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Peter J Campbell

Publications and source records attributed to Peter J Campbell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Neocentromeres fail to maintain DNA methylation boundaries, driving CENP-A drift, instability, and chromosome missegregation.

Centromere identity is specified by CENP-A, a histone H3 variant that epigenetically defines centromere position. How CENP-A is maintained at one location in rapidly evolving centromeric DNA is unknown. Using single-cell-derived clones of human cell lines, we demonstrate heterogeneity in CENP-A position within cell populations at neocentromeres and a native centromere. CENP-A heterogeneity is accompanied by heterogeneous DNA methylation patterns, with DNA methylation shifting according to CENP-A position. We demonstrate centromere epigenetic plasticity over extended proliferation, with native centromeres maintaining stable DNA methylation boundaries, but neocentromeres exhibiting DNA methylation instability, boundary loss, and increased missegregation. Finally, we show that neocentromeres are more sensitive to DNA methylation inhibition than native centromeres, and that this inhibition is accompanied by expanded CENP-A-enriched domains and increased missegregation. This study supports a role for DNA methylation boundaries in maintaining centromere position, stability, and function and highlights the intrinsic instability of DNA methylation at neocentromeres.

CENP-A↗

A dedicated caller for DUX4 rearrangements from whole-genome sequencing data.

Rearrangements involving the DUX4 gene (DUX4-r) define a subtype of paediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with a favourable outcome. Currently, there is no 'standard of care' diagnostic method for their confident identification. Here, we present an open-source software tool designed to detect DUX4-r from short-read, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. Evaluation on a cohort of 210 paediatric ALL cases showed that our method detects all known, as well as previously unidentified, cases of IGH::DUX4 and rearrangements with other partner genes. These findings demonstrate the possibility of robustly detecting DUX4-r using WGS in the routine clinical setting.

Humans↗

Implementing Mutational Epidemiology on a Global Scale: Lessons from Mutographs.

The Mutographs Cancer Grand Challenge team aimed to discover unknown causes of cancer through mutational epidemiology, an alliance of cancer epidemiology and somatic genomics. By generating whole-genome sequences from thousands of cancers and normal tissues from more than 30 countries on five continents, it discovered unsuspected mutagenic exposures affecting millions of people, raised the possibility that some carcinogens act by altering forces of selection in tissue microenvironments rather than by mutagenesis, and demonstrated changes to the direction of somatic evolution in normal cells of the human body in response to exogenous exposures and noncancer diseases. See related article by Bressan et al., p. 16 See related article by Bhattacharjee et al., p. 28 See related article by Goodwin et al., p. 34.

Humans↗

Whole-genome sequencing reveals progressive versus stable myeloma precursor conditions as two distinct entities.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is consistently preceded by precursor conditions recognized clinically as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering myeloma (SMM). We interrogate the whole genome sequence (WGS) profile of 18 MGUS and compare them with those from 14 SMMs and 80 MMs. We show that cases with a non-progressing, clinically stable myeloma precursor condition (n = 15) are characterized by later initiation in the patient's life and by the absence of myeloma defining genomic events including: chromothripsis, templated insertions, mutations in driver genes, aneuploidy, and canonical APOBEC mutational activity. This data provides evidence that WGS can be used to recognize two biologically and clinically distinct myeloma precursor entities that are either progressive or stable.

DNA Copy Number Variations↗

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF), post polycythemia vera myelofibrosis (post-PV MF), post essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (post-ET MF), blast phase PMF (PMF-BP): Consensus on terminology by the international working group for myelofibrosis research and treatment (IWG-MRT).

The International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment (IWG-MRT) is comprised of hematologists, hematopathologists, and laboratory scientists and its main goal is to provide a forum for scientific exchange and collaboration. During its first general meeting in April 2006, the IWG-MRT established uniform treatment response criteria for chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF); also known as agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM), myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), and many other names in the hematologic literature. This document summarizes the proceedings from the second meeting of the IWG-MRT, in November 2006, where the group discussed and agreed to standardize the nomenclature referring to CIMF: (i) the term primary myelofibrosis (PMF) was chosen over several other designations including CIMF, AMM, and MMM, (ii) myelofibrosis that develops in the setting of either polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET) will be referred to as post-PV MF and post-ET MF, respectively, and (iii) "leukemic" transformation will be recognized as blast phase disease (PMF-BP, post-PV/ET MF in blast phase).

Blast Crisis↗

Identifying gene regulatory elements by genomic microarray mapping of DNaseI hypersensitive sites.

The identification of cis-regulatory elements is central to understanding gene transcription. Hypersensitivity of cis-regulatory elements to digestion with DNaseI remains the gold-standard approach to locating such elements. Traditional methods used to identify DNaseI hypersensitive sites are cumbersome and can only be applied to short stretches of DNA at defined locations. Here we report the development of a novel genomic array-based approach to DNaseI hypersensitive site mapping (ADHM) that permits precise, large-scale identification of such sites from as few as 5 million cells. Using ADHM we identified all previously recognized hematopoietic regulatory elements across 200 kb of the mouse T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia-1 (Tal1) locus, and, in addition, identified two novel elements within the locus, which show transcriptional regulatory activity. We further validated the ADHM protocol by mapping the DNaseI hypersensitive sites across 250 kb of the human TAL1 locus in CD34+ primary stem/progenitor cells and K562 cells and by mapping the previously known DNaseI hypersensitive sites across 240 kb of the human alpha-globin locus in K562 cells. ADHM provides a powerful approach to identifying DNaseI hypersensitive sites across large genomic regions.

Algorithms↗

Mutation of JAK2 in the myeloproliferative disorders: timing, clonality studies, cytogenetic associations, and role in leukemic transformation.

The identification of an acquired mutation of JAK2 in patients with myeloproliferative disorders has raised questions about the relationship between mutation-positive and mutation-negative subtypes, timing of the JAK2 mutation, and molecular mechanisms of disease progression. Here we demonstrate that patients with V617F(-) essential thrombocythemia do not commonly progress to become V617F(+). Consistent with the concept of distinct pathogenetic mechanisms, we show that patients with and without the JAK2 mutation have different patterns of cytogenetic abnormality, with virtually all patients carrying the 20q deletion or trisomy 9 being V617F(+). We also investigated the existence of a "pre-JAK2" phase by comparing the proportion of clonally derived granulocytes, estimated from X-chromosome inactivation patterns (XCIPs), with the proportion of V617F(+) granulocytes. Our results demonstrate that inherent XCIP variability between granulocytes and T cells produces a systematically biased pattern of results that may be misinterpreted as evidence for an excess of clonally derived granulocytes, an observation that limits the utility of XCIP analysis in this context. Lastly, we studied 4 patients with V617F(+) myeloproliferative disorders who subsequently developed acute myeloid leukemia. In 3 patients the leukemic cells were V617F(-), suggesting that in these patients the leukemia arose in a V617F(-) cell.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

Progenitors homozygous for the V617F mutation occur in most patients with polycythemia vera, but not essential thrombocythemia.

An acquired V617F JAK2 mutation occurs in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET). In a proportion of V617F-positive patients, mitotic recombination produces mutation-homozygous cells that come to predominate with time. However, the prevalence of homozygosity is unclear, as previous reports studied mixed populations of wild-type, V617F-heterozygous, and V617F-homozygous mutant cells. We therefore analyzed 1766 individual hematopoietic colonies from 34 patients with PV or ET in whom granulocyte sequencing demonstrated that the mutant peak did not predominate. V617F-positive erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-Es) were more frequent in patients with PV compared with patients with ET (P = .022) and, strikingly, V617F-homozygous BFU-Es were detected in all 17 patients with PV, but in none of the patients with ET (P < .001). Moreover, mutation-homozygous cells were present in 2 patients with ET after polycythemic transformation. These results demonstrate that V617F-homozygous erythroid progenitors are present in most patients with PV but occur rarely in those with ET.

Base Sequence↗

Methods for the detection of the JAK2 V617F mutation in human myeloproliferative disorders.

A single acquired mutation in the JAK2 gene has recently been described in human myeloproliferative disorders, including most patients with polycythemia vera and about half of those with essential thrombocythemia and idiopathic myelofibrosis. Reliable and easily implemented methods for detection of this V617F mutation promise to revolutionize the way these disorders are diagnosed and classified, and may in the future have implications for targeted therapeutics. Two polymerase chain reaction-based methods for detection of the mutation are described here. One method is based on allele-specific amplification of the mutant band, and the other on elimination of a restriction enzyme recognition sequence by the mutation. Both methods are significantly more sensitive than conventional sequencing techniques, and could be readily implemented in a molecular diagnostic laboratory.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Size matters: the prognostic implications of large and small deletions of the derivative 9 chromosome in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Deletions of the derivative 9 chromosome (der(9)) are associated with poor prognosis in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Several models have been proposed to account for this association. To distinguish between the various models we mapped the deletion in 69 Philadelphia-positive CML patients carrying a der(9) deletion and compared the size of the deletion with the patients' outcome. Our results demonstrate that patients with large deletions had a significantly worse survival than those with small deletions whereas the outcome for patients with small deletions was similar to that of patients lacking a deletion. These results support the tumor suppressor gene model for the pathogenesis of der(9) deletions, argue against alternative models and provide insight into candidate gene location.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9↗

An acquired translocation in JAK2 Val617Phe-negative essential thrombocythemia associated with autosomal spread of X-inactivation.

The acquired mutation Val617Phe in the tyrosine kinase JAK2 was recently identified in most but not all patients with classical myeloproliferative disorders. We describe a cytogenetic and molecular study of a JAK2Val617Phe-negative case of essential thrombocythemia harboring the acquired translocation t(X;5)(q13;q33). We show that this involves the inactive X-chromosome and is associated with silencing of autosomal genes within the adjacent 5q minus syndrome common deleted region. This is the first documented example of autosomal gene silencing adjacent to an X-autosome breakpoint in human malignancy and such a mechanism may underlie the pathogenesis of related disorders with translocations involving Xq13.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Definition of subtypes of essential thrombocythaemia and relation to polycythaemia vera based on JAK2 V617F mutation status: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: An acquired V617F mutation in JAK2 occurs in most patients with polycythaemia vera, but is seen in only half those with essential thrombocythaemia and idiopathic myelofibrosis. We aimed to assess whether patients with the mutation are biologically distinct from those without, and why the same mutation is associated with different disease phenotypes. METHODS: Two sensitive PCR-based methods were used to assess the JAK2 mutation status of 806 patients with essential thrombocythaemia, including 776 from the Medical Research Council's Primary Thrombocythaemia trial (MRC PT-1) and two other prospective studies. Laboratory and clinical features, response to treatment, and clinical events were compared for V617F-positive and V617F-negative patients with essential thrombocythaemia. FINDINGS: Mutation-positive patients had multiple features resembling polycythaemia vera, with significantly increased haemoglobin (mean increase 9.6 g/L, 95% CI 7.6-11.6 g/L; p<0.0001), neutrophil counts (1.1x10(9)/L, 0.7-1.5x10(9)/L; p<0.0001), bone marrow erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis, more venous thromboses, and a higher rate of polycythaemic transformation than those without the mutation. Mutation-positive patients had lower serum erythropoietin (mean decrease 13.8 U/L; 95% CI, 10.8-16.9 U/L; p<0.0001) and ferritin (n=182; median 58 vs 91 mug/L; p=0.01) concentrations than did mutation-negative patients. Mutation-negative patients did, nonetheless, show many clinical and laboratory features that were characteristic of a myeloproliferative disorder. V617F-positive individuals were more sensitive to therapy with hydroxyurea, but not anagrelide, than those without the JAK2 mutation. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that JAK2 V617F-positive essential thrombocythaemia and polycythaemia vera form a biological continuum, with the degree of erythrocytosis determined by physiological or genetic modifiers.

Adult↗

V617F mutation in JAK2 is associated with poorer survival in idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Most patients with polycythemia vera and half with idiopathic myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia have an acquired V617F mutation in JAK2. Using sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, we genotyped 152 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis to establish whether there were differences in presentation and outcome between those with and those without the mutation. Patients positive for V617F had higher neutrophil and white cell counts (P = .02) than did patients negative for V617F, but other diagnostic features were comparable between the 2 groups. Patients positive for V617F were less likely to require blood transfusion during follow-up (P = .03). Despite this, patients positive for V617F had poorer overall survival, even after correction for confounding factors (P = .01).

Aged↗

Hydroxyurea compared with anagrelide in high-risk essential thrombocythemia.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized comparison of hydroxyurea with anagrelide in the treatment of essential thrombocythemia. METHODS: A total of 809 patients with essential thrombocythemia who were at high risk for vascular events received low-dose aspirin plus either anagrelide or hydroxyurea. The composite primary end point was the actuarial risk of arterial thrombosis (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, or peripheral arterial thrombosis), venous thrombosis (deep-vein thrombosis, splanchnic-vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism), serious hemorrhage, or death from thrombotic or hemorrhagic causes. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 39 months, patients in the anagrelide group were significantly more likely than those in the hydroxyurea group to have reached the primary end point (odds ratio, 1.57; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 2.37; P=0.03). As compared with hydroxyurea plus aspirin, anagrelide plus aspirin was associated with increased rates of arterial thrombosis (P=0.004), serious hemorrhage (P=0.008), and transformation to myelofibrosis (P=0.01) but with a decreased rate of venous thromboembolism (P=0.006). Patients receiving anagrelide were more likely to withdraw from their assigned treatment (P<0.001). Equivalent long-term control of the platelet count was achieved in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyurea plus low-dose aspirin is superior to anagrelide plus low-dose aspirin for patients with essential thrombocythemia at high risk for vascular events.

Adult↗

Management of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia.

The optimal management of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) continues to be controversial. Both diseases present diagnostic challenges and there is a paucity of data from randomized clinical trials to guide therapeutic decisions. However, the past two years have seen major advances in our understanding of these myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). First, the ECLAP study demonstrated the anti-thrombotic efficacy of aspirin in patients with PV. Second, the PT-1 trial, the largest randomized study of any MPD, has provided much needed guidance on the optimal management of patients with ET. Third, the identification of a single JAK2 mutation in most patients with PV, and in some of those with ET, illuminates the pathogenesis of these diseases and raises questions about the boundary between them. For the purpose of management decisions, it remains appropriate to consider them as separate entities for the time being. However, as we learn more about the clinical significance of the JAK2 mutation, it seems likely that the coming years will see major changes in the way we classify and manage these disorders.

Amino Acid Substitution↗