posted on 2023-04-03, 18:21authored byJames T. Topham, Emma Titmuss, Erin D. Pleasance, Laura M. Williamson, Joanna M. Karasinska, Luka Culibrk, Michael K.C. Lee, Shehara Mendis, Robert E. Denroche, Gun-Ho Jang, Steve E. Kalloger, Hui-Li Wong, Richard A. Moore, Andrew J. Mungall, Grainne M. O'Kane, Jennifer J. Knox, Steven Gallinger, Jonathan M. Loree, Dixie L. Mager, Janessa Laskin, Marco A. Marra, Steven J.M. Jones, David F. Schaeffer, Daniel J. Renouf
Supplemental Table S3 lists gene sets significantly enriched among genes up-regulated in VMP samples.
Funding
Pancreatic Cancer Canada
Genome British Columbia
Genome Canada and Genome BC
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Canada Research Chairs
CIHR
History
ARTICLE ABSTRACT
Next-generation sequencing of solid tumors has revealed variable signatures of immunogenicity across tumors, but underlying molecular characteristics driving such variation are not fully understood. Although expression of endogenous retrovirus (ERV)-containing transcripts can provide a source of tumor-specific neoantigen in some cancer models, associations between ERV levels and immunogenicity across different types of metastatic cancer are not well established. We performed bioinformatics analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical data across an integrated cohort of 199 patients with metastatic breast, colorectal, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors. Within each cancer type, we identified a subgroup of viral mimicry tumors in which increased ERV levels were coupled with transcriptional signatures of autonomous antiviral response and immunogenicity. In addition, viral mimicry colorectal and pancreatic tumors showed increased expression of DNA demethylation gene TET2. Taken together, these data demonstrate the existence of an ERV-associated viral mimicry phenotype across three distinct metastatic cancer types, while indicating links between ERV abundance, epigenetic dysregulation, and immunogenicity.