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Li J, He P, Cai Q, Chen L, Wang Y, Cai W, Qiu Y, Liu S, Guo W, Chen M, Lin Y, Wang C, Fu F. Spectrum and characteristics of germline PALB2 pathogenic variants in 1556 early-onset breast cancer patients in China. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:322. [PMID: 38914840 PMCID: PMC11196361 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05758-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Limited data are available regarding the partner and localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) in Chinese patients with early breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the spectrum and characteristics of germline PALB2 pathogenic variants in this population. METHODS Peripheral blood samples were collected from 1556 patients diagnosed with BRCA1/2-negative early-onset breast cancer. All coding regions and exon‒intron boundaries of the PALB2 genes were screened through next-generation sequencing. RESULTS The prevalence of PALB2 pathogenic variants was approximately 0.77% in the cohort. Eleven PALB2 pathogenic variants were identified in twelve participants, including five frameshift mutations and six nonsense mutations. All other variants were detected once, except for PALB2 c.1056_1057del (detected twice). Two PALB2 carriers (2/12, 16.7%) have documented family history of breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. Patients with a positive family history exhibited a threefold higher possibility of being identified as PALB2 carriers than those without a family history (2% vs. 0.69%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.178). Compared to non-carriers, PALB2 carriers has a tendency to appear in younger age (≤ 30 years) (25% vs 14.4%), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative status (83.3% vs. 70.2%), and diagnosed with invasive micropapillary carcinoma (16.7% vs 3.1%). CONCLUSION The prevalence of the germline PALB2 pathogenic variants was approximately 0.77% in Chinese patients with BRCA1/2-negative early-onset breast cancer. Our findings is crucial for understanding population-specific genetic risks and offering insights that can enhance genetic counseling and genetic testing strategies in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Peng He
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qindong Cai
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Lili Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Weifeng Cai
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yibin Qiu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shunyi Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Wenhui Guo
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Minyan Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yuxiang Lin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China.
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Fangmeng Fu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
- Breast Cancer Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian Province, China
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2
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Chen AT, Huey J, Coe S, Kaganovsky J, Malouf EA, Evans HD, Daker J, Harper E, Fordiani O, Lowe EE, Oldroyd CM, Price A, Roth K, Stoddard J, Crandell JN, Shirts BH. Extended family outreach in hereditary cancer using online genealogy, direct-to-consumer ancestry genetics, and social media: A mixed methods process evaluation of the ConnectMyVariant intervention (Preprint). JMIR Cancer 2022; 9:e43126. [PMID: 37079361 PMCID: PMC10160942 DOI: 10.2196/43126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cascade screening, defined as helping at-risk relatives get targeted genetic testing of familial variants for dominant hereditary cancer syndromes, is a proven component of cancer prevention; however, its uptake is low. We developed and conducted a pilot study of the ConnectMyVariant intervention, in which participants received support to contact at-risk relatives that extended beyond first-degree relatives and encourage relatives to obtain genetic testing and connect with others having the same variant through email and social media. The support that participants received included listening to participants' needs, assisting with documentary genealogy to find common ancestors, facilitating direct-to-consumer DNA testing and interpretation, and assisting with database searches. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess intervention feasibility, motivations for participating, and engagement among ConnectMyVariant participants and their families. METHODS We used a mixed methods design including both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods. First, we considered intervention feasibility by characterizing recruitment and retention using multiple recruitment mechanisms, including web-based advertising, dissemination of invitations with positive test results, provider recruitment, snowball sampling, and recruitment through web-based social networks and research studies. Second, we characterized participants' motivations, concerns, and engagement through project documentation of participant engagement in outreach activities and qualitative analysis of participant communications. We used an inductive qualitative data analysis approach to analyze emails, free-text notes, and other communications generated with participants as part of the ConnectMyVariant intervention. RESULTS We identified 84 prospective participants using different recruitment mechanisms; 57 participants were ultimately enrolled in the study for varying lengths of time. With respect to motivations for engaging in the intervention, participants were most interested in activities relating to genealogy and communication with others who had their specific variants. Although there was a desire to find others with the same variant and prevent cancer, more participants expressed an interest in learning about their genealogy and family health history, with prevention in relatives considered a natural side effect of outreach. Concerns about participation included whether relatives would be open to communication, how to go about it, and whether others with a specific variant would be motivated to help find common ancestors. We observed that ConnectMyVariant participants engaged in 6 primary activities to identify and communicate with at-risk relatives: sharing family history, family member testing, direct-to-consumer genealogy genetic testing analysis, contacting (distant) relatives, documentary genealogy, and expanding variant groups or outreach. Participants who connected with others who had the same variant were more likely to engage with several extended family outreach activities. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that there is an interest in extended family outreach as a mechanism to improve cascade screening for hereditary cancer prevention. Additional research to systematically evaluate the outcomes of such outreach may be challenging but is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie T Chen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jennifer Huey
- Department of Laborabory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sandra Coe
- Department of Laborabory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jailanie Kaganovsky
- Department of Laborabory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Emily A Malouf
- Department of Laborabory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Heather D Evans
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jill Daker
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Elizabeth Harper
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Olivia Fordiani
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Emma E Lowe
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Caileigh McGraw Oldroyd
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Ashlyn Price
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Kristlynn Roth
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Julie Stoddard
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Jill N Crandell
- Center for Family History and Genealogy, Department of History, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Brian H Shirts
- Department of Laborabory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
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Rotimi SO, Rotimi OA, Salhia B. Authorship Patterns in Cancer Genomics Publications Across Africa. JCO Glob Oncol 2021; 7:747-755. [PMID: 34033494 PMCID: PMC8457814 DOI: 10.1200/go.20.00552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Authorship is a proxy indicator of research capacity. Understanding the research capacity is imperative for developing population-specific cancer control strategies. This is particularly apropos for African nations, where mortality from cancer is projected to surpass that from infectious disease and the populations are critically under-represented in cancer and genomics studies. Here, we present an analysis and discussion of the patterns of authorship in Africa as they pertain to cancer genomics research across African countries. METHODS PubMed metadata of relevant cancer genomics peer-reviewed publications on African populations, published between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2019, were retrieved and analyzed for patterns of authorship affiliation using R packages, RISmed, and Pubmed.mineR. RESULTS The data showed that only 0.016% (n = 375) of cancer publications globally were on cancer genomics of African people. More than 50% of the first and last authors of these publications originated from the North African countries of Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria. South Africa (13.6% and 12.7%) and Nigeria (2.2% and 1.9%) were the Sub-Saharan African countries most represented by first and last authorship positions, respectively. The United States contributed 12.6% of first and last authored papers, and nearly 50% of all African countries had no contributing author for the publications we reviewed. CONCLUSION This study highlights and brings awareness to the paucity of cancer genomics research on African populations and by African authors and identifies a need for concerted efforts to encourage and enable more research in Africa, needed for achieving global equity in cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon O. Rotimi
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Oluwakemi A. Rotimi
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Bodour Salhia
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Los Angeles, CA
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Analysis of Italian BRCA1/2 Pathogenic Variants Identifies a Private Spectrum in the Population from the Bergamo Province in Northern Italy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030532. [PMID: 33573335 PMCID: PMC7866799 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Italian population is characterized by a high genetic heterogeneity mostly due to its long history of migration and colonization and to its geographical conformation. Consistently, several BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (PVs) have been reported to be recurrent or even founder in defined geographical areas including the Bergamo province in Northern Italy. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the data from 1019 women affected with breast cancer with BRCA1/2 PVs. We compared the BRCA1/2 PVs spectrum found in the carrier individuals from the Bergamo province (BGP) with that of the general Italian population. We found that the majority of the BGP PVs had a local origin and remained confined to the BGP or to the surrounding Lombardy region. We also observed that the BGP BRCA1/2 PV spectrum is private and conserved comprising a smaller number of variants with an average higher frequency with respect to that of carrier individuals from the rest of Italy. Abstract Germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes cause high breast cancer risk. Recurrent or founder PVs have been described worldwide including some in the Bergamo province in Northern Italy. The aim of this study was to compare the BRCA1/2 PV spectra of the Bergamo and of the general Italian populations. We retrospectively identified at five Italian centers 1019 BRCA1/2 PVs carrier individuals affected with breast cancer and representative of the heterogeneous national population. Each individual was assigned to the Bergamo or non-Bergamo cohort based on self-reported birthplace. Our data indicate that the Bergamo BRCA1/2 PV spectrum shows less heterogeneity with fewer different variants and an average higher frequency compared to that of the rest of Italy. Consistently, four PVs explained about 60% of all carriers. The majority of the Bergamo PVs originated locally with only two PVs clearly imported. The Bergamo BRCA1/2 PV spectrum appears to be private. Hence, the Bergamo population would be ideal to study the disease risk associated with local PVs in breast cancer and other disease-causing genes. Finally, our data suggest that the Bergamo population is a genetic isolate and further analyses are warranted to prove this notion.
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5
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Weitzel JN, Neuhausen SL, Adamson A, Tao S, Ricker C, Maoz A, Rosenblatt M, Nehoray B, Sand S, Steele L, Unzeitig G, Feldman N, Blanco AM, Hu D, Huntsman S, Castillo D, Haiman C, Slavin T, Ziv E. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in PALB2, CHEK2, and other known breast cancer susceptibility genes among 1054 BRCA-negative Hispanics with breast cancer. Cancer 2019; 125:2829-2836. [PMID: 31206626 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and related cause of mortality among Hispanics, yet susceptibility has been understudied. BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) mutations explain less than one-half of hereditary BC, and the proportion associated with other BC susceptibility genes is unknown. METHODS Germline DNA from 1054 BRCA-mutation-negative Hispanic women with hereditary BC (BC diagnosed at age <51 years, bilateral BC, breast and ovarian cancer, or BC diagnosed at ages 51-70 years with ≥2 first-degree or second-degree relatives who had BC diagnosed at age <70 years), 312 local controls, and 887 multiethnic cohort controls was sequenced and analyzed for 12 known and suspected, high-penetrance and moderate-penetrance cancer susceptibility genes (ataxia telangiectasia mutated [ATM], breast cancer 1 interacting protein C-terminal helicase 1 [BRIP1], cadherin 1 [CDH1], checkpoint kinase 2 [CHEK2], nibrin [NBN], neurofibromatosis type 1 [NF1], partner and localizer of BRCA2 [PALB2], phosphatase and tensin homolog [PTEN], RAD51 paralog 3 [RAD51C], RAD51D, serine/threonine kinase 11 [STK11], and TP53). RESULTS Forty-nine (4.6%) pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs) in 47 of 1054 participants (4.5%), including 21 truncating frameshift, 20 missense, 5 nonsense, and 4 splice variants, were identified in CHEK2 (n = 20), PALB2 (n = 18), ATM (n = 5), TP53 (n = 3), BRIP1 (n = 2), and CDH1 and NF1 (both n = 1) and none were identified in NBN, PTEN, STK11, RAD51C, or RAD51D. Nine participants carried the PALB2 c.2167_2168del PV (0.85%), and 14 carried the CHEK2 c.707T>C PV (1.32%). CONCLUSIONS Of 1054 BRCA-negative, high-risk Hispanic women, 4.5% carried a PV in a cancer susceptibility gene, increasing understanding of hereditary BC in this population. Recurrent PVs in PALB2 and CHEK2 represented 47% (23 of 49) of the total, suggesting a founder effect. Accurate classification of variants was enabled by carefully controlling for ancestry and the increased identification of at-risk Hispanics for screening and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey N Weitzel
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California
| | - Susan L Neuhausen
- Division of Biomarkers of Early Detection and Prevention, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Aaron Adamson
- Division of Biomarkers of Early Detection and Prevention, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Shu Tao
- Integrative Genomics Core, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Charité Ricker
- Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California.,University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Asaf Maoz
- University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Margalit Rosenblatt
- University of California at San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Bita Nehoray
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sharon Sand
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California
| | - Linda Steele
- Division of Biomarkers of Early Detection and Prevention, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Gary Unzeitig
- Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California.,Gary Unzeitig MD Office, Laredo, Texas
| | - Nancy Feldman
- Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California
| | - Amie M Blanco
- University of California at San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Donglei Hu
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Scott Huntsman
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Danielle Castillo
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christopher Haiman
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Thomas Slavin
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network, Los Angeles, California
| | - Elad Ziv
- University of California at San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,University of California at San Francisco Institute for Human Genetics, San Francisco, California
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Vagena A, Papamentzelopoulou M, Kalfakakou D, Kollia P, Papadimitriou C, Psyrri A, Apostolou P, Fountzilas G, Konstantopoulou I, Yannoukakos D, Fostira F. PALB2 c.2257C>T truncating variant is a Greek founder and is associated with high breast cancer risk. J Hum Genet 2019; 64:767-773. [DOI: 10.1038/s10038-019-0612-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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7
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Caleca L, Catucci I, Figlioli G, De Cecco L, Pesaran T, Ward M, Volorio S, Falanga A, Marchetti M, Iascone M, Tondini C, Zambelli A, Azzollini J, Manoukian S, Radice P, Peterlongo P. Two Missense Variants Detected in Breast Cancer Probands Preventing BRCA2-PALB2 Protein Interaction. Front Oncol 2018; 8:480. [PMID: 30410870 PMCID: PMC6210650 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PALB2 (partner and localizer of BRCA2) was initially identified as a binding partner of BRCA2. It interacts also with BRCA1 forming a complex promoting DNA repair by homologous recombination. Germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 DNA repair genes are associated with high risk of developing breast cancer. Mutation screening in these breast cancer predisposition genes is routinely performed and allows the identification of individuals who carry pathogenic variants and are at risk of developing the disease. However, variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) are often detected and establishing their pathogenicity and clinical relevance remains a central challenge for the risk assessment of the carriers and the clinical decision-making process. Many of these VUSs are missense variants leading to single amino acid substitutions, whose impact on protein function is uncertain. Typically, VUSs are rare and due to the limited genetic, clinical, and pathological data the multifactorial approaches used for classification cannot be applied. Thus, these variants can only be characterized through functional analyses comparing their effect with that of normal and mutant gene products used as positive and negative controls. The two missense variants BRCA2:c.91T >G (p.Trp31Gly) and PALB2:c.3262C >T (p.Pro1088Ser) were detected in two breast cancer probands originally ascertained at Breast Cancer Units of Institutes located in Milan and Bergamo (Northern Italy), respectively. These variants were located in the BRCA2-PALB2 interacting domains, were predicted to be deleterious by in silico analyses, and were very rare and clinically not classified. Therefore, we initiate to study their functional effect by exploiting a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-reassembly in vitro assay specifically designed to test the BRCA2-PALB2 interaction. This functional assay proved to be easy to develop, robust and reliable. It also allows testing variants located in different genes. Results from these functional analyses showed that the BRCA2:p.Trp31Gly and the PALB2:p.Pro1088Ser prevented the BRCA2-PALB2 binding. While caution is warranted when the interpretation of the clinical significance of rare VUSs is based on functional studies only, our data provide initial evidences in favor of the possibility that these variants are pathogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Caleca
- Unit of Molecular Bases of Genetic Risk and Genetic Testing, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Catucci
- Genome Diagnostics Program, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Gisella Figlioli
- Genome Diagnostics Program, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Loris De Cecco
- Platform of Integrated Biology, Department of Applied Research and Technology Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Tina Pesaran
- Ambry Genetics, Department of Clinical Diagnostics, Aliso Viejo, CA, United States
| | - Maggie Ward
- Cancer Outreach and Risk Assessment, Via Christi Hospitals, Wichita, KS, United States
| | - Sara Volorio
- IFOM, Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare, Milan, Italy.,Cogentech Cancer Genetics Test Laboratory, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Falanga
- Department of Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Maria Iascone
- USSD Laboratorio Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Carlo Tondini
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Alberto Zambelli
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Jacopo Azzollini
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Siranoush Manoukian
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Radice
- Unit of Molecular Bases of Genetic Risk and Genetic Testing, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Peterlongo
- Genome Diagnostics Program, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
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8
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Bermisheva MA, Bogdanova NV, Gilyazova IR, Zinnatullina GF, Bisultanova ZI, Khusnutdinova EK. Ethnic Features of Genetic Susceptibility to Breast Cancer. RUSS J GENET+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795418020047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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9
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Chavarri-Guerra Y, Blazer KR, Weitzel JN. Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment for Breast Cancer in Latin America. REVISTA DE INVESTIGACION CLINICA; ORGANO DEL HOSPITAL DE ENFERMEDADES DE LA NUTRICION 2017; 69:94-102. [PMID: 28453507 PMCID: PMC5658001 DOI: 10.24875/ric.17002195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In Latin America, breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, and limited available data suggest that up to 15% of all breast cancer cases in the region are hereditary. Genetic cancer risk assessment and counseling is a critical component of the appropriate clinical care of patients with hereditary breast cancer and their families. Unfortunately, genetic services are underdeveloped across Latin America, and access to genetic testing and counseling is very scarce in the region. Barriers contributing to the access to genetic care are high cost and lack of insurance coverage for genetic tests, insufficient oncogenetics training or expertise, nonexistence of genetic counseling as a clinical discipline, and lack of supportive healthcare policies. In this review, we highlight relevant initiatives undertaken in several Latin American countries aimed at creating genetic cancer risk assessment programs. Additionally, we present a review of the scientific literature on the current status of breast cancer genomics in Latin America, with specific emphasis on demographic indicators, access to cancer genetic care, training and strategies to improve outcomes, and international collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanin Chavarri-Guerra
- Department of Hemato-Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, Mexico
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen Reilly Blazer
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Nelson Weitzel
- Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
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