Familial Aggregation of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). A Case Report

A family is reported in which three male siblings of Asian descent developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Case 1 was diagnosed with indolent follicular lymphoma stage IIIA at age 45. Case 2 presented with large B-cell lymphoma stage IIB at age 56. Chromosomal investigation of the peripheral blood did not show abnormalities. Chemotherapy induced a complete remission. However, after a period of nearly ten years he developed acute myeloid leukaemia. Case 3 developed large B-cell lymphoma stage IVA at age 52. Cytogenetic analysis in peripheral blood was normal. Shared genetic and environmental risk factors remain to be identified in this family. Familial aggregation of NHL is uncommon. In some families, various forms of immunodeficiency have been found. In addition to coincidental clustering of cases, and rare cases explained by known tumour syndromes such as Li-Fraumeni (like) syndrome, other familial cases may share as yet unknown genetic and/or environmental risk factors.     

Genetic and epigenetic alterations on the short arm of chromosome 11 are involved in a majority of sporadic Wilms' tumours

Wilms' tumour is one of the most common solid tumours of childhood. 11p13 (WT1 locus) and 11p15.5 (WT2 locus) are known to have genetic or epigenetic aberrations in these tumours. In Wilms' tumours, mutation of the Wilms tumour 1 (WT1) gene at the WT1 locus has been reported, and the WT2 locus, comprising the two independent imprinted domains IGF2/H19 and KIP2/LIT1, can undergo maternal deletion or alterations associated with imprinting. Although these alterations have been identified in many studies, it is still not clear how frequently combined genetic and epigenetic alterations of these loci are involved in Wilms' tumours or how these alterations occur. To answer both questions, we performed genetic and epigenetic analyses of these loci, together with an additional gene, CTNNB1, in 35 sporadic Wilms' tumours. Loss of heterozygosity of 11p15.5 and loss of imprinting of IGF2 were the most frequent genetic (29%) and epigenetic (40%) alterations in Wilms' tumours, respectively. In total, 83% of the tumours had at least one alteration at 11p15.5 and/or 11p13. One-third of the tumours had alterations at multiple loci. Our results suggest that chromosome 11p is not only genetically but also epigenetically critical for the majority of Wilms' tumours.     

Genome-wide haplotype association study identify TNFRSF1A,CASP7, LRP1B,CDH1 and TG genes associated with Alzheimer's disease in Caribbean Hispanic individuals

Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is an acquired disorder of cognitive and behavioral impairment. It is considered to be caused by variety of factors, such as age, environment and genetic factors. In order to identify the genetic affect factors of AD, we carried out a bioinformatic approach which combined genome-wide haplotype-based association study with gene prioritization. The raw SNP genotypes data was downloaded from GEO database ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE33528","term_id":"33528"}}GSE33528). It contains 615 AD patients and 560 controls of Caribbean Hispanic individuals. Firstly, we identified the linkage disequilibrium (LD) haplotype blocks and performed genome-wide haplotype association study to screen significant haplotypes that were associated with AD. Then we mapped these significant haplotypes to genes and obtained candidate genes set for AD. At last, we prioritized AD candidate genes based on their similarity with 36 known AD genes, so as to identify AD related genes. The results showed that 141 haplotypes on 134 LD blocks were significantly associated with AD (P<1E-4), and these significant haplotypes were mapped to 132 AD candidate genes. After prioritizing these candidate genes, we found seven AD related genes: APOE, APOC1, TNFRSF1A, LRP1B, CDH1, TG and CASP7. Among these genes, APOE and APOC1 are known AD risk genes. For the other five genes TNFRSF1A, CDH1, CASP7, LRP1B and TG, this is the first genetic association study which showed the significant association between these five genes and AD susceptibility in Caribbean Hispanic individuals. We believe that our findings can provide a new perspective to understand the genetic affect factors of AD.     

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, obesity and energy homeostasis polymorphisms

A population-based case-control study of lymphomas in England collected height and weight details from 699 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases and 914 controls. Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 30 kg m(-2) at five years before diagnosis,, was associated with an increased risk of NHL (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1). The excess was most pronounced for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8). Genetic variants in the leptin (LEP 19G > A, LEP -2548G > A) and leptin receptor genes (LEPR 223Q > R), previously shown to modulate NHL risk, as well as a polymorphism in the energy regulatory gene adiponectin (APM1 276G>T), were investigated. Findings varied with leptin genotype, the risks being decreased with LEP 19AA (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1.0) and increased with LEP -2548GA (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7) and -2548AA (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-1.9), particularly for follicular lymphoma. These genetic findings, which were independent of BMI, were stronger for men than women.     

Early diagnosis of oesophageal cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus are cancers that develop from distinct epithelial sub-types; however, they are both related to chronic inflammation of differing aetiologies. Inflammation leads to somatically inherited genetic mutations altering control of the cell cycle, DNA replication and apoptosis, which together result in autonomous and uncontrolled proliferation. These cancers have often metastasised to lymph nodes and distant organs before symptomatic presentation and therefore carry a poor prognosis. It is therefore vital to diagnose oesophageal cancer at an early stage, before the development of symptoms, when treatment can dramatically improve prognosis. Understanding the pathogenesis of these cancers is vital to guide early diagnostic strategies.     

雌激素合成及代谢基因的多态性与乳腺癌易感性

雌激素是乳腺癌的主要危险因素,推测是通过雌激素受体影响乳腺癌的发病风险.因此,与雌激素合成和代谢相关的基因多态性被认为是乳腺癌的主要危险因子.与雌激素合成基因(CYP11A1、CYP17、CYP19)和代谢基因(CYP1A1、CYP1B1、CYP1A2)相关的基因多态性在调节乳腺癌易感性中具有一定意义.     

Evidence for an association between cutaneous malignant melanoma and lymphoid malignancy: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Scotland

We analysed the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CM) occurring in patients following a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) or chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), and of NHL or CLL subsequently developing in CM survivors. Cohorts of patients with CM, NHL or CLL (index cancer) diagnosed between 1975 and 1997 were identified from the Scottish national cancer registry and followed through the registry for subsequent CM, NHL or CLL. The standardised incidence ratio (SIR) for each cancer was calculated and overall risk, risk in relation to gender and age at diagnosis of the index cancers and time from diagnosis of the index cancer to the diagnosis of the second malignancy were measured. There were 9385 CM patients, 4016 CLL patients and 13 857 NHL patients identified with an index cancer with 56 195, 14 450 and 44 999 person-years of follow-up, respectively. There was an increased risk of both CLL and NHL following a diagnosis of CM (SIR 2.3 and 1.5, respectively) and of CM following a diagnosis of CLL and NHL (SIR 2.3 and 2.1, respectively). The risk was statistically significantly increased for CLL developing in CM patients and for CM occurring in NHL survivors (P<0.05). This study supports an association between CM, CLL and NHL developing in the same patient. Immunosuppression, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and genetic factors may lead to a host environment that is conducive to the development of these malignancies.     

Pathological features and genetic alterations in colorectal carcinomas with characteristics of nonpolypoid growth

We sought to clarify pathological features and genetic alterations in colorectal carcinomas with characteristics of nonpolypoid growth. Colorectal carcinomas resected at Showa University Hospital in Tokyo included 86 with characteristics of polypoid growth (PG) and 21 with those of nonpolypoid growth (NPG). Mutations of APC, Ki-ras, and p53 genes, as well as microsatellite instability (MSI), were analysed using fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). Carcinomas with an NPG pattern were smaller than PG tumours (P<0.0001). Carcinomas with a PG pattern were more likely to harbour Ki-ras mutations (36%) than NPG tumours (0%; P<0.0001). Mutation types in the APC gene differed significantly between PG and NPG carcinomas (P=0.0189), including frameshift mutations in 66% of PG carcinomas but no NPG carcinomas. Presence of a p53 mutation at a 'hot spot' also was more likely in PG carcinomas (37%) than in NPG carcinomas (0%; P=0.0124). No significant difference in presence of MSI was evident between carcinomas with PG and NPG patterns. In conclusion, significant genetic differences were evident between carcinomas with PG and NPG patterns. Genetic changes in NPG carcinomas differed from those of the conventional adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Assuming that some nonpolypoid growth lesions transform rapidly into advanced carcinomas, 20% of all colorectal carcinomas may progress in this manner.     

HapMap-based study of the 17q21 ERBB2 amplicon in susceptibility to breast cancer

ERBB2 is frequently amplified in breast tumours as part of a wide region of amplification on chromosome 17q21. This amplicon contains many candidate genes for breast cancer susceptibility. We used a genetic association study design to determine if common genetic variation (frequency>or=5%) in a 400-kb region surrounding ERBB2 and containing the PPARBP, CRK7, NEUROD2, PPP1R1B, STARD3, TCAP, PNMT, CAB2, ERBB2, C17ORF37, GRB7 and ZNFN1A3 genes, was associated with breast cancer risk. Sixteen tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) selected within blocks of linkage disequilibrium from the HapMap database, one HapMap singleton SNP, and six additional SNPs randomly selected from dbSNP were genotyped using Taqman in a large study set of British women (2275 cases, 2280 controls). We observed no association between any of the genotypes or associated haplotypes and disease risk. In order to simulate unidentified SNPs, we performed the leave-one-out cross-validation procedure on the HapMap data; over 90% of the common genetic variation was well represented by tagging polymorphisms. We are therefore likely to have tagged any common variants present in our population. In summary, we found no association between common genetic variation in the 17q21 ERBB2 amplicon and breast cancer risk in British women.     

Communication and information-giving in high-risk breast cancer consultations: influence on patient outcomes

This longitudinal study aimed to document (i) the information-giving and patient-communication styles of clinical geneticists and genetic counsellors (consultants) in familial breast cancer clinics and (ii) assess the effect of these styles on women's knowledge, whether their expectations were met, satisfaction, risk perception and psychological status. A total of 158 women from high-risk breast cancer families completed self-report questionnaires at 2 weeks preconsultation and 4 weeks postconsultation. The consultations were audiotaped, transcribed and coded. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that discussing prophylactic mastectomy (P=0.00) and oophorectomy (P=0.01) led to women having significantly more expectations met; discussing genetic testing significantly decreased anxiety (P=0.03) and facilitating understanding significantly decreased depression (P=0.05). Receiving a summary letter of the consultation significantly lowered anxiety (P=0.01) and significantly increased the accuracy of perceived risk (P=0.02). Women whose consultant used more supportive communications experienced significantly more anxiety about breast cancer at the 4 weeks follow-up (P=0.00). These women were not significantly more anxious before genetic counselling. In conclusion, this study found that consultants vary in the amount of information they give and the way they communicate; and this variation can result in better or worse psychosocial outcomes. Greater use of supportive and counselling communications appeared to increase anxiety about breast cancer. Identifying methods to assist consultants to address emotional issues effectively may be helpful.     

四川北部地区肺癌病人GSTM1基因多态性分析

 【摘要】　目的　分析中国四川北部地区汉族肺癌人群谷胱苷肽硫转移酶M1（GSTM1）基因多态性。方法　采用聚合酶链反应（PCR）技术检测该地区125例肺癌患者GSTM1基因缺失频率,并与文献报道的其他地区人群及人种进行比较。结果　中国四川北部地区肺癌患者GSTM1纯合缺失基因型58.4 %（73／125）,其中纯和缺失率女性为62.5 %（20／32）,男性为56.9 %（53／93）;鳞状细胞癌56.1 %（32／57）,腺癌54.8 %（17／31）。与国内外文献报道比较,中国四川北部地区肺癌患者GSTM1基因缺失频率略高于欧美,但仅与土耳其、巴西非裔美国人和印度北部人群差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,与国内人群相近（P＞0.05）。结论　中国四川北部地区汉族肺癌人群GSTM1基因多态性未呈现显著的地域和人种特征。     

TNF-α启动子区域基因多态性与肺癌易感性

肺癌的遗传易感性机制在肺癌发病中起重要作用.研究发现肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)在肺癌患者中明显升高.其增高的原因可能是由于TNF-α启动子区域基因多态性影响了其转录和表达.TNF-α基因多态性可以作为肺癌易感性的遗传标志.     

Genetic variation frequencies in Wilms' tumor: A meta‐analysis and systematic review

Over the last few decades, numerous biomarkers in Wilms' tumor have been confirmed and shown variations in prevalence. Most of these studies were based on small sample sizes. We carried out a meta‐analysis of the research published from 1992 to 2015 to obtain more precise and comprehensive outcomes for genetic tests. In the present study, 70 out of 5175 published reports were eligible for the meta‐analysis, which was carried out using Stata 12.0 software. Pooled prevalence for gene mutations WT1, WTX, CTNNB1, TP53, MYCN, DROSHA, and DGCR8 was 0.141 (0.104, 0.178), 0.147 (0.110, 0.184), 0.140 (0.100, 0.190), 0.410 (0.214, 0.605), 0.071 (0.041, 0.100), 0.082 (0.048, 0.116), and 0.036 (0.026, 0.046), respectively. Pooled prevalence of loss of heterozygosity at 1p, 11p, 11q, 16q, and 22q was 0.109 (0.084, 0.133), 0.334 (0.295, 0.373), 0.199 (0.146, 0.252), 0.151 (0.129, 0.172), and 0.148 (0.108, 0.189), respectively. Pooled prevalence of 1q and chromosome 12 gain was 0.218 (0.161, 0.275) and 0.273 (0.195, 0.350), respectively. The limited prevalence of currently known genetic alterations in Wilms' tumors indicates that significant drivers of initiation and progression remain to be discovered. Subgroup analyses indicated that ethnicity may be one of the sources of heterogeneity. However, in meta‐regression analyses, no study‐level characteristics of indicators were found to be significant. In addition, the findings of our sensitivity analysis and possible publication bias remind us to interpret results with caution.     

Loss of heterozygosity at 7p in Wilms' tumour development

Chromosome 7p alterations have been implicated in the development of Wilms' tumour (WT) by previous studies of tumour cytogenetics, and by our analysis of a constitutional translocation (t(1;7)(q42;p15)) in a child with WT and radial aplasia. We therefore used polymorphic microsatellite markers on 7p for a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) study, and found LOH in seven out of 77 informative WTs (9%). The common region of LOH was 7p15-7p22, which contains the region disrupted by the t(1;7) breakpoint. Four WTs with 7p LOH had other genetic changes; a germline WT1 mutation with 11p LOH, LOH at 11p, LOH at 16q, and loss of imprinting of IGF2. Analysis of three tumour-associated lesions from 7p LOH cases revealed a cystic nephroma-like area also having 7p LOH. However, a nephrogenic rest and a contralateral WT from the two other cases showed no 7p LOH. No particular clinical phenotype was associated with the WTs which showed 7p LOH. The frequency and pattern of 7p LOH demonstrated in our studies indicate the presence of a tumour suppressor gene at 7p involved in the development of Wilms' tumour.     

锌转运蛋白ZIP在肝细胞癌中的表达及其预后意义

目的:通过深入挖掘肿瘤公共数据库中的基因信息,分析ZIP转运蛋白家族成员在肝细胞癌(hepa-tocellular carcinoma,HCC)中的表达情况及与临床预后的相关性.方法:通过Oncomine和UCSC Xena等肿瘤学公共数据库对ZIP转运蛋白在HCC中的表达情况进行分析;使用cBioPortal数据库探...     

OOND1基因870位点多态性同肿瘤遗传易感性关系的Meta分析

目的：综合评价细胞周期蛋白D1（Cyclin D1）基因CCND1的G870A多态性与肿瘤遗传易感性的关系。方法：以“CCND1、Cyclin D1、Bcl-1、polymorphism、cancer、细胞周期蛋白（素）D1、多态性和肿瘤”为关键词,检索Medline、EMBASE、Springerlink、Highwire、CBM、CNKI、维普和万方等中英文数据库,获得1991—01—2008—09有关CCND1基因G870A多态性同肿瘤易感性关系的研究结果。对所获文献进行质量评价、筛选和异质性检验,要求所纳入文献均为非相关的病例对照研究,均以0R值为效应指标,基因型在对照群体中的分布均符合Hardy—Weinberg遗传平衡定律。利用Rev Man4．2软件进行Meta分析。结果：共纳入26篇研究文献,累计病例7444例,对照11909例。A／G和A／A等位基因同G／G纯合子相比,0R值分别为1．10（95％CI：1．00～1．22）和1．34（95％CI：1．16～1．55）,对应的P值分别为0．06和〈0．0001。结论：CCND1 G870A能够增加携带者患肿瘤的发病风险,A／A基因型是其患肿瘤的一个遗传易感因素。     

Screening for hereditary cancer and genetic testing, epitomised by breast cancer

The new genetics is having an impact on many areas of healthcare. Diversity in the genetic code accounts for differences in phenotypes between populations and it is becoming apparent that genetic differences may have a role in predisposition to and behaviour of disease. Genetic models suggest that there are two types of genetic predisposition to disease: the so-called high and low penetrance genes. At present, most of the impact on medicine has been from highly penetrant genes, and genetic testing for disease predisposition, particularly for diseases of late onset (e.g. certain cancers) is in its infancy. As a general statement, approximately 5–10% of common cancers are due to such highly penetrant genes. The category of genes that will become of increasing interest is that of the low penetrance genes. Often these are normal variations in genes that result in a slightly increased risk of disease. These are analogous to high blood pressure carrying an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Once rapid genetic analysis is available for these types of genes, such analysis would be analogous to taking someone's blood pressure in a general practitioner's (GP's) surgery to identify individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This will produce a revolutionary change in the way we practise medicine. Genetic analysis will become faster and may therefore be more commonplace. It is possible to envisage an era when genetic analysis will become a routine part of primary care to identify changes in low penetrance genes that will confer a ‘risk profile’ for patients. This will then enable their primary care physicians to advise about primary prevention and even prescribe certain preventive drugs to decrease the risk of certain diseases occurring. This proactive rather than reactive style of practising medicine is potentially exciting, however it carries with it ethical, legal and social implications for how we deal with this new knowledge.     

A common variant in MTHFR influences response to chemoradiotherapy and recurrence of rectal cancer

An important determinant of the pathogenesis and prognosis of various diseases is inherited genetic variation. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), variations at a single base position, have been identified in both protein-coding and noncoding DNA sequences, but the vast majority of millions of those variants are far from being functionally understood. Here we show that a common variant in the gene MTHFR [rs1801133 (C>T)] not only influences response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer, but it also influences recurrence of the disease itself. More specifically, patients with the homozygous ancestral (wild type) genotype (C/C) were 2.91 times more likely (291% increased benefit) to respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy {95% CI: [1.23, 6.89]; P=0.0150} and 3.25 times more likely (325% increased benefit) not to experience recurrence of the disease {95% CI: [1.37, 7.72]; P=0.0079} than patients with either the heterozygous (C/T) or the homozygous mutation (T/T) genotype. These results identify MTHFR as an important genetic marker and open up new, pharmacogenomic strategies in the treatment and management of rectal cancer.