Jing He (Califano Lab)
Somatic Mutations Modulate ceRNA Drivers of Tumorigenesis

Pan-cancer studies have shown that competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks can cooperate with chromosome instability and abnormal DNA methylation in tumors to dysregulate tumor suppressors and oncogenes. However, ceRNA cooperative association with mutations in cancer has not been studied. Using data from TCGA, we show that the cooperation between ceRNA interactions and mutations of unknown function contribute to the dysregulation of cancer genes. 

We integrated ceRNA networks and mutations in an attempt to mechanistically recover variability of cancer genes in TCGA breast cancer biopsies. Using a nested ridge regression model we showed that ceRNA drivers cooperating with somatic mutations and CNV, could account for the variability of cancer genes in breast cancer.

In summary, our results suggest that somatic mutations, often of unknown function, cooperate with ceRNA regulators to alter the expression of cancer genes in breast cancer tumors.

Janet Wollen (Carol Friedman lab)
Toward Representing Genetic Data in the Electronic Health Record

Momentum is building toward use of genetic information in guiding personalized patient care. Widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) presents a promising means of disseminating genetic information. However, visual presentation of genetic data in EHRs to promote best practice is not well understood. We aim to investigate (1) clinician information needs to determine what data to present, and (2) how to present genetic data to facilitate decision-making and promote optimal personalized patient care