Clonal evolution of SCLC (B02)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 413326622

Based on the successful evolutionary modeling using subclone tracking by mutational clustering, M. Peifer and his colleagues will further extend their results by a thorough analysis of chromosomal gene copy number data to derive more generalizable rules of evolutionary dynamics of cancer under therapy. They will furthermore develop computational approaches to compute copy number data from single cell RNA sequencing data. The main reason for this effort is the observation that copy number changes frequently arise subclonally and despite the important role of MYC amplifications in SCLC, the fact that they mostly appear late during tumor evolution necessitates the search for their origin. This will be further strengthened by performing single nuclei DNA sequencing on some of these samples. Finally, the team will strive to develop spatiotemporal models of genomic evolution of SCLC, to provide a comprehensive view on the longitudinal expansion of individual clones, their disappearance under therapy and their re-emergence.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1399: Mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance in small cell lung cancer
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Martin Peifer