high intake of animal fat and protein and a low intake of carbohydrates and dietary fiber (the 'unhealthy' pattern) and (2) a group (n=197) with a high intake of fiber and carbohydrate and a low intake of protein and animal fat (the 'healthy' pattern) [corrected]. On stratified analysis, several genotype/dietary pattern combinations were found to affect risk of lung cancer. Smokers who were not homozygous for the most common GSTP1 allele and had a healthy dietary pattern were at significantly lower risk than smokers who were homozygous for the GSTP1 common allele and who had an unhealthy dietary pattern (OR=0.16, 95%CI: 0.04-0.57). Among smokers who were GSTM1 null, persons with a healthy dietary pattern were at lower risk than persons with an unhealthy dietary pattern (OR: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.21-1.01). Among smokers with an unhealthy dietary patterns, persons with a His/His genotype in the exon 3 polymorphism of EPHX1 were at significantly lower risk that persons who were not homozygous. These data suggest that dietary factors may affect the risk imposed by genetic susceptibility at detoxification loci. Adjustments using dietary pattern may be useful in elucidating the effects of polymorphisms in genes responsible for carcinogen metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A genome scan of 18 families with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) accounts for about 30% of all leukaemias and is most prevalent in older individuals. Significant familial aggregation has been demonstrated but the mode of inheritance is unknown. Recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities are frequently found in CLL tumour cells but no susceptibility genes have been confirmed. We have collected clinical data and biospecimens on families ascertained for having at least two living patients with CLL. The current study included DNA samples from 94 individuals (38 affected patients) in 18 families. We have carried out a genome scan using the ABI 28-panel medium density linkage mapping set (average spacing of 10 cM and average heterozygosity of 80%). Genotypes for 359 markers were scored. Multipoint limit of detection (lod) scores were calculated, assuming both dominant and recessive inheritance and allowing for increased penetrance with age and genetic heterogeneity. Non-parametric linkage scores were also calculated. Lod scores of 1.0 or greater were found on regions of chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 17, but none of these loci achieved statistical significance. Four of these six regions (6q, 13q, 12 and 17p) coincide with areas where cytogenetic abnormalities are frequently observed in CLL tumour cells and are, therefore, strong candidate regions for containing germ line changes.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2003

Allelic variation in gene expression is common in the human genome.

Variations in gene sequence and expression underlie much of human variability. Despite the known biological roles of differential allelic gene expression resulting from X-chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting, a large-scale analysis of allelic gene expression in human is lacking. We examined allele-specific gene expression of 1063 transcribed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by using Affymetrix HuSNP oligo arrays. Among the 602 genes that were heterozygous and expressed in kidney or liver tissues from seven individuals, 326 (54%) showed preferential expression of one allele in at least one individual, and 170 of those showed greater than fourfold difference between the two alleles. The allelic variation has been confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR experiments. Some of these 170 genes are known to be imprinted, such as SNRPN, IPW, HTR2A, and PEG3. Most of the differentially expressed genes are not in known imprinting domains but instead are distributed throughout the genome. Our studies demonstrate that variation of gene expression between alleles is common, and this variation may contribute to human variability.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

Multiple cross and inbred strain haplotype mapping of complex-trait candidate genes.

Identifying complex-trait candidate genes after initial low-resolution mapping has proven to be a difficult and labor-intensive undertaking, usually requiring years to develop and analyze congenic strains. As a result, to date, few complex-trait genes have been discovered. Recently it was suggested that SNP haplotype analysis in inbred strains might be useful for mapping of complex traits. In this study, we have combined medium-resolution haplotype mapping with multiple experimental cross-mapping experiments to reduce the number of potential candidate genes in a complex-trait candidate interval. Coincident mapping of a modifier gene in multiple experimental crosses using different inbred strains is consistent with the common inheritance of a modifier allele. A haplotype map was developed in four inbred strains of mice used in our complex-trait mapping crosses across the proximal 10 cM of proximal Chromosome 19 to identify haplotype blocks that segregate appropriately. Only ~23 out of >400 genes met this criteria. This strategy coupled with tissue and expression arrays, as well as our recently described common pathway analysis to reduce the number of high-priority candidates, may provide a rapid, efficient method to identify and prioritize complex-trait candidate genes without requiring construction of congenic mouse strains.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Generation and initial analysis of more than 15,000 full-length human and mouse cDNA sequences.

The National Institutes of Health Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC) Program is a multiinstitutional effort to identify and sequence a cDNA clone containing a complete ORF for each human and mouse gene. ESTs were generated from libraries enriched for full-length cDNAs and analyzed to identify candidate full-ORF clones, which then were sequenced to high accuracy. The MGC has currently sequenced and verified the full ORF for a nonredundant set of >9,000 human and >6,000 mouse genes. Candidate full-ORF clones for an additional 7,800 human and 3,500 mouse genes also have been identified. All MGC sequences and clones are available without restriction through public databases and clone distribution networks (see http:mgc.nci.nih.gov).

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

HapScope: a software system for automated and visual analysis of functionally annotated haplotypes.

We have developed a software analysis package, HapScope, which includes a comprehensive analysis pipeline and a sophisticated visualization tool for analyzing functionally annotated haplotypes. The HapScope analysis pipeline supports: (i) computational haplotype construction with an expectation-maximization or Bayesian statistical algorithm; (ii) SNP classification by protein coding change, homology to model organisms or putative regulatory regions; and (iii) minimum SNP subset selection by either a Brute Force Algorithm or a Greedy Partition Algorithm. The HapScope viewer displays genomic structure with haplotype information in an integrated environment, providing eight alternative views for assessing genetic and functional correlation. It has a user-friendly interface for: (i) haplotype block visualization; (ii) SNP subset selection; (iii) haplotype consolidation with subset SNP markers; (iv) incorporation of both experimentally determined haplotypes and computational results; and (v) data export for additional analysis. Comparison of haplotypes constructed by the statistical algorithms with those determined experimentally shows variation in haplotype prediction accuracies in genomic regions with different levels of nucleotide diversity. We have applied HapScope in analyzing haplotypes for candidate genes and genomic regions with extensive SNP and genotype data. We envision that the systematic approach of integrating functional genomic analysis with population haplotypes, supported by HapScope, will greatly facilitate current genetic disease research.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

An anatomy of normal and malignant gene expression.

A gene's expression pattern provides clues to its role in normal physiology and disease. To provide quantitative expression levels on a genome-wide scale, the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP) uses serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). Over 5 million transcript tags from more than 100 human cell types have been assembled. To enhance the utility of this data, the CGAP SAGE project created SAGE Genie, a web site for the analysis and presentation of SAGE data (http://cgap.nci.nih.gov/SAGE). SAGE Genie provides an automatic link between gene names and SAGE transcript levels, accounting for alternative transcription and many potential errors. These informatics advances provide a rapid and intuitive view of transcript expression in the human body or brain, displayed on the SAGE Anatomic Viewer. We report here an easily accessible view of nearly any gene's expression in a wide variety of malignant and normal tissues.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗
PubMed2002

A phylogenetic analysis identifies heterogeneity among hepatocellular carcinomas.

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of cancer morbidity and mortality on the global scale. Although epidemiologic studies have identified major risk factors for HCC, the sequence of oncogenic events at the molecular level remains poorly understood. While genetic allele loss appears to be a common event, the significance of the loss is not clear. In order to determine whether allele loss appears to be a random event among HCCs or whether patterns of loss cluster in groups of tumors, a phylogenetic approach was used to examine 32 tumors for genome-wide loss of heterozygosity employing 391 markers. Clusters identified by the phylogenetic analysis were then contrasted to compare candidate locus variation among individuals and to determine whether certain clusters exhibited higher loss rates than other clusters. The analysis found that 3 major and 1 minor cluster of loss could be identified and, further, these clusters were distinguished by variable rates of loss (cluster 1, 29%; cluster 2, 21%; cluster 3, 16%). The analyses also indicated that the allele loss rates in HCC were not insignificant and that the patterns of allele loss were complex. In addition, the results indicated that an individual's constitutional genotype at the EPHX1 locus may be a critical factor in determining the path of tumor evolution. In conclusion, it appears that in HCC, allele loss is not random, but clusters into definable groups that are characterized by distinctive rates of loss.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Long-range heterogeneity at the 3' ends of human mRNAs.

The publication of a draft of the human genome and of large collections of transcribed sequences has made it possible to study the complex relationship between the transcriptome and the genome. In the work presented here, we have focused on mapping mRNA 3' ends onto the genome by use of the raw data generated by the expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing projects. We find that at least half of the human genes encode multiple transcripts whose polyadenylation is driven by multiple signals. The corresponding transcript 3' ends are spread over distances in the kilobase range. This finding has profound implications for our understanding of gene expression regulation and of the diversity of human transcripts, for the design of cDNA microarray probes, and for the interpretation of gene expression profiling experiments.

3' Flanking Region↗
PubMed2002

Significance of genetic variation at the glutathione S-transferase M1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 detoxification genes in breast cancer development.

This work examined the role of constitutional genetic variation at the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) detoxification loci in breast cancer development. Methods included contrasting patterns of genetic variations at these loci between cases with breast cancer and healthy controls and assessing the association of genotypes with tumor characteristics. Participants were Caucasian women living in the Greater Philadelphia region, recruited from 1988 to 1994, with recently diagnosed women attending breast cancer clinics at Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) and network affiliated hospitals as cases, and FCCC employees or women attending noncancer clinics as controls. The GSTM1 locus was determined for 402 cases and 238 controls, NQO1 for 346 cases and 235 controls. Results show that neither locus was associated with breast cancer occurrence, with the GSTM1 null genotype occurring at frequencies of 0.560 and 0.563 in cases and controls, respectively [odds ratio (OR) 0.98, 0.95 confidence interval (CI) 0.70-1.38] and the NQO1 wild-type allele at frequencies of 0.808 and 0.845, respectively (OR 0.77, 0.95 CI 0.55-1.06). The GSTM1 null genotype, however, was significantly overrepresented among larger (T3 and T4) primary tumors (OR 7.61, 0.95 CI 1.05-333) and with the occurrence of axillary lymph node metastases (OR 1.62, 0.95 CI 0.98-2.69). NQO1 results revealed that homozygotes for the wild type allele were more likely to have ductal carcinoma and poor histologic grade when compared with individuals carrying one or two mutated alleles (OR 3.50, 0.95 CI 1.41-9.0, and OR 2.26, 0.95 CI 1.18-4.35 for histology type and grade, respectively). We conclude that while these loci are not associated with breast cancer occurrence, the GSTM1 locus is likely associated with tumor progression. NQO1 results suggest that different quinones (possibly estrogenic quinone metabolites) might affect the histological development of breast tumors.

Adult↗