AMLVaran: a software approach to implement variant analysis of targeted NGS sequencing data in an oncological care setting

Abstract

Background: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) enables large-scale and cost-effective sequencing of genetic samples in order to detect genetic variants. After successful use in research-oriented projects, NGS is now entering clinical practice. Consequently, variant analysis is increasingly important to facilitate a better understanding of disease entities and prognoses. Furthermore, variant calling allows to adapt and optimize specific treatments of individual patients, and thus is an integral part of personalized medicine. However, the analysis of NGS data typically requires a number of complex bioinformatics processing steps. A flexible and reliable software that combines the variant analysis process with a simple, user-friendly interface is therefore highly desirable, but still lacking. Results: With AMLVaran (AML Variant Analyzer), we present a web-based software, that covers the complete variant analysis workflow of targeted NGS samples. The software provides a generic pipeline that allows free choice of variant calling tools and a flexible language (SSDL) for filtering variant lists. AMLVaran's interactive website presents comprehensive annotation data and includes curated information on relevant hotspot regions and driver mutations. A concise clinical report with rule-based diagnostic recommendations is generated. An AMLVaran configuration with eight variant calling tools and a complex scoring scheme, based on the somatic variant calling pipeline appreci8, was used to analyze three datasets from AML and MDS studies with 402 samples in total. Maximum sensitivity and positive predictive values were 1.0 and 0.96, respectively. The tool's usability was found to be satisfactory by medical professionals. Conclusion: Coverage analysis, reproducible variant filtering and software usability are important for clinical assessment of variants. AMLVaran performs reliable NGS variant analyses and generates reports fulfilling the requirements of a clinical setting. Due to its generic design, the software can easily be adapted for use with different targeted panels for other tumor entities, or even for whole-exome data. AMLVaran has been deployed to a public web server and is distributed with Docker scripts for local use.

MTPpilot: An Interactive Software for Visualization of Next-Generation Sequencing Results in Molecular Tumor Boards

“… 11 AML Varan is a comprehensive solution, which offers the complete workflow from raw data analysis to medical report generation, but lacks the interactive visualization for molecular tumor boards. 12 Local software solutions have also been developed by commercial providers but require access fees. With the increasing complexity of NGS data, a simple comprehensive software solution is required that integrates all aspects of NGS data analysis in the context of precision oncology.…”

MTPpilot: an interactive software for visualization of NGS results in molecular tumor boards

“…Swiss-PO is a tool for structural analysis of mutations in common cancer genes [11]. AML Varan is a very comprehensive solution, which offers the complete workflow from raw data analysis to medical report generation, but lacks the interactive visualization of results for molecular tumor boards [12]. Local software solutions have also been developed by commercial providers, but require access fees.…”