MUTYH exon 7 and 13 mutations associated with colorectal cancer (MAP syndrome) are not commonly associated with sporadic pancreatic cancer

Base excision repair deficiency signatures implicate germline and somatic MUTYH aberrations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and breast cancer oncogenesis

We report a case of early-onset pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in a patient harboring biallelic MUTYH germline mutations, whose tumor featured somatic mutational signatures consistent with defective MUTYH-mediated base excision repair and the associated driver KRAS transversion mutation p.Gly12Cys. Analysis of an additional 730 advanced cancer cases (N = 731) was undertaken to determine whether the mutational signatures were also present in tumors from germline MUTYH heterozygote carriers or if instead the signatures were only seen in those with biallelic loss of function. We identified two patients with breast cancer each carrying a pathogenic germline MUTYH variant with a somatic MUTYH copy loss leading to the germline variant being homozygous in the tumor and demonstrating the same somatic signatures. Our results suggest that monoallelic inactivation of MUTYH is not sufficient for C:G>A:T transversion signatures previously linked to MUTYH deficiency to arise (N = 9), but that biallelic complete loss of MUTYH function can cause such signatures to arise even in tumors not classically seen in MUTYH-associated polyposis (N = 3). Although defective MUTYH is not the only determinant of these signatures, MUTYH germline variants may be present in a subset of patients with tumors demonstrating elevated somatic signatures possibly suggestive of MUTYH deficiency (e.g., COSMIC Signature 18, SigProfiler SBS18/SBS36, SignatureAnalyzer SBS18/SBS36).

Role of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and 8-oxoguanine DNA damage in risk assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck in North Indian population

Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN), one of the leading cancers worldwide, is most prevalent in Indian sub-continent. The major risk factors involved are smoking and consumption of alcohol, since they provide high free radical generating environment. We studied 8-oxoguanine DNA-glycosylase (OGG1) Ser326Cys polymorphism in 278 SCCHN cases and 278 matched controls by PCR-RFLP and observed that the variant genotype Ser/Cys exhibited an enhanced risk of ∼1.7 folds (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.20-2.93) and Cys/Cys ∼2.5 folds (OR=2.55, 95% CI=1.29-5.00). Furthermore, we found a significant increase in salivary cell 8-OHdG with respect to Ser/Cys and Cys/Cys genotypes of OGG1 in SCCHN cases, when compared to Ser/Ser and Ser/Cys genotypes of the control population. Our results demonstrate that Ser326Cys variant genotype is associated with an increased risk of SCCHN in north India. Ser326Cys variant genotype was found to accumulate more of 8-OHdG, which may serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis of SCCHN.

MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP)

The human mutY homologue (MUTYH) gene is responsible for inheritable polyposis and colorectal cancer. This review discusses the molecular genetic aspects of the MUTYH gene and protein, the clinical impact of mono- and biallelic MUTYH mutations and histological aspects of the MUTYH tumors. Furthermore, the relationship between MUTYH and the mismatch repair genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) families is examined. Finally, the role of other base excision repair genes in polyposis and CRC patients is discussed.