Abstract: We surveyed 1,230 tumors of 60 different types and found that tumors could be divided into types with low (<15%) and high (?15%) frequencies of TERT promoter mutations. The nine TERT-high tumor types almost always originated in tissues with relatively low rates of self renewal, including melanomas, liposarcomas, hepatocellular carcinomas, urothelial carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue, medulloblastomas, and subtypes of gliomas (including 83% of primary glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor type). TERT and ATRX mutations were mutually exclusive, suggesting that these two genetic mechanisms confer equivalent selective growth advantages. In addition to their implications for understanding the relationship between telomeres and tumorigenesis, TERT mutations provide a biomarker for the early detection of urinary tract and liver tumors and aid in the classification and prognostication of brain tumors.

Abstract: TERT promoter mutations occur in both papillary and flat lesion bladder cancers, are the most frequent genetic alterations identified to date in noninvasive precursor lesions of the bladder, are detectable in urine, and appear to be strongly associated with bladder cancer recurrence. The TERT promoter mutations are useful urinary biomarker for both the early detection and monitoring of bladder neoplasia.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and materials for detecting and/or treating subject (e.g. a human) having cancer. In some embodiments, methods and materials for identifying a subject as having cancer (e.g., a localized cancer) are provided in which the presence of member(s) of two or more classes of biomarkers are detected. In some embodiments, methods and materials for identifying a subject as having cancer (e.g. a localized cancer) are provided in which the presence of member(s) of at least one class of biomarkers and the presence of aneuploidy are detected. In some embodiments, methods described herein provide increased sensitivity and/or specificity in the detection of cancer in a subject (e.g. a human).

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for preventing cytokine release syndrome (CRS). For example, methods and materials for using one or more catecholamine inhibitors to prevent a mammal from developing CRS are provided.

Abstract: We found mutations of the R132 residue of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) in the majority of grade II and III astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas as well as in gliblastomas that develop from these lower grade lesions. Those tumors without mutations in IDH1 often had mutations at the analogous R172 residue of the closely related IDH2 gene. These findings have important implications for the pathogenesis and diagnosis of malignant gliomas.

Abstract: We surveyed 1,230 tumors of 60 different types and found that tumors could be divided into types with low (<15%) and high (?15%) frequencies of TERT promoter mutations. The nine TERT-high tumor types almost always originated in tissues with relatively low rates of self renewal, including melanomas, liposarcomas, hepatocellular carcinomas, urothelial carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue, medulloblastomas, and subtypes of gliomas (including 83% of primary glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor type). TERT and ATRX mutations were mutually exclusive, suggesting that these two genetic mechanisms confer equivalent selective growth advantages. In addition to their implications for understanding the relationship between telomeres and tumorigenesis, TERT mutations provide a biomarker for the early detection of urinary tract and liver tumors and aid in the classification and prognostication of brain tumors.

Abstract: We found mutations of the R132 residue of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) in the majority of grade II and III astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas as well as in gliblastomas that develop from these lower grade lesions. Those tumors without mutations in IDH1 often had mutations at the analogous R172 residue of the closely related IDH2 gene. These findings have important implications for the pathogenesis and diagnosis of malignant gliomas.

Abstract: Oligodendrogliomas are the second most common malignant brain tumor in adults. These tumors often contain a chromosomal abnormality involving a pericentromeric fusion of chromosomes 1 and 19, resulting in losses of the entire short arm of the former and the long arm of the latter. To identify the molecular genetic basis for this alteration, we performed exomic sequencing of seven anaplastic oligodendrogliomas with chromosome 1p and 19q losses. Among other changes, we found that that CIC (homolog of the Drosophila gene capicua) on chromosome 19q was somatically mutated in six of the seven cases and that FUBP1 (far upstream element (FUSE) binding protein) on chromosome 1p was somatically mutated in two of the seven cases. Examination of 27 additional oligodendrogliomas revealed 12 and 3 more tumors with mutations of CIC and FUBP1, respectively, 58% of which were predicted to result in truncations of the encoded proteins.

Abstract: Assays can be used to detect mutations found in neoplasms of the pancreas, as well as for other neoplasms and other uses. Nucleic acids can be captured from body fluids such as cyst fluids. Thousands of oligonucleotides can be synthesized in parallel, amplified and ligated together. The ligated products can be further amplified. The amplified, ligated products are used to capture complementary DNA sequences, which can be analyzed, for example by massively parallel sequencing.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for assessing a mammal having or suspected of having cancer and/or for treating a mammal having cancer. For example, molecules including one or more antigen-binding domains (e.g., a single-chain variable fragment (scFv)) that can bind to a modified peptide (e.g., a tumor antigen), as well as method for using such molecules, are provided.

Abstract: The identification of mutations that are present in a small fraction of DNA templates is essential for progress in several areas of biomedical research. Though massively parallel sequencing instruments are in principle well-suited to this task, the error rates in such instruments are generally too high to allow confident identification of rare variants. We here describe an approach that can substantially increase the sensitivity of massively parallel sequencing instruments for this purpose. One example of this approach, called “Safe-SeqS” for (Safe-Sequencing System) includes (i) assignment of a unique identifier (UID) to each template molecule; (ii) amplification of each uniquely tagged template molecule to create UID-families; and (iii) redundant sequencing of the amplification products. PCR fragments with the same UID are truly mutant (“super-mutants”) if ?95% of them contain the identical mutation.

Abstract: Bottleneck Sequencing System (BotSeqS) is a next-generation sequencing method that simultaneously quantifies rare somatic point mutations across the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. BotSeqS combines molecular barcoding with a simple dilution step immediately prior to library amplification. BotSeqS can be used to show age and tissue-dependent accumulations of rare mutations and demonstrate that somatic mutational burden in normal tissues can vary by several orders of magnitude, depending on biologic and environmental factors. BotSeqS has been used to show major differences between the mutational patterns of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in normal tissues. Lastly, BotSeqS has shown that the mutation spectra of normal tissues were different from each other, but similar to those of the cancers that arose in them.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and materials for detecting and/or treating subject (e.g., a human) having cancer. In some embodiments, methods and materials for identifying a subject as having cancer (e.g., a localized cancer) are provided in which the presence of member(s) of two or more classes of biomarkers are detected. In some embodiments, methods and materials for identifying a subject as having cancer (e.g., a localized cancer) are provided in which the presence of member(s) of at least one class of biomarkers and the presence of aneuploidy are detected. In some embodiments, methods described herein provide increased sensitivity and/or specificity in the detection of cancer in a subject (e.g. a human).

Abstract: More than 2% of adults harbor a pancreatic cyst, a subset of which progress to invasive lesions with lethal consequences. To assess the genomic landscapes of neoplastic cysts of the pancreas, we determined the exomic sequences of DNA from the neoplastic epithelium of eight surgically resected cysts of each of the major neoplastic cyst types: serous cystadenomas (SCAs), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) and solid pseudo-papillary neoplasms (SPNs). SPNs are low-grade malignancies, and IPMNs and MCNs, but not SCAs, have the capacity to progress to cancer. We found that SCAs, IPMNs, MCNs, and SPNs contained 10=4.6, 27=12, 16=7.6, and 2.9=2.1 somatic mutations per tumor, respectively. Among the mutations identified, E3 ubiquitin ligase components were of particular note. Four of the eight SCAs contained mutations of VHL, a key component of the VHL ubiquitin ligase complex that has previously been associated both with renal cell carcinomas, SCAs, and other neoplasms.

Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for identifying functional anti-tumor T cell responses.

Abstract: We found mutations of the R132 residue of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) in the majority of grade II and III astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas as well as in gliblastomas that develop from these lower grade lesions. Those tumors without mutations in IDH1 often had mutations at the analogous R172 residue of the closely related IDH2 gene. These findings have important implications for the pathogenesis and diagnosis of malignant gliomas.

Abstract: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (PanNETs) are a rare but clinically important form of pancreatic neoplasia. To explore the genetic basis of PanNETs, we determined the exomic sequences of ten non-familial PanNETs and then screened the most commonly mutated genes in 58 additional PanNETs. Remarkably, the most frequently mutated genes specify proteins implicated in chromatin remodeling: 44% of the tumors had somatic inactivating mutations in MEN-1, which encodes menin, a component of a histone methyltransferase complex; and 43% had mutations in genes encoding either of the two subunits of a transcription/chromatin remodeling complex consisting of DAXX (death-domain associated protein) and ATRX (alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked). Clinically, mutations in the MEN1 and DAXX/ATRX genes were associated with better prognosis.

Abstract: Blockade of immune checkpoints such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) shows promise in patients with cancer. Inhibitory antibodies directed at these receptors have been shown to break immune tolerance and promote anti-tumor immunity. These agents work particularly well in patients with a certain category of tumor. Such tumors may be particularly susceptible to treatment because of the multitude of neoantigens which they produce.

Abstract: We determined the sequence of ATRX and DAXX in 447 cancers from various sites. We found mutations most commonly in pediatric glioblastoma multiformae (GBM) (11.1%), adult GBM (6.5%), oligodendrogliomas (7.7%) and medulloblastomas (1.5%); and showed that Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT), a telomerase-independent telomere maintenance mechanism found in cancers that have not activated telomerase, perfectly correlated with somatic mutations of either gene. In contrast, neuroblastomas, and adenocarcinomas of the ovary, breast, and pancreas were negative for mutations in ATRX and DAXX. Alterations in ATRX or DAXX define a specific molecular pathway that is closely associated with an alternative telomere maintenance function in human cancers.

Abstract: Two genes, ARID1A (AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A) and PPP2R1A (protein-phosphatase 2, regulatory subunit 1, alpha), can be used in methods which are useful for detecting cancer, diagnosing cancer, contributing to a diagnosis of cancer, confirming a diagnosis of cancer, identifying appropriate treatments for cancer, monitoring treatment of cancer, and evaluating treatment protocols for cancer, including ovarian clear cell carcinoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, medulloblastoma, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.