Bianca Lisboa

Comprehensive Analysis of BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 Germline Mutation and Tumor Characterization: A Portrait of Early-Onset Breast Cancer in Brazil

Germline mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 genes have been identified as one of the most important disease-causing issues in young breast cancer patients worldwide. The specific defective biological processes that trigger germline mutation-associated and -negative tumors remain unclear. To delineate an initial portrait of Brazilian early-onset breast cancer, we performed an investigation combining both germline and tumor analysis. Germline screening of the BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 (c.1100delC) and TP53 genes was performed in 54 unrelated patients <35 y; their tumors were investigated with respect to transcriptional and genomic profiles as well as hormonal receptors and HER2 expression/amplification. Germline mutations were detected in 12 out of 54 patients (22%) [7 in BRCA1 (13%), 4 in BRCA2 (7%) and one in TP53 (2%) gene]. A cancer familial history was present in 31.4% of the unrelated patients, from them 43.7% were carriers for germline mutation (37.5% in BRCA1 and in 6.2% in the BRCA2 genes). Fifty percent of the unrelated patients with hormone receptor-negative tumors carried BRCA1 mutations, percentage increasing to 83% in cases with familial history of cancer. Over-representation of DNA damage-, cellular and cell cycle-related processes was detected in the up-regulated genes of BRCA1/2-associated tumors, whereas cell and embryo development-related processes were over-represented in the up-regulated genes of BRCA1/2-negative tumors, suggesting distinct mechanisms driving the tumorigenesis. An initial portrait of the early-onset breast cancer patients in Brazil was generated pointing out that hormone receptor-negative tumors and positive familial history are two major risk factors for detection of a BRCA1 germline mutation. Additionally, the data revealed molecular factors that potentially trigger the tumor development in young patients.

Characterization of germline mutations of MLH1 and MSH2 in unrelated south American suspected Lynch syndrome individuals

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant syndrome that predisposes individuals to development of cancers early in life. These cancers are mainly the following: colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, small intestine, stomach and urinary tract cancers. LS is caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes (MMR), mostly MLH1 and MSH2, which are responsible for more than 85% of known germline mutations. To search for germline mutations in MLH1 and MSH2 genes in 123 unrelated South American suspected LS patients (Bethesda or Amsterdam Criteria) DNA was obtained from peripheral blood, and PCR was performed followed by direct sequencing in both directions of all exons and intron–exon junctions regions of the MLH1 and MSH2 genes. MLH1 or MSH2 pathogenic mutations were found in 28.45% (34/123) of the individuals, where 25/57 (43.85%) fulfilled Amsterdam I, II and 9/66 (13.63%) the Bethesda criteria. The mutations found in both genes were as follows: nonsense (35.3%), frameshift (26.47%), splicing (23.52%), and missense (9%). Thirteen alterations (35.14%) were described for the first time. The data reported in this study add new information about MLH1 and MSH2 gene mutations and contribute to better characterize LS in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. The high rate of novel mutations demonstrates the importance of defining MLH1 and MSH2 mutations in distinct LS populations.

Multiple mutations in the Kras gene in colorectal cancer: review of the literature with two case reports

PurposeKras mutations are negative predictors of anti-EGFR therapy, occurring in 40% of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). Point substitutions in codon 12 or 13 are the most frequent mutations in Kras, but multiple mutations (MMs) in other codons can also develop. Few data exist on MMs with regard to their frequency and the codons and amino acids that are affected. We report two cases of Kras double mutations in codons 12 and 13 and review Kras MMs in primary CRC in PubMed databases.Case reportA 53-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man presented with deep, invasive, moderately differentiated CRC at an advanced clinical stage. The former had regional lymph node involvement and vaginal wall neoplastic implantation, and the latter had liver metastasis. Primary tumors were examined for Kras mutations by pyrosequencing, which were confirmed by direct sequencing. Both tumors had a mutation in codons 12 and 13, wherein codon 12 was mutated to GAT, and codon 13 became GAC.ConclusionsWe identified 69 reported cases of Kras MMs and reported two other cases, representing 2.1% of all mutated tumors; the incidence of such mutations is 1.0% in CRC patients. In most cases (59%), MMs develop in a single codon, usually codon 12. Codons 12 and 13 are affected simultaneously in only 27% of cases. These findings add information about the impact of specific amino acid changes in the Kras gene.

A clinical, pathologic, and molecular study of p53 and murine double minute 2 in penile carcinogenesis and its relation to prognosis.

Penile carcinoma constitutes up to 16% of male malignancies in developing countries. Changes in the p53 and murine double minute 2 pathway are important events in various cancers. Associate alterations in murine double minute 2 and p53 expression were evaluated by molecular techniques, with the clinical data of 297 cases of penile carcinoma. Automated immunohistochemistry was performed for murine double minute 2 and p53 using the primary antibodies SPM14 and DO7, respectively. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed using the probes murine double minute 2 at 12q15 and TP53 at 17p13.1. Slides were digitalized, and bright-field and fluorescent images were analyzed. TP53 was sequenced in 16 cases. The expression of p53 was higher in poorly differentiated, infiltrative border, corpus spongiosum, corpora cavernosa, and invasive urethral carcinomas. Patients who died of disease also expressed higher levels of p53. p53-negative tumors were associated with higher overall survival. Murine double minute 2 showed no difference of expression in any group of tumors, no correlation with p53 expression. No alterations in genes or chromosomes were observed. Mutations in TP53 were observed in 4 of 16 cases: p.T170M, p.L252P, p.C176Y, and the novel c.803_810del8; these changes correlated with p53 expression by immunohistochemistry. Murine double minute 2 is not useful in the prognosis of penile carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. Additional studies on the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and epigenetic aspects are necessary to understand the interactions between p53 and murine double minute 2 because we did not observe any numeric alterations by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Examining p53 is helpful in identifying patients with more aggressive tumors and may be crucial in selecting the most suitable surgical procedure.

KRAS insertions in colorectal cancer: what do we know about unusual KRAS mutations?

INTRODUCTION KRAS mutations are negative predictors of the response to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). Point mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 are the most common KRAS mutations in CRC. There are few reports on insertions in KRAS, and little is known about its ability to activate the RAS pathway. The scarcity of data regarding insertion frequencies and nucleotide additions in KRAS impedes the management of patients with such mutations. We present data on KRAS insertions in CRC and discuss a case. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pyrosequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify KRAS and BRAF mutations in paraffin-embedded samples of CRC. Expression of mismatch repair proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS We detected a GGT insertion between codons 12 and 13 (c.36_37insGGT;p.G12_G13insG) in a CRC patient. We found that insertions in KRAS is very rare in CRC and that the most frequent type of insertion is c.36_37insGGT. CONCLUSIONS KRAS gene insertions represent a diagnostic and clinical challenge due to the difficult and unusual pyrosequencing findings and the lack of information regarding its clinical impact.

A novel mechanism of NPM1 cytoplasmic localization in acute myeloid leukemia: the recurrent gene fusion NPM1–HAUS1

NPM1 heterozygous mutations are present in roughly a third of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), making it one of the most frequent genomic alterations in these patients.[1][1] The mutations are characterized by frameshift insertions in the region encoding the C-terminus of the protein,

KRAS gene mutation in a series of unselected colorectal carcinoma patients with prognostic morphological correlations: a pyrosequencing method improved by nested PCR.

INTRODUCTION Inhibition of EGFR is a strategy for treating metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. KRAS sequencing is mandatory for selecting wild-type tumor patients who might benefit from this treatment. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues is commonly used for routine clinical detection of mutations, and its amplification succeeds only when all preanalytical histological processes have been controlled. In cases that are not properly processed, the DNA results can be poor, with low peak pyrosequencing findings. We designed and tested a pair of forward and reverse primers for a nested PCR method, followed by pyrosequencing, in a single Latin American institution series of 422 unselected CRC patients, correlating KRAS mutations with pathological and clinical data. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patient DNA samples from tumors were obtained by scraping or laser microdissection of cells from FFPE tissue and extracted using a commercial kit. DNA was first amplified by PCR using 2 primers that we designed; then, nested PCR was performed with the amplicon from the preamplification PCR using the KRAS PyroMark™ Q96 V2.0 kit (Qiagen). Pathological data were retrieved from pathology reports. RESULTS KRAS mutation was observed in 33% of 421 cases. Codon 12 was mutated in 76% of cases versus codon 13 in 24%. Right-sided CRCs harbored more KRAS mutations than left-sided tumors, as did tumors that presented with perineural invasion. CONCLUSION Our findings in this Latin American population are consistent with the literature regarding the frequency of KRAS mutations in CRC, their distribution between codons 12 and 13, and type of nucleotide substitution. By combining nested PCR and pyrosequencing, we achieved a high rate of conclusive results in testing KRAS mutations in CRC samples - a method that can be used as an ancillary test for failed assays by conventional PCR.

Germline BAX Deletion in a Patient With Melanoma and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

isinvolved in those syndromes, it must be a rare event. A ccording to a population-based registry udst y ( 8 ) ~ 12 % paof tients wih melat noma develop one or more subsequent pri-mary cancers, most frequently another melanoma, female breast cancer, pros-tate cancer, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Soft tissue sarcomas are also signi fi cantly increased. However, the co-occurrence of GIST and melanoma in the same patient is an unusual fi nding; there are only three reports in the literature, but unfortunately genetic investigation was not performed in any of them ( 9 – 11 ). GIST is a rare tumor ht at accounts or f < 1 % of all gastroin-testinal malignancies and derives from mesenchymal / stromal cells driven by onco-genic activation of

Comment on: EGFR mutational status in Brazilian patients with penile carcinoma

The authors describe the results on EGFR molecular alterations of 29 Brazilian patients with penile carcinoma (PC). DNA extracted from frozen tumor tissue of all patients was submitted to direct sequencing of the four exons (18 – 21) responsible for the EGFR tyrosine-kinase activity. Corroborating the data by Di Lorenzo et al. published in Expert Opin Ther Targets, none of the sequenced tumor samples showed relevant alterations in the four studied exons of the EGFR gene.

Identification of ANLN as ETV6 partner gene in recurrent t(7;12)(p15;p13): a possible role of deregulated ANLN expression in leukemogenesis

The ETV6 gene encodes an ETS family transcription factor that is involved in a myriad of chromosomal rearrangements found in hematological malignancies and other neoplasms. A recurrent ETV6 translocation, previously described in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Genes Chromosomes Cancer 51:328–337,2012, Leuk Res 35:e212-214, 2011), whose partner has not been identified is t(7;12)(p15;p13). We herein report that the t(7;12)(p15;p13) fuses ETV6 to ANLN, a gene not previously implicated in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies, and we demonstrate that this translocation leads to high expression of the fusion transcript in the myeloid and lymphoid lineages.