Whole Genome Sequencing and single-cell transcriptomics identify KMT2D as a potential new driver for pituitary adenomas

Abstract

The pituitary gland is a main component of the endocrine system and a master controller of hormone production and secretion. Unlike neoplastic formation in other organs, Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors (PitNETs) are frequent in the population (16%) and, for unknown reasons, almost exclusively benign. So far, few genes have been identified as drivers for PitNETs, such as GNAS in somatotroph tumors and USP8 in corticotroph tumors. Using whole genome sequencing, we uncover a potential novel driver, the histone methyltransferase KMT2D, in a patient in his 50s suffering from a mixed somato-lactotroph tumor. Coverage ratio between germline and tumor revealed extensive chromosomal alterations. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the tumor shows up-regulation of known tumorigenic pathways compared to a healthy reference, as well as a different immune infiltration profile compared to other PitNETs, more closely resembling the profile of carcinomas than adenomas. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identified 792 differentially methylated regions, including notable hypomethylation in the promoter of SPON2, an immune-related gene. Our results show that tumors considered as quiet and non-aggressive can share drivers, features, and epigenetic alterations with metastatic forms of cancer, raising questions about the biological mechanisms controlling their homeostasis.