Researchers from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the Munich Leukemia Laboratory have developed a new data platform that brings together genomic, transcriptomic and clinical data from nearly 6,000 patients with blood cancer.
The so-called ASH HematOmics Program (ASHOP) constitutes one of the most comprehensive datasets in this field and offers researchers a single integrated environment in which to carry out complex analyses. The results and initial applications of the platform have been published in Blood. According to researcher Xin Zhou, such datasets were previously scattered across various studies. By consolidating them now, a more complete picture of haematological disorders emerges.
Interactive environment
ASHOP contains data from 5,960 patients with various forms of blood cancer, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The platform combines whole-genome sequencing, gene expression data and clinical outcomes within a single environment.
What sets the platform apart is the integration of analysis tools. Researchers can explore datasets, compare patient groups and establish links between genetic abnormalities and clinical outcomes without extensive programming knowledge. According to Robert Negrin, this makes it possible to identify new therapeutic targets more quickly.
New insights from data
The power of the platform is evident from the initial research results. By combining genetic and gene expression data, researchers were able to identify new subgroups within existing disease entities. For example, within a form of childhood leukaemia, two subtypes were distinguished with different biological characteristics and prognoses. One group, for instance, exhibited more inflammation-related features and poorer treatment outcomes.
Differences in gene activity and mutation patterns were also found in adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, indicating variations in disease progression and response to therapy. According to Charles Mullighan, this demonstrates how integrated data analysis can lead to clinically relevant insights.
With the growth of ‘omics’ data, the challenge in haematology is shifting from data collection to interpretation. The ASHOP platform responds to this by making data accessible and usable for a broad group of researchers and clinicians. Researcher Ilaria Iacobucci emphasises that the combination of multi-omics and clinical data enables new research questions and contributes to a better understanding of disease biology and treatment response.
Broader application and collaboration
The initiators see ASHOP as a first step towards a more widely applicable platform for haematological disorders. By sharing data and expertise internationally, the transition to better diagnostics and treatment can be accelerated.
According to Torsten Haferlach, the platform offers a unique opportunity to convert complex datasets into concrete improvements for patient care. In doing so, ASHOP underscores the growing role of data integration and digital tools in the development of personalised medicine.
CancerWatch
Last year in Oslo, the launch was given for CancerWatch, a large-scale European partnership aimed at fundamentally improving the quality and usability of cancer data. Up-to-date, high-quality cancer data form the backbone of effective prevention, early detection, treatment and aftercare. CancerWatch marks an important step towards modernising European cancer registries. By utilising digital technologies, data are made accessible, harmonised and shared more quickly, naturally within the framework of the GDPR.
The data provides direct input for, amongst other things, the European Cancer Information System (ECIS) and the European Cancer Inequalities Registry (ECIR). Both play a key role within the European Cancer Control Plan and form the basis for evidence-based health policy.
