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Additional file 1: SupplementaryFigure 1. Copy number variation and expression of EGFR in Kyse30and FaDu cells. Supplementary Figure 2. GSEA of EGF- and EpEX-treated Kyse30and FaDu cells. Supplementary Figure 3. Over-representation analysis of genesof the EGFR-mediated EMT signature. SupplementaryFigure 4. Comparison ofEGFR-mediated EMT, pEMT, and EMT signatures. Supplementary Figure 5. Comparisonof EMT signatures for prognostic purposes.Supplementary Figure 6. ITGB4,ITGA6, LAMA3, LAMB3, and LAMC2 expression in HNSCC. Supplementary Figure 7. ITGB4expression in malignant and non-malignant single cells in different cancerentities. Supplementary Figure 8. ITGA6 expression in malignant andnon-malignant single cells in different cancer entities. Supplementary Figure 9. LAMA3expression in malignant and non-malignant single cells in different cancerentities. Supplementary Figure 10. LAMB3 expression in malignant andnon-malignant single cells in different cancer entities. Supplementary Figure 11. LAMC2expression in malignant and non-malignant single cells in different cancerentities. Supplementary Figure 12. ITGB4 expression in knockdown clonesof Kyse30 and FaDu cells. Supplementary Figure 13. Wound healing capacity of control andITGB4-knockdown cell lines. SupplementaryFigure 14. Tumor buddingintensities in HNSCC.

Additional file 4: Supplementary Table 3. Gene expression correlation with ITGB4 in the HPV-negativeTCGA cohort. Batch correlation analysis identified correlations of geneexpression with integrin beta 4 (ITGB4). Gene ID, Spearman correlation, andp-value are indicated for the top ten positively (co-regulated) and negativelycorrelated genes (counterregulated).

The long-term effect of low and moderate doses of ionizing radiation on the lens is still a matter of debate and needs to be evaluated in more detail. We conducted a detailed histological analysis of eyes from B6C3F1 mice cohorts after acute gamma irradiation (60Co source; 0.063 Gy/min) at young adult age of 10 weeks with doses of 0.063, 0.125, and 0.5 Gy. Sham irradiated (0 Gy) mice were used as controls. To test for genetic susceptibility heterozygous Ercc2 mutant mice were used and compared to wild-type mice of the same strain background. Mice of both sexes were included in all cohorts. Eyes were collected 4 h, 12, 18 and 24 months after irradiation. For a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms, metabolomics analyses were performed in lenses and plasma samples of the same mouse cohorts at 4 and 12 h as well as 12, 18 and 24 months after irradiation. For this purpose, a targeted analysis was chosen. This analysis revealed histological changes particularly in the posterior part of the lens that rarely can be observed by using Scheimpflug imaging, as we reported previously. We detected a significant increase of posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSCs) 18 and 24 months after irradiation with 0.5 Gy (odds ratio 9.3; 95% confidence interval 2.1–41.3) independent of sex and genotype. Doses below 0.5 Gy (i.e. 0.063 and 0.125 Gy) did not significantly increase the frequency of PSCs at any time point. In lenses, we observed a clear effect of sex and aging but not of irradiation or genotype. While metabolomics analyses of plasma from the same mice showed only a sex effect. This article demonstrates a significant radiation-induced increase in the incidence of PSCs, which could not be identified using Scheimpflug imaging as the only diagnostic tool.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a B cell transforming virus that causes B cell malignancies under conditions of immune suppression. EBV orchestrates B cell transformation through its latent membrane proteins (LMPs) and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens (EBNAs). We here identify secondary mutations in mouse B cell lymphomas induced by LMP1, to predict and identify key functions of other EBV genes during transformation. We find aberrant activation of early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) to promote transformation of LMP1-expressing B cells by inhibiting their differentiation to plasma cells. EBV EBNA3A phenocopies EBF1 activities in LMP1-expressing B cells, promoting transformation while inhibiting differentiation. In cells expressing LMP1 together with LMP2A, EBNA3A only promotes lymphomagenesis when the EBNA2 target Myc is also overexpressed. Collectively, our data support a model where proproliferative activities of LMP1, LMP2A, and EBNA2 in combination with EBNA3A-mediated inhibition of terminal plasma cell differentiation critically control EBV-mediated B cell lymphomagenesis.

Additional file 3: SI Figure 3. Pathway enrichment analysis using the 50 Hallmark gene sets form MSigDB Fischer Exact Test was applied to test for enrichment of Hallmark gene sets within the 2nd-neighborhood of CLIP2 of the GNA reconstructed from gene set 4. 19 out of 50 gene set exhibited a significant enrichment with an adjusted p-value < 0.05 (red dashed line)

Additional file 1: SI Figure 1. Comparison of the four gene sets used for GNA reconstruction, generated by differential expression analysis (SI Figure 1) A) Upset plot in intersect mode (common genes within the respective gene sets green: present in all four gene sets, black: present in three gene sets, blue: present in two gene sets, orange: number of genes in gene sets 1-4) B) Upset plot in distinct mode (common genes within the respective gene sets, but unique to the respective gene sets / not present in other gene sets) C) Venn diagram D: Visualization of GAN reconstruction statistics derived from GeneNet method applied to gene set 4. Each dot in the plot represents a potential edge between two genes in the network. A total number 237016 edges was calculated from gene set 4, while the application of the edge probability cut-off of 0.5 (black dashed line) results in the final network with 10777 edges and 654 nodes (genes). All direct interactions with CLIP2 (1st neighborhood) are visualized. Negative partial correlation coefficients represent a negative association, while positive partial correlation coefficients indicate a positive association between the genes (nodes).

Additional file 4: SI Figure 4. Validation of CLIP2 and PPIL3 protein co-expression by Immunohistochemical staining in papillary thyroid tumor tissue (10 cases) left column: CLIP2 staining right column: PPIL3 staining

Additional file 2: SI Figure 2. A) number of direct CLIP2 interactors in the GNA reconstructed from gene set 4, dependent on the edge probability cut-off in the GeneNet method. Red dashed line indicates the selected cut-off of 0.5 B) Edge-list of the 1st neighborhood of CLIP2 reconstructed from gene set 4. pcor = partial correlation coefficient, node 1/2 = gene names of nodes, pval = p-value of partial correlation test, qval = q-values (positive false discovery rate), prob = edge probability black line: selected cut-off of 0.5 C) Degree distribution of the GNA generated from gene set 4 and a probability cut-off of 0.5 in the GeneNet reconstruction method. The degree distribution (approximately) follows a power law and thereby represents on attribute of a scale-free network.

Additional file 1 Supplementary simulations. Further plots of the three simulation scenarios, adding “frequency of non-empty signatures”, “mean signature length” and performance scores free from empty signatures (i.e., performance of data usage setting, given a candidate signature was discovered.

Temporal expression and corresponding fold-changes of gene ERV3-1 after irradiation with 8Â Gy. (PDF 531Â kb)

Temporal expression and corresponding fold-changes of gene ERVMER34-1 after irradiation with 8Â Gy. (PDF 535Â kb)

Overview on the cytogenetic aberrations in CAL-33 cells. Clonal structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations detected by SKY and copy number changes detected by array CGH are listed. (DOCX 94Â kb)

Analyses of proliferation rates and cell cycle distribution. Proliferation curves of the CAL-33 parental cell line and the subclones SP and RP are shown in panel (A). Doubling times were determined in the exponential growth phase by semi-log regression. Cell cycle analyses were performed under exponential growth conditions (B). The dynamics of G2-arrest upon irradiation at 4Â Gy are shown in figure panel (C). (PDF 318Â kb)

Technical validation of microarray data. Eight of the differentially expressed genes detected with the microarray technology were arbitrarily chosen for technical validation by qRT-PCR. Correlation analysis results (Spearmanâ s rho coefficient) and fold-changes (microarray and qRT-PCR) are shown. Asterisks (*) indicate fold-change values for genes detected as differentially expressed by microarray analysis. (DOCX 52Â kb)

Cytogenetic characterization of HN2092. (PDF 8434Â kb)

Copy number alterations in HN1957. (PDF 37Â kb)

Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in HN2092 after radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 44Â kb)

EGFR and EpCAM surface expression of HN1957, HN2092 and OKF6-hTERT. (PDF 838Â kb)

Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in HN1957 after radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 66Â kb)

Copy number alterations in HN2092. (PDF 43Â kb)

Cytogenetic characterization of HN1957. (PDF 8257Â kb)

Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in HN2092 after radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 44Â kb)

Significantly deregulated mRNAs in primary HN1957 after in vitro radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 146Â kb)

Significantly deregulated mRNAs in primary HN2092 after in vitro radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 143Â kb)

Potential target genes in HN2092 for miRNAs responding to therapy in HNSCC patients. (PDF 51Â kb)

Significantly deregulated mRNAs in primary HN1957 after in vitro radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 146Â kb)

Potential target genes in HN1957 for miRNAs responding to therapy in HNSCC patients. (PDF 72Â kb)

Primer sequences for TP53 and EGFR sequencing. (PDF 42Â kb)

Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in HN1957 after radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 66Â kb)

Significantly deregulated mRNAs in primary HN2092 after in vitro radiochemotherapy treatment. (PDF 143Â kb)

Concomitant hepatocyte apoptosis and regeneration is a hallmark of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) predisposing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we mechanistically link caspase-8-dependent apoptosis to HCC development via proliferation- and replication-associated DNA damage. Proliferation-associated replication stress, DNA damage, and genetic instability are detectable in CLDs before any neoplastic changes occur. Accumulated levels of hepatocyte apoptosis determine and predict subsequent hepatocarcinogenesis. Proliferation-associated DNA damage is sensed by a complex comprising caspase-8, FADD, c-FLIP, and a kinase-dependent function of RIPK1. This platform requires a non-apoptotic function of caspase-8, but no caspase-3 or caspase-8 cleavage. It may represent a DNA damage-sensing mechanism in hepatocytes that can act via JNK and subsequent phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can have viral or non-viral causes1-5. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an important driver of HCC. Immunotherapy has been approved for treating HCC, but biomarker-based stratification of patients for optimal response to therapy is an unmet need6,7. Here we report the progressive accumulation of exhausted, unconventionally activated CD8+PD1+ T cells in NASH-affected livers. In preclinical models of NASH-induced HCC, therapeutic immunotherapy targeted at programmed death-1 (PD1) expanded activated CD8+PD1+ T cells within tumours but did not lead to tumour regression, which indicates that tumour immune surveillance was impaired. When given prophylactically, anti-PD1 treatment led to an increase in the incidence of NASH-HCC and in the number and size of tumour nodules, which correlated with increased hepatic CD8+PD1+CXCR6+, TOX+, and TNF+ T cells. The increase in HCC triggered by anti-PD1 treatment was prevented by depletion of CD8+ T cells or TNF neutralization, suggesting that CD8+ T cells help to induce NASH-HCC, rather than invigorating or executing immune surveillance. We found similar phenotypic and functional profiles in hepatic CD8+PD1+ T cells from humans with NAFLD or NASH. A meta-analysis of three randomized phase III clinical trials that tested inhibitors of PDL1 (programmed death-ligand 1) or PD1 in more than 1,600 patients with advanced HCC revealed that immune therapy did not improve survival in patients with non-viral HCC. In two additional cohorts, patients with NASH-driven HCC who received anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 treatment showed reduced overall survival compared to patients with other aetiologies. Collectively, these data show that non-viral HCC, and particularly NASH-HCC, might be less responsive to immunotherapy, probably owing to NASH-related aberrant T cell activation causing tissue damage that leads to impaired immune surveillance. Our data provide a rationale for stratification of patients with HCC according to underlying aetiology in studies of immunotherapy as a primary or adjuvant treatment.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a B cell transforming virus that causes B cell malignancies under conditions of immune suppression. EBV orchestrates B cell transformation through its latent membrane proteins (LMPs) and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens (EBNAs). We here identify secondary mutations in mouse B cell lymphomas induced by LMP1, to predict and identify key functions of other EBV genes during transformation. We find aberrant activation of early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) to promote transformation of LMP1-expressing B cells by inhibiting their differentiation to plasma cells. EBV EBNA3A phenocopies EBF1 activities in LMP1-expressing B cells, promoting transformation while inhibiting differentiation. In cells expressing LMP1 together with LMP2A, EBNA3A only promotes lymphomagenesis when the EBNA2 target Myc is also overexpressed. Collectively, our data support a model where proproliferative activities of LMP1, LMP2A, and EBNA2 in combination with EBNA3A-mediated inhibition of terminal plasma cell differentiation critically control EBV-mediated B cell lymphomagenesis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can have viral or non-viral causes1-5. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an important driver of HCC. Immunotherapy has been approved for treating HCC, but biomarker-based stratification of patients for optimal response to therapy is an unmet need6,7. Here we report the progressive accumulation of exhausted, unconventionally activated CD8+PD1+ T cells in NASH-affected livers. In preclinical models of NASH-induced HCC, therapeutic immunotherapy targeted at programmed death-1 (PD1) expanded activated CD8+PD1+ T cells within tumours but did not lead to tumour regression, which indicates that tumour immune surveillance was impaired. When given prophylactically, anti-PD1 treatment led to an increase in the incidence of NASH-HCC and in the number and size of tumour nodules, which correlated with increased hepatic CD8+PD1+CXCR6+, TOX+, and TNF+ T cells. The increase in HCC triggered by anti-PD1 treatment was prevented by depletion of CD8+ T cells or TNF neutralization, suggesting that CD8+ T cells help to induce NASH-HCC, rather than invigorating or executing immune surveillance. We found similar phenotypic and functional profiles in hepatic CD8+PD1+ T cells from humans with NAFLD or NASH. A meta-analysis of three randomized phase III clinical trials that tested inhibitors of PDL1 (programmed death-ligand 1) or PD1 in more than 1,600 patients with advanced HCC revealed that immune therapy did not improve survival in patients with non-viral HCC. In two additional cohorts, patients with NASH-driven HCC who received anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 treatment showed reduced overall survival compared to patients with other aetiologies. Collectively, these data show that non-viral HCC, and particularly NASH-HCC, might be less responsive to immunotherapy, probably owing to NASH-related aberrant T cell activation causing tissue damage that leads to impaired immune surveillance. Our data provide a rationale for stratification of patients with HCC according to underlying aetiology in studies of immunotherapy as a primary or adjuvant treatment.

Mouse transgenesis has provided fundamental insights into pancreatic cancer, but is limited by the long duration of allele/model generation. Here we show transfection-based multiplexed delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 to the pancreas of adult mice, allowing simultaneous editing of multiple gene sets in individual cells. We use the method to induce pancreatic cancer and exploit CRISPR/Cas9 mutational signatures for phylogenetic tracking of metastatic disease. Our results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9-multiplexing enables key applications, such as combinatorial gene-network analysis, in vivo synthetic lethality screening and chromosome engineering. Negative-selection screening in the pancreas using multiplexed-CRISPR/Cas9 confirms the vulnerability of pancreatic cells to Brca2-inactivation in a Kras-mutant context. We also demonstrate modelling of chromosomal deletions and targeted somatic engineering of inter-chromosomal translocations, offering multifaceted opportunities to study complex structural variation, a hallmark of pancreatic cancer. The low-frequency mosaic pattern of transfection-based CRISPR/Cas9 delivery faithfully recapitulates the stochastic nature of human tumorigenesis, supporting wide applicability for biological/preclinical research.

Concomitant hepatocyte apoptosis and regeneration is a hallmark of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) predisposing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we mechanistically link caspase-8-dependent apoptosis to HCC development via proliferation- and replication-associated DNA damage. Proliferation-associated replication stress, DNA damage, and genetic instability are detectable in CLDs before any neoplastic changes occur. Accumulated levels of hepatocyte apoptosis determine and predict subsequent hepatocarcinogenesis. Proliferation-associated DNA damage is sensed by a complex comprising caspase-8, FADD, c-FLIP, and a kinase-dependent function of RIPK1. This platform requires a non-apoptotic function of caspase-8, but no caspase-3 or caspase-8 cleavage. It may represent a DNA damage-sensing mechanism in hepatocytes that can act via JNK and subsequent phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can have viral or non-viral causes1–5. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an important driver of HCC. Immunotherapy has been approved for treating HCC, but biomarker-based stratification of patients for optimal response to therapy is an unmet need6, 7. Here we report the progressive accumulation of exhausted, unconventionally activated CD8+PD1+ T cells in NASH-affected livers. In preclinical models of NASH-induced HCC, therapeutic immunotherapy targeted at programmed death-1 (PD1) expanded activated CD8+PD1+ T cells within tumours but did not lead to tumour regression, which indicates that tumour immune surveillance was impaired. When given prophylactically, anti-PD1 treatment led to an increase in the incidence of NASH–HCC and in the number and size of tumour nodules, which correlated with increased hepatic CD8+PD1+CXCR6+, TOX+, and TNF+ T cells. The increase in HCC triggered by anti-PD1 treatment was prevented by depletion of CD8+ T cells or TNF neutralization, suggesting that CD8+ T cells help to induce NASH–HCC, rather than invigorating or executing immune surveillance. We found similar phenotypic and functional profiles in hepatic CD8+PD1+ T cells from humans with NAFLD or NASH. A meta-analysis of three randomized phase III clinical trials that tested inhibitors of PDL1 (programmed death-ligand 1) or PD1 in more than 1,600 patients with advanced HCC revealed that immune therapy did not improve survival in patients with non-viral HCC. In two additional cohorts, patients with NASH-driven HCC who received anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 treatment showed reduced overall survival compared to patients with other aetiologies. Collectively, these data show that non-viral HCC, and particularly NASH–HCC, might be less responsive to immunotherapy, probably owing to NASH-related aberrant T cell activation causing tissue damage that leads to impaired immune surveillance. Our data provide a rationale for stratification of patients with HCC according to underlying aetiology in studies of immunotherapy as a primary or adjuvant treatment.

The poor correlation of mutational landscapes with phenotypes limits our understanding of the pathogenesis and metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here we show that oncogenic dosage-variation has a critical role in PDAC biology and phenotypic diversification. We find an increase in gene dosage of mutant KRAS in human PDAC precursors, which drives both early tumorigenesis and metastasis and thus rationalizes early PDAC dissemination. To overcome the limitations posed to gene dosage studies by the stromal richness of PDAC, we have developed large cell culture resources of metastatic mouse PDAC. Integration of cell culture genomes, transcriptomes and tumour phenotypes with functional studies and human data reveals additional widespread effects of oncogenic dosage variation on cell morphology and plasticity, histopathology and clinical outcome, with the highest KrasMUTlevels underlying aggressive undifferentiated phenotypes. We also identify alternative oncogenic gains (Myc, Yap1 or Nfkb2), which collaborate with heterozygous KrasMUTin driving tumorigenesis, but have lower metastatic potential. Mechanistically, different oncogenic gains and dosages evolve along distinct evolutionary routes, licensed by defined allelic states and/or combinations of hallmark tumour suppressor alterations (Cdkn2a, Trp53, Tgfβ-pathway). Thus, evolutionary constraints and contingencies direct oncogenic dosage gain and variation along defined routes to drive the early progression of PDAC and shape its downstream biology. Our study uncovers universal principles of Ras-driven oncogenesis that have potential relevance beyond pancreatic cancer.

B-cell lymphoma (BCL) is the most common hematologic malignancy. While sequencing studies gave insights into BCL genetics, identification of non-mutated cancer genes remains challenging. Here, we describe PiggyBac transposon tools and mouse models for recessive screening and show their application to study clonal B-cell lymphomagenesis. In a genome-wide screen, we discover BCL genes related to diverse molecular processes, including signaling, transcriptional regulation, chromatin regulation, or RNA metabolism. Cross-species analyses show the efficiency of the screen to pinpoint human cancer drivers altered by non-genetic mechanisms, including clinically relevant genes dysregulated epigenetically, transcriptionally, or post-transcriptionally in human BCL. We also describe a CRISPR/Cas9-based in vivo platform for BCL functional genomics, and validate discovered genes, such as Rfx7, a transcription factor, and Phip, a chromatin regulator, which suppress lymphomagenesis in mice. Our study gives comprehensive insights into the molecular landscapes of BCL and underlines the power of genome-scale screening to inform biology.