Abstract 2142: Multifaceted genomic analyses reveal novel glioblastoma candidate genes and microbial DNAs

The glioblastoma (GBM) genome displays remarkable chromosomal aberrations, which harbor critical GBM specific genes contributing to several oncogenetic pathways. However, deciphering further driver genomic changes from passenger gene alterations remains a daunting challenge. In attempt to identify novel GBM genes, we carried out a multifaceted genome-wide analysis to characterize the most significant aberrations of DNA content occurring in GBM patients. First, we performed copy number analysis using Digital Karyotyping (DK) and Illumina BeadChip technologies and identify genomic loci which consistently present as focal copy number alterations. Next, we overlaid copy number altered loci with the somatic mutation data from our genome-wide coding sequencing analysis. Upon expression analyses of these genes, we identify several previously unrecognized genes which are dysregulated in GBM. Most significantly, we identify grade-specific activation of set of genes potentially involved in chromosomal instability of the GBM genome. Finally, we evaluated the contribution of microbial DNA to the GBM genome using an approach, called DK-MICROBE, which we developed to identify genomic DNA of bacteria and viruses in human disease tissues. Our multifaceted genomic evaluation of GBM establishes several candidate oncogenes, tumor suppressors and caretaker genes and provides insight on the molecular mechanisms and pathways to this deadly disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2142.