This document discusses next generation epigenetic profiling using methylation-based biomarkers. It provides an overview of epigenetics and methylation in oncology. It then discusses MDxHealth's next-generation epigenetic biomarkers and methylation-based companion diagnostics. As an example, it summarizes research on MGMT promoter methylation predicting benefit from DNA-alkylating chemotherapy in glioblastoma patients.
6. Historically,
Cancer
Was
Considered
to
be
Driven
Mostly
by
Gene,c
Changes
GENETIC
§ Muta*ons
in
p53
Example:
Replica,on
errors
§ Ac*va*ng
muta*ons
in
RAS
§ Muta*ons
or
amplifica*ons
of
the
X
X
Altered
DNA
sequence
Altered
DNA/mRNA/proteins
HER-‐2
gene
§ Chromosomal
transloca*ons
in
Oncogenesis
myeloid
cells
and
the
genera*on
of
the
BCR-‐ABL
fusion
protein
Tumor
7. Epigene,c
Changes
are
Important
in
Causing
Cancer
GENETIC
EPIGENETIC
Example:
Chroma,n
modifica,on
errors
Example:
Replica,on
errors
X
X
Altered
DNA
sequence
Altered
DNA/mRNA/proteins
Altered
chroma,n
structure
Oncogenesis
Altered
levels
of
mRNA/proteins
Tumor
8. Example
of
Methyla,on
vs
Muta,on:
Colon
&
Breast
Cancer
120
100
80
Dx
60
40
CDx
20
0
Methylated
Mutated
Source:
Schuebel
et
al
2007
76-100 51-75
21-50
1-20
9. MGMT Biology
O6 Methyl-Guanine
Methyl Transferase
Essential DNA Repair Enzyme
Removes alkyl groups from damaged
guanine bases
Healthy
individual:
-‐
MGMT
is
an
essen*al
DNA
repair
enzyme
Loss
of
MGMT
ac*vity
makes
individuals
suscep*ble
to
DNA
damage
and
prone
to
tumor
development
Glioblastoma
pa,ent
on
alkylator
chemotherapy:
-‐
Pa*ents
with
MGMT
promoter
methyla*on
show
have
longer
PFS
and
OS
with
the
use
of
alkyla*ng
agents
as
chemotherapy
10. MGMT Promoter
Methylation Predicts
Benefit form DNA-Alkylating Chemotherapy
Post-hoc subgroup analysis of Temozolomide Clinical trial with primary
glioblastoma patients show benefit for patients with MGMT promoter methylation
25
Median
Overall
Survival
21.7 months
20
15
plus
temozolomide
12.7 months
radiotherapy
10
radiotherapy
5
0
Non-Methylated
MGMT Gene
Methylated
MGMT Gene
Adapted
from
Hegi
et
al.
NEJM
2005
352(10):1036-‐8.
Study
with
207
pa*ents
11. Clinical
Valida,on
of
MDxHealth
assay
RTOG
0525
Study
§ MGMT
was
measured
prospec*vely
in
the
RTOG
0525
study
§ MGMT
used
to
balance
the
arms
of
the
study
as
there
is
an
advantage
to
overall
survival
and
progression
free
survival
being
MGMT
methyla*on
§ Physicans
goal
in
this
study
was
to
compare
current
temozolomide
schedule
(Arm
1)
vs
a
dose-‐dense
administra*on
of
temozolomide(Arm2).
§ The
dose
dense
schedule
was
hypothesized
as
being
able
to
overcome
the
unmethylated
MGMT
tumors
by
overwhelming
the
tumor
with
alkyla*on.
§ The
dose
dense
schedule
did
not
work.
12. Outcomes
by
MGMT
Status-‐
MDxHealth
Assay
100
Dead Total
162
244
Methylated
Unmethylated 433
516
p (2-sided) =< 0.0001
HR (95% CI) =1.74 (1.45, 2.08)
75
Progression-free Survival (%)
Overall Survival (%)
100
50
25
0
0
Patients at Risk
Methy
244
Unmethy 516
12
24
36
Months after Randomization
168
104
37
295
106
28
48
6
6
Dead Total
202
244
Methylated
Unmethylated 486
516
p (2-sided) =< 0.0001
HR (95% CI) =1.63 (1.38, 1.92)
75
50
25
0
0
Patients at Risk
Methy
244
Unmethy 516
12
24
36
Months after Randomization
99
55
19
108
40
14
48
3
4
However
the
study
did
show
that
the
MDxHealth
assay
was
able
to
show
the
benefit
to
OS
and
PFS
with
the
MGMT
methylated
cohort.
Confiden*al
ASCO
2011,
Mark
R.
Gilbert,
MD
12
13. Overview
Epigene,cs
–
Introduc*on
–
Methyla*on
&
Oncology
–
Biomarkers
MDxHealth
– NEXT-‐GENera*on
Epigene*c
Biomarkers
Can
we
rediscover
MGMT
?
What
does
the
epigenome
look
like
?
27. GCATCGTGACTAGCGACTGATCGATGGATGCTAGCAT
25%
50%
25%
GCATCGTGACTAGCGACTGATCGATGGATGCTAGCAT
GCATCGTGACTAGCGACTGATCGATGGATGCTAGCAT
Dense
methylated
needed
for
transcrip*onal
silencing
Are
there
alleles
with
all
three
posi4ons
methylated
?
28. Deep
Sequencing
unmethylated
alleles
methylated
alleles
less
methyla*on
more
methyla*on
GCATCGTGACTTACGACTGATCGATGGATGCTAGCAT!
42. Epi-‐health:
comprehensive
epigene,c
profiling
§ Key
genes
– For
all
know
epigene*c
genes
– For
all
important
gene
classes
(CT
genes,
immune-‐response)
47. Epi-‐health:
comprehensive
epigene,c
profiling
§ Key
genes
– For
all
know
epigene*c
genes
– For
all
important
gene
classes
(CT
genes,
immune-‐response)
§ Key
regions
– Iden*fied
by
mining
epigenomes
50. Epi-‐health:
comprehensive
epigene,c
profiling
§ Key
genes
– For
all
know
epigene*c
genes
– For
all
important
gene
classes
(CT
genes,
immune-‐response)
§ Key
regions
– Iden*fied
by
mining
epigenomes
§ Approach
– Acceptable
amounts
of
clinical
material
– TAT/cost
§ Analysis
– Ac*onable
interpreta*on
– Get
gene*c
data
as
a
bonus
51. Molecular
Unifica,on
E
P
I
Whole-genome
Bisulphite seq
G
E
N
E
T
I
C
Whole-genome
sequencing
Enrichment seq
(MBD, RRBS)
Probes
(450-27K)
Ultra
Deep
Enrichment
Targeted Panels
Enrichment seq
(Exome)
Enrichment
Targeted Panels
Deep
Seq
bp
Full genome
109
108
RUO
107
106
105
104
103
Sequencing
102
101
1
Clinical