Identification of alternative exon usage in cancer survival using hierarchical modeling

Sadeque, Ahmed

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/34549 Copy

Description

Title

Identification of alternative exon usage in cancer survival using hierarchical modeling

Author(s)

Sadeque, Ahmed

Issue Date

2012-09-18T21:25:10Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Rodriguez-Zas, Sandra L.

Department of Study

Animal Sciences

Discipline

Bioinformatics

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Alternative Splicing (AS)
• Alternative Exon Usage (AEU)
• Glioblastoma (GBM)

Abstract

Background Alternative exon usage (AEU) is an important component of gene expression regulation. Exon expression platforms allow the detection of associations between AEU and phenotypes such as cancer. Numerous studies have identified associations between gene expression and the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The few consistent gene expression biomarkers of GBM that have been reported may be due to the limited consideration of AEU and the analytical approaches used. The objectives of this study were to develop a model that accounts for the variations in expression present between the exons within a gene and to identify AEU biomarkers of GBM survival. Methods The expression of exons corresponding to 25,403 genes was related to the survival of 250 individuals diagnosed with GBM in a training data set. Genes exhibiting AEU in the training data set were confirmed in an independent validation data set of 78 patients. A hierarchical model allows the consideration of covariation between exons within a gene and of the effect of the epidemiological characteristics of the patients was developed to identify associations between exon expression and patient survival. The same model serves multi-exon models with and without AEU and single-exon models. Results AEU associated with GBM survival was identified on 2477 genes (P-value < 5.0E-04 (FDR adjusted P-value < 5.0E-04). G-protein coupled receptor 98 (Gpr98) and epidermal growth factor (Egf) were among the genes exhibiting AEU with 30 and 9 exons associated with GBM survival, respectively. Pathways enriched among the AEU genes included focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, ABC transporters and pathways in cancer. In addition, 24 multi-exon genes without AEU and 8 single-exon genes were associated with GBM survival (P-value < 0.0005). Conclusions The inferred patterns of AEU were consistent with in silico AS models. The hierarchical model used offered a flexible and simple way to interpret and identify associations between survival that accommodates multi-exon genes with or without AEU and single exon genes.

Graduation Semester

2012-08

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34549

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Ahmed Sadeque

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