Recommendations for laboratory workflow that better support centralised amalgamation of genomic variant data: findings from CanVIG-UK national molecular laboratory survey.

BACKGROUND: National and international amalgamation of genomic data offers opportunity for research and audit, including analyses enabling improved classification of variants of uncertain significance. Review of individual-level data from National Health Service (NHS) testing of cancer susceptibility genes (2002-2023) submitted to the National Disease Registration Service revealed heterogeneity across participating laboratories regarding (1) the structure, quality and completeness of submitted data, and (2) the ease with which that data could be assembled locally for submission. METHODS: In May 2023, we undertook a closed online survey of 51 clinical scientists who provided consensus responses representing all 17 of 17 NHS molecular genetic laboratories in England and Wales which undertake NHS diagnostic analyses of cancer susceptibility genes. The survey included 18 questions relating to 'next-generation sequencing workflow' (11), 'variant classification' (3) and 'phenotypical context' (4). RESULTS: Widely differing processes were reported for transfer of variant data into their local LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System), for the formatting in which the variants are stored in the LIMS and which classes of variants are retained in the local LIMS. Differing local provisions and workflow for variant classifications were also reported, including the resources provided and the mechanisms by which classifications are stored. CONCLUSION: The survey responses illustrate heterogeneous laboratory workflow for preparation of genomic variant data from local LIMS for centralised submission. Workflow is often labour-intensive and inefficient, involving multiple manual steps which introduce opportunities for error. These survey findings and adoption of the concomitant recommendations may support improvement in laboratory dataflows, better facilitating submission of data for central amalgamation.

EMQN best practice guidelines for genetic testing in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) is a genetic condition associated with increased risk of cancers. The past decade has brought about significant changes to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) diagnostic testing with new treatments, testing methods and strategies, and evolving information on genetic associations. These best practice guidelines have been produced to assist clinical laboratories in effectively addressing the complexities of HBOC testing, while taking into account advancements since the last guidelines were published in 2007. These guidelines summarise cancer risk data from recent studies for the most commonly tested high and moderate risk HBOC genes for laboratories to refer to as a guide. Furthermore, recommendations are provided for somatic and germline testing services with regards to clinical referral, laboratory analyses, variant interpretation, and reporting. The guidelines present recommendations where 'must' is assigned to advocate that the recommendation is essential; and 'should' is assigned to advocate that the recommendation is highly advised but may not be universally applicable. Recommendations are presented in the form of shaded italicised statements throughout the document, and in the form of a table in supplementary materials (Table S4). Finally, for the purposes of encouraging standardisation and aiding implementation of recommendations, example report wording covering the essential points to be included is provided for the most common HBOC referral and reporting scenarios. These guidelines are aimed primarily at genomic scientists working in diagnostic testing laboratories.

Uptake of BRCA1/BRCA2 predictive genetic testing in an Irish population is low: a missed opportunity.

INTRODUCTION: Predictive testing for BRCA1 or BRCA2 allows at-risk individuals to engage with appropriate screening and treatment services if a pathogenic mutation is identified. Previous studies have shown uptake of predictive testing to most commonly range between 20% and 40% (Table 2). This represents a missed cancer prevention opportunity. Possible explanations for this low uptake include lack of disclosure of at-risk status to relatives, lack of awareness of cancer genetics services, or patient preference. The goal of the current study was to investigate the uptake of BRCA1 or BRCA2 predictive testing in an Irish population. METHODS: We performed a multicentre, retrospective analysis of 63 pedigrees from two Irish tertiary referral hospitals over a five-year period (2012-2017). Family pedigrees were reviewed to identify at-risk family members eligible for predictive BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation testing as per international guidelines, and testing rates were determined. RESULTS: A total of 1048 eligible individuals were identified, 318 (30.4%) proceeded to BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline testing including [215 (37.5%) females and 99 males (21.5%)]. Women were significantly more likely to test than men (T = 3.7, p < .0002). Uptake of testing was significant higher amongst first-degree relatives 45% (150/323) compared to 20% (50/258) amongst second degree relatives, and 10 % (33/317) amongst more distant relatives (F = 25.32, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of BRCA1 OR BRCA2 mutation testing in Ireland is suboptimal, particularly amongst Irish males and distant relatives. Further research is needed to identify strategies which may improve uptake within current legal and ethical frameworks.

Complete ascertainment of intragenic copy number mutations (CNMs) in the CFTR gene and its implications for CNM formation at other autosomal loci.

Over the last 20 years since the discovery of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, more than 1,600 different putatively pathological CFTR mutations have been identified. Until now, however, copy number mutations (CNMs) involving the CFTR gene have not been methodically analyzed, resulting almost certainly in the underascertainment of CFTR gene duplications compared with deletions. Here, high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (averaging one interrogating probe every 95 bp) was used to analyze the entire length of the CFTR gene (189 kb) in 233 cystic fibrosis chromosomes lacking conventional mutations. We succeeded in identifying five duplication CNMs that would otherwise have been refractory to analysis. Based upon findings from this and other studies, we propose that deletion and duplication CNMs in the human autosomal genome are likely to be generated in the proportion of approximately 2-3:1. We further postulate that intragenic gene duplication CNMs in other disease loci may have been routinely underascertained. Finally, our analysis of +/-20 bp flanking each of the 40 CFTR breakpoints characterized at the DNA sequence level provide support for the emerging concept that non-B DNA conformations in combination with specific sequence motifs predispose to both recurring and nonrecurring genomic rearrangements.

Recurrent large genomic rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2 in an Irish case series.

Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer a highly increased risk of cancers, mainly of the breast and ovary. Most variants are point mutations or small insertions/deletions detectable by Sanger sequencing. Large genomic rearrangements, including deletions/duplications of multiple exons, are not routinely detectable by Sanger sequencing, but can be reliably identified by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), and account for 5-17% mutations in different populations. Comprehensive mutation testing using these two methods has been facilitated via our centre since 2005. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of and phenotype associated with large genomic rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2 in an Irish cohort. An observational cohort study was undertaken. Patients with large genomic rearrangements in BRCA1/BRCA2 were identified from a prospectively maintained database of MLPA test results. Phenotypic and genotypic data were retrieved by chart review. Large genomic rearrangements in BRCA1 were identified in 49 families; and in BRCA2 in 7 families, representing ~11% of mutations in BRCA1/BRCA2 in Ireland. The most common large genomic rearrangement in BRCA1 was deletion of exons 1-23 (11 families, 7 from Co. Galway). Other common mutations included deletions of exon 3 (8 families) and exons 1-2 (6 families). Deletion of exons 19-20 in BRCA2 represented the familial mutation in five families, all from East Ireland (Wexford/Wicklow/Dublin). It is evident that a significant proportion of highly penetrant pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 will be missed if testing is limited to PCR-based Sanger sequencing alone. Screening for large genomic rearrangements in BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the routine diagnostic workflow is critical to avoid false negative results.

Gross genomic rearrangements involving deletions in the CFTR gene: characterization of six new events from a large cohort of hitherto unidentified cystic fibrosis chromosomes and meta-analysis of the underlying mechanisms.

Gross genomic rearrangements involving deletions in the CFTR gene have recently been found to account for approximately 20% of unidentified cystic fibrosis (CF) chromosomes in both French and Italian patients. Using QMPSF and walking quantitative DHPLC, six novel mutations (three simple deletions, two complex deletions with short insertions of 3-6 bp, and a complex deletion with a 182 bp inverted downstream sequence) were characterized by screening 274 unidentified CF chromosomes from 10 different countries. These lesions increase the total number of fully characterized large CFTR genomic rearrangements involving deletions to 21. Systematic analysis of the 42 associated breakpoints indicated that all 21 events were caused by nonhomologous recombination. Whole gene complexity analysis revealed a significant correlation between regions of low sequence complexity and the locations of the deletion breakpoints. Known recombination-promoting motifs were noted in the vicinity of the breakpoints. A total of 11 simple deletions were potentially explicable in terms of the classical model of replication slippage. However, the complex deletions appear to have arisen via multiple mechanisms; three of the five complex deletions with short insertions and both examples of large inverted insertions (299 and 182 bp, respectively) can be explained by either a model of serial replication slippage in cis (SRScis) or SRS in trans (SRStrans). Finally, the nature and distribution of large genomic rearrangements in the CFTR gene were compared and contrasted with those of two other genes, DMD and MSH2, with a view to gaining a broader understanding of DNA sequence context in mediating the diverse underlying mutational mechanisms.

Protein-truncating variants in moderate-risk breast cancer susceptibility genes: a meta-analysis of high-risk case-control screening studies.

Several "moderate-risk breast cancer susceptibility genes" have been conclusively identified. Pathogenic mutations in these genes are thought to cause a two to fivefold increased risk of breast cancer. In light of the current development and use of multigene panel testing, the authors wanted to systematically obtain robust estimates of the cancer risk associated with loss-of-function mutations within these genes. An electronic search was conducted to identify studies that sequenced the full coding regions of ATM, CHEK2, BRIP1, PALB2, NBS1, and RAD50 in a general and gene-targeted approach. Inclusion was restricted to studies that sequenced the germline DNA in both high-risk cases and geographically matched controls. A meta-analysis was then performed on protein-truncating variants (PTVs) identified in the studies for an association with breast cancer risk. A total of 10,209 publications were identified, of which 64 studies comprising a total of 25,418 cases and 52,322 controls in the 6 interrogated genes were eligible under our selection criteria. The pooled odds ratios for PTVs in the susceptibility genes were at least >2.6. Additionally, mutations in these genes have shown geographic and ethnic variation. This comprehensive study emphasizes the fact that caution should be taken when identifying certain genes as moderate susceptibility with the lack of sufficient data, especially with regard to the NBS1, RAD50, and BRIP1 genes. Further data from case-control sequencing studies, and especially family studies, are warranted.

Detection of novel germline mutations for breast cancer in non-BRCA1/2 families.

The identification of the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 enhanced clinicians' ability to select high-risk individuals for aggressive surveillance and prevention, and led to the development of targeted therapies. However, BRCA1/2 mutations account for only 25% of familial breast cancer cases. To systematically identify rare, probably pathogenic variants in familial cases of breast cancer without BRCA1/2 mutations, we developed a list of 312 genes, and performed targeted DNA enrichment coupled to multiplex next-generation sequencing on 104 'BRCAx' patients and 101 geographically matched controls in Ireland. As expected, this strategy allowed us to identify mutations in several well-known high-susceptibility and moderate-susceptibility genes, including ATM (~ 5%), RAD50 (~ 3%), CHEK2 (~ 2%), TP53 (~ 1%), PALB2 (~ 1%), and MRE11A (~ 1%). However, we also identified novel pathogenic variants in 30 other genes, which, when taken together, potentially explain the etiology of the missing heritability in up to 35% of BRCAx patients. These included novel potential pathogenic mutations in MAP3K1, CASP8, RAD51B, ZNF217, CDKN2B-AS1, and ERBB2, including a splice site mutation, which we predict would generate a constitutively active HER2 protein. Taken together, this work extends our understanding of the genetics of familial breast cancer, and supports the need to implement hereditary multigene panel testing to more appropriately orientate clinical management.

Comparison of the CFTR mutation spectrum in three cohorts of patients of Celtic origin from Brittany (France) and Ireland.

This study aims to compare the spectrum of the mutations identified in the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis in three cohorts of patients of Celtic origin from Brittany and Ireland. It included 389 patients from Brittany, 631 from Dublin and 139 from Cork. The CFTR gene analysis relied on the detection of the most common mutations, followed by a complete gene scanning using DGGE or D-HPLC. High mutation detection rates were obtained in each cohort: 99.6%, 96.8%, and 96.0% respectively. A high frequency of the c.1652_1655 del3 mutation (F508del: 74.8% to 81.3%) and of the "Celtic" mutation (c.1784G>A (G551D): 3.7% to 9.7%) was observed in each population. Apart from this, the mutation spectrums differed. In Brittany, the most common abnormalities were: c.1078delT (3.6%), c.4041C>G (N1303K: 1.4%), c.2670G>A (W846X(2): 1.0%) and c.1717-1G>A (1.0%), whereas in the cohort of Dublin, the main mutations were: c.482G>A (R117H: 3.0%), c.1811G>C (R560T: 2.4%) and c.621+1G>T (1.7%). Finally, in the Cork area, only the c.482G>A mutation (R117H) reached a frequency of 1%. Two previously-unreported mutations were identified in the Dublin cohort: c.2623-2A>G and c.3446T>G (M1105R). This collaborative study highlights the similarities of the CFTR alleles in the Breton and Irish populations, but also the disparities that exist between these populations, despite their common origin. Each population has its own history, with its mixture of founder effects and genetic drifts, which are at the origin of the current mutation distribution. The molecular study of the CFTR gene provides new tools for retracing European populations' histories.

Clinical correlation and molecular evaluation confirm that the MLH1 p.Arg182Gly (c.544A>G) mutation is pathogenic and causes Lynch syndrome.

Approximately 25 % of mismatch repair (MMR) variants are exonic nucleotide substitutions. Some result in the substitution of one amino acid for another in the protein sequence, so-called missense variants, while others are silent. The interpretation of the effect of missense and silent variants as deleterious or neutral is challenging. Pre-symptomatic testing for clinical use is not recommended for relatives of individuals with variants classified as 'of uncertain significance'. These relatives, including non-carriers, are considered at high-risk as long as the contribution of the variant to disease causation cannot be determined. This results in continuing anxiety, and the application of potentially unnecessary screening and prophylactic interventions. We encountered a large Irish Lynch syndrome kindred that carries the c.544A>G (p.Arg182Gly) alteration in the MLH1 gene and we undertook to study the variant. The clinical significance of the variant remains unresolved in the literature. Data are presented on cancer incidence within five kindreds with the same germline missense variant in the MLH1 MMR gene. Extensive testing of relevant family members in one kindred, a review of the literature, review of online MMR mutation databases and use of in silico phenotype prediction tools were undertaken to study the significance of this variant. Clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and molecular evidence from these families and other independent clinical and scientific evidence indicates that the MLH1 p.Arg182Gly (c.544A>G) change causes Lynch syndrome and supports reclassification of the variant as pathogenic.