Page 23 - Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre Annual Report 2022 to 2023

ICATIONS
ICATIONS
TABORI LAB - Journal of Clinical Oncology. October 14th 2022.
Genomic microsatellite signatures identify germline mismatch repair deficiency and risk of
cancer onset
The Tabori lab and colleagues from International Replication Repair Deficiency Consortium developed an assay, termed ‘LOGIC,’ to detect a cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by a breakdown in the DNA repair machinery. Early detection and diagnosis of this syndrome in patients are crucial for tumour management. Clinicians armed with LOGIC as a diagnostic tool will be able to provide rapid diagnosis and better inform cancer treatment decisions in patients with this cancer predisposition syndrome.
HAWKINS LAB - Nature Communications. January 31st 2022.
Splicing is an alternate oncogenic pathway activation mechanism in glioma
High-grade gliomas affecting children and adults are the leading cause of brain tumour death. The Hawkins lab investigated the role of recurrent alternative splicing within major cancer pathway drivers using multi-omic analyses, revealing an increased alternative splicing burden in gliomas compared to normal brain tissue. The team identified the increased presence of a splicing variant of the tumour suppressor gene NF1, resulting in higher cancer pathway activity and lower patient survival. This study demonstrates the importance of considering non-mutagenic cancer pathway activation mechanisms when designing treatment approaches.
DAS LAB - ACS Nano. July 26th 2022.
Glioblastoma associated natural killer cell EVs generating tumour-specific signatures:
Noninvasive GBM liquid biopsy with self-functionalized quantum probes
In collaboration with Dr. Venkatakrishnan’s team at St. Michael’s Hospital, the Das lab have developed a novel method that leverages the body’s immune response to detect and diagnose glioblastoma by monitoring the activity of natural killer cells in patients with brain cancer. The team also established unique immune vesicle profiles that can differentiate between brain tumour types. This approach paves the way for a minimally invasive glioma liquid biopsy, which would be particularly useful to healthcare centres without advanced imaging capabilities.
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