Loss of heterozygosity of the BRCA1 and FHIT genes in patients with sporadic breast cancer from Southern Brazil

Differential loss of heterozygosity profile on chromosome 3p in ductal and lobular breast carcinomas

The 2 main histologic types of infiltrating breast cancer, invasive lobular and invasive ductal carcinoma, are morphologically and clinically distinct. Studies revealed that different patterns of gene expression and loss of heterozygosity can also distinguish these 2 subtypes. A whole-genome study using single nucleotide polymorphism array found a significantly higher frequency of loss of heterozygosity on 3p in invasive ductal carcinoma when compared with invasive lobular carcinoma. In this study, we performed a loss of heterozygosity analysis of the 3p chromosome region in ductal and lobular breast tumors. Seven microsatellite markers were evaluated in a series of 136 sporadic breast cancer cases (118 invasive ductal carcinoma and 18 invasive lobular carcinoma) and correlated with clinical-histopathologic parameters from the patients. A significantly higher frequency of loss of heterozygosity was observed in invasive ductal carcinoma (65.3%) when compared with invasive lobular carcinoma (38.9%). When the markers were analyzed separately, loss of heterozygosity at 3 of them, D3S1307 in 3p26.3, D3S1286 in 3p24.3, and D3S1300 in 3p14.2, were significantly more frequent in ductal than in lobular tumors. D3S1307 marker showed the highest frequency of loss of heterozygosity in invasive ductal carcinoma (46.2%), and associations between loss of this marker and loss of estrogen and progesterone receptors were found in these samples. Our results confirm the observations that invasive ductal carcinoma has a higher frequency of loss of heterozygosity events across the 3p region than invasive lobular carcinoma and show that specific losses on 3p26.3, 3p24.3, and 3p14.2 regions are more frequent in ductal than in lobular tumors. We discuss our data in relation to the known tumor suppressor genes that are mapped at the 3p loci investigated and their present relevant roles in breast cancer.

Concomitant loss of heterozygosity at the BRCA1 and FHIT genes as a prognostic factor in sporadic breast cancer

Previous studies have shown loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the BRCA1 and FHIT genes in sporadic primary breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate concomitant LOH at the BRCA1 and FHIT genes in sporadic breast cancer and investigate its influence on patient survival. Loss of heterozygosity was determined using microsatellite markers. The analysis on the informative cases (n = 72) indicated LOH at both the BRCA1 and FHIT loci in 25 cases (35%), the absence of LOH at both loci in 23 cases (32%), and the presence of LOH at one of the loci in 24 cases (33%). The concomitant LOH was associated with poor prognostic factors, such as large tumors (P = 0.01), axillary nodal involvement (P < 0.01), histologic grade III (P < 0.01), vascular invasion (P = 0.01), and negative hormone receptor (P = 0.02). After a median follow-up period of 48 months, the concomitant LOH group had the shortest survival (P < 0.02 by log-rank test; P < 0.05 by Cox model; hazard ratio of 4.87), compared with patients without LOH. These data suggest that concomitant allelic losses of the BRCA1 and FHIT genes are associated with more aggressive breast tumors.

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and its association with p53 protein expression in the progression of gall bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

Present study deals with LOH and MSI in FHIT gene and p53 expression in GBC, CC, XGC, and normal GB to elucidate the role of FHIT gene in gall bladder cancer.

METHODS

Five microsatellite markers D3S1217, D3S1300, D3S1313, D3S1600, and D3S2757, were selected.

RESULTS

Among GBC cases the frequency of MSI-H and LOH was 17.5% and 27.5%, respectively. Significant difference was found between GBC and normal GB (p = .02), and GBC and CC groups (p= .002) when LOH was compared.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested CC might act as a preinvasive stage in the pathogenesis of GBC.

Specific 50'CpG island methylation signatures of FHIT and p16 genes and their potential diagnostic relevance in Indian breast cancer patients

Even after tremendous molecular studies, early detection,more accurate and sensitive diagnosis, and prognosis of breast cancer appear to be a riddle so far. To stab the enigma, this study is designed to envisage DNA methylation signatures as cancer-specific and stage-specific biomarkers in Indian patients. Rigorous review of scattered scientific reports on aberrant DNA methylation helped us to select and analyze a potential tumor suppressor gene pair (FHIT and p16 genes) in breast cancer patients. Methylation signatures from 232 primary sporadic breast cancer patients were pinpointed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). To increase the sensitivity, we combined both MSP and expression studies (RT-PCR and Northern blotting) in a reproducible manner. Statistical analysis illustrated that hypermethylation of FHIT gene ( p < 0.0001) and p16 gene ( p=0.04) may be used as a potential diagnostic marker to diagnose the early and locally advanced stages of breast cancer. Additionally, the study authenticates the dependency of methylation and expressional loss of p16 gene on FHIT gene silencing. This observation not only describes the severity of disease when both genes are silenced but also drives to speculate the molecular cross talk between two genes or genetic pathways dictated by them separately.

Loss of heterozygosity in the RAD51 and BRCA2 regions in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the 15q14-21 and 13q12-13 regions can contribute to the inactivation of RAD51 and BRCA2 genes implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. We investigated allelic losses in microsatellites in the RAD51 and BRCA2 regions, and their association with clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer.

METHODS

The LOH analysis was performed by amplifying DNA by PCR, using D15S118, D15S214, D15S1006 polymorphic markers in the 15q14-21 region and D13S260, D13S290 polymorphic markers in the 13q12-13 region in 36 sporadic breast cancer cases.

RESULTS

LOH in the RAD51 region ranged from 29% to 46% and in the BRCA2 region from 38% to 43% of informative cases. Eleven percent of the breast cancer cases displayed LOH for at least one studied marker in the RAD51 region exclusively. On the other hand, 44% of cases manifested statistically significant LOH for at least one microsatellite marker concomitantly in the RAD51 and BRCA2 regions. LOH in the RAD51 region similarly as in the BRCA2 region appeared to correlate with steroid receptors content and lymph node status.

DISCUSSION

The obtained results indicate that alteration in RAD51 region may contribute to the disturbances of DNA repair involving RAD51 and/or BRCA2 penetration and thus enhance the risk of breast cancer development.

Genetic instability in the RAD51 and BRCA1 regions in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer type in women. Accumulating evidence indicates that the fidelity of double-strand break repair in response to DNA damage is an important step in mammary neoplasias. The RAD51 and BRCA1 proteins are involved in the repair of double-strand DNA breaks by homologous recombination. In this study, we evaluated loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the RAD51 and BRCA1 regions, and their association with breast cancer. The polymorphic markers D15S118, D15S214 and D15S1006 were the focus for RAD51, and D17S855 and D17S1323 for BRCA1. Genomic deletion detected by allelic loss varied according to the regions tested, and ranged from 29 to 46% of informative cases for the RAD51 region and from 38 to 42% of informative cases for the BRCA1 region. 25% of breast cancer cases displayed LOH for at least one studied marker in the RAD51 region exclusively. On the other hand, 31% of breast cancer cases manifested LOH for at least one microsatellite marker concomitantly in the RAD51 and BRCA1 regions. LOH in the RAD51 region, similarly as in the BRCA1 region, appeared to correlate with steroid receptor status. The obtained results indicate that alteration in the RAD51 region may contribute to the disturbances of DNA repair involving RAD51 and BRCA1 and thus enhance the risk of breast cancer development.

The expression of FHIT, PCNA and EGFR in benign and malignant breast lesions

Immunohistochemical staining for FHIT and PCNA proteins was carried out in 451 breast lesions showing nonproliferative benign breast disease (BBD) (n=263), proliferative BBD without atypia (n=128), proliferative BBD with atypia (n=11), carcinoma in situ (n=15) or invasive carcinoma (n=34) and for EGFR protein in a subset of 71 of these cases. FHIT underexpression was not detected in nonproliferative lesions, but occurred in 2% of proliferative BBD without atypia, 10% proliferative BBD with atypia, 27% of carcinoma in situ and 41% of invasive carcinoma, which suggests that it could be useful in assessing those carcinoma in situ lesions (ductal, DCIS and lobular, LCIS) that are more likely to progress to malignancy. Preliminary microarray comparisons on DCIS and invasive carcinoma samples dissected from formalin-fixed paraffin sections showed a consistent downregulation of two previously identified FHIT-related genes, caspase 1 and BRCA1 in lesions underexpressing FHIT.

A novel approach to simultaneously scan genes at fragile sites

BACKGROUND

Fragile sites are regions of the genome sensitive to replication stress and to exposure to environmental carcinogens. The two most commonly expressed fragile sites FRA3B and FRA16D host the histidine triad (FHIT) and WW domain containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) genes respectively. There is growing evidence that both genes contribute to cancer development and they are frequently altered by allelic and homozygous deletions in a variety of tumors. Their status is linked to prognosis in several malignancies and they are thought to be involved in early tumorigenesis. The loci for FHIT and WWOX both span over a megabase but the genes encode for small transcripts. Thus the screening of intragenic deletion can be difficult and has relied on loss of heterozygosity LOH assays, or genomic arrays.

METHODS

Multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification MLPA, allows for the detection of deletions/duplications and relative quantification of up to 40 specific probes in a single assay. A FHIT/WWOX MLPA assay was designed, applied and validated in five esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ESCC, cell lines established in South Africa where this cancer is of high prevalence. Sixteen probes covered all FHIT exons and 7 probes covered WWOX.

RESULTS

Both homozygous and hemizygous deletions were detected in FHIT, in four of the cell lines with a preferential deletion of exons 5 and 4. Chromosome 3 short arm was present in normal copy number indicating that deletions were site specific. In contrast WWOX was not altered in any cell lines. RT-PCR expression pattern paralleled the pattern of deletions. Ten primary ESCC tumor specimens were subsequently screened with this assay. FHIT exon deletions were found in four of them.

CONCLUSION

This method offers an alternative to loss of heterozygosity studies. Simultaneous scanning of FHIT and WWOX exons in the context of early tumorigenesis and tumor progression, may help clarify the mechanistic events related to cancer development which are not revealed by immuno histochemistry assays. The presence of site specific deletions of FHIT in these cell lines and primary tumors support its possible role in South African ESCC and justifies a wider screening.

The molecular genetics of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

The pathobiology of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is hampered by the lack of scientific tools that define their mechanisms of secretion, proliferation, and metastasis; and, currently, there are no accurate means to assess tumor behavior and disease prognosis. Molecular biologic techniques and genetic analysis may facilitate the delineation of the molecular pathology of NETs and provide novel insights into their cellular mechanisms. The current status and recent advances in assessment of the molecular basis of tumorigenesis of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) were reviewed (1981-2004). The objectives of this retrospective study were to provide a cohesive overview of the current state of knowledge and to develop a molecular understanding of these rare tumor entities to facilitate the establishment of therapeutic targets and rational management strategies. Multiple differences in chromosomal aberration patterns were noted between gastrointestinal (GI) neuroendocrine and pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs). Divergence in gene expression patterns in the development of GI carcinoids and PETs was identified, whereas examination of the PET and GI carcinoid data demonstrated only few areas of overlap in the accumulation of genetic aberrations. These data suggest that the recent World Health Organization classification of GEP-NETs may require updating. In addition, previous assumptions of tumor similarity (pancreatic vs. GI) may be unfounded when they are examined at a molecular level. On the basis of the evolution of genetic information, enteric neuroendocrine lesions (carcinoids) and PETs may need to be classified as two distinct entities rather than grouped together as the single entity "GEP-NETs."

Loss of heterozygosity at the BRCA1 locus in Tunisian women with sporadic breast cancer

Breast cancer in Tunisia is characterized by a much higher incidence of aggressiveness compared with Western countries. The pattern of allelic loss at the BRCA1 locus in Tunisian women with breast carcinoma has not been studied. Therefore, the aim of this present preliminary study was mainly focused on loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis of the BRCA1 gene to determine if this tumor suppressor gene is involved in sporadic breast carcinoma among Tunisian women. We investigate allelic losses by analyzing three microsatellite markers in the BRCA1 region, in a panel of 21 human breast tumors. D17S1322 marker had the highest frequency of LOH (59%), followed by the D17S1323 (35%), and EDH-17B (20%). Collectively out of 21 informative cases 13 (62%) showed LOH at at least one BRCA1 locus. This data provides evidence that allelic loss at BRCA1 is a frequent event in sporadic breast tumorigenesis among Tunisian women, and suggests that the BRCA1 gene might play an important role as a tumor suppressor gene.