Identification of somatic mutations in non-small cell lung carcinomas using whole-exome sequencing

• Published in: Carcinogenesis (New York) Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 1270 - 1276
• Main Authors: PENGYUANLIU, MORRISON, Carl, EBBEN, John D, HAIMING XU, ADJEI, Alex A, HEAD, Karen, ANDRAE, Jaime W, TSCHANNEN, Michael R, JACOB, Howard, JING PAN, QI ZHANG, VAN DEN BERGH, Francoise, LIANG WANG, HAIJIE XIAO, LO, Ken C, PATEL, Jigar, RICHMOND, Todd, WATT, Mary-Anne, ALBERT, Thomas, SELZER, Rebecca, ANDERSON, Marshall, JIANG WANG, YIAN WANG, DONGHAI XIONG, STARNES, Sandra, PING YANG, MING YOU, VEDELL, Peter, PENG CUI, XING HUA, FENG DING, YAN LU, JAMES, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Cell Line, Tumor; Exons; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Medical sciences; Mutation; None; Pneumology; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Somatic mutation; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Lung cancer; Exome sequencing; Bronchus disease; Identification; Malignant tumor; non-small cell lung carcinoma; Cancer
• ISSN: 0143-3334; 1460-2180
• DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgs148

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the predominant form of the disease. Most lung cancer is caused by the accumulation of genomic alterations due to tobacco exposure. To uncover its mutational landscape, we performed whole-exome sequencing in 31 NSCLCs and their matched normal tissue samples. We identified both common and unique mutation spectra and pathway activation in lung adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, two major histologies in NSCLC. In addition to identifying previously known lung cancer genes (TP53, KRAS, EGFR, CDKN2A and RB1), the analysis revealed many genes not previously implicated in this malignancy. Notably, a novel gene CSMD3 was identified as the second most frequently mutated gene (next to TP53) in lung cancer. We further demonstrated that loss of CSMD3 results in increased proliferation of airway epithelial cells. The study provides unprecedented insights into mutational processes, cellular pathways and gene networks associated with lung cancer. Of potential immediate clinical relevance, several highly mutated genes identified in our study are promising druggable targets in cancer therapy including ALK, CTNNA3, DCC, MLL3, PCDHIIX, PIK3C2B, PIK3CG and ROCK2.