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Kwong A, Ho CYS, Shin VY, Ng ATL, Chan TL, Ma ESK. Molecular characteristics of Asian male BRCA-related cancers. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 198:391-400. [PMID: 36637704 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06651-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Germline mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 predispose men to develop various cancers, including breast cancers and prostate cancers. Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease while prostate cancer (PRC) is uncommon in young men at the age of less than 40. The prevalence of BRCA genes in Asian male patients has to be elevated. METHODS Germline mutations screening was performed in 98 high-risk Chinese MBC and PRC patients. RESULT We have identified 16 pathogenic BRCA2 mutation carriers, 12 were MBC patients, 2 were PRC patients and 2 were patients with both MBC and PRC. The mutation percentages were 18.8%, 6.7% and 50% for MBC, PRC and both MBC and PRC patients, respectively. BRCA2 gene mutations confer a significantly higher risk of breast/prostate cancers in men than those with BRCA1 mutations. BRCA mutated MBC patients had a younger age of diagnosis and strong family histories of breast cancers while BRCA mutated PRC patients had strong family histories of ovarian cancers. CONCLUSION Male BRCA carriers with breast cancers or prostate cancers showed distinct clinical and molecular characteristics, a male-specific genetic screening model would be useful to identify male cancer patients who have a high risk of BRCA mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Kwong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Surgery, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Cecilia Yuen Sze Ho
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Ada Tsui Lin Ng
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsun Leung Chan
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Hong Kong, China
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Edmond Shiu Kwan Ma
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Hong Kong, China
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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Kwong A, Ho CYS, Shin VY, Au CH, Chan TL, Ma ESK. How does re-classification of variants of unknown significance (VUS) impact the management of patients at risk for hereditary breast cancer? BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:122. [PMID: 35641994 PMCID: PMC9158111 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The popularity of multigene testing increases the probability of identifying variants of uncertain significance (VUS). While accurate variant interpretation enables clinicians to be better informed of the genetic risk of their patients, currently, there is a lack of consensus management guidelines for clinicians on VUS. Methods Among the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations screening in 3,544 subjects, 236 unique variants (BRCA1: 86; BRCA2: 150) identified in 459 patients were being reviewed. These variants consist of 231 VUS and 5 likely benign variants at the initial classification. Results The variants in 31.8% (146/459) patients were reclassified during the review, which involved 26 unique variants (11.0%). Also, 31 probands (6.8%) and their family members were offered high-risk surveillance and related management after these variants were reclassified to pathogenic or likely pathogenic. At the same time, 69 probands (15%) had their VUS downgraded to cancer risk equivalent to the general population level. Conclusion A review of archival variants from BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing changed the management for 31.8% of the families due to increased or reduced risk. We encourage regular updates of variant databases, reference to normal population and collaboration between research laboratories on functional studies to define the clinical significances of VUS better. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01270-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Kwong
- Chief of Breast Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. .,Department of Surgery, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR. .,Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Cecilia Yuen Sze Ho
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Vivian Yvonne Shin
- Chief of Breast Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Chun Hang Au
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Tsun-Leung Chan
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Edmond Shiu Kwan Ma
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
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Kwong A, Ho CYS, Shin VY, Au CH, Luk WP, Fung LH, Chan TL, Chan KKL, Ngan HYS, Ma ESK. Germline mutations in Chinese ovarian cancer with or without breast cancer. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e1940. [PMID: 35608067 PMCID: PMC9266594 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian and breast cancers are known to have significant genetic components. Considering the differences in the mutation spectrum across ethnicity, it is important to identify hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) genes mutation in Chinese for clinical management. METHODS Two cohorts of 451 patients with ovarian cancer only (OV) and 93 patients with both breast and ovarian (BROV) cancers were initially screened for BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, and PTEN. 109 OV and 43 BROV patients with extensive clinical risk and were being tested negative, were then further characterized by 30-gene panel analysis. RESULTS Pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants were identified in 45 OV patients and 33 BROV patients, giving a prevalence of 10% and 35.5%, respectively. After the extended screening, mutations in other HBOC genes were identified in an additional 12.8% (14/109) of the OV cohort and 14% (6/43) in the BROV cohort. The most commonly mutated genes in the OV cohort were MSH2 (4.6%) while in the BROV cohort were MSH2 (4.7%) and PALB2 (4.7%). With this extended multigene testing strategy, pathogenic mutations were detected in 12.8% of OV patients (BRCAs: 10%; additional genes: 12.8%) and 40.9% (BRCAs: 35.5%; additional genes: 14%) of BROV patients. CONCLUSION Extended characterization of the contributions of HBOC genes to OV and BROV patients has significant impacts on further management in patients and their families, expanding the screening net for more asymptomatic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Kwong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pofulam, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Surgery, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR.,Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Cecilia Yuen Sze Ho
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Vivian Yvonne Shin
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pofulam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Chun Hang Au
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Wing Pan Luk
- Department of Medical Physics and Research, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ling Hiu Fung
- Department of Medical Physics and Research, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Tsun-Leung Chan
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Karen Kar Loen Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Pofulam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Hextan Yuen Sheung Ngan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Pofulam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Edmond Shiu Kwan Ma
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong SAR
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Ho CYS, Murnane JP, Yeung AKY, Ng HK, Lo AWI. Telomeres acquire distinct heterochromatin characteristics during siRNA-induced RNA interference in mouse cells. Curr Biol 2008; 18:183-7. [PMID: 18261910 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2007.12.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2007] [Revised: 12/10/2007] [Accepted: 12/20/2007] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are protective structures present at the ends of linear chromosomes and consist of simple repeating-DNA sequences and specialized proteins [1, 2]. Integrity of the telomeres is important in maintaining genome stability[1-6]. RNA interference(RNAi) involves short double-stranded RNA (21-23 nucleotides long), termed short interference RNA(siRNA), resulting in the downregulation of genes with cognate sequences [7-9]. During transient siRNA-induced RNAi in mouse fibroblast cultures, we found significant reversible changes related to the telomeres. Telomeres acquired distinct heterochromatin features. There were increased bindings of Argonaute-1 (AGO1), telomeric repeat-binding factor 1(TERF1), and heterochromatin protein 1beta (HP1beta) on the telomeres. Histone H3 (lysine 9) was hypermethylated at the telomeres. The chromosome ends also were associated with an unidentified RNA. During RNAi, expression of a transgene inserted adjacent to the telomere was downregulated. In addition, the concentration of a group of heterogeneous high-molecular-weight RNA containing telomeric repeat sequences was increased, and this RNA formed a small number of transient, discrete nuclear foci. Our findings suggest that telomeres participate actively in the siRNA-induced RNAi process. These responses of telomeres to the RNAi process might partially account for the off-target effects of RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Yuen Sze Ho
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, The People's Republic of China
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Chow SCS, Ho CYS, Tam TTY, Wu C, Cheung T, Chan PKS, Ng MHL, Hui PK, Ng HK, Au DMY, Lo AWI. Specific epitopes of the structural and hypothetical proteins elicit variable humoral responses in SARS patients. J Clin Pathol 2006; 59:468-76. [PMID: 16461566 PMCID: PMC1860290 DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2005.029868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious disease which was caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS has caused an outbreak in the world during 2003 and 2004, with 8098 individuals being infected and a death toll of 774 in 28 regions around the world. Specific humoral responses to viral infection remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To analyse the antigenicity of the SARS-CoV genome and identify potential antigenic epitopes in the structural proteins. METHODS Potential antigenic epitopes were identified in the structural proteins (nucleocapsid, membrane, spike, and small envelope proteins) and hypothetical proteins (SARS3a, 3b, 6, 7a, and 9b) that are specific for SARS-CoV. A peptide chip platform was created and the profiles of antibodies to these epitopes were investigated in 59 different SARS patients' sera obtained 6-103 days after the onset of the illness. Serial sera from five additional patients were also studied. RESULTS Epitopes at the N-terminus of the membrane protein and the C-terminus of nucleocapsid protein elicited strong antibody responses. Epitopes on the spike protein were only moderately immunogenic but the effects were persistent. Antibodies were also detected for some putative proteins, noticeably the C-termini of SARS3a and SARS6. CONCLUSIONS Important epitopes of the SARS-CoV genome that may serve as potential markers for the viral infection are identified. These specific antigenic sites may also be important for vaccine development against this new fatal infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C S Chow
- Century Biotech Ltd, Hong Kong SAR, China
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