1
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Bell CG. Epigenomic insights into common human disease pathology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:178. [PMID: 38602535 PMCID: PMC11008083 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05206-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The epigenome-the chemical modifications and chromatin-related packaging of the genome-enables the same genetic template to be activated or repressed in different cellular settings. This multi-layered mechanism facilitates cell-type specific function by setting the local sequence and 3D interactive activity level. Gene transcription is further modulated through the interplay with transcription factors and co-regulators. The human body requires this epigenomic apparatus to be precisely installed throughout development and then adequately maintained during the lifespan. The causal role of the epigenome in human pathology, beyond imprinting disorders and specific tumour suppressor genes, was further brought into the spotlight by large-scale sequencing projects identifying that mutations in epigenomic machinery genes could be critical drivers in both cancer and developmental disorders. Abrogation of this cellular mechanism is providing new molecular insights into pathogenesis. However, deciphering the full breadth and implications of these epigenomic changes remains challenging. Knowledge is accruing regarding disease mechanisms and clinical biomarkers, through pathogenically relevant and surrogate tissue analyses, respectively. Advances include consortia generated cell-type specific reference epigenomes, high-throughput DNA methylome association studies, as well as insights into ageing-related diseases from biological 'clocks' constructed by machine learning algorithms. Also, 3rd-generation sequencing is beginning to disentangle the complexity of genetic and DNA modification haplotypes. Cell-free DNA methylation as a cancer biomarker has clear clinical utility and further potential to assess organ damage across many disorders. Finally, molecular understanding of disease aetiology brings with it the opportunity for exact therapeutic alteration of the epigenome through CRISPR-activation or inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Bell
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts & The London Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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2
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Ding S, Liu J, Han X, Tang M. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing in Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16325. [PMID: 38003514 PMCID: PMC10671490 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, an RNA-based adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea, has catalyzed the development and application of a new generation of gene editing tools. Numerous studies have shown that this system can precisely target a wide range of human genes, including those associated with diseases such as cancer. In cancer research, the intricate genetic mutations in tumors have promoted extensive utilization of the CRISPR/Cas9 system due to its efficient and accurate gene editing capabilities. This includes improvements in Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy, the establishment of tumor models, and gene and drug target screening. Such progress has propelled the investigation of cancer molecular mechanisms and the advancement of precision medicine. However, the therapeutic potential of genome editing remains underexplored, and lingering challenges could elevate the risk of additional genetic mutations. Here, we elucidate the fundamental principles of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and its practical applications in tumor research. We also briefly discuss the primary challenges faced by CRISPR technology and existing solutions, intending to enhance the efficacy of this gene editing therapy and shed light on the underlying mechanisms of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China;
| | - Jinfeng Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China;
| | - Xin Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China;
| | - Mengfan Tang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China;
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3
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Schertzer MD, Stirn A, Isaev K, Pereira L, Das A, Harbison C, Park SH, Wessels HH, Sanjana NE, Knowles DA. Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.12.557474. [PMID: 37745416 PMCID: PMC10515814 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.557474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is an essential mechanism for diversifying proteins, in which mature RNA isoforms produce proteins with potentially distinct functions. Two major challenges in characterizing the cellular function of isoforms are the lack of experimental methods to specifically and efficiently modulate isoform expression and computational tools for complex experimental design. To address these gaps, we developed and methodically tested a strategy which pairs the RNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas13d system with guide RNAs that span exon-exon junctions in the mature RNA. We performed a high-throughput essentiality screen, quantitative RT-PCR assays, and PacBio long read sequencing to affirm our ability to specifically target and robustly knockdown individual RNA isoforms. In parallel, we provide computational tools for experimental design and screen analysis. Considering all possible splice junctions annotated in GENCODE for multi-isoform genes and our gRNA efficacy predictions, we estimate that our junction-centric strategy can uniquely target up to 89% of human RNA isoforms, including 50,066 protein-coding and 11,415 lncRNA isoforms. Importantly, this specificity spans all splicing and transcriptional events, including exon skipping and inclusion, alternative 5' and 3' splice sites, and alternative starts and ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan D Schertzer
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Andrew Stirn
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Keren Isaev
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | | | - Anjali Das
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | | | - Stella H Park
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Hans-Hermann Wessels
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY
| | - Neville E Sanjana
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY
| | - David A Knowles
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY
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4
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Tang YJ, Shuldiner EG, Karmakar S, Winslow MM. High-Throughput Identification, Modeling, and Analysis of Cancer Driver Genes In Vivo. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041382. [PMID: 37277208 PMCID: PMC10317066 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The vast number of genomic and molecular alterations in cancer pose a substantial challenge to uncovering the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and identifying therapeutic targets. High-throughput functional genomic methods in genetically engineered mouse models allow for rapid and systematic investigation of cancer driver genes. In this review, we discuss the basic concepts and tools for multiplexed investigation of functionally important cancer genes in vivo using autochthonous cancer models. Furthermore, we highlight emerging technical advances in the field, potential opportunities for future investigation, and outline a vision for integrating multiplexed genetic perturbations with detailed molecular analyses to advance our understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning J Tang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Emily G Shuldiner
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Saswati Karmakar
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Monte M Winslow
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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5
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Tuano NK, Beesley J, Manning M, Shi W, Perlaza-Jimenez L, Malaver-Ortega LF, Paynter JM, Black D, Civitarese A, McCue K, Hatzipantelis A, Hillman K, Kaufmann S, Sivakumaran H, Polo JM, Reddel RR, Band V, French JD, Edwards SL, Powell DR, Chenevix-Trench G, Rosenbluh J. CRISPR screens identify gene targets at breast cancer risk loci. Genome Biol 2023; 24:59. [PMID: 36991492 PMCID: PMC10053147 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified > 200 loci associated with breast cancer risk. The majority of candidate causal variants are in non-coding regions and likely modulate cancer risk by regulating gene expression. However, pinpointing the exact target of the association, and identifying the phenotype it mediates, is a major challenge in the interpretation and translation of GWAS.
Results
Here, we show that pooled CRISPR screens are highly effective at identifying GWAS target genes and defining the cancer phenotypes they mediate. Following CRISPR mediated gene activation or suppression, we measure proliferation in 2D, 3D, and in immune-deficient mice, as well as the effect on DNA repair. We perform 60 CRISPR screens and identify 20 genes predicted with high confidence to be GWAS targets that promote cancer by driving proliferation or modulating the DNA damage response in breast cells. We validate the regulation of a subset of these genes by breast cancer risk variants.
Conclusions
We demonstrate that phenotypic CRISPR screens can accurately pinpoint the gene target of a risk locus. In addition to defining gene targets of risk loci associated with increased breast cancer risk, we provide a platform for identifying gene targets and phenotypes mediated by risk variants.
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Mills C, Riching A, Keller A, Stombaugh J, Haupt A, Maksimova E, Dickerson SM, Anderson E, Hemphill K, Ebmeier C, Schiel JA, Levenga J, Perkett M, Smith AVB, Strezoska Z. A Novel CRISPR Interference Effector Enabling Functional Gene Characterization with Synthetic Guide RNAs. CRISPR J 2022; 5:769-786. [PMID: 36257604 PMCID: PMC9805873 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2022.0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
While CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) systems have been widely implemented in pooled lentiviral screening, there has been limited use with synthetic guide RNAs for the complex phenotypic readouts enabled by experiments in arrayed format. Here we describe a novel deactivated Cas9 fusion protein, dCas9-SALL1-SDS3, which produces greater target gene repression than first or second generation CRISPRi systems when used with chemically modified synthetic single guide RNAs (sgRNAs), while exhibiting high target specificity. We show that dCas9-SALL1-SDS3 interacts with key members of the histone deacetylase and Swi-independent three complexes, which are the endogenous functional effectors of SALL1 and SDS3. Synthetic sgRNAs can also be used with in vitro-transcribed dCas9-SALL1-SDS3 mRNA for short-term delivery into primary cells, including human induced pluripotent stem cells and primary T cells. Finally, we used dCas9-SALL1-SDS3 for functional gene characterization of DNA damage host factors, orthogonally to small interfering RNA, demonstrating the ability of the system to be used in arrayed-format screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarence Mills
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew Riching
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Ashleigh Keller
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jesse Stombaugh
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda Haupt
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Elena Maksimova
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Sarah M. Dickerson
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Emily Anderson
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Kevin Hemphill
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Chris Ebmeier
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - John A. Schiel
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Josien Levenga
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew Perkett
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Anja van Brabant Smith
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Zaklina Strezoska
- Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, Lafayette, Colorado, USA and University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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7
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Jones IR, Ren X, Shen Y. High-throughput CRISPRi and CRISPRa technologies in 3D genome regulation for neuropsychiatric diseases. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R47-R53. [PMID: 35972825 PMCID: PMC9585669 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in genomics have led to the identification of many risk loci with hundreds of genes and thousands of DNA variants associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. A significant barrier to understanding the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases is the lack of functional characterization of risk genes and variants in biological systems relevant to human health and connecting disease-associated variants to pathological phenotypes. Characterizing gene and DNA variant functions requires genetic perturbations followed by molecular and cellular assays of neurobiological phenotypes. However, generating null or mutant alleles is low throughput, making it impossible to characterize disease-associated variants in large quantities efficiently. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screens can be leveraged to dissect the biological consequences of the tested genes and variants in their native context. Nevertheless, testing non-coding variants associated with complex diseases remains non-trivial. In this review, we first discuss the current challenges of interpreting the function of the non-coding genome and approaches to prioritizing disease-associated variants in the context of the 3D epigenome. Second, we provide a brief overview of high-throughput CRISPRi and CRISPRa screening strategies applicable for characterizing non-coding sequences in appropriate biological systems. Lastly, we discuss the promising prospects of using CRISPR-based technologies to dissect DNA sequences associated with neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R Jones
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xingjie Ren
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yin Shen
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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8
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Zeng Z, Zhang X, Jiang CQ, Zhang YG, Wu X, Li J, Tang S, Li L, Gu LJ, Xie XY, Jiang YA. Identifying novel therapeutic targets in gastric cancer using genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening. Oncogene 2022; 41:2069-2078. [PMID: 35177812 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02177-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening technology is a powerful tool to systematically identify genes essential for cancer cell survival. Herein, TKOv3, a genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knock-out library, was screened in the gastric cancer (GC) cells, and relevant validation experiments were performed. We obtained 854 essential genes for the AGS cell line, and 184 were novel essential genes. After knocking down essential genes: SPC25, DHX37, ABCE1, SNRPB, TOP3A, RUVBL1, CIT, TACC3 and MTBP, cell viability and proliferation were significantly decreased. Then, we analysed the detected essential genes at different time points and proved more characteristic genes might appear with the extension of selection. After progressive selection using a series of open datasets, 41 essential genes were identified as potential drug targets. Among them, methyltransferase 1 (METTL1) was over expressed in GC tissues. High METTL1 expression was associated with poor prognosis among 3 of 6 GC cohorts. Furthermore, GC cells growth was significantly inhibited after the down-regulation of METTL1 in vitro and in vivo. Function analysis revealed that METTL1 might play a role in the cell cycle through AKT/STAT3 pathways. In conclusion, compared with existing genome-scale screenings, we obtained 184 novel essential genes. Among them, METTL1 was validated as a potential therapeutic target of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Cong-Qing Jiang
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yong-Gang Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xue Wu
- Department of Biomedical informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Biomedical informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Shan Tang
- Department of Biomedical informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lang Li
- Department of Biomedical informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Li-Juan Gu
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Xie
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Ying-An Jiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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9
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Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading contributor to global cancer incidence and mortality. Pioneering genomic studies, focusing largely on primary GCs, revealed driver alterations in genes such as ERBB2, FGFR2, TP53 and ARID1A as well as multiple molecular subtypes. However, clinical efforts targeting these alterations have produced variable results, hampered by complex co-alteration patterns in molecular profiles and intra-patient genomic heterogeneity. In this Review, we highlight foundational and translational advances in dissecting the genomic cartography of GC, including non-coding variants, epigenomic aberrations and transcriptomic alterations, and describe how these alterations interplay with environmental influences, germline factors and the tumour microenvironment. Mapping of these alterations over the GC life cycle in normal gastric tissues, metaplasia, primary carcinoma and distant metastasis will improve our understanding of biological mechanisms driving GC development and promoting cancer hallmarks. On the translational front, integrative genomic approaches are identifying diverse mechanisms of GC therapy resistance and emerging preclinical targets, enabled by technologies such as single-cell sequencing and liquid biopsies. Validating these insights will require specifically designed GC cohorts, converging multi-modal genomic data with longitudinal data on therapeutic challenges and patient outcomes. Genomic findings from these studies will facilitate 'next-generation' clinical initiatives in GC precision oncology and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khay Guan Yeoh
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patrick Tan
- Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, Singapore, Singapore.
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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Davies R, Liu L, Taotao S, Tuano N, Chaturvedi R, Huang KK, Itman C, Mandoli A, Qamra A, Hu C, Powell D, Daly RJ, Tan P, Rosenbluh J. Author Correction: CRISPRi enables isoform-specific loss-of-function screens and identification of gastric cancer-specific isoform dependencies. Genome Biol 2021; 22:88. [PMID: 33766065 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02314-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
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