The evolutionary history of 2,658 cancers

M. Gerstung, C. Jolly, I. Leshchiner, S.C. Dentro, S. Gonzalez, D. Rosebrock, T.J. Mitchell, Y. Rubanova, P. Anur, K. Yu, M. Tarabichi, A.G. Deshwar, J. Wintersinger, K. Kleinheinz, I. Vázquez-García, K. Haase, L. Jerman, Subhajit Sengupta, G. Macintyre, S. MalikicN. Donmez, D.G. Livitz, M. Cmero, J. Demeulemeester, S. Schumacher, Y. Fan, X. Yao, J. Lee, M. Schlesner, P.C. Boutros, D.D. Bowtell, H. Zhu, G. Getz, M. Imielinski, R. Beroukhim, S.C. Sahinalp, Y. Ji, M. Peifer, F. Markowetz, V. Mustonen, K. Yuan, W. Wang, Q.D. Morris, S.C. Dentro, I. Leshchiner, M. Gerstung, C. Jolly, K. Haase, M. Tarabichi, J. Wintersinger, A.G. Deshwar, K. Yu, S. Gonzalez, Y. Rubanova, G. Macintyre, D.J. Adams, P. Anur, R. Beroukhim, P.C. Boutros, D.D. Bowtell, P.J. Campbell, S. Cao, E.L. Christie, M. Cmero, Y. Cun, K.J. Dawson, N. Donmez, R.M. Drews, R. Eils, Y. Fan, M. Fittall, D.W. Garsed, G. Getz, G. Ha, M. Imielinski, L. Jerman, Y. Ji, K. Kleinheinz, J. Lee, H. Lee-Six, D.G. Livitz, S. Malikic, F. Markowetz, I. Martincorena, T.J. Mitchell, V. Mustonen, L. Oesper, M. Peifer, M. Peto, B.J. Raphael, D. Rosebrock, S.C. Sahinalp, A. Salcedo, M. Schlesner, S. Schumacher, S. Sengupta, R. Shi, S.J. Shin, O. Spiro, L.D. Stein, I. Vázquez-García, S. Vembu, D.A. Wheeler, T.-P. Yang, X. Yao, K. Yuan, H. Zhu, W. Wang, Q.D. Morris, P.T. Spellman, D.C. Wedge, P. Van Loo, P.T. Spellman, D.C. Wedge

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Abstract

Cancer develops through a process of somatic evolution1,2. Sequencing data from a single biopsy represent a snapshot of this process that can reveal the timing of specific genomic aberrations and the changing influence of mutational processes3. Here, by whole-genome sequencing analysis of 2,658 cancers as part of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)4, we reconstruct the life history and evolution of mutational processes and driver mutation sequences of 38 types of cancer. Early oncogenesis is characterized by mutations in a constrained set of driver genes, and specific copy number gains, such as trisomy 7 in glioblastoma and isochromosome 17q in medulloblastoma. The mutational spectrum changes significantly throughout tumour evolution in 40% of samples. A nearly fourfold diversification of driver genes and increased genomic instability are features of later stages. Copy number alterations often occur in mitotic crises, and lead to simultaneous gains of chromosomal segments. Timing analyses suggest that driver mutations often precede diagnosis by many years, if not decades. Together, these results determine the evolutionary trajectories of cancer, and highlight opportunities for early cancer detection.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)122-128
Number of pages7
JournalNature
Volume578
Issue number7793
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Feb 2020

Keywords

  • DNA Repair/genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Dosage
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genome, Human/genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics
  • Neoplasms/genetics

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Manchester Cancer Research Centre

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