Genomic and prognostic heterogeneity among RAS/BRAFV600E /TP53 co-mutated resectable colorectal liver metastases

Hepatic resection is potentially curative for patients with colorectal liver metastases, but the treatment benefit varies. KRAS/NRAS (RAS)/TP53 co‐mutations are associated with a poor prognosis after resection, but there is large variation in patient outcome within the mutation groups, and genetic testing is currently not used to evaluate benefit from surgery. We have investigated the potential for improved prognostic stratification by combined biomarker analysis with DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs), and taking tumor heterogeneity into account. We determined the mutation status of RAS, BRAF^V600, and TP53 in 441 liver lesions from 171 patients treated by partial hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer. CNAs were profiled in 232 tumors from 67 of the patients. Mutations and high‐level amplifications of cancer‐critical genes, the latter including ERBB2 and EGFR, were predominantly homogeneous within patients. RAS/BRAF^V600E and TP53 co‐mutations were associated with a poor patient outcome (hazard ratio, HR, 3.9, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.3–11.1, P = 0.012) in multivariable analyses with clinicopathological variables. The genome‐wide CNA burden and intrapatient intermetastatic CNA heterogeneity varied within the mutation groups, and the CNA burden had prognostic associations in univariable analysis. Combined prognostic analyses of RAS/BRAF^V600E/TP53 mutations and CNAs, either as a high CNA burden or high intermetastatic CNA heterogeneity, identified patients with a particularly poor outcome (co‐mutation/high CNA burden: HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–5.9, P = 0.013; co‐mutation/high CNA heterogeneity: HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.6, P = 0.022). In conclusion, DNA copy number profiling identified genomic and prognostic heterogeneity among patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases with co‐mutated RAS/BRAF^V600E/TP53.

Prediction of relapse-free survival according to adjuvant chemotherapy and regulator of chromosome condensation 2 (RCC2) expression in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

There is a need for improved selection of patients for adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of non-metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Regulator of chromosome condensation 2 (RCC2) is a potential prognostic biomarker. We report on the establishment of a robust protocol for RCC2 expression analysis and prognostic tumour biomarker evaluation in patients who did and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RCC2 was analysed in 2916 primary CRCs from the QUASAR2 randomised trial and two single-hospital Norwegian series. A new protocol using fluorescent antibody staining and digital image analysis was optimised. Biomarker value for 5-year relapse-free survival was analysed in relation to tumour stage, adjuvant chemotherapy and the molecular markers microsatellite instability, KRAS/BRAFV600E/TP53 mutations and CDX2 expression.

RESULTS

Low RCC2 expression was scored in 41% of 2696 evaluable samples. Among patients with stage I-III CRC who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy, low RCC2 expression was an independent marker of inferior 5-year relapse-free survival in multivariable Cox models including clinicopathological factors and molecular markers (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.94, p=0.012, N=521). RCC2 was not prognostic in patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy, neither in QUASAR2 nor the pooled Norwegian series. The interaction between RCC2 and adjuvant chemotherapy for prediction of patient outcome was significant in stage III, and strongest among patients with microsatellite stable tumours (pinteraction=0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Low expression of RCC2 is a biomarker for poor prognosis in patients with stage I-III CRC and seems to be a predictive biomarker for effect of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Exploratory analyses of consensus molecular subtype-dependent associations of TP53 mutations with immunomodulation and prognosis in colorectal cancer

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests immunomodulatory and context-dependent effects of TP53 mutations in cancer. We performed an exploratory analysis of the transcriptional, immunobiological and prognostic associations of TP53 mutations within the gene expression-based consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs) of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Materials and methods

In a single-hospital series of 401 stage I–IV primary CRCs, we sequenced the whole coding region of TP53 and analysed CMS-dependent transcriptional consequences of the mutations by gene expression profiling. Immunomodulatory associations were validated by multiplex, fluorescence-based immunohistochemistry of immune cell markers. Prognostic associations of TP53 mutations were analysed in an aggregated series of 635 patients classified according to CMS, including publicly available data from a French multicentre cohort (GSE39582).

Results

TP53 mutations were found in 60% of the CRCs. However, gene set enrichment analyses indicated that their transcriptional consequences varied among the CMSs and were most pronounced in CMS1-immune and CMS4-mesenchymal. Subtype specificity was primarily seen as an upregulation of gene sets reflecting cell cycle progression in CMS4 and a downregulation of T cell activity in CMS1. The subtype-dependent immunomodulatory associations were reinforced by significant depletion of several immune cell populations in mutated tumours compared with wild-type (wt) tumours exclusively in CMS1, including cytotoxic lymphocytes (adjusted p value in CMS1=0.002 and CMS2−4>0.9, Microenvironment Cell Populations (MCP)-counter algorithm). This was validated by immunohistochemistry-based quantification of tumour infiltrating CD8+ cells. Within CMS1, the immunomodulatory association of TP53 mutations was strongest among microsatellite stable (MSS) tumours, and this translated into a propensity for metastatic disease and poor prognostic value of the mutations specifically in the CMS1/MSS subtype (both series overall survival: TP53 mutation vs wt: HR 5.52, p=0.028).

Conclusions

Integration of TP53 mutation status with the CMS framework in primary CRC suggested subtype-dependent immunobiological associations with prognostic and potentially immunotherapeutic implications, warranting independent validation.

Transcriptional and functional consequences of TP53 splice mutations in colorectal cancer

TP53 mutations are common in colorectal cancer (CRC). Most TP53 sequencing studies have been restricted to coding regions, but recent studies have revealed that splice mutations can generate transcript variants with distinct tumorigenic and prognostic properties. Here, we performed unrestricted sequencing of all coding sequences and splice regions of TP53 in a single-hospital series of 401 primary CRCs. TP53 splice mutations were detected in 4% of the cases (N = 16), considerably more frequent than reported in major databases, and they were mutually exclusive to exon mutations. RNA sequencing revealed high-level expression of aberrant transcript variants in the majority of splice mutated tumors (75%). Most variants were predicted to produce truncated TP53 proteins, including one sample expressing the potentially oncogenic and druggable p53ψ isoform. Despite heterogeneous transcript structures, downstream transcriptional profiling revealed that TP53 splice mutations had similar effects on TP53 target gene expression and pathway activity as exonic mutations. Intriguingly, TP53 splice mutations were associated with worse 5-year relapse-free survival in stage II disease, compared to both TP53 wild-type and exon mutations (P = 0.007). These data highlight the importance of including splice regions when examining the biological and clinical consequences of TP53 mutations in CRC.

Inferior survival for patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors defined by aberrant TP53

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is a rare and aggressive disease with poor treatment response, mainly affecting adolescents and young adults. Few molecular biomarkers are used in the management of this cancer type, and although TP53 is one of few recurrently mutated genes in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, the mutation prevalence and the corresponding clinical value of the TP53 network remains unsettled. We present a multi-level molecular study focused on aberrations in the TP53 network in relation to patient outcome in a series of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors from 100 patients and 38 neurofibromas, including TP53 sequencing, high-resolution copy number analyses of TP53 and MDM2, and gene expression profiling. Point mutations in TP53 were accompanied by loss of heterozygosity, resulting in complete loss of protein function in 8.2% of the malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Another 5.5% had MDM2 amplification. TP53 mutation and MDM2 amplification were mutually exclusive and patients with either type of aberration in their tumor had a worse prognosis, compared to those without (hazard ratio for 5-year disease-specific survival 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.78-6.98). Both aberrations had similar consequences on the gene expression level, as analyzed by a TP53-associated gene signature, a property also shared with the copy number aberrations and/or loss of heterozygosity at the TP53 locus, suggesting a common "TP53-mutated phenotype" in as many as 60% of the tumors. This was a poor prognostic phenotype (hazard ratio = 4.1, confidence interval:1.7-9.8), thus revealing a TP53-non-aberrant patient subgroup with a favorable outcome. The frequency of the "TP53-mutated phenotype" warrants explorative studies of stratified treatment strategies in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

CpG island methylator phenotype identifies high risk patients among microsatellite stable BRAF mutated colorectal cancers

The prognostic value of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancer remains unsettled. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of this phenotype analyzing a total of 1126 tumor samples obtained from two Norwegian consecutive colorectal cancer series. CIMP status was determined by analyzing the 5‐markers CAGNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3 and SOCS1 by quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP). The effect of CIMP on time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) were determined by uni‐ and multivariate analyses. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to MSI and BRAF mutation status, disease stage, and also age at time of diagnosis (<60, 60‐74, ≥75 years). Patients with CIMP positive tumors demonstrated significantly shorter TTR and worse OS compared to those with CIMP negative tumors (multivariate hazard ratio [95% CI] 1.86 [1.31‐2.63] and 1.89 [1.34‐2.65], respectively). In stratified analyses, CIMP tumors showed significantly worse outcome among patients with microsatellite stable (MSS, P < 0.001), and MSS BRAF mutated tumors (P < 0.001), a finding that persisted in patients with stage II, III or IV disease, and that remained significant in multivariate analysis (P < 0.01). Consistent results were found for all three age groups. To conclude, CIMP is significantly associated with inferior outcome for colorectal cancer patients, and can stratify the poor prognostic patients with MSS BRAF mutated tumors.

What's new?

As many as one‐fifth of colorectal cancers have a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) involving widespread promoter DNA methylation. CIMP is associated with key factors related to disease outcome, including microsatellite instability and BRAF mutations. In this study, CIMP was found to be significantly associated with worse prognosis in colorectal cancer patients, particularly those with microsatellite stable (MSS) BRAF‐mutated tumors. In stratified analyses, trends toward worse survival were identified for CIMP‐positive stage III and stage IV patients in the MSS BRAF‐mutated group. The findings suggest that CIMP status should be included in prognostic analyses at time of diagnosis.

Novel RNA variants in colorectal cancers

With an annual estimated incidence of 1.4 million, and a five-year survival rate of 60%, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major clinical burden. To identify novel RNA variants in CRC, we analyzed exon-level microarray expression data from a cohort of 202 CRCs. We nominated 25 genes with increased expression of their 3′ parts in at least one cancer sample each. To efficiently investigate underlying transcript structures, we developed an approach using rapid amplification of cDNA ends followed by high throughput sequencing (RACE-seq). RACE products from the targeted genes in 23 CRC samples were pooled together and sequenced. We identified VWA2-TCF7L2, DHX35-BPIFA2 and CASZ1-MASP2 as private fusion events, and novel transcript structures for 17 of the 23 other candidate genes. The high-throughput approach facilitated identification of CRC specific RNA variants. These include a recurrent read-through fusion transcript between KLK8 and KLK7, and a splice variant of S100A2. Both of these were overrepresented in CRC tissue and cell lines from external RNA-seq datasets.

Abstract 2396: Heterogeneity of colorectal cancers and multiple liver metastases by mutation and copy number profiling

To investigate genetic and genomic heterogeneity in liver metastases of colorectal cancer, multiple tumor foci in the liver per patient were identified on the basis of radiological images and samples from these systematically biobanked. For a total of 67 patients, 258 metastatic tumor samples were collected (minimum of 2 and maximum of 9 samples per patient, median of 4 samples per patient). Additionally, for n = 14 patients, tumor samples from the corresponding primary colorectal cancer were also available. DNA isolated from these samples was subjected to mutation profiling by Sanger sequencing for the genes BRAF, KRAS, PIK3CA and TP53, as well as allele-specific copy number profiling by CytoscanHD SNP array. For the four genes investigated for mutations, 39/67 (58%) of the patients were homogeneous in their mutation profile, while 21/67 (32%) were heterogeneous (one or more samples had mutations not detected in all samples). For 7/67 patients (10%), no mutations were detected in any of these four genes. For 9/14 patients with matching primary tumors, there was complete concordance between the primary tumor and all liver metastases profiled for mutations, while the remaining 5/14 patients showed discordance in mutation profile between the primary tumor and at least one of the liver metastases profiled. High resolution copy number profiles of this cohort detected many of the aberrations previously described in primary colorectal cancer, specifically gain of chromosomes 7, 8q, 13q and 20q, and loss of chromosomes 5q, 8p, 15q, 17p and 18q. The extent of heterogeneity observed in patient-wise mutation profiles was largely mirrored in the copy number profiles of the same tumors. 16/27 (60%) of the patients for which both mutation and copy number profiles were available showed concordance in the degree of heterogeneity per patient. In summary, intra-individual heterogeneity varied from patient to patient, with results from the genetic and genomic data types largely concurring.

Citation Format: Sharmini Alagaratnam, Tuva Høst Brunsell, Stine Aske Danielsen, Anita Sveen, Mette Eknæs, Merete Hektoen, Bård Røsok, Bjørn Atle Bjørnbeth, Arild Nesbakken, Ragnhild Lothe. Heterogeneity of colorectal cancers and multiple liver metastases by mutation and copy number profiling. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2396.

Four DNA methylation biomarkers in biliary brush samples accurately identify the presence of cholangiocarcinoma

Early detection of the highly aggressive malignancy cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remains a challenge but has the potential to render the tumor curable by surgical removal. This study evaluates a biomarker panel for the diagnosis of CCA by DNA methylation analyses of biliary brush samples. The methylation status of 13 candidate genes (CDO1, CNRIP1, DCLK1, FBN1, INA, MAL, SEPT9, SFRP1, SNCA, SPG20, TMEFF2, VIM, and ZSCAN18) was investigated in 93 tissue samples (39 CCAs and 54 nonmalignant controls) using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The 13 genes were further analyzed in a test series of biliary brush samples (15 CCAs and 20 nonmalignant primary sclerosing cholangitis controls), and the methylation status of the four best performing markers was validated (34 CCAs and 34 primary sclerosing cholangitis controls). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to evaluate the performance of individual biomarkers and the combination of biomarkers. The 13 candidate genes displayed a methylation frequency of 26%-82% in tissue samples. The four best-performing genes (CDO1, CNRIP1, SEPT9, and VIM) displayed individual methylation frequencies of 45%-77% in biliary brushes from CCA patients. Across the test and validation biliary brush series, this four-gene biomarker panel achieved a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 98%, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.944.

CONCLUSION

We report a straightforward biomarker assay with high sensitivity and specificity for CCA, outperforming standard brush cytology, and suggest that the biomarker panel, potentially in combination with cytological evaluation, may improve CCA detection, particularly among primary sclerosing cholangitis patients.

Microsatellite instability has a positive prognostic impact on stage II colorectal cancer after complete resection: results from a large, consecutive Norwegian series

Background

Microsatellite instability (MSI) was suggested as a marker for good prognosis in colorectal cancer in 1993 and a systematic review from 2005 and a meta-analysis from 2010 support the initial observation. We here assess the prognostic impact and prevalence of MSI in different stages in a consecutive, population-based series from a single hospital in Oslo, Norway.

Patients and methods

Of 1274 patients, 952 underwent major resection of which 805 were included in analyses of MSI prevalence and 613 with complete resection in analyses of outcome. Formalin-fixed tumor tissue was used for PCR-based MSI analyses.

Results

The overall prevalence of MSI was 14%, highest in females (19%) and in proximal colon cancer (29%). Five-year relapse-free survival (5-year RFS) was 67% and 55% (P = 0.030) in patients with MSI and MSS tumors, respectively, with the hazard ratio (HR) equal to 1.60 (P = 0.045) in multivariate analysis. The improved outcome was confined to stage II patients who had 5-year RFS of 74% and 56% respectively (P = 0.010), HR = 2.02 (P = 0.040).

Examination of 12 or more lymph nodes was significantly associated with proximal tumor location (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

MSI has an independent positive prognostic impact on stage II colorectal cancer patients after complete resection.

Novel target genes and a valid biomarker panel identified for cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and the mortality rate is high due to late clinical presentation. CpG island promoter methylation is frequently seen in cancer development. In the present study, we aimed at identifying novel epigenetic biomarkers with the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of cholangiocarcinoma. Microarray data analyses of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines treated with epigenetic drugs and their untreated counterparts were compared with previously published gene expression profiles of primary tumors and with non-malignant controls. Genes responding to the epigenetic treatment that were simultaneously downregulated in primary cholangiocarcinoma compared with controls (n = 43) were investigated for their promoter methylation status in cancer cell lines from the gastrointestinal tract. Genes commonly methylated in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines were subjected to quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in a total of 93 clinical samples (cholangiocarcinomas and non-malignant controls). CDO1, DCLK1, SFRP1 and ZSCAN18, displayed high methylation frequencies in primary tumors and were unmethylated in controls. At least one of these four biomarkers was positive in 87% of the tumor samples, with a specificity of 100%. In conclusion, the novel methylation-based biomarker panel showed high sensitivity and specificity for cholangiocarcinoma. The potential of these markers in early diagnosis of this cancer type should be further explored.

MGMT promoter methylation in gliomas-assessment by pyrosequencing and quantitative methylation-specific PCR

BACKGROUND

Methylation of the O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter is a favorable prognostic factor in glioblastoma patients. However, reported methylation frequencies vary significantly partly due to lack of consensus in the choice of analytical method.

METHOD

We examined 35 low- and 99 high-grade gliomas using quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP) and pyrosequencing. Gene expression level of MGMT was analyzed by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

When examined by qMSP, 26% of low-grade and 37% of high-grade gliomas were found to be methylated, whereas 97% of low-grade and 55% of high-grade gliomas were found methylated by pyrosequencing. The average MGMT gene expression level was significantly lower in the group of patients with a methylated promoter independent of method used for methylation detection. Primary glioblastoma patients with a methylated MGMT promoter (as evaluated by both methylation detection methods) had approximately 5 months longer median survival compared to patients with an unmethylated promoter (log-rank test; pyrosequencing P = .02, qMSP P = .06). One third of the analyzed samples had conflicting methylation results when comparing the data from the qMSP and pyrosequencing. The overall survival analysis shows that these patients have an intermediate prognosis between the groups with concordant MGMT promoter methylation results when comparing the two methods.

CONCLUSION

In our opinion, MGMT promoter methylation analysis gives sufficient prognostic information to merit its inclusion in the standard management of patients with high-grade gliomas, and in this study pyrosequencing came across as the better analytical method.

Identification of an epigenetic biomarker panel with high sensitivity and specificity for colorectal cancer and adenomas

Background

The presence of cancer-specific DNA methylation patterns in epithelial colorectal cells in human feces provides the prospect of a simple, non-invasive screening test for colorectal cancer and its precursor, the adenoma. This study investigates a panel of epigenetic markers for the detection of colorectal cancer and adenomas.

Methods

Candidate biomarkers were subjected to quantitative methylation analysis in test sets of tissue samples from colorectal cancers, adenomas, and normal colonic mucosa. All findings were verified in independent clinical validation series. A total of 523 human samples were included in the study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the biomarker panel.

Results

Promoter hypermethylation of the genes CNRIP1, FBN1, INA, MAL, SNCA, and SPG20 was frequent in both colorectal cancers (65-94%) and adenomas (35-91%), whereas normal mucosa samples were rarely (0-5%) methylated. The combined sensitivity of at least two positives among the six markers was 94% for colorectal cancers and 93% for adenoma samples, with a specificity of 98%. The resulting areas under the ROC curve were 0.984 for cancers and 0.968 for adenomas versus normal mucosa.

Conclusions

The novel epigenetic marker panel shows very high sensitivity and specificity for both colorectal cancers and adenomas. Our findings suggest this biomarker panel to be highly suitable for early tumor detection.

Comparison of chromosomal and array-based comparative genomic hybridization for the detection of genomic imbalances in primary prostate carcinomas

BACKGROUND

In order to gain new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in prostate cancer, we performed array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on a series of 46 primary prostate carcinomas using a 1 Mbp whole-genome coverage platform. As chromosomal comparative genomic hybridization (cCGH) data was available for these samples, we compared the sensitivity and overall concordance of the two methodologies, and used the combined information to infer the best of three different aCGH scoring approaches.

RESULTS

Our data demonstrate that the reliability of aCGH in the analysis of primary prostate carcinomas depends to some extent on the scoring approach used, with the breakpoint estimation method being the most sensitive and reliable. The pattern of copy number changes detected by aCGH was concordant with that of cCGH, but the higher resolution technique detected 2.7 times more aberrations and 15.2% more carcinomas with genomic imbalances. We additionally show that several aberrations were consistently overlooked using cCGH, such as small deletions at 5q, 6q, 12p, and 17p. The latter were validated by fluorescence in situ hybridization targeting TP53, although only one carcinoma harbored a point mutation in this gene. Strikingly, homozygous deletions at 10q23.31, encompassing the PTEN locus, were seen in 58% of the cases with 10q loss.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that aCGH can significantly improve the detection of genomic aberrations in cancer cells as compared to previously established whole-genome methodologies, although contamination with normal cells may influence the sensitivity and specificity of some scoring approaches. Our work delineated recurrent copy number changes and revealed novel amplified loci and frequent homozygous deletions in primary prostate carcinomas, which may guide future work aimed at identifying the relevant target genes. In particular, biallelic loss seems to be a frequent mechanism of inactivation of the PTEN gene in prostate carcinogenesis.

Biallelic inactivation of TP53 rarely contributes to the development of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors

About 10% of the patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), accounting for half of all MPNST cases. Several nonrandom chromosomal aberrations have been found, but the target genes remain mostly unrecognized. Mutations in the NF1 and TP53 genes have been found in some MPNSTs, and recent data from mouse models support a synergistic effect of these two genes in the development of MPNST. In the present study, we have analyzed 16 MPNSTs, including 11 from patients with NF1 and 5 sporadic cases, for mutations in the coding sequence of the TP53 gene (exons 2-11). We applied denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and modifications of this technique for analyses of 12 genomic fragments, followed by direct sequencing for identification of the mutated base(s). None of the MPNSTs revealed mutations. The detection of control mutants for each fragment analyzed, the high sensitivity of the technique, the detection of polymorphisms in some samples, and the high content of tumor tissue in the biopsies imply that false negatives are highly unlikely. Although we cannot exclude that deletions including large parts of the gene remain undetected by the mutation analyses, previous comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), cytogenetic banding analysis, and/or loss of heterozygosity studies on 14 of the cases included here had revealed 17p deletions in only three. We thus conclude that TP53 biallelic inactivation is rare in MPNST, and that the potential impact of an altered TP53 pathway on the malignant transformation of a neurofibroma into an MPNST may more frequently occur by changes in other components of that pathway.

The APC gene I1307K variant is rare in Norwegian patients with familial and sporadic colorectal or breast cancer

Recently, a T-to-A transversion creating an 8-base mononucleotide tract in the APC gene, resulting in substitution of lysine for isoleucine at codon 1307 (I1307K), was found in a subset of Ashkenazi Jews. This sequence variant was most frequent in colorectal cancer patients with a positive family history of colorectal cancer. To determine whether the I1307K variant plays a role in colorectal or breast cancer predisposition in the Norwegian population, we have analyzed blood samples from 210 colorectal cancer patients and 183 breast cancer patients by PCR and direct sequencing. Thirty-seven of the colorectal cancer patients had a positive family history of cancer. Among the breast cancer patients, 24 had a family history of colorectal cancer and 75 a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Only one colorectal cancer patient who belonged to a Jewish family was found to carry the A variant. Our data show that the I1307K variant is rare in the Norwegian population and should not be viewed as a candidate for susceptibility testing for colorectal cancer.

Microsatellite instability in cervical and endometrial carcinomas

Microsatellite instability has been found preferentially in tumours associated with the hereditary non-polyposis-colorectal-cancer (HNPCC) syndrome. This phenotype, manifested as new alleles at microsatellite loci, and often the result of a defective mismatch-repair gene, is seen as allelic mobility shifts during electrophoretic runs. We examined possible alterations at 8 dinucleotide loci mapping to 6 different chromosomes in endometrial cancers (n = 20) and cervical cancers (n = 82). Overall instability was found in 30% of the endometrial cancers and in 6% of the cervical cancers, including 3 (15%) and 2 (2%) tumours, respectively, unstable at more than one locus. In contrast to the endometrial cancer sub-group, the affected cervical cancers were characterized by one or two new alleles at one or few loci. By DNA ploidy measurements 5 diploid endometrial cancers were microsatellite-unstable vs. one diploid of 6 unaltered cases (p = 0.015; Fisher's exact test). Our data confirm that a sub-set of diploid sporadic endometrial cancers are characterized by a mutator phenotype similar to that found in colorectal cancer. In contrast, among cervical cancers, not characterized by the HNPCC-tumour spectrum, this mutator phenotype is seen infrequently, and positive cases appear to display only minor alterations.