[HTML][HTML] MmCMS: mouse models' consensus molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer
British Journal of Cancer, 2023•nature.com
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) primary tumours are molecularly classified into four
consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1–4). Genetically engineered mouse models aim to
faithfully mimic the complexity of human cancers and, when appropriately aligned, represent
ideal pre-clinical systems to test new drug treatments. Despite its importance, dual-species
classification has been limited by the lack of a reliable approach. Here we utilise, develop
and test a set of options for human-to-mouse CMS classifications of CRC tissue. Methods …
consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1–4). Genetically engineered mouse models aim to
faithfully mimic the complexity of human cancers and, when appropriately aligned, represent
ideal pre-clinical systems to test new drug treatments. Despite its importance, dual-species
classification has been limited by the lack of a reliable approach. Here we utilise, develop
and test a set of options for human-to-mouse CMS classifications of CRC tissue. Methods …
Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) primary tumours are molecularly classified into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1–4). Genetically engineered mouse models aim to faithfully mimic the complexity of human cancers and, when appropriately aligned, represent ideal pre-clinical systems to test new drug treatments. Despite its importance, dual-species classification has been limited by the lack of a reliable approach. Here we utilise, develop and test a set of options for human-to-mouse CMS classifications of CRC tissue.
Methods
Using transcriptional data from established collections of CRC tumours, including human (TCGA cohort; n = 577) and mouse (n = 57 across n = 8 genotypes) tumours with combinations of random forest and nearest template prediction algorithms, alongside gene ontology collections, we comprehensively assess the performance of a suite of new dual-species classifiers.
Results
We developed three approaches: MmCMS-A; a gene-level classifier, MmCMS-B; an ontology-level approach and MmCMS-C; a combined pathway system encompassing multiple biological and histological signalling cascades. Although all options could identify tumours associated with stromal-rich CMS4-like biology, MmCMS-A was unable to accurately classify the biology underpinning epithelial-like subtypes (CMS2/3) in mouse tumours.
Conclusions
When applying human-based transcriptional classifiers to mouse tumour data, a pathway-level classifier, rather than an individual gene-level system, is optimal. Our R package enables researchers to select suitable mouse models of human CRC subtype for their experimental testing.
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