Evaluation of pathogenic variants detected in high homology regions of the PMS2 gene. How effective is long-range PCR?

Introduction: Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by a high risk of colorectal and extracolonic tumors. Germline pathogenic variants (GPV) in the PMS2 gene are associated with <15% of all cases. The PMS2CL pseudogene presents high homology with PMS2, challenging molecular diagnosis by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Due to the high methodological complexity required to distinguish variants between PMS2 and PMS2CL, most laboratories do not clearly report the origin of this molecular finding. Objective: The aim of this study was to confirm the GPVs detected by NGS in regions of high homology segments of the PMS2 gene in a Brazilian sample. Methods: An orthogonal and gold standard long-range PCR (LR-PCR) methodology to separate variants detected in the PMS2 gene from those detected in the pseudogene. Results: A total of 74 samples with a PMS2 GPV detected by NGS in exons with high homology with PMS2CL pseudogene were evaluated. The most common was NM_000535.6:c.2182_2184delinsG, which was previously described as deleterious mutation in a study of African-American patients with LS and has been widely reported by laboratories as a pathogenic variant associated with the LS phenotype. Of all GPVs identified, only 6.8% were confirmed by LR-PCR. Conversely, more than 90% of GPV were not confirmed after LR-PCR, and the diagnosis of LS was ruled out by molecular mechanisms associated with PMS2. Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of LR-PCR was demonstrated to be a reliable approach for accurate molecular analysis of PMS2 variants in segments with high homology with PMS2CL. We highlight that our laboratory is a pioneer in routine diagnostic complementation of the PMS2 gene in Brazil, directly contributing to a more assertive molecular diagnosis and adequate genetic counseling for these patients and their families.

The relevance of ERG immunoexpression intensity for prostatic adenocarcinoma in radical prostatectomy of 635 samples.

Prostate cancer is the world's most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men. Recent work suggests that patients with high ERG expression intensity are significantly more likely to develop biochemical relapse and metastasis, and die of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the intensity of ERG protein expression and the staging of prostate cancer and the formation of metastases in 635 samples. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using immunohistochemistry reactions in tissue microarray samples taken from non-neoplastic and neoplastic prostate tissue from patients who underwent radical prostatectomies at a reference hospital from 2009 to 2016. For the ERG marker analysis, the samples were scored for the presence or absence of nuclear signals. Weak, moderate, or strong intensity of the nuclei of the observable tumor cells was considered to be positive markers. All told, 635 samples were evaluated, and the ERG expression was inconclusive in 9% of cases, while 30% were positive and 61% were negative. Of the samples with positive result: 25.8% were weak and focal, 53.2% were moderate, and 21% were strong. Finally, 21% of the cases with a positive ERG had a high Gleason score. Metastasis was detected in 41% of the patients who were ERG positive, and of these, the majority had moderate marking and were aged older than 60 years, although there was no statistically significant difference between the older and younger age groups. Patients with moderate to strong ERG staining had higher staging compared to the others, and no increase in metastasis was detected in patients with more intense ERG expression. More studies should be carried out to corroborate these results and to reach a consensus on the intensity and scoring of the expression levels of ERG markers.

HPV infection and 5mC/5hmC epigenetic markers in penile squamous cell carcinoma: new insights into prognostics.

BACKGROUND: Penile cancer is one of the most aggressive male tumors. Although it is preventable, the main etiologic causes are lifestyle behaviors and viral infection, such as human papillomavirus (HPV). Long-term epigenetic changes due to environmental factors change cell fate and promote carcinogenesis, being an important marker of prognosis. We evaluated epidemiological aspects of penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the prevalence of HPV infection using high-risk HPV (hrHPV) and p16INK4A expression of 224 participants. Global DNA methylation was evaluated through 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). RESULTS: The incidence of HPV was 53.2% for hrHPV and 22.32% for p16INK4a. hrHPV was not related to systemic or lymph node metastasis and locoregional recurrence, nor influenced the survival rate. P16INK4a seems to be a protective factor for death, which does not affect metastasis or tumor recurrence. Lymph node and systemic metastases and locoregional recurrence increase the risk of death. An increased 5mC mark was observed in penile SCC regardless of HPV infection. However, there is a reduction of the 5hmC mark for p16INK4a + (P = 0.024). Increased 5mC/5hmC ratio (> 1) was observed in 94.2% of penile SCC, irrespective of HPV infection. Despite the increase in 5mC, it seems not to affect the survival rate (HR = 1.06; 95% CI 0.33-3.38). CONCLUSIONS: P16INK4a seems to be a good prognosis marker for penile SCC and the increase in 5mC, an epigenetic mark of genomic stability, may support tumor progression leading to poor prognosis.

Are pathogenic BRCA1 mutations associated with parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma? A case report.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a patient with BRCA1 mutation, mucoepidermoid parotid, multiple breasts, and thyroid cancers. CASE REPORT: A women was diagnosed at 33-years-age with a triple-negative breast cancer (right breast), at 43-years-age with a triple-negative breast cancer in left breast and at 53-years-age with a primary papillary-thyroid carcinoma. At 55-years-age, she was diagnosed with a primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma in right parotid, and concomitantly, her right nipple was affected by Paget's disease and a recurrent carcinoma in right breast (HR + /HER2 = 3 +). At 57-years-age, after the recurrence of a triple-negative breast cancer (left breast), a geneticist evaluated the patient's family history, including one stomach, one non-smoking-related lung, and two smoking-related laryngeal cancers. Genetic testing revealed a BRCA1 mutation (Chr17:41:251.867). The patient's daughter (a non-cancer patient) tested negative for the mutation. Both remain under medical supervision. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that BRCA1 mutations are associated with non-breast and non-ovarian cancers such as salivary gland cancer.

How to structure an oncogenetics service for the public health system: Report of the implementation of the first service in Northeastern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying carriers of genetic mutations that increase the risk of developing cancer allows to adopt timely risk-reducing strategies. However, due to the elevated cost of genetic testing, few oncogenetics services are available in the Brazilian public health care system, especially in economically disadvantaged areas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation of an oncogenetics service for patients suspected of hereditary cancer syndromes (HBOC and HNPCC) at a philanthropic referral oncology hospital in Northeastern Brazil, funded by the Ministry of Health's National Oncology Care Support Program (PRONON). METHODS: The service was implemented with the PDCA method (Plan, Do, Check and Act). RESULTS: During the first year of operation (starting in August 2018), 675 individuals were examined, of whom 272 patients and 98 family members were submitted to genetic testing. This included the collection of 338 DNA samples of which 300 were sequenced. The analysis identified 48 (17.1%) mutations for HBOC and 19 (6.8%) for HNPCC. CONCLUSION: In one year, the oncogenetics service was able to benefit over 300 families by generating advanced molecular data which may be used for tailoring cancer prevention and management.

The intricate interplay between MSI and polymorphisms of DNA repair enzymes in gastric cancer H.pylori associated.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer worldwide. Helicobacter pylori is a well-established risk factor and may cause injuries to genomic integrity through an inefficient DNA repair. This study aimed to examine the influence of polymorphisms in DNA repair enzymes using markers for microsatellite instability (MSI). Polymorphisms of DNA repair enzymes were detected by PCR-RFLP and MSI, by high resolution melt (HRM) analysis. Helicobacter pylori detection and genotyping were accomplished by PCR. MSI was observed in 47.5% of the cases and it was associated with the ERCC1 polymorphic allele, whereas MSI-H was associated with the XRCC3 heterozygous genotype. MSI was more frequent in intestinal gastric cancer (IGC), where it was associated with ERCC1 or RAD51 polymorphic alleles. Also, MSI-H was associated with the XRCC3 heterozygous. In diffuse gastric cancer (DGC), almost all of MGMT polymorphic genotype carriers showed MSI. Helicobacter pylori was positive in 94% of the cases and the most virulent strains were associated with MSI, mainly MSI-H. When the subtypes were considered, these associations were found only in the IGC and associated with more virulent strains. Among the cases with microsatellite instability, IGC showed a correlation between the XPD wild-type and the ERCC1 polymorphic allele, and all of them were infected by the most virulent strains. On the other hand, in DGC, the XPD polymorphic allele was correlated with the XRCC3 wild-type with no prevalence of H.pylori virulence. Our data demonstrated that polymorphisms in repair enzymes can interfere with the efficiency of the repair process, but it differs depending on the histological subtype and H.pylori involvement. Besides nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair and mismatch repair pathway, the homologous recombination are also involved.

Helicobacter pylori genotype and polymorphisms in DNA repair enzymes: where do they correlate in gastric cancer?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the mechanisms proposed by which H. pylori causes gastric cancer (GC) is through DNA damage due to chronic inflammation. Genomic integrity is guaranteed by repair enzymes such as APE-1, OGG-1, and PARP-1. Host genetic polymorphisms associated with the bacterial strain may influence the ability to repair the damage, contributing to the development of H. pylori-associated GC. The aim of this study was to determine the association of the polymorphisms APE-1 (T2197G), OGG-1 (C1245G), and PARP-1 (A40676G) with H. pylori-genotype in 109 patients with GC. METHODS: Polymorphism was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and H. pylori detection/genotyping by PCR. RESULTS: In the intestinal subtype, PARP-1 wild-type was more frequent (P=0.001) in patients >50 years old. The repair enzymes genotypes analyzed in combination showed that the less pathogenic strains are associated with the APE-1 polymorphic allele and, unexpectedly, with PARP-1 wild-type, but this last one associated with APE-1 polymorphic allele or in older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the importance of H. pylori and APE-1 genotypes in the gastric carcinogenesis. Also, support the hypothesis of a decrease of PARP-1 wild-type activity in older individuals. Taken together these data may be an important clue to understand the role of low-virulence strains of H. pylori in gastric carcinogenesis and point the importance to analyze the polymorphisms as a group.

Differential expression of MYC in H. pylori-related intestinal and diffuse gastric tumors.

Evidence suggests that the carcinogenic process guided by Helicobacter pylori is related to the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis proteins as BCL-2, BAX, and MYC. However, the literature is conflicting regarding the expression frequency in the histological subtypes and did not consider cagA gene presence. To investigate the expression of these proteins considering the histological subtypes of gastric cancer associated with H. pylori (cagA), a total of 89 cases were used. H. pylori infection and cagA status were determined by PCR. Immunodetection was performed for MYC, BCL-2, and BAX proteins. H. pylori was found in 95.5% of the patients, among them, 65.8% were cagA(+). Nuclear MYC was detected in 36.4%, BAX in 55.7%, while BCl-2 in just 5%. Nuclear MYC staining was significantly lower in the intestinal than diffuse subtype (p = 0.008) and was related with the presence of H. pylori cagA(+). Additionally, most of the few cases cytoplasmic MYC positive were in the intestinal subtype. In diffuse tumors, although most nuclear MYC positive cases were cagA(+), it was not significant. No difference was observed between BCL-2 or BAX expression considering the presence of cagA gene in the histological subtypes. It seems that MYC could be relevant for the diffuse tumorigenic pathway associated with H. pylori and possibly influenced by the presence of cagA gene, while in intestinal tumors, the tumorigenic pathway does not occur through the MYC expression.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori genotypes (vacA, cagA, cagE and virB11) in gastric cancer in Brazilian's patients: an association with histopathological parameters.

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency and the association of vacA alleles, cagA, cagE and virB11 genes of Helicobacter pylori from patients with gastric cancer, considering the clinic histopathological parameters. METHODS: One hundred and one gastric adenocarcinoma tissues were assessed by PCR to detect H. pylori and vacA alleles, cagA, cagE and virB11. RESULTS: The distribution of cases according to the presence of the genes studied showed that the group containing vacA s1m1, cagA, cagE and virB11 H. pylori genes was significantly more frequent, followed by the group with at least one marker on the right side and left of the island. They were also present in the early stages and were the most frequent in nearly all histopathological grades. CONCLUSIONS: This study verified that vacAs1m1 and cag-PAI genes, cagA, cagE and virB11 are important H. pylori markers for gastric cancer development. Also, this study corroborates the importance of cagE and cagA together as cag-PAI marker.