Compositions and methods for multiplexed quantitative analysis of cell lineages

Abstract

Compositions and methods are provided for measuring population size for a plurality of clonal cell populations in the same individual, e.g., for measuring tumor size for a plurality of clonally independent tumors within the same individual. A subject method can include: (a) contacting an individual with a plurality of cell markers that are heritable and distinguishable from one another, to generate a plurality of distinguishable lineages of heritably marked cells; (b) after sufficient time has passed for the heritably marked cells to undergo at least one round of division, detecting and measuring quantities of at least two of the plurality of cell markers present in the contacted tissue, thereby generating a set of measured values; and (c) using the set of measured values to calculate the number of heritably marked cells that are present (e.g., for at least two of the distinguishable lineages of heritably marked cells).

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method of measuring tumor size for a plurality of clonally independent tumors of the same tissue, the method comprising:
 (a) contacting a tissue with a plurality of barcoded nucleic acid cell markers, thereby generating a plurality of distinguishable lineages of heritably marked neoplastic cells within the contacted tissue;   (b) after sufficient time has passed for at least a portion of the heritably marked neoplastic cells to undergo at least one round of division, performing high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing to detect and measure quantities of at least two of the of barcoded nucleic acid cell markers present in the contacted tissue, thereby generating a set of measured values; and   (c) calculating, using the set of measured values as input, a number of heritably marked neoplastic cells present in the contacted tissue for at least two of said distinguishable lineages of heritably marked neoplastic cells.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said tissue comprises neoplastic cells and/or tumors prior to step (a). 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing of step (b) is performed on a biological sample collected from the tissue. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing of step (b) is performed on a tissue sample of the contacted tissue. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein each barcoded nucleic acid cell marker of the plurality of barcoded nucleic acid cell markers corresponds to a known cell genotype for a lineage of heritably marked neoplastic cells. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said contacting comprises genetically altering cells of the tissue to generate the heritably marked neoplastic cells. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the barcodcd nucleic acids induce neoplastic cell formation. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the barcodcd nucleic acids induce neoplastic cell formation and include one or more of: homology directed repair (HDR) DNA donor templates, nucleic acids encoding one or more oncogenes, nucleic acids encoding one or more wildtype proteins, nucleic acids encoding one or more mutant proteins, nucleic acids encoding CRISPR/Cas guide RNAs, nucleic acids encoding short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), or nucleic acids encoding a genome editing protein. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the genome editing protein is selected from: a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided protein, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided protein fused to a transcriptional activator or repressor polypeptide, a Cas9 protein, a Cas9 protein fused to a transcriptional activator or repressor polypeptide, a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), a TALEN, a phage-derived integrase, a Cre protein, a Flp protein, and a meganuclease protein. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the barcodcd nucleic acids are linear or circular DNA molecules. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the barcodcd nucleic acids are selected from: plasmids, synthesized nucleic acid fragments, and minicircles. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the barcodcd nucleic acids are RNA/DNA hybrids or nucleic acid/protein complexes. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is an invertebrate tissue. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is a vertebrate tissue. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is a mammalian or a fish tissue. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is a rat tissue, a mouse tissue, a pig tissue, a non-human primate tissue, or a human tissue. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is part of a living animal. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is an engineered tissue grown outside of an animal. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue is selected from: muscle, lung, bronchus, pancreas, breast, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, kidney, spleen, blood, gut, brain, bone, bladder, prostate, ovary, eye, nose, tongue, mouth, pharynx, larynx, thyroid, fat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, adrenal gland, soft tissue, smooth muscle, vasculature, cartilage, lymphatics, prostate, heart, skin, retina, reproductive system, and genital system. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein after sufficient time has passed for at least a portion of the heritably marked neoplastic cells to undergo at least one round of division, the method further comprises: (i) detecting and/or measuring a biomarker of the heritably marked neoplastic cells, and (ii) categorizing the heritably marked neoplastic cells based on the results of said detecting and/or measuring of the biomarker. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the biomarker one or more of: cell proliferation status, cell type, developmental cell lineage, cell death, or cellular signaling state. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the cell marker is delivered to the tissue via viral vector. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the viral vector is selected from: a lentiviral vector, an adenoviral vector, an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, a bocavirus vector, a foamy virus vector, and a retroviral vector.