Publications

SNPLogic (http://www.snplogic.org) brings together single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) information from numerous sources to provide a comprehensive SNP selection, annotation and prioritization system for design and analysis of genotyping projects. SNPLogic integrates information about the genetic context of SNPs (gene, chromosomal region, functional location, haplotypes tags and overlap with transcription factor binding sites, splicing sites, miRNAs and evolutionarily conserved regions), genotypic data (allele frequencies per population and validation method), coverage of commercial arrays (ParAllele, Affymetrix and Illumina), functional predictions (modeled on structure and sequence) and connections or established associations (biological pathways, gene ontology terms and OMIM disease terms). The SNPLogic web interface facilitates construction and annotation of user-defined SNP lists that can be saved, shared and exported. Thus, SNPLogic can be used to identify and prioritize candidate SNPs, assess custom and commercial arrays panels and annotate new SNP data with publicly available information. We have found integration of SNP annotation in the context of pathway information and functional prediction scores to be a powerful approach to the analysis and interpretation of SNP-disease association data.

Chronic GVHD (cGVHD) remains one of the most significant complications affecting the quality of life of long-term survivors of allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT). Recent advancements in SCT, including the adoption of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens and improvements in inpatient supportive care, have yielded dramatic reductions in early mortality and led to the expanding use of allogeneic SCT in a broader range of patients, including the elderly. In turn, this development has resulted in a growing number of SCT survivors who remain free of their underlying malignancies but who require care for long-term complications, including cGVHD. cGVHD may have protean manifestations and may pose unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. To address inconsistencies in the diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care of cGVHD, experts within the SCT community have worked to develop consensus guidelines; these efforts have yielded more precise definitions and will facilitate more uniform clinical trials. With an increase in SCT survivorship, the management of patients with cGVHD is performed as a partnership between SCT physicians and primary oncologists. This review is designed to help general oncologists understand the current state of cGVHD, including its pathogenesis and treatment. The review places particular emphasis on general principles governing the optimal supportive management of cGVHD and examines recent consensus recommendations regarding its diagnosis and management by organ system.