Elucidating the mechanism by which the SHROOM2 locus on Xp22.2 contributes to colorectal cancer aetiology.

Lead Research Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Molecular. Genetics & Pop Health

Abstract

Cancer of the large bowel (colorectal cancer - CRC) is common, with >41,000 new cases and 16,000 deaths annually in the UK and an estimated 1 million new cases worldwide annually. Thus, CRC is a major clinical and public health problem. However, available evidence indicates that CRC incidence can be substantially reduced by early detection and prevention using drugs and/or dietary components. Understanding the causes of CRC would enable the rational development of preventative agents, biomarkers of risk and potentially new chemotherapy drugs. Twin studies have shown that there is a heritable contribution to CRC (~ 35%). However, until recently, much of the heritable component remained undiscovered. Over the last 5 years, we have successfully studied many thousands of CRC patients and controls using genomic based (genome-wide association studies - GWAS) approaches. We have discovered 20 new genetic regions that are inherited markers of the risk of developing CRC and have shown that genetic marker data, family history, gender and age can be combined into risk profiling models that can identify high risk subgroups within the general population. Whilst the risk imparted by each of the common variants we have identified is individually modest (~10-20% increase in risk), common variants that impart modest effects on human phenotypes can have major therapeutic implications. One example is that of the cholesterol-lowering agents, statins, which are in widespread use and are attributed with a dramatic reduction in coronary heart disease in Britain. Genetic approaches identified a gene (HMGCR) that influences blood cholesterol levels and it is the gene product of HMGCR (HMGcoA reductase) which is inhibited by statins.
We recently discovered a region on the X chromosome that is associated with CRC susceptibility. In pilot studies, we now show that there is a deletion/insertion in the DNA sequence that appears to explain the effect on CRC risk. The region also has a dramatic effect on expression of a gene called SHROOM2 which effects a variety of cell functions. We studied these changes in human large bowel epithelium and showed a very strong relationship between the genotype and SHROOM2 expression, indeed so strong that the DNA sequence explained most of the variation in SHROOM2 expression in the colon. SHROOM2 is also involved in pigmentation of the human retina. Intriguingly, we have shown an association between retinal pigmentation and CRC. We now link these retinal pigment effects with genotype at the SHROOM2 region. Finally, we show that altering the level of SHROOM2 in CRC cell lines substantially reduces cancer cell growth.
The rationale is compelling for study of SHROOM2 as a gene responsible for susceptibility to a common cancer killer (CRC). The research aims to shed new light on cancer biology and susceptibility. Our pilot studies already suggest SHROOM2 (and related pathway components) is a drug target for developing cancer prevention agents. Hence we plan to:
- Identify the causative DNA sequence variant(s) on chromosome X and define frequency and effect on CRC risk by comparing CRC cases and controls.
- Elucidate the specific molecular mechanism by which SHROOM2 impacts on CRC risk and on gene expression in human large bowel epithelium and the retina.
- Identify genes downstream of SHROOM2 in the pathway that are indirectly affected by variation.
- Define the effect of modifying SHROOM2 expression (knockdown & over-expression) on cancer-relevant cell biological phenotypes in: cancer cell lines, human large bowel epithelium.
- Generate in vivo models to describe the phenotype of Shroom2 deletion and to study the role of Shroom2 in tumour initiation and progression.
- Identify targets for chemoprevention and biomarkers of CRC risk in humans.
Above we outline a coherent body of work that will allow us to understand the role of SHROOM2 in large bowel cancer and to apply this in the future to prevent the disease.

Technical Summary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer but incidence could be reduced by early detection or prevention with drugs and/or dietary constituents/additives. Understanding CRC causation would enable development of preventative agents and risk biomarkers. Through GWAS, we discovered a locus on Xp22.2, harbouring SHROOM2, the focus of this proposal. We plan to take this GWAS "hit" from sequence interrogation, through to understanding molecular mechanism and function in relevant tissues, into in vivo human and model organisms. Pilot data provide compelling rationale for study of SHROOM2 in CRC initiation and biology. The association between Xp22.2 and CRC risk is robust (p=7.46x10-10). Although effect size is modest (OR 1.07), we identified an eQTL with striking effects on expression, explaining most of the variance in SHROOM2 expression in human normal large bowel epithelium. By re-sequencing, we found a putative causative variant exhibiting enhanced association with CRC risk and even stronger eQTL effects. We show siRNA knockdown of SHROOM2 inhibits CRC cell growth in vitro. We found Xp22.2 is associated in males with retinal pigment changes, previously linked with CRC risk. These exciting data represent the first discovery of an eQTL at a cancer risk locus with such a dramatic effect on gene expression. We plan a coherent body of work to define the role of SHROOM2 in CRC carcinogenesis and aim to identify drug targets for prevention and new risk variants for use in risk profiling strategies:- resequencing SHROOM2 region; characterising risk and expression correlates of newly identified variants; study molecular mechanisms of SHROOM2 regulation by various techniques - RNAseq, ChIP, methylation; deplete/over-express SHROOM2 in CRC lines and cultured human colonic epithelial organoids to study cancer-relevant biological phenotypes; generate SHROOM2 deleted model organisms to study phenotypic effects, effect in chemical carcinogenesis and other genetic (APCmin) models.

Planned Impact

This project seeks to determine how a colorectal cancer risk allele on chromosome X affects gene expression and regulation. The work also seeks to understand, how when dysregulated, the gene product of SHROOM2 appears to act in cancer initiation and progression.

Benefits to Nations' Health and General Public awareness:
Lifetime risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) is 5.2%, resulting in >41,000 new cases annually in the UK and >16,000 dying from the disease. CRC is particularly amenable to clinical intervention guided by risk, because there are differing levels of intervention and surveillance that can be tailored to the degree of risk a person has. Therefore identifying and understanding how risk alleles act, and what genes and pathways they act on, can ultimately aid in the development of personalised medicine. Hence various clinical departments, such as genetics, surgical and oncology departments may benefit from the outcome of the research with respect to improved risk profiling and prediction models (see Academic Beneficiaries for further details on the interest in risk and prediction model development), better understanding of disease initiation and progression providing new and improved therapeutic targets and preventative measures. The investigators are involved in focused meetings and working groups and therefore have continued contact with these clinical departments, to ensure the impact is realised and taken forward for further clinical assessment.
Increasing public awareness to disease risk would be of huge benefit - as these risk alleles are common, a large proportion of the population carry risk alleles and therefore population screening approaches, along with information on prevention incorporating simple life-style changes, could be utilised to reduce the patient numbers presenting with untreatable disease. As described elsewhere, the Investigators are committed to informing the public of their work and how it impacts on public health and have played major roles in providing and creating newsletters, information sheets and clinical guidelines.
In addition to refining risk associated with the SHROOM2 locus, we consider that the major impact of the work will relate to identification of targets for intervention in cancer initiation and progression. The dramatic effects we observed in the eQTL analyses combined with the effects on CRC cell lines on depletion of SHROOM2 suggest this is likely to be a productive effort in the medium to long term.

Economic beneficiaries:
There is the potential that findings from this research may lead to be patentable discoveries such as:
i) risk profiling and prediction models
ii) new CRC risk allele tests
iii) development of biomarkers for cancer initiation or progression
iv) development of targeted therapeutic agents

Benefits to Public Sector:
Development of material which is patentable will ultimately mean benefit for the University of Edinburgh and MRC, both from the patents themselves and also increasing funding to the University. The University has onsite contacts for discussion of such patents and therefore the delay in impact can be minimal. As stated above, the results could lead to improved screening and cancer management, which can lead to reduced NHS costs.

Private and other sector beneficiaries:
Development of therapeutic agents and even risk allele tests will interest various industrial companies and may ultimately lead to interactions between industry and grant giving bodies, to influence and increase similar research at a National level.

Further information on how we envisage these benefits being implemented are described in the Pathways to Impact document.

Publications

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Luciano M (2015) Exome sequencing to detect rare variants associated with general cognitive ability: a pilot study. in Twin research and human genetics : the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies

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Cornish AJ (2020) Modifiable pathways for colorectal cancer: a mendelian randomisation analysis. in The lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatology

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Doherty M (2018) Plasma N-glycans in colorectal cancer risk. in Scientific reports

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Theodoratou E (2016) Glycosylation of plasma IgG in colorectal cancer prognosis. in Scientific reports

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Kinnersley B (2016) Correspondence: SEMA4A variation and risk of colorectal cancer. in Nature communications

 
Description STEMM activity at Holy Trinity First School
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact Performed STEMM activities with approx 60 school children aged 7-9.
 
Description CRUK SC Multi-disciplinary Project
Amount £458,009 (GBP)
Funding ID A23333 
Organisation Cancer Research UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2021
 
Description Programme Grant - CoI
Amount £3,050,000 (GBP)
Funding ID C348/A18927 
Organisation Cancer Research UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2015 
End 12/2019
 
Description Small Project grant - Anna-Maria Ochocka (PI); Farhat Din (CoI)
Amount £10,000 (GBP)
Organisation Melville Trust for Care and Cure of Cancer 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2015 
End 05/2016
 
Description Small Project grant - Vidya Rajasekarn (PI); Susan Farrington (CoI)
Amount £8,094 (GBP)
Organisation Melville Trust for Care and Cure of Cancer 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2015 
End 06/2016
 
Title Basecsope probes 
Description Specific probes developed with ACD Biosciences to help detect specific changes in a gene using hybridisation. 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The tools are still being tested, although results look promising 
 
Title Organoids 
Description Human and mouse Intestinal crypts can be harvested, cultured and experiments performed on them. Gene and protein expression has been successfully performed on the organoids for various markers. 
Type Of Material Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact We have set this up locally in collaboration with Dr Farhat Din and this is now been successfully extended to human intestinal culture and we are providing training for other local groups. 
 
Title SHROOM2 KO 
Description Development of Shroom2 KO model using ES cells with gene specific KO construct from EUCOMM. 
Type Of Material Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The generated KO model has been aged, crossed onto other genetic susceptibility models and treated with carcinogens - to establish any potential effect of the gene. Any generated phenotypes are currently being monitored and assessed. 
URL https://www.mousephenotype.org/
 
Title SHROOM2 antibodies 
Description Production of peptide based SHROOM2 antibodies in rabbits. 
Type Of Material Antibody 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Currently testing specificity of antibodies. 
 
Description Development of non-ionising and non-invasive, personalised colorectal cancer staging using novel multimodal contrast agents and magnetomotive ultrasound imaging. 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Department School of Engineering Glasgow
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Use of the developed Shroom2 in-vivo model to develop the novel agents and imaging system.
Collaborator Contribution Developement of the novel agents and their use in imaging systems.
Impact Multi-disciplinary collaboration that has been awarded funding from CRUK and EPSRC. Grant has just begun 1st March 2018.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Single Cell analysis of ano-rectal tumours 
Organisation University of Edinburgh
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Use of the Shroom2 in vivo model and the tumour it forms.
Collaborator Contribution Analysis of the mutational process using single cell genomics and transcriptomics.
Impact Recently started and has been given financial input from the MRC HGU QQR.
Start Year 2017
 
Description CRUK at the BBC Festival Enclosure 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Ruby Osborn ran "immunotherapy ball pool game," a family-friendly activity about the immune system and cancer.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Careers Fayre - Eyemouth High School 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Attended at Careers Fayre and presented a Public Engagement poster to pupils, staff, parents/carers and general public. Have been asked to return to this event and also other attendees requested that I attend their workplaces.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Doors Open Day - IGMM 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Ruby Osborn ran "immunotherapy ball pool game," a family-friendly activity about the immune system and cancer
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Genome Sequencing Debate 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Ruby Osborn moderated debates among higher students on the ethics of genome sequencing within the general population, including guiding the discussion when it slowed or went off-track, and answering scientific questions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Patient/family meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Met with family members to discuss the importance of the research and the impact it can have on patient lives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description STEMM week - Genetics at Holy Trinity First School 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The IGMM Public Engagment Team and myself and Ruby Osborn went to Holy Trinity First School and ran 3 genetic activities including extracting DNA from peas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description School Visit (Berwick Middle School) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I have spoken to over 100 pupils about my career as a scientist and the work I perform. Excellent questions were asked and discussion about carcinogenesis pursued.

I have been asked to perform this as an annual event, due to the interest and I have also been asked by other schools to talk to some of their pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017
 
Description School visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Science engagement activities performed with around 65 pupils, with excellent questions and interest.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description School visit to Berwick Academy 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I discussed my career path with 20 pupils and highlighted the research I currently perform. Interesting questions and discussion of the topic pursued. Invited back to repeat and also had contact with a couple of pupils to discuss career.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Science Insights Week 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Science Insights Week - Ruby Osborn gave groups of local higher students lab tours and discussed her project and her path post-school; participated in small group discussions on university applications, degree decisions and other elements of progressing beyond school
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Shining a light on Genetic Disorders 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Presenting the research and why important to have patient interaction.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019