It is becoming evident that holistic perspectives toward cancer are crucial in deciphering the overwhelming complexity of tumors. Single-layer analysis of genome-wide data has greatly contributed to our understanding of cellular systems and their perturbations. However, fundamental gaps in our knowledge persist and hamper the design of effective interventions. It is becoming more apparent than ever, that cancer should not only be viewed as a disease of the genome but as a disease of the cellular system. Integrative multilayer approaches are emerging as vigorous assets in our endeavors to achieve systemic views on cancer biology. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the approaches, methods and technologies that can serve to achieve systemic perspectives of cancer. We start with genome-wide single-layer approaches of omics analyses of cellular systems and move on to multilayer integrative approaches in which in-depth descriptions of proteogenomics and network-based data analysis are provided. Proteogenomics is a remarkable example of how the integration of multiple levels of information can reduce our blind spots and increase the accuracy and reliability of our interpretations and network-based data analysis is a major approach for data interpretation and a robust scaffold for data integration and modeling. Overall, this review aims to increase cross-field awareness of the approaches and challenges regarding the omics-based study of cancer and to facilitate the necessary shift toward holistic approaches.
Infantile hypotonia, with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies 1 (IHPRF1), is a rare disorder characterized by global developmental delay and dysmorphic features. This syndrome is caused by genetic anomalies within the NALCN gene. The current report examines a 9-year-old female IHPRF1 patient. Our objective was to contribute to the delineation of the underlying factors influencing this rare condition. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was utilized to identify the disease-causing mutation in the affected individual. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was performed for the patient, her parents, and two close relatives in order to confirm the detected mutation. Moreover, detailed clinical examinations including EEG, echocardiography, and biochemical/physical tests were carried out to elucidate the effects of the mutation. WES identified a homozygous nonsense mutation in the NALCN gene (c.2563C>T p.R855X). This mutation was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the patient and her family members and segregated with the autosomal recessive inheritance pattern of IHPRF1. Moreover, genotype-phenotype correlation analysis confirmed the disease-causing nature of this mutation. The current report provides the first detailed description of a patient with this homozygous nonsense mutation (c.2563C>T p.R855X) and expands the clinical spectrum of IHPRF1 disease. Possible influences of sex and other factors on this disease are discussed and a review of the literature is also provided.
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