Germline mutations and new copy number variants among 40 pediatric cancer patients suspected for genetic predisposition

Cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS) result from germline pathogenic variants, and they are increasingly recognized in the etiology of many pediatric cancers. Herein, we report the genetic/genomic analysis of 40 pediatric patients enrolled from 2016 to 2018. Our diagnostic workflow was successful in 50% of screened cases. Overall, the proportion of CPS in our case series is 10.9% (20/184) of enrolled patients. Interestingly, 12.5% of patients achieved a conclusive diagnosis through the analysis of chromosomal imbalance. Indeed, we observed germline microdeletions/duplications of regions encompassing cancer-related genes in 50% of patients undergoing array-CGH: EIF3H duplication in a patient with infantile desmoplastic astrocytoma and low-grade Glioma; SLFN11 deletion, SOX4 duplication, and PARK2 partial deletion in three neuroblastoma patients; a PTPRD partial deletion in a child diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. Finally, we identified two cases due to DICER1 germline mutations.     

Candidate genes for hereditary colorectal cancer: Mutational screening and systematic review

Genome‐wide approaches applied for the identification of new hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) genes, identified several potential causal genes, including RPS20, IL12RB1, LIMK2, POLE2, MRE11, POT1, FAN1, WIF1, HNRNPA0, SEMA4A, FOCAD, PTPN12, LRP6, POLQ, BLM, MCM9, and the epigenetic inactivation of PTPRJ. Here we attempted to validate the association between variants in these genes and nonpolyposis CRC by performing a mutational screening of the genes and PTPRJ promoter methylation analysis in 473 familial/early‐onset CRC cases, a systematic review of the published cases, and assessment of allele frequencies in control population. In the studied cohort, 24 (5%) carriers of (predicted) deleterious variants in the studied genes and no constitutional PTPRJ epimutations were identified. Assessment of allele frequencies in controls compared with familial/early‐onset patients with CRC showed association with increased nonpolyposis CRC risk of disruptive variants in RPS20, IL12RB1, POLE2, MRE11 and POT1, and of FAN1 c.149T>G (p.Met50Arg). Lack of association was demonstrated for LIMK2, PTPN12, LRP6, PTPRJ, POLQ, BLM, MCM9 and FOCAD variants. Additional studies are required to provide conclusive evidence for SEMA4A, WIF1, HNRNPA0 c.?110G>C, and FOCAD large deletions.     

Classification and Clinical Management of Variants of Uncertain Significance in High Penetrance Cancer Predisposition Genes

In 2008, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) proposed a system for classifying sequence variants in highly penetrant breast and colon cancer susceptibility genes, linked to clinical actions. This system uses a multifactorial likelihood model to calculate the posterior probability that an altered DNA sequence is pathogenic. Variants between 5%–94.9% (class 3) are categorized as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). This interval is wide and might include variants with a substantial difference in pathogenicity at either end of the spectrum. We think that carriers of class 3 variants would benefit from a fine‐tuning of this classification. Classification of VUS to a category with a defined clinical significance is very important because for carriers of a pathogenic mutation full surveillance and risk‐reducing surgery can reduce cancer incidence. Counselees who are not carriers of a pathogenic mutation can be discharged from intensive follow‐up and avoid unnecessary risk‐reducing surgery. By means of examples, we show how, in selected cases, additional data can lead to reclassification of some variants to a different class with different recommendations for surveillance and therapy. To improve the clinical utility of this classification system, we suggest a pragmatic adaptation to clinical practice.     

Accurate classification of MLH1/MSH2 missense variants with multivariate analysis of protein polymorphisms-mismatch repair (MAPP-MMR)

Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), is the most common known genetic syndrome for colorectal cancer (CRC). MLH1/MSH2 mutations underlie approximately 90% of Lynch syndrome families. A total of 24% of these mutations are missense. Interpreting missense variation is extremely challenging. We have therefore developed multivariate analysis of protein polymorphisms-mismatch repair (MAPP-MMR), a bioinformatic algorithm that effectively classifies MLH1/MSH2 deleterious and neutral missense variants. We compiled a large database (n>300) of MLH1/MSH2 missense variants with associated clinical and molecular characteristics. We divided this database into nonoverlapping training and validation sets and tested MAPP-MMR. MAPP-MMR significantly outperformed other missense variant classification algorithms (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 96%; positive predictive value [PPV] 98%; negative predictive value [NPV], 89%), such as SIFT and PolyPhen. MAPP-MMR is an effective bioinformatic tool for missense variant interpretation that accurately distinguishes MLH1/MSH2 deleterious variants from neutral variants.     

Gastric cancer genetic predisposition and clinical presentations: Established heritable causes and potential candidate genes

Tumour risk syndromes (TRS) are characterized by an increased risk of early-onset cancers in a familial context. High cancer risk is mostly driven by loss-of-function variants in a single cancer-associated gene. Presently, predisposition to diffuse gastric cancer (DGC) is explained by CDH1 and CTNNA1 pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (P/LP), causing Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC); while APC promoter 1B single nucleotide variants predispose to Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis of the Stomach (GAPPS). Familial Intestinal Gastric Cancer (FIGC), recognized as a GC-predisposing disease, remains understudied and genetically unsolved. GC can also occur in the spectrum of other TRS. Identification of heritable causes allows defining diagnostic testing criteria, helps to clinically classify GC families into the appropriate TRS, and allows performing pre-symptomatic testing identifying at-risk individuals for downstream surveillance, risk reduction and/or treatment. However, most of HDGC, some GAPPS, and most FIGC patients/families remain unsolved, expecting a heritable factor to be discovered. The missing heritability in GC-associated tumour risk syndromes (GC-TRS) is likely explained not by a single major gene, but by a diversity of genes, some, predisposing to other TRS. This would gain support if GC-enriched small families or apparently isolated early-onset GC cases were hiding a family history compatible with another TRS. Herein, we revisited current knowledge on GC-TRS, and searched in the literature for individuals/families bearing P/LP variants predisposing for other TRS, but whose probands display a clinical presentation and/or family history also fitting GC-TRS criteria. We found 27 families with family history compatible with HDGC or FIGC, harbouring 28 P/LP variants in 16 TRS-associated genes, mainly associated with DNA repair. PALB2 or BRCA2 were the most frequently mutated candidate genes in individuals with family history compatible with HDGC and FIGC, respectively. Consolidation of PALB2 and BRCA2 as HDGC- or FIGC-associated genes, respectively, holds promise and worth additional research. This analysis further highlighted the influence, that proband's choice and small or unreported family history have, for a correct TRS diagnosis, genetic screening, and disease management. In this review, we provide a rational for identification of particularly relevant candidate genes in GC-TRS.     

Leveraging splice‐affecting variant predictors and a minigene validation system to identify Mendelian disease‐causing variants among exon‐captured variants of uncertain significance

The genetic heterogeneity of Mendelian disorders results in a significant proportion of patients that are unable to be assigned a confident molecular diagnosis after conventional exon sequencing and variant interpretation. Here, we evaluated how many patients with an inherited retinal disease (IRD) have variants of uncertain significance (VUS) that are disrupting splicing in a known IRD gene by means other than affecting the canonical dinucleotide splice site. Three in silico splice‐affecting variant predictors were leveraged to annotate and prioritize variants for splicing functional validation. An in vitro minigene system was used to assay each variant's effect on splicing. Starting with 745 IRD patients lacking a confident molecular diagnosis, we validated 23 VUS as splicing variants that likely explain disease in 26 patients. Using our results, we optimized in silico score cutoffs to guide future variant interpretation. Variants that alter base pairs other than the canonical GT‐AG dinucleotide are often not considered for their potential effect on RNA splicing but in silico tools and a minigene system can be utilized for the prioritization and validation of such splice‐disrupting variants. These variants can be overlooked causes of human disease but can be identified using conventional exon sequencing with proper interpretation guidelines.     

A population‐based study of hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer: evidence of pathologic and genetic heterogeneity

Hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) may be the result of Lynch syndrome (LS) caused by mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, a syndrome of unknown etiology called familial colorectal cancer type‐X (FCCTX), or familial serrated neoplasia associated with the colorectal cancer (CRC) somatic BRAF mutation. To determine the cause of HNPCC in the founder population of the island of Newfoundland, we studied 37 families with LS and 29 families without LS who fulfilled the Amsterdam I criteria. In non‐LS, four index CRCs were BRAF mutation positive, one of which was microsatellite instable. Geographic clustering of LS families caused by three different founder mutations in MSH2 was observed. Nine unique MMR mutations in four MMR genes were identified in single families distributed in different geographic isolates. The geographic distribution of non‐LS was similar to LS. The coefficient of relatedness using genotype data was significantly higher for non‐LS than for all CRC. Extensive genealogic investigation failed to connect non‐LS families and in some clusters pathologic CRC heterogeneity was observed. We conclude that non‐LS HNPCC may be a heterogeneous disorder with different pathogenic pathways, and that the geographic distribution is consistent with multiple different mutations in unknown CRC susceptibility gene(s).     

Likelihood ratios to assess genetic evidence for clinical significance of uncertain variants: hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia as a model

Clinical laboratories performing gene sequencing discover previously unreported and/or uncharacterized variants. Often these are missense or intronic mutations in which the contribution to disease cannot be predicted, and consequently these mutations are reported as variants of uncertain significance. Follow-up to assess family concordance is recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics to provide genetic evidence for clinical significance. Although family concordance studies show whether a variant segregates with disease in the family, the strength of evidence varies depending on the number and degree of relatedness of family members available for testing. We investigated a statistical model which accounts for the pedigree, inheritance patterns, and penetrance to determine the likelihood of a variant being a causative or deleterious mutation. We used hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) as a model for an autosomal dominant disease. Pedigree data were transferred to MLINK, and a Bayesian analysis was calculated to determine the likelihood that a variant is causative of disease. In applying this analysis to HHT pedigrees we found Bayes Factors of variants showing odds in favor of causality ranging from approximately 4:1 to over 400:1. These numbers provide an objective measure of the strength of genetic evidence. Other parameters such as amino acid severity predictions, ortholog and paralog comparisons and functional assays can be included in the analysis to increase the evidence of causality.     

Breast cancer susceptibility: current knowledge and implications for genetic counselling

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the Western world. Except for the high breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers as well as the risk for breast cancer in certain rare syndromes caused by mutations in TP53, STK11, PTEN, CDH1, NF1 or NBN, familial clustering of breast cancer remains largely unexplained. Despite significant efforts, BRCA3 could not be identified, but several reports have recently been published on genes involved in DNA repair and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Although candidate gene approaches demonstrated moderately increased breast cancer risks for rare mutations in genes involved in DNA repair (ATM, CHEK2, BRIP1, PALB2 and RAD50), genome-wide association studies identified several SNPs as low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility polymorphisms within genes as well as in chromosomal loci with no known genes (FGFR2, TOX3, LSP1, MAP3K1, TGFB1, 2q35 and 8q). Some of these low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility polymorphisms also act as modifier genes in BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers. This review not only outlines the recent key developments and potential clinical benefit for preventive management and therapy but also discusses the current limitations of genetic testing of variants associated with intermediate and low breast cancer risk.     

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer: Review of clinical,molecular genetics,and counseling aspects

Lynch syndrome, or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), is an autosomal-dominant disease accounting for approximately 1–5% of all colorectal cancer cases. Due to the lack of pathognomonic morphological or biomolecular markers, HNPCC has traditionally posed unique problems to clinicians and geneticists alike, both in terms of diagnosis and clinical management. Recently, novel insight into the pathogenesis of this syndrome has been provided by the identification of its molecular basis. In HNPCC families, germline mutations in any of four genes encoding proteins of a specialized DNA repair system, the mismatch repair, predispose to cancer development. Mutations in mismatch repair genes lead to an overall increase of the mutation rate and are associated with a phenotype of length instability of microsatellite loci. The present report summarizes the clinicopathological aspects of HNPCC and reviews the most recent molecular and biochemical findings. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Exceptions to the rule: Case studies in the prediction of pathogenicity for genetic variants in hereditary cancer genes

Based on current consensus guidelines and standard practice, many genetic variants detected in clinical testing are classified as disease causing based on their predicted impact on the normal expression or function of the gene in the absence of additional data. However, our laboratory has identified a subset of such variants in hereditary cancer genes for which compelling contradictory evidence emerged after the initial evaluation following the first observation of the variant. Three representative examples of variants in BRCA1, BRCA2 and MSH2 that are predicted to disrupt splicing, prematurely truncate the protein, or remove the start codon were evaluated for pathogenicity by analyzing clinical data with multiple classification algorithms. Available clinical data for all three variants contradicts the expected pathogenic classification. These variants illustrate potential pitfalls associated with standard approaches to variant classification as well as the challenges associated with monitoring data, updating classifications, and reporting potentially contradictory interpretations to the clinicians responsible for translating test outcomes to appropriate clinical action. It is important to address these challenges now as the model for clinical testing moves toward the use of large multi‐gene panels and whole exome/genome analysis, which will dramatically increase the number of genetic variants identified.     

Molecular analysis of the APC gene in 205 families: extended genotype-phenotype correlations in FAP and evidence for the role of APC amino acid changes in colorectal cancer predisposition

BACKGROUND/AIMS—The development of colorectal cancer and a variable range of extracolonic manifestations in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is the result of the dominant inheritance of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutations. In this study, direct mutation analysis of the APC gene was performed to determine genotype-phenotype correlations for nine extracolonic manifestations and to investigate the incidence of APC mutations in non-FAP colorectal cancer.
METHODS—The APC gene was analysed in 190 unrelated FAP and 15 non-FAP colorectal cancer patients using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, the protein truncation test, and direct sequencing.
RESULTS—Chain terminating signals were only identified in patients belonging to the FAP group (105 patients). Amino acid changes were identified in four patients, three of whom belonged to the non-FAP group of colorectal cancer patients. Genotype-phenotype correlations identified significant differences in the nature of certain extracolonic manifestations in FAP patients belonging to three mutation subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS—Extended genotypephenotype correlations made in this study may have the potential to determine the most appropriate surveillance and prophylactic treatment regimens for those patients with mutations associated with life threatening conditions. This study also provided evidence for the pathological nature of amino acid changes in APC associated with both FAP and non-FAP colorectal cancer patients.


Keywords: familial adenomatous polyposis; genotype-phenotype; familial colorectal cancer     

Direct contact in inviting high-risk members of hereditary colon cancer families to genetic counselling and DNA testing

Background

Identification of hereditary predisposition to cancer has limited significance if not followed by efficient cancer prevention in the family. Probands are traditionally left to inform their relatives about the increased risk, but distant relatives may remain uninformed. An approach to contacting directly at‐risk persons assumed to be unaware of their increased cancer risk was taken. With cancer prevention as the ultimate goal, the study was aimed at investigating attitudes towards and psychosocial consequences of this novel strategy.

Methods

In families with hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome), 286 healthy adult relatives with a 50% risk of a predisposing mutation were contacted by letter. Of these, 112 participated in counselling and predictive testing. Baseline information and information obtained 1 month after the test for 73 respondents were compared with 299 corresponding subjects, approached via the proband (family‐mediated approach in our previous study) in these families.

Results

After the contact letter, 51% consented to the study. Of these, 92% approved of the direct contact and 33% had tried to seek information. In 34% of the mutation carriers, neoplasia was identified in the first post‐test colonoscopy. Although post‐test fear of cancer increased among the mutation carriers and decreased among noncarriers, almost all participants were satisfied with their decision to participate, independently of their test results, parallel to the family‐mediated approach.

Conclusion

In this large‐scale study, relatives in cancer families were actively contacted to inform them of the condition and genetic counselling. Their attitudes were encouraging, and the psychosocial consequences were similar to the family‐mediated approach. Our results suggest the appropriateness of direct contact as an alternative method of contact in cases of life‐threatening treatable disease.     

Genetic counselling protocols for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: a survey of UK regional genetics centres

Predictive testing for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is typically offered within an extended genetic counselling protocol, originally developed in the context of Huntington's Disease. We conducted a questionnaire survey of 20 UK regional genetics centres to obtain evidence regarding current approaches to HNPCC pre-test counselling. Centres were asked to describe the structure and content of pre-test counselling and their views on shortening the protocol. Sixteen centres responded to the survey. Four centres were considering shortening the protocol or had already done so. The remaining centres followed an extended protocol of two sessions separated by a 1-month period for reflection, although two centres conceded that the protocol had been reduced in certain cases. Different centres used different terminology to describe the content of pre-test counselling. Although content areas relating to education or impact of test results were covered more frequently than those relating to reflection, there was a marked tendency to consider all three areas as essential and to use both educational and reflective counselling, even in those centres that favoured a shortened protocol. This apparent dilemma highlights both the practical difficulty of how to shorten HNPCC pre-test counselling protocols and the need for controlled trials of different approaches.     

MLH1、MSH2基因 mRNA突变分析与遗传性非息肉性结直肠癌的基因诊断

目的检测胚系MLH1和MSH2基因mRNA突变，确立遗传性非息肉性结直肠癌（hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer，HNPCC）家系。方法收集符合Amsterdam标准Ⅱ的12个家系14名家庭成员外周血，用特异引物和耐热性逆转录酶特异地逆转录MLH1和MSH2的RNA；利用长模板PCR扩增酶扩增逆转录产物（cDNA）；测序分析扩增产物。提取外周血的DNA，设计与利用上述方法检测出突变对应外显子的特异性引物，利用Taq DNA聚合酶扩增测序，以检测上述方法的有效性。结果利用基于外周血mRNA的方法，在6个家系中检出6个胚系突变，4个MLH1突变和2个MSH2突变，MLH1突变分别位于第8、12、16和第19外显子；MSH2突变分别位于第1和第2外显子。利用基于外周血DNA的方法，上述突变均在MLH1和MSH2相应的外显子中得到验证。突变类型为4个错义突变、1个同义突变和1个非编码区突变；其中5个突变国际上尚未报道；6个突变中有5个为病理性，分布于5个不同家系，该5个家系被确诊为HNPCC家系。结论基于外周血MLH1和MSH2 mRNA异常的检测能确诊HNPCC家系；该方法敏感、省时、节约成本。     

Psychosocial outcome following genetic risk counselling for familial colorectal cancer. A comparison of affected patients and family members

Few studies have reported prospective data on psychosocial outcomes after genetic counselling in families with suspected hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). This prospective study examines the impact of multidisciplinary risk counselling on the psychosocial outcome of 139 affected cancer patients and 233 family members without cancer at risk for HNPCC. Participants completed questionnaires specific to HNPCC before and 8 weeks after attending the familial cancer clinic. Affected patients' levels of distress were closely related to their health status and exceeded that of unaffected individuals, as did worry regarding their relatives' risk. A significant reduction in general anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), distress specific to familial CRC (Impact of Events Scale) and general cancer worry (Distress Hereditary Disorder) was demonstrated after counselling in both affected patients and unaffected individuals. Reduction in distress was more pronounced in affected patients given a high risk of HNPCC compared with those at intermediate risk. Among unaffected individuals, distress declined regardless of what clinical risk they were assigned. Their perceptions of risk and cancer-related threat declined, while confidence in effective surveillance increased. These results suggest the beneficial effects of multidisciplinary counselling even when high-risk information is conveyed. A patient's previous cancer experience is likely to contribute to clinically relevant distress (15% of those patients), indicating the need for appropriate counselling.     

中国人家族性结直肠癌错配修复基因大片段变异分析

目的分析中国人家庭性结直肠癌错配修复基因大片段变异的特点。方法 采用多重连接探针扩增技术，分析32例具有家庭史结直肠癌、20例散发性结直肠癌患者错配修复基因MSH2的16个外显子、MLH1的19个外显子及7个其它基因外显子的拷贝数。研究工作包括：（1）双盲法分析阴性和阳性对照样本，完成方法学可靠性检验；（2）分析结直肠癌患者外周血细胞DNA，筛查MSH2和MLH1基因大片段变异。结果 多重连接探针扩增技术分析系统稳定检出阳性对照样本的DNA大片段缺失；在3/32（9.4%）具有家庭聚集性结直肠癌患者中检出遗传性MSH2基因DNA大片段缺失。而在20例散发性结直肠癌患者未检出这类突变。结论 中国人家族性结直肠癌患者中错配修复基因的大片段变异是频发事件，对此类患者的遗传检测应包含错配修复基因大片段变异的筛查。