Colorectal cancers show distinct mutation spectra in members of the canonical WNT signaling pathway according to their anatomical location and type of genetic instability.

It is unclear whether the mutation spectra in WNT genes vary among distinct types of colorectal tumors. We have analyzed mutations in specific WNT genes in a cohort of 52 colorectal tumors and performed a meta-analysis of previous studies. Notably, significant differences were found among the mutation spectra. We have previously shown that in familial adenomatous polyposis, APC somatic mutations are selected to provide the "just-right" level of WNT signaling for tumor formation. Here, we found that APC mutations encompassing at least two beta-catenin down-regulating motifs (20 a.a. repeats) are significantly more frequent in microsatellite unstable (MSI-H) than in microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors where truncations retaining less than two repeats are more frequent (P = 0.0009). Moreover, in cases where both APC hits are detected, selection for mutations retaining a cumulative number of two 20 a.a. repeats became apparent in MSI-H tumors (P = 0.001). This type of mutations were also more frequent in proximal versus distal colonic tumors, regardless of MSI status (P = 0.0008). Among MSI-H tumors, CTNNB1 mutations were significantly more frequent in HNPCC than in sporadic lesions (28% versus 6%, P < 10-6) and were preferentially detected in the proximal colon, independently of MSI status (P = 0.017). In conclusion, the observed spectra of WNT gene mutations in colorectal tumors are likely the result from selection of specific levels of beta-catenin signaling, optimal for tumor formation in the context of specific anatomical locations and forms of genetic instability. We suggest that this may underlie the preferential location of MMR deficient tumors in the proximal colon.

Aggressive phenotype of MYH-associated polyposis with jejunal cancer and intra-abdominal desmoid tumor: report of a case.

MYH-associated polyposis is an inherited autosomal recessive disease, linked to biallelic germline MYH mutations, which predisposes to the development of multiple colorectal adenomas and cancer. The colonic and extracolonic phenotype of this syndrome is very heterogeneous. We report the case of a young male patient with an aggressive MYH-associated polyposis phenotype. He presented at aged 30 years with more than 100 colonic polyps and 4 colonic adenocarcinomas. At aged 35 years, Spigelman Stage IV duodenal adenomatosis was detected. When he was 39 years old, he developed three synchronous jejunal adenocarcinomas and a mesenteric desmoid tumor. Based on this report, we believe that screening of the entire small bowel should be recommended in MYH-associated polyposis patients, especially in those with duodenal adenomas. Similar to patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, desmoid tumors also may be part of the clinical spectrum of MYH-associated polyposis and may prove to be a significant clinical problem in patients submitted to prophylactic colectomy.

Colorectal adenomas in young patients: microsatellite instability is not a useful marker to detect new cases of Lynch syndrome.

PURPOSE: Original Bethesda Guidelines proposed microsatellite instability analysis in colorectal adenomas from patients younger than aged 40 years to identify new cases of Lynch syndrome. We intended to evaluate the characteristics of colorectal adenomas from patients younger than aged 40 years to determine their microsatellite instability status and to correlate it with germline mutations in MLH1 and MSH2 genes. METHODS: Seventy-two adenomas from 58 patients were analyzed. Family history of colorectal cancer, location, and histology of adenomas were evaluated. Microsatellite instability testing was performed with BAT26 only or with the complete Bethesda panel. Germline mutational analysis was performed in MLH1 and MSH2 genes. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients had a family history of colorectal cancer and 16 of them belonged to Amsterdam Criteria positive families. The remaining 23 presented with sporadic adenomas. Microsatellite instability was found in seven adenomas from seven different patients, all belonging to Amsterdam Criteria-positive families. In six of these patients, a pathogenic germline mutation was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Adenomas diagnosed before aged 40 years presented microsatellite instability only in patients from families with clinical criteria for Lynch syndrome. According to our results, to detect new cases of Lynch syndrome, family history is more important than microsatellite instability testing in adenomas from young patients.

Familial colorectal cancer type X syndrome: two distinct molecular entities?

In a fraction of families fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, colorectal cancers are microsatellite stable and DNA mismatch repair gene (MMR) mutations are not found. These families were designated as familial colorectal cancer type X (FCCTX). We aimed to characterise a group of FCCTX families defined by the Amsterdam criteria and MSS tumours at clinical and molecular level. Twenty-four tumours from 15 FCCTX families were analysed for loss of known tumour suppressor gene (TSG) loci (APC, TP53, SMAD4 and DCC), MGMT and MMR genes promoter methylation, and also APC and KRAS somatic mutations. FCCTX families presented specific clinical features: absence of endometrial tumours, high adenoma/carcinoma ratio (1.91) and prevalence of rectal cancers (13/27, 48%). New molecular features were found: the majority of FCCTX tumours (13/18; 72%) presented TSG loss. TSG loss positive tumours presented frequent APC and KRAS somatic mutations and MGMT methylation [10/13 (77%), 7/13 (54%) and 6/11 (54%), respectively]. In TSG loss negative tumours (5/18; 28%), the same molecular events were found in 2/5 (40%), 2/5 (40%) and 1/3 (33%) tumours, respectively. Transition mutations in KRAS were more frequent among MGMT methylated tumours than in unmethylated [5/8 (63%) vs. 1/10 (10%), P = 0.03]. Although sharing similar clinical features, at least two different molecular entities should exist among FCCTX families, one whose tumours present frequent TSG loss, APC and KRAS somatic mutations, and MGMT promoter methylation, and a second, lesser predominant, with no evidence of TSG loss and rarely presenting promoter methylation.

Risk of colorectal cancer associated with the C677T polymorphism in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in Portuguese patients depends on the intake of methyl-donor nutrients.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms located in genes involved in the metabolism of folate and some methyl-related nutrients are implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC). OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the association of 3 genetic polymorphisms [C677T MTHFR (methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase), A2756G MTR (methionine synthase), and C1420T SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase)] with the intake of methyl-donor nutrients in CRC risk. DESIGN: Patients with CRC (n = 196) and healthy controls (n = 200) matched for age and sex were evaluated for intake of methyl-donor nutrients and the 3 polymorphisms. RESULTS: Except for folate intake, which was significantly lower in patients (P = 0.02), no differences were observed in the dietary intake of other methyl-donor nutrients between groups. High intake of folate (>406.7 microg/d) was associated with a significantly lower risk of CRC (odds ratio: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.99). The A2756G MTR polymorphism was not associated with the risk of developing CRC. In contrast, homozygosity for the C677T MTHFR variant (TT) presented a 3.0-fold increased risk of CRC (95% CI: 1.3, 6.7). Similarly, homozygosity for the C1420T SHMT polymorphism also had a 2.6-fold increased risk (95% CI: 1.1, 5.9) of developing CRC. When interactions between variables were studied, low intake of all methyl-donor nutrients was associated with an increased risk of CRC in homozygous participants for the C677T MTHFR polymorphism, but a statistically significant interaction was only observed for folate (odds ratio: 14.0; 95% CI: 1.8, 108.5). No significant associations were seen for MTR or SHMT polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: These results show an association between the C677T MTHFR variant and different folate intakes on risk of CRC.