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Long-read sequencing to resolve the missing heritability in patients suspected of PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome

Project description

Long-read sequencing to identify the genetic cause of a tumour syndrome

PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS) is a genetic disease with a high risk of developing cancer. PHTS is associated with the presence of pathogenic variants in PTEN, but for most patients suspected of PHTS, no variant is found. Low diagnosis rate is probably due to the inability to detect variants with current methods or pathogenic variants in other genes than PTEN. The EU-funded RESEMBLE project will develop a long-read sequencing (LRS) approach, instead of the usual short-read sequencing, to screen these PHTS-like patients. The team will perform targeted LRS of PTEN in PHTS-like families as well as whole-genome LRS to identify potential new genes involved in PHTS. This approach will increase genetic diagnoses, allowing a personalised care approach for these patients.

Objective

Individuals with a genetic tumour risk syndrome are at high risk to develop cancer. One of these syndromes is PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS). PHTS is associated with pathogenic variants (PVs) in the PTEN gene. Unfortunately, in the majority of patients suspected of PHTS no PV in PTEN is identified. These patients are considered PHTS-like. The low diagnosis rate in this group of patients suggests the possibility of PVs in regions of PTEN that are not covered in routine diagnostics or suggests that PVs in other genes in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway result in PHTS-like disease. In order to identify the missing heritability in PHTS I aim to develop a long-read sequencing (LRS) approach for PHTS-like patients, which will go beyond the currently state-of-the-art short-read sequencing approaches. I will O1) develop a PTEN-targeted LRS assay and O2) perform this assay on a highly selective cohort of PHTS-like families (n=94). I then will O3) perform whole genome LRS on 25 families that were not solved by targeted LRS to identify novel gene-disease associations. At last, I will O4) validate these new associations in a wider cohort.
Via this work, I will improve the diagnostic yield for PHTS by identifying novel genetic mechanisms and genes underlying disease in PHTS-like patients. The unique interdisciplinary structure of the Department of Human Genetics at Radboudumc will allow to rapidly implement genetic testing for the newly identified genetic causes for PHTS. Identification of the precise underlying cause of PHTS will enable cascade genetic testing of at-risk family members to determine their status for the causal variant and thus, risk of disease to them and any future off-spring. Furthermore, this approach will allow the implementation of preventive care strategies for the family members at risk. Overall, my proposal will facilitate a personalized care approach for PHTS(-like) patients and their families for improved clinical outcomes and reduced disease morbidity

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01

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Coordinator

STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 187 624,32
Address
GEERT GROOTEPLEIN 10 ZUID
6525 GA NIJMEGEN
Netherlands

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Region
Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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