Genetic analysis of a Fanconi anemia case revealed the presence of FANCF mutation (exon 1;469>C-T) with implications to develop acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder and one of the most common inherited forms of aplastic anemia. FA is an autosomal recessive or X-linked genetic disorder that is characterized by typical physical malformations and haematopoietic anomalies. In most cases of FA, patients harbor homozygous or double heterozygous mutations in the FANCA (60-65%), FANCC (10-15%), FANCG (~ 10%), FANCD2 (3-6%) or FANCF (2%) genes in different ethnic populations, which leads to inherited bone marrow failure (IBMF). Hence, it is important to screen such mutations in correlation with clinical manifestations of FA in various ethnic populations. APPROACH: An 11 year old female pediatric patient of an East India family was presented with febrile illness, having thrombocytopenia with positive dengue IgM (Immunoglobulin M) and treated as a case of dengue hemorrhagic fever at the initial stage of diagnosis. Chromosomal breakage study was performed based on the abnormal physical examination, which showed 100% breaks, triradials, and quadrilaterals in mitomycin (MMC)-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte culture. Importantly, conventional cytogenetic assay in most of the bone marrow cells revealed an additional gain in chromosome 3q+ [46,XX,add(3)(q25)] and terminal loss in chr8p- [46,XX,del(8)(p23)], which might have a prognostic relevance in the outcomes of the FA patient. The bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were repeated and the results showed acute leukemia with 39% blast cells. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of the patient confirmed the presence of (exon 1; 496 > C-T) non-sense mutation leading to a truncated FANCF protein attributed to a stop codon at the amino acid position 166. CONCLUSION: The study reported the presence of a homozygous C-T exon 1 mutation in FANCF gene in the female pediatric patient from Odisha, India associated with FA. Furthermore, both parents were found to be carriers of FANCF gene mutation, as this allele was found to be in heterozygous state upon genome sequencing. The pathogenicity of the agent was robustly supported by the clinical phenotype and biochemical observations, wherein the patient eventually developed acute myeloid leukemia. The findings of the study infer the importance of early detection of FA and the associated mutations, which might lead to the development of acute myeloid leukemia.

[Corrigendum) RNA interference­mediated FANCF silencing sensitizes OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells to adriamycin through increased adriamycin­induced apoptosis dependent on JNK activation.

After the publication of the article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that there appeared to be a pair of overlapping data panels in Fig. 4C on p. 1726 [specifically, the 'Untransfected' and 'Control shRNA' data panels for the ADM (24 h) experiments]. The authors have consulted their original data, and have realized that this figure was inadvertently assembled incorrectly. Furthermore, they have noticed that Fig. 1 on p. 1724 also contained errors that arose during its assembly; essentially, several of the data panels in Fig. 1C, showing the detection of FANCD2 focus formation via immunofluorescence experiments, were selected inappropriately. The corrected versions of Figs. 1 and 4, containing the corrected data panels for Figs. 1C and 4C respectively, are shown on the next page. Note that these errors did not affect the results or the conclusions reported in this work. The authors all agree to this Corrigendum, and are grateful to the Editor of Oncology Reports for allowing them to have the opportunity to correct these mistakes. Lastly, the authors apologize to the readership for any inconvenience these errors may have caused. [Oncology Reports 29: 1721­1729, 2013; DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2295].

A comprehensive molecular study identified 12 complementation groups with 56 novel FANC gene variants in Indian Fanconi anemia subjects.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal or X-linked genetic disorder characterized by chromosomal breakages, congenital abnormalities, bone marrow failure (BMF), and cancer. There has been a discovery of 22 FANC genes known to be involved in the FA pathway. This wide number of pathway components makes molecular diagnosis challenging for FA. We present here the most comprehensive molecular diagnosis of FA subjects from India. We observed a high frequency (4.42 ± 1.5 breaks/metaphase) of chromosomal breakages in 181 FA subjects. The major clinical abnormalities observed were skin pigmentation (70.2%), short stature (46.4%), and skeletal abnormalities (43.1%), along with a few minor clinical abnormalities. The combination of Sanger sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing could molecularly characterize 164 (90.6%) FA patients and identified 12 different complementation groups [FANCA (56.10%), FANCG (16.46%), FANCL (12.80%), FANCD2 (4.88%), FANCJ (2.44%), FANCE (1.22%), FANCF (1.22%), FANCI (1.22%), FANCN (1.22%), FANCC (1.22%), FANCD1 (0.61%) and FANCB (0.61%)]. A total of 56 novel variants were identified in our cohort, including a hotspot variant: a deletion of exon 27 in the FANCA gene and a nonsense variant at c.787 C>T in the FANCG gene. Our comprehensive molecular findings can aid in the stratification of molecular investigation in the diagnosis and management of FA patients.

A novel frame-shift deletion in FANCF gene causing autosomal recessive Fanconi anemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder characterized by congenital anomalies, early-onset bone marrow failure, and a high predisposition to cancers. Up to know, different genes involved in the DNA repair pathway, mainly FANCA genes, have been identified to be affected in patients with FA. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report clinical, laboratory and genetic findings in a 3.5-year-old Iranian female patient, a product of a consanguineous marriage, who was suspicious of FA, observed with short stature, microcephaly, skin hyperpigmentation, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypo cellular bone marrow. Therefore, Next Generation Sequencing was performed to identify the genetic cause of the disease in this patient. Results revealed a novel, private, homozygous frameshift mutation in the FANCF gene (NM_022725: c. 534delG, p. G178 fs) which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the proband. CONCLUSION: Such studies may help uncover the exact pathomechanisms of this disorder and establish the genotype-phenotype correlations by identification of more mutations in this gene. It is the first report of a mutation in the FANCF gene in Iranian patients with Fanconi anemia. This new mutation correlates with a hematological problem (pancytopenia), short stature, and microcephaly and skin hyperpigmentation. Until now, no evidence of malignancy was detected.

Clinical importance of FANCD2, BRIP1, BRCA1, BRCA2 and FANCF expression in ovarian carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: DNA repair pathways are potential targets of molecular therapy in cancer patients. The FANCD2, BRIP1, BRCA1/2, and FANCF genes are involved in homologous recombination DNA repair, which implicates their possible role in cell response to DNA-damaging agents. We evaluated a clinical significance of pre-treatment expression of these genes at mRNA level in 99 primary, advanced-stage ovarian carcinomas from patients, who later received taxane-platinum (TP) or platinum-cyclophosphamide (PC) treatment. METHODS: Gene expression was determined with the use of Real-Time PCR. The BRCA2 and BRIP1 gene sequence was investigated with the use of SSCP, dHPLC, and PCR-sequencing. RESULTS: Increased FANCD2 expression occurred to be a negative prognostic factor for all patients (PC+TP:HR 3.85, p = 0.0003 for the risk of recurrence; HR 1.96, p = 0.02 for the risk of death), and this association was even stronger in the TP-treated group (HR 6.7, p = 0.0002 and HR 2.33, p = 0.01, respectively). Elevated BRIP1 expression was the only unfavorable molecular factor in the PC-treated patients (HR 8.37, p = 0.02 for the risk of recurrence). Additionally, an increased FANCD2 and BRCA1/2 expression levels were associated with poor ovarian cancer outcome in either TP53-positive or -negative subgroups of the TP-treated patients, however these groups were small. Sequence analysis identified one protein truncating variant (1/99) in BRCA2 and no mutations (0/56) in BRIP1. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows for the first time that FANCD2 overexpression is a strong negative prognostic factor in ovarian cancer, particularly in patients treated with TP regimen. Moreover, increased mRNA level of the BRIP1 is a negative prognostic factor in the PC-treated patients. Next, changes in the BRCA2 and BRIP1 genes are rare and together with other analyzed FA genes considered as homologous recombination deficiency may not affect the expression level of analyzed genes.

­ (-) Menthol Induces Reversal of Promoter Hypermethylation and Associated Up-Regulation of the FANCF Gene in the SiHa Cell Line

Objective: To identify natural bioactive molecules with potential to inhibit DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and cause reactivation of genes silenced due to promoter hypermethylation. Methods and Results: -(-) Menthol and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) (reference molecule) were investigated using an in vitro methylation assay, which indicated potential of ­(-)menthol as an epigenetic modulator with the ability to directly inhibit M.SssI (an analogue of DNMT1) activity at 100µM. Methylation specific PCR and bisulphite sequencing revealed complete hypomethylation of 15 CpG sites in the Fanconi anemia, complementation group F (FANCF) gene between +280 and + 432 nucleotides relative to the transcription start site, which resulted in significant (P<0.001) up-regulation of FANCF gene expression by 2.1 and 2.5 fold respectively after treatment with menthol (80µM) and EGCG (80µM) for 4 days in the SiHa cell line as analyzed by qRT PCR. Conclusion: The present work highlighted the potential of ­(-) menthol, a naturally occurring cyclic monoterpene, as an epigenetic modulator causing promoter hypomethylation induced reactivation of the FANCF gene mediated by possible inhibition of DNMT1 activity in the SiHa cell line.

Phenotypic variability in patients with Fanconi anemia and biallelic FANCF mutations.

Fanconi anemia is a heterogeneous genetic disorder that is characterized by progressive bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, and markedly increased risk for malignancies. Mutations in the FANCF (FA-F) gene represent approximately 2% of affected patients. Currently, information on the phenotypic findings of patients with Fanconi anemia from biallelic mutations in FANCF is limited. Here, we report three patients who illustrate the clinical variability within the FA-F group. This analysis suggests a more severe phenotype for those with the common c.484_485delCT mutation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Promoter Hypermethylation of FANCF and Susceptibility and Prognosis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the 5' CpG island methylation of Fanconi anemia, complementation group F (FANCF) gene in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues and normal ovarian tissues and to investigate the relationship between FANCF methylation and clinicopathologic features and prognosis of EOC. METHODS: The experiment was performed with 112 EOC tissue samples (case group) and 60 normal ovarian tissues (control group). With methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), FANCF methylation status of cases and controls was assessed. And the association between FANCF methylation and the clinicopathological features of EOC was investigated with univariate survival analysis and Cox regression model analysis. RESULTS: The methylation-positive rate of the case group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P = 0.015). The FANCF promoter methylation rates showed significant differences in the comparisons stratified by age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, histopathological classification, and lymph node metastasis (all P < .05). Univariate survival analysis showed there were significant differences in mean survival time between the groups based on FIGO staging, histopathological classification, lymph node metastasis, and FANCF methylation (all P < .05). Cox regression model analysis suggested that FIGO staging and FANCF methylation were independent risk factors for EOC prognosis. CONCLUSION: CpG island methylation of FANCF gene promoter region is strongly associated with the susceptibility and clinicopathologic features of EOC. The FIGO staging and FANCF methylation are independent risk factors for EOC prognosis.

Clinical aspects of Fanconi anemia individuals with the same mutation of FANCF identified by next generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease characterized by congenital malformations, aplastic anemia and increased risk of developing malignancies. FA is genetically heterogeneous as it is caused by at least 17 different genes. Among these, FANCA, FANCC, and FANCG account for approximately 85% of the patients whereas the remaining genes are mutated in only a small percentage of cases. For this reason, the molecular diagnostic process is complex and not always extended to all the FA genes, preventing the characterization of individuals belonging to rare groups. METHODS: The FA genes were analyzed using a next generation sequencing approach in two unrelated families. RESULTS: The analysis identified the same, c.484_485del, homozygous mutation of FANCF in both families. A careful examination of three electively aborted fetuses in one family and one affected girl in the other indicated an association of the FANCF loss-of-function mutation with a severe phenotype characterized by multiple malformations. CONCLUSION: The systematic use of next generation sequencing will allow the recognition of individuals from rare complementation groups, a better definition of their clinical phenotypes, and consequently, an appropriate genetic counseling.