A 235 Kb deletion at 17q21.33 encompassing the COL1A1, and two additional secondary copy number variants in an infant with type I osteogenesis imperfecta: A rare case report
MOLECULAR GENETICS & GENOMIC MEDICINE
Authors: Numbere, Numbereye; Weber, David R.; Porter, George, Jr.; Iqbal, Mohammed A.
Abstract
Background Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare group of disorders characterized by increased susceptibility to fractures due to genetically determined bone fragility. About 90% of cases are due to mutations in COL1A1 (17q21.33) or COL1A2 (7q21.3) resulting in quantitative or qualitative defects in type I collagen, a key structural constituent of bone. OI due to complete COL1A1 deletion is rare. Methods We present a case of OI type I in a Caucasian female referred at 10 months of age for investigation of multiple fractures associated with minimal or no known trauma, small stature, and blue sclera. Her father has four to five lifetime fractures, blue sclera, normal stature, and a 14.5 kilobase (kb) deletion of COL1A1 detected by targeted array performed at an outside institution. Microarray comparative genomic hybridization was performed on the proband and all members of the family. Results A previously unreported 235 kb deletion at 17q21.33 encompassing COL1A1, ITGA3, PDK2, SGCA, and HILS1 was detected in the proband. Also identified in both the proband and sibling is a maternally inherited 283 kb gain at 8p21.3 encompassing CSGALNACT1 and a 163 kb loss at 10q21.3 encompassing CTNNA3. Analysis in the father revealed the same size deletion at 17q21.33 as in the proband. Conclusion Together with previously reported cases of COL1A1 deletions, this case report emphasizes the importance of a whole-genome DNA copy number assessment in patients suspected for OI, which will elucidate the presence of precise COL1A1 deletions and any pathogenic secondary copy number variations.
Integrative analysis of gene expression profiles reveals specific signaling pathways associated with pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma
CANCER COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: Li, Jun; Tan, Wenle; Peng, Linna; Zhang, Jialiang; Huang, Xudong; Cui, Qionghua; Zheng, Jian; Tan, Wen; Wu, Chen; Lin, Dongxin
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a major health problem because conventional cancer treatments are relatively ineffective against it. Microarray studies have linked many genes to pancreatic cancer, but the available data have not been extensively mined for potential insights into PDAC. This study attempted to identify PDAC-associated genes and signaling pathways based on six microarray-based profiles of gene expression in pancreatic cancer deposited in the gene expression omnibus database. Methods: Pathway network methods were used to analyze core pathways in six publicly available pancreatic cancer gene (GSE71989, GSE15471, GSE16515, GSE32676, GSE41368 and GSE28735) expression profiles. Genes potentially linked to PDAC were assessed for potential impact on survival time based on data in The Cancer Genome Atlas and International Cancer Genome Consortium databases, and the expression of one candidate gene (CKS2) and its association with survival was examined in 102 patients with PDAC from our hospital. Effects of CKS2 knockdown were explored in the PDAC cell lines BxPC-3 and CFPAC-1. Results: The KEGG signaling pathway called "pathway in cancer" may play an important role in pancreatic cancer development and progression. Five genes (BIRC5, CKS2, ITGA3, ITGA6 and RALA) in this pathway were significantly associated with survival time in patients with PDAC. CKS2 was overexpressed in PDAC samples from our hospital, and higher CKS2 expression in these patients was associated with shorter survival time. CKS2 knockdown substantially inhibited PDAC cell proliferation in vitro. Conclusions: Analysis integrating existing microarray datasets allowed identification of the "pathway in cancer" as an important signaling pathway in PDAC. This integrative approach may be powerful for identifying genes and pathways involved in cancer.