RESUMO
One in four women suffers from uterine leiomyomas (ULs)-benign tumours of the uterine wall, also known as uterine fibroids-at some point in premenopausal life. ULs can cause excessive bleeding, pain and infertility1, and are a common cause of hysterectomy2. They emerge through at least three distinct genetic drivers: mutations in MED12 or FH, or genomic rearrangement of HMGA23. Here we created genome-wide datasets, using DNA, RNA, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and HiC chromatin immunoprecipitation (HiChIP) sequencing of primary tissues to profoundly understand the genesis of UL. We identified somatic mutations in genes encoding six members of the SRCAP histone-loading complex4, and found that germline mutations in the SRCAP members YEATS4 and ZNHIT1 predispose women to UL. Tumours bearing these mutations showed defective deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z. In ULs, H2A.Z occupancy correlated positively with chromatin accessibility and gene expression, and negatively with DNA methylation, but these correlations were weak in tumours bearing SRCAP complex mutations. In these tumours, open chromatin emerged at transcription start sites where H2A.Z was lost, which was associated with upregulation of genes. Furthermore, YEATS4 defects were associated with abnormal upregulation of bivalent embryonic stem cell genes, as previously shown in mice5. Our work describes a potential mechanism of tumorigenesis-epigenetic instability caused by deficient H2A.Z deposition-and suggests that ULs arise through an aberrant differentiation program driven by deranged chromatin, emanating from a small number of mutually exclusive driver mutations.
Assuntos
Montagem e Desmontagem da Cromatina , Cromatina/genética , Cromatina/metabolismo , Histonas/deficiência , Leiomioma/genética , Mutação , Neoplasias Uterinas/genética , Carcinogênese/genética , Linhagem Celular , Cromatina/química , Células-Tronco Embrionárias/metabolismo , Epigênese Genética , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Histonas/genética , Histonas/metabolismo , Humanos , Leiomioma/metabolismo , Leiomioma/patologia , Ligases/genética , Complexo Repressor Polycomb 1/genética , Proteínas do Grupo Polycomb/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Neoplasias Uterinas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Uterinas/patologiaRESUMO
Uterine leiomyomas (ULs) are benign smooth muscle tumors that are common in premenopausal women. Somatic alterations in MED12, HMGA2, FH, genes encoding subunits of the SRCAP complex, and genes involved in Cullin 3-RING E3 ligase neddylation are mutually exclusive UL drivers. Established predisposition genes explain only partially the estimated heritability of leiomyomas. Here, we examined loss-of-function variants across 18,899 genes in a cohort of 233,614 White European women, revealing variants in four genes encoding SRCAP complex subunits (YEATS4, ZNHIT1, DMAP1, and ACTL6A) with a significant association to ULs, and YEATS4 and ZNHIT1 strikingly rank first and second, respectively. Positive mutation status was also associated with younger age at diagnosis and hysterectomy. Moderate-penetrance UL risk was largely attributed to rare non-synonymous mutations affecting the SRCAP complex. To examine this disease phenotype more closely, we set out to identify inherited mutations affecting the SRCAP complex in our in-house sample collection of Finnish individuals with ULs (n = 860). We detected one individual with an ACTL6A splice-site mutation, two individuals with a YEATS4 missense mutation, and four individuals with DMAP1 mutations: one splice-site, one nonsense, and two missense variants. These individuals had large and/or multiple ULs, were often diagnosed at an early age, and many had family history of ULs. When a somatic second hit was found, ACTL6A and DMAP1 were silenced in tumors by somatic mutation and YEATS4 by promoter hypermethylation. Decreased H2A.Z staining was observed in the tumors, providing further evidence for the pathogenic nature of the germline mutations. Our results establish inactivation of genes encoding SRCAP complex subunits as a central contributor to moderate-penetrance UL predisposition.
Assuntos
Leiomioma , Neoplasias Uterinas , Humanos , Feminino , Neoplasias Uterinas/genética , Neoplasias Uterinas/patologia , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Penetrância , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Leiomioma/genética , Leiomioma/patologia , Mutação , Complexo Mediador/genética , Actinas/genética , Proteínas Cromossômicas não Histona/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Adenosina Trifosfatases/genéticaRESUMO
Precision medicine carries great potential for management of all tumor types. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate if the two most common genetically distinct uterine fibroid subclasses, driven by aberrations in MED12 and HMGA2 genes, respectively, influence response to treatment with the progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate. Changes in diameter and mutation status were derived for 101 uterine fibroids surgically removed after ulipristal acetate treatment. A significant difference in treatment response between the two major subclasses was detected. MED12 mutant fibroids had 4.4 times higher odds of shrinking in response to ulipristal acetate treatment as compared to HMGA2 driven fibroids (95% confidence interval 1.37-13.9; P = 0.013), and in a multivariate analysis molecular subclassification was an independent predictive factor. Compatible with this finding, gene expression and DNA methylation analyses revealed subclass specific differences in progesterone receptor signaling. The work provides a proof-of-principle that uterine fibroid treatment response is influenced by molecular subclass and that the genetic subclasses should be taken into account when evaluating current and future uterine fibroid therapies.
Assuntos
Leiomioma , Neoplasias Uterinas , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Uterinas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Uterinas/genética , Neoplasias Uterinas/patologia , Receptores de Progesterona/genética , Receptores de Progesterona/metabolismo , Estudos Retrospectivos , Leiomioma/tratamento farmacológico , Leiomioma/genética , Leiomioma/patologia , Fatores de TranscriçãoRESUMO
Approximately 5% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) have a gain-of-function mutation in the GNAS gene, which leads to the activation of cAMP-dependent signaling pathways and associates with poor prognosis. We investigated the effect of an activating GNAS mutation in CRC cell lines on gene expression and cell proliferation in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo. GNAS-mutated (GNASmt) HCT116 cells showed stimulated synthesis of cAMP as compared to parental (Par) cells. The most upregulated gene in the GNASmt cells was cAMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) as detected by RNA sequencing. To further validate our finding, we analyzed PDE4D expression in a set of human CRC tumors (n = 35) and demonstrated overexpression in GNAS mutant CRC tumors as compared to GNAS wild-type tumors. The GNASmt HCT116 cells proliferated more slowly than the Par cells. PDE4 inhibitor Ro 20-1724 and PDE4D subtype selective inhibitor GEBR-7b further suppressed the proliferation of GNASmt cells without an effect on Par cells. The growth inhibitory effect of these inhibitors was also seen in the intrinsically GNAS-mutated SK-CO-1 CRC cell line having high levels of cAMP synthesis and PDE4D expression. In vivo, GNASmt HCT116 cells formed smaller tumors than the Par cells in nude mice. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that GNAS mutation results in the growth suppression of CRC cells. Moreover, the GNAS mutation-induced overexpression of PDE4D provides a potential avenue to impede the proliferation of CRC cells through the use of PDE4 inhibitors.
Assuntos
Cromograninas , Neoplasias Colorretais , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 4 , Subunidades alfa Gs de Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Cromograninas/genética , Cromograninas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 4/genética , Nucleotídeo Cíclico Fosfodiesterase do Tipo 4/metabolismo , Subunidades alfa Gs de Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/genética , Subunidades alfa Gs de Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/metabolismo , Células HCT116 , Camundongos Nus , Mutação , Inibidores da Fosfodiesterase 4/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumor (SI-NET) is a rare disease, but its incidence has increased over the past 4 decades. Understanding the genetic risk factors underlying SI-NETs can help in disease prevention and may provide clinically beneficial markers for diagnosis. Here the results of the largest genome-wide association study of SI-NETs performed to date with 405 cases and 614,666 controls are reported. METHODS: Samples from 307 patients with SI-NETs and 287,137 controls in the FinnGen study were used for the identification of SI-NET risk-associated genetic variants. The results were also meta-analyzed with summary statistics from the UK Biobank (n = 98 patients with SI-NET and n = 327,529 controls). RESULTS: We identified 6 genome-wide significant (P < 5 × 10-8) loci associated with SI-NET risk, of which 4 (near SEMA6A, LGR5, CDKAL1, and FERMT2) are novel and 2 (near LTA4H-ELK and in KIF16B) have been reported previously. Interestingly, the top hit (rs200138614; P = 1.80 × 10-19) was a missense variant (p.Cys712Phe) in the LGR5 gene, a bona-fide marker of adult intestinal stem cells and a potentiator of canonical WNT signaling. The association was validated in an independent Finnish collection of 70 patients with SI-NETs, as well as in the UK Biobank exome sequence data (n = 92 cases and n = 392,814 controls). Overexpression of LGR5 p.Cys712Phe in intestinal organoids abolished the ability of R-Spondin1 to support organoid growth, indicating that the mutation perturbed R-Spondin-LGR5 signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the largest genome-wide association study to date on SI-NETs and reported 4 new associated genome-wide association study loci, including a novel missense mutation (rs200138614, p.Cys712Phe) in LGR5, a canonical marker of adult intestinal stem cells.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Intestinais , Tumores Neuroendócrinos , Adulto , Humanos , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/genética , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/patologia , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Neoplasias Intestinais/genética , Neoplasias Intestinais/patologia , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G/genética , Cinesinas/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Uterine fibroids are benign monoclonal tumors originating from the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium, constituting the most prevalent pathology within the female genital tract. Uterine sarcomas, although rare, still represent a diagnostic challenge and should be managed in centers with adequate expertise in gynecological oncology. OBJECTIVES: This article is aimed to summarize and discuss cutting-edge elements about the diagnosis and management of uterine fibroids and sarcomas. METHODS: This paper is a report of the lectures presented in an expert meeting about uterine fibroids and sarcomas held in Palermo in February 2023. OUTCOME: Overall, the combination of novel molecular pathways may help combine biomarkers and expert ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of uterine fibroids and sarcomas. On the one hand, molecular and cellular maps of uterine fibroids and matched myometrium may enhance our understanding of tumor development compared to histologic analysis and whole tissue transcriptomics, and support the development of minimally invasive treatment strategies; on the other hand, ultrasound imaging allows in most of the cases a proper mapping the fibroids and to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, which need appropriate management. CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK: The choice of uterine fibroid management, including pharmacological approaches, surgical treatment, or other strategies, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), should be carefully considered, taking into account the characteristics of the patient and reproductive prognosis.
Assuntos
Ablação por Ultrassom Focalizado de Alta Intensidade , Leiomioma , Sarcoma , Miomectomia Uterina , Neoplasias Uterinas , Feminino , Humanos , Resultado do Tratamento , Leiomioma/diagnóstico , Leiomioma/terapia , Leiomioma/patologia , Neoplasias Uterinas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Uterinas/terapia , Neoplasias Uterinas/patologia , Prognóstico , Sarcoma/diagnóstico , Sarcoma/terapia , Ablação por Ultrassom Focalizado de Alta Intensidade/métodosRESUMO
Hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndromes attributable to high penetrance mutations represent 9-26% of young-onset CRC cases. The clinical significance of many of these mutations is understood well enough to be used in diagnostics and as an aid in patient care. However, despite the advances made in the field, a significant proportion of familial and early-onset cases remains molecularly uncharacterized and extensive work is still needed to fully understand the genetic nature of CRC susceptibility. With the emergence of next-generation sequencing and associated methods, several predisposition loci have been unraveled, but validation is incomplete. Individuals with cancer-predisposing mutations are currently enrolled in life-long surveillance, but with the development of new treatments, such as cancer vaccinations, this might change in the not so distant future for at least some individuals. For individuals without a known cause for their disease susceptibility, prevention and therapy options are less precise. Herein, we review the progress achieved in the last three decades with a focus on how CRC predisposition genes were discovered. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical implications of these discoveries and anticipate what to expect in the next decade.
Assuntos
Polipose Adenomatosa do Colo/genética , Polipose Adenomatosa do Colo/patologia , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/patologia , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Alelos , Animais , Progressão da Doença , Estudos de Associação Genética , Ligação Genética , Genômica/métodos , Humanos , Mutação , Fenótipo , Síndrome , Sequenciamento do ExomaRESUMO
Many hereditary cancer syndromes are associated with an increased risk of small and large intestinal adenocarcinomas. However, conditions bearing a high risk to both adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors are yet to be described. We studied a family with 16 individuals in four generations affected by a wide spectrum of intestinal tumors, including hyperplastic polyps, adenomas, small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors, and colorectal and small intestinal adenocarcinomas. To assess the genetic susceptibility and understand the novel phenotype, we utilized multiple molecular methods, including whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, single cell sequencing, RNA in situ hybridization and organoid culture. We detected a heterozygous deletion at the cystic fibrosis locus (7q31.2) perfectly segregating with the intestinal tumor predisposition in the family. The deletion removes a topologically associating domain border between CFTR and WNT2, aberrantly activating WNT2 in the intestinal epithelium. These consequences suggest that the deletion predisposes to small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors and small and large intestinal adenocarcinomas, and reveals the broad tumorigenic effects of aberrant WNT activation in the human intestine.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma , Adenoma , Neoplasias Colorretais , Tumores Neuroendócrinos , Adenocarcinoma/genética , Adenocarcinoma/patologia , Adenoma/genética , Adenoma/patologia , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Humanos , Mucosa Intestinal/patologia , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/genética , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/patologia , Proteína Wnt2RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Genes involved in epigenetic regulation are central for chromatin structure and gene expression. Specific mutations in these might promote carcinogenesis in several tissue types. METHODS: We used exome, whole-genome and Sanger sequencing to detect rare variants shared by seven affected individuals in a striking early-onset multi-cancer family. The only variant that segregated with malignancy resided in a histone demethylase KDM4C. Consequently, we went on to study the epigenetic landscape of the mutation carriers with ATAC, ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) and RNA-sequencing from lymphoblastoid cell lines to identify possible pathogenic effects. RESULTS: A novel variant in KDM4C, encoding a H3K9me3 histone demethylase and transcription regulator, was found to segregate with malignancy in the family. Based on Roadmap Epigenomics Project data, differentially accessible chromatin regions between the variant carriers and controls enrich to normally H3K9me3-marked chromatin. We could not detect a difference in global H3K9 trimethylation levels. However, carriers of the variant seemed to have more trimethylated H3K9 at transcription start sites. Pathway analyses of ChIP-seq and differential gene expression data suggested that genes regulated through KDM4C interaction partner EZH2 and its interaction partner PLZF are aberrantly expressed in mutation carriers. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent dysregulation of H3K9 trimethylation and KDM4C-associated genes in lymphoblastoid cells supports the hypothesis that the KDM4C variant is causative of the multi-cancer susceptibility in the family. As the variant is ultrarare, located in the conserved catalytic JmjC domain and predicted pathogenic by the majority of available in silico tools, further studies on the role of KDM4C in cancer predisposition are warranted.
Assuntos
Histona Desmetilases , Histona Desmetilases com o Domínio Jumonji , Neoplasias , Cromatina/genética , Epigênese Genética , Células Germinativas/metabolismo , Células Germinativas/patologia , Histona Desmetilases/genética , Histonas/genética , Histonas/metabolismo , Humanos , Histona Desmetilases com o Domínio Jumonji/química , Histona Desmetilases com o Domínio Jumonji/genética , Histona Desmetilases com o Domínio Jumonji/metabolismo , Neoplasias/genética , FenótipoRESUMO
Cancer genomes with mutations in the exonuclease domain of Polymerase Epsilon (POLE) present with an extraordinarily high somatic mutation burden. In vitro studies have shown that distinct POLE mutants exhibit different polymerase activity. Yet, genome-wide mutation patterns and driver mutation formation arising from different POLE mutants remains unclear. Here, we curated somatic mutation calls from 7,345 colorectal cancer samples from published studies and publicly available databases. These include 44 POLE mutant samples including 9 with whole genome sequencing data available. The POLE mutant samples were categorized based on the specific POLE mutation present. Mutation spectrum, associations of somatic mutations with epigenomics features and co-occurrence with specific driver mutations were examined across different POLE mutants. We found that different POLE mutants exhibit distinct mutation spectrum with significantly higher relative frequency of C>T mutations in POLE V411L mutants. Our analysis showed that this increase frequency in C>T mutations is not dependent on DNA methylation and not associated with other genomic features and is thus specifically due to DNA sequence context alone. Notably, we found strong association of the TP53 R213* mutation specifically with POLE P286R mutants. This truncation mutation occurs within the TT[C>T]GA context. For C>T mutations, this sequence context is significantly more likely to be mutated in POLE P286R mutants compared with other POLE exonuclease domain mutants. This study refines our understanding of DNA polymerase fidelity and underscores genome-wide mutation spectrum and specific cancer driver mutation formation observed in POLE mutant cancers.
Assuntos
Carcinogênese/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , DNA Polimerase II/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação a Poli-ADP-Ribose/metabolismo , Domínios Proteicos/genética , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética , Ilhas de CpG/genética , Citosina/metabolismo , Metilação de DNA/genética , Análise Mutacional de DNA/estatística & dados numéricos , DNA Polimerase II/genética , Bases de Dados Genéticas/estatística & dados numéricos , Conjuntos de Dados como Assunto , Epigênese Genética , Humanos , Mutação , Proteínas de Ligação a Poli-ADP-Ribose/genética , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder associated with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). IBD-associated CRC (IBD-CRC) may represent a distinct pathway of tumorigenesis compared to sporadic CRC (sCRC). Our aim was to comprehensively characterize IBD-associated tumorigenesis integrating multiple high-throughput approaches, and to compare the results with in-house data sets from sCRCs. METHODS: Whole-genome sequencing, single nucleotide polymorphism arrays, RNA sequencing, genome-wide methylation analysis, and immunohistochemistry were performed using fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed tissue samples of tumor and corresponding normal tissues from 31 patients with IBD-CRC. RESULTS: Transcriptome-based tumor subtyping revealed the complete absence of canonical epithelial tumor subtype associated with WNT signaling in IBD-CRCs, dominated instead by mesenchymal stroma-rich subtype. Negative WNT regulators AXIN2 and RNF43 were strongly down-regulated in IBD-CRCs and chromosomal gains at HNF4A, a negative regulator of WNT-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), were less frequent compared to sCRCs. Enrichment of hypomethylation at HNF4α binding sites was detected solely in sCRC genomes. PIGR and OSMR involved in mucosal immunity were dysregulated via epigenetic modifications in IBD-CRCs. Genome-wide analysis showed significant enrichment of noncoding mutations to 5'untranslated region of TP53 in IBD-CRCs. As reported previously, somatic mutations in APC and KRAS were less frequent in IBD-CRCs compared to sCRCs. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct mechanisms of WNT pathway dysregulation skew IBD-CRCs toward mesenchymal tumor subtype, which may affect prognosis and treatment options. Increased OSMR signaling may favor the establishment of mesenchymal tumors in patients with IBD.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/genética , Neoplasias Associadas a Colite/genética , Metilação de DNA , Epigênese Genética , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/genética , Transcriptoma , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/imunologia , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/patologia , Neoplasias Associadas a Colite/imunologia , Neoplasias Associadas a Colite/patologia , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Epigenômica , Feminino , Finlândia , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Humanos , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/imunologia , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Gradação de Tumores , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Análise de Sequência de RNA , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologia , Sequenciamento Completo do GenomaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) can be fatal if ruptured. Although a relatively rare incident, it holds a contemporary mortality rate of approximately 12%. VAAs have multiple possible causes, one of which is genetic predisposition. Here, we present a striking family with seven individuals affected by VAAs, and one individual affected by a visceral artery pseudoaneurysm. METHODS: We exome sequenced the affected family members and the parents of the proband to find a possible underlying genetic defect. As exome sequencing did not reveal any feasible protein-coding variants, we combined whole-genome sequencing of two individuals with linkage analysis to find a plausible non-coding culprit variant. Variants were ranked by the deep learning framework DeepSEA. RESULTS: Two of seven top-ranking variants, NC_000013.11:g.108154659C>T and NC_000013.11:g.110409638C>T, were found in all VAA-affected individuals, but not in the individual affected by the pseudoaneurysm. The second variant is in a candidate cis-regulatory element in the fourth intron of COL4A2, proximal to COL4A1. CONCLUSIONS: As type IV collagens are essential for the stability and integrity of the vascular basement membrane and involved in vascular disease, we conclude that COL4A1 and COL4A2 are strong candidates for VAA susceptibility genes.
Assuntos
Falso Aneurisma , Aneurisma , Colágeno Tipo IV , Aneurisma/etiologia , Artérias , Colágeno Tipo IV/genética , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Humanos , LinhagemRESUMO
Microsatellite instability (MSI) is caused by defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR), and manifests as accumulation of small insertions and deletions (indels) in short tandem repeats of the genome. Another form of repeat instability, elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST), has been suggested to occur in 50% to 60% of colorectal cancer (CRC), of which approximately one quarter are accounted for by MSI. Unlike for MSI, the criteria for defining EMAST is not consensual. EMAST CRCs have been suggested to form a distinct subset of CRCs that has been linked to a higher tumor stage, chronic inflammation, and poor prognosis. EMAST CRCs not exhibiting MSI have been proposed to show instability of di- and trinucleotide repeats in addition to tetranucleotide repeats, but lack instability of mononucleotide repeats. However, previous studies on EMAST have been based on targeted analysis of small sets of marker repeats, often in relatively few samples. To gain insight into tetranucleotide instability on a genome-wide level, we utilized whole genome sequencing data from 227 microsatellite stable (MSS) CRCs, 18 MSI CRCs, 3 POLE-mutated CRCs, and their corresponding normal samples. As expected, we observed tetranucleotide instability in all MSI CRCs, accompanied by instability of mono-, di-, and trinucleotide repeats. Among MSS CRCs, some tumors displayed more microsatellite mutations than others as a continuum, and no distinct subset of tumors with the previously proposed molecular characters of EMAST could be observed. Our results suggest that tetranucleotide repeat mutations in non-MSI CRCs represent stochastic mutation events rather than define a distinct CRC subclass.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Testes Genéticos/métodos , Mutação INDEL , Repetições de Microssatélites , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma/métodos , Testes Genéticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies of the relationship between gallstone disease and circulating levels of bilirubin with risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) have been inconsistent. To address possible confounding and reverse causation, we examine the relationship between these potential risk factors and CRC using Mendelian randomisation (MR). METHODS: We used two-sample MR to examine the relationship between genetic liability to gallstone disease and circulating levels of bilirubin with CRC in 26,397 patients and 41,481 controls. We calculated the odds ratio per genetically predicted SD unit increase in log bilirubin levels (ORSD) for CRC and tested for a non-zero causal effect of gallstones on CRC. Sensitivity analysis was applied to identify violations of estimator assumptions. RESULTS: No association between either gallstone disease (P value = 0.60) or circulating levels of bilirubin (ORSD = 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.96-1.03, P value = 0.90) with CRC was shown. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the large scale of this study, we found no evidence for a causal relationship between either circulating levels of bilirubin or gallstone disease with risk of developing CRC. While the magnitude of effect suggested by some observational studies can confidently be excluded, we cannot exclude the possibility of smaller effect sizes and non-linear relationships.
Assuntos
Colelitíase/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Colorretais/epidemiologia , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Análise da Randomização Mendeliana , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Colelitíase/complicações , Colelitíase/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/complicações , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Humanos , Prognóstico , Fatores de Risco , Reino Unido/epidemiologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) constitute a tumor susceptibility syndrome caused by germline mutations in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. The most common features are leiomyomas of the uterus and the skin. The syndrome includes a predisposition to early-onset, aggressive renal cell cancer. It is important to identify women with HLRCC among other uterine leiomyoma patients in order to direct them to genetic counseling and to identify other affected family members. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a nationwide historical study to identify typical clinical characteristics, uterine leiomyoma morphology, and immunohistochemistry for diagnosing HLRCC. The study included 20 women with a known FH germline mutation and 77 women with sporadic uterine leiomyomas. The patient records of all women were reviewed to obtain clinical details regarding their leiomyomas. Uterine leiomyoma tissue specimens from 43 HLRCC-related leiomyomas and 42 sporadic leiomyomas were collected and prepared for histology analysis. A morphologic description was performed on hematoxylin & eosin-stained tissue slides, and immunohistochemical analysis was carried out for CD34, Bcl-2, and p53 stainings. RESULTS: The women with HLRCC were diagnosed with uterine leiomyomas at a young age compared with the sporadic leiomyoma group (mean 33.8 years vs. 45.4 years, P < 0.0001), and their leiomyomas occurred as multiples compared with the sporadic leiomyoma group (more than four tumors 88.9% vs. 30.8%, P < 0.0001). Congruently, these women underwent surgical treatment at younger age compared with the sporadic leiomyoma group (mean 37.3 years vs. 48.3 years, P < 0.0001). HLRCC leiomyomas had denser microvasculature highlighted by CD34 immunostaining when compared with the sporadic leiomyoma group (112.6 mean count/high-power field, SD 20.8 vs. 37.4 mean count/high-power field, SD 21.0 P < 0.0001) and stronger anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 immunostaining when compared with the sporadic leiomyoma group (weak 4.7%, moderate 44.2%, strong 51.2% vs. 26.2%, 52.4%, 21.4%, respectively, P = 0.003). No differences were observed in p53 staining. CONCLUSIONS: Women with HLRCC may be identified through the distinct clinical characteristics: symptomatic and numerous leioymyomas at young age, and morphologic features of FH-mutant leiomyomas, aided by Bcl-2 and CD34 immunohistochemistry. Further, distinguishing individuals with a germline FH mutation enables proper genetic counseling and regular renal monitoring.
Assuntos
Leiomiomatose/diagnóstico , Síndromes Neoplásicas Hereditárias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Cutâneas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Uterinas/diagnóstico , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Feminino , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Humanos , Leiomiomatose/genética , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Síndromes Neoplásicas Hereditárias/genética , Neoplasias Cutâneas/genética , Síndrome , Neoplasias Uterinas/genéticaRESUMO
Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options. Despite previous studies, its molecular genetic background has remained somewhat elusive. To comprehensively characterize the mutational landscape of this tumor type, and to identify possible targets of treatment, we conducted the first large exome sequencing study on a population-based set of SBA samples from all three small bowel segments. Archival tissue from 106 primary tumors with appropriate clinical information were available for exome sequencing from a patient series consisting of a majority of confirmed SBA cases diagnosed in Finland between the years 2003-2011. Paired-end exome sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeq 4000, and OncodriveFML was used to identify driver genes from the exome data. We also defined frequently affected cancer signalling pathways and performed the first extensive allelic imbalance (AI) analysis in SBA. Exome data analysis revealed significantly mutated genes previously linked to SBA (TP53, KRAS, APC, SMAD4, and BRAF), recently reported potential driver genes (SOX9, ATM, and ARID2), as well as novel candidate driver genes, such as ACVR2A, ACVR1B, BRCA2, and SMARCA4. We also identified clear mutation hotspot patterns in ERBB2 and BRAF. No BRAF V600E mutations were observed. Additionally, we present a comprehensive mutation signature analysis of SBA, highlighting established signatures 1A, 6, and 17, as well as U2 which is a previously unvalidated signature. Finally, comparison of the three small bowel segments revealed differences in tumor characteristics. This comprehensive work unveils the mutational landscape and most frequently affected genes and pathways in SBA, providing potential therapeutic targets, and novel and more thorough insights into the genetic background of this tumor type.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/genética , Neoplasias Intestinais/genética , Mutação , Adenocarcinoma/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos de Coortes , Exoma , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Intestinais/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/genéticaRESUMO
Somatic mutations in exon 2 of the RNA polymerase II transcriptional Mediator subunit MED12 occur at high frequency in uterine fibroids (UFs) and breast fibroepithelial tumors as well as recurrently, albeit less frequently, in malignant uterine leimyosarcomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemias, and colorectal cancers. Previously, we reported that UF-linked mutations in MED12 disrupt its ability to activate cyclin C (CycC)-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) in Mediator, implicating impaired Mediator-associated CDK8 activity in the molecular pathogenesis of these clinically significant lesions. Notably, the CDK8 paralog CDK19 is also expressed in myometrium, and both CDK8 and CDK19 assemble into Mediator in a mutually exclusive manner, suggesting that CDK19 activity may also be germane to the pathogenesis of MED12 mutation-induced UFs. However, whether and how UF-linked mutations in MED12 affect CDK19 activation is unknown. Herein, we show that MED12 allosterically activates CDK19 and that UF-linked exon 2 mutations in MED12 disrupt its CDK19 stimulatory activity. Furthermore, we find that within the Mediator kinase module, MED13 directly binds to the MED12 C terminus, thereby suppressing an apparent UF mutation-induced conformational change in MED12 that otherwise disrupts its association with CycC-CDK8/19. Thus, in the presence of MED13, mutant MED12 can bind, but cannot activate, CycC-CDK8/19. These findings indicate that MED12 binding is necessary but not sufficient for CycC-CDK8/19 activation and reveal an additional step in the MED12-dependent activation process, one critically dependent on MED12 residues altered by UF-linked exon 2 mutations. These findings confirm that UF-linked mutations in MED12 disrupt composite Mediator-associated kinase activity and identify CDK8/19 as prospective therapeutic targets in UFs.
Assuntos
Ciclina C/metabolismo , Quinase 8 Dependente de Ciclina/metabolismo , Quinases Ciclina-Dependentes/metabolismo , Éxons , Leiomioma/metabolismo , Complexo Mediador/metabolismo , Mutação , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismo , Regulação Alostérica , Ciclina C/genética , Quinase 8 Dependente de Ciclina/genética , Quinases Ciclina-Dependentes/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Leiomioma/genética , Leiomioma/patologia , Complexo Mediador/genética , Miométrio/metabolismo , Miométrio/patologia , Proteínas de Neoplasias/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Approximately 4% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have at least two simultaneous cancers in the colon. Due to the shared environment, these synchronous CRCs (SCRCs) provide a unique setting to study colorectal carcinogenesis. Understanding whether these tumours are genetically similar or distinct is essential when designing therapeutic approaches. METHODS: We performed exome sequencing of 47 primary cancers and corresponding normal samples from 23 patients. Additionally, we carried out a comprehensive mutational signature analysis to assess whether tumours had undergone similar mutational processes and the first immune cell score analysis (IS) of SCRC to analyse the interplay between immune cell invasion and mutation profile in both lesions of an individual. RESULTS: The tumour pairs shared only few mutations, favouring different mutations in known CRC genes and signalling pathways and displayed variation in their signature content. Two tumour pairs had discordant mismatch repair statuses. In majority of the pairs, IS varied between primaries. Differences were not explained by any clinicopathological variable or mutation burden. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows major diversity within SCRCs. Rather than rely on data from one tumour, our study highlights the need to evaluate both tumours of a synchronous pair for optimised targeted therapy.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/imunologia , Linfócitos/imunologia , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/genética , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/imunologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Complexo CD3/imunologia , Antígenos CD8/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/patologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Exoma/genética , Exoma/imunologia , Feminino , Humanos , Linfócitos/patologia , Masculino , Instabilidade de Microssatélites , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/patologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: A new syndrome with hypotonia, intellectual disability, and eye abnormalities (HIDEA) was previously described in a large consanguineous family. Linkage analysis identified the recessive disease locus, and genome sequencing yielded three candidate genes with potentially pathogenic biallelic variants: transketolase (TKT), transmembrane prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4HTM), and ubiquitin specific peptidase 4 (USP4). However, the causative gene remained elusive. METHODS: International collaboration and exome sequencing were used to identify new patients with HIDEA and biallelic, potentially pathogenic, P4HTM variants. Segregation analysis was performed using Sanger sequencing. P4H-TM wild-type and variant constructs without the transmembrane region were overexpressed in insect cells and analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot. RESULTS: Five different homozygous or compound heterozygous pathogenic P4HTM gene variants were identified in six new and six previously published patients presenting with HIDEA. Hypoventilation, obstructive and central sleep apnea, and dysautonomia were identified as novel features associated with the phenotype. Characterization of three of the P4H-TM variants demonstrated yielding insoluble protein products and, thus, loss-of-function. CONCLUSIONS: Biallelic loss-of-function P4HTM variants were shown to cause HIDEA syndrome. Our findings enable diagnosis of the condition, and highlight the importance of assessing the need for noninvasive ventilatory support in patients.
Assuntos
Prolil Hidroxilases/genética , Transcetolase/genética , Proteases Específicas de Ubiquitina/genética , Anormalidades Múltiplas/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Epilepsia/genética , Exoma , Anormalidades do Olho/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Hipoventilação/genética , Deficiência Intelectual/genética , Mutação com Perda de Função/genética , Masculino , Hipotonia Muscular/genética , Linhagem , Fenótipo , Disautonomias Primárias/genética , Prolil Hidroxilases/metabolismo , Síndrome , Transcetolase/metabolismo , Sequenciamento do Exoma , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Uterine leiomyomas are common benign smooth muscle tumors that impose a major burden on women's health. Recent sequencing studies have revealed recurrent and mutually exclusive mutations in leiomyomas, suggesting the involvement of molecularly distinct pathways. In this study, we explored transcriptional differences among leiomyomas harboring different genetic drivers, including high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) rearrangements, mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) mutations, biallelic inactivation of fumarate hydratase (FH), and collagen, type IV, alpha 5 and collagen, type IV, alpha 6 (COL4A5-COL4A6) deletions. We also explored the transcriptional consequences of 7q22, 22q, and 1p deletions, aiming to identify possible target genes. We investigated 94 leiomyomas and 60 corresponding myometrial tissues using exon arrays, whole genome sequencing, and SNP arrays. This integrative approach revealed subtype-specific expression changes in key driver pathways, including Wnt/ß-catenin, Prolactin, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)1 signaling. Leiomyomas with HMGA2 aberrations displayed highly significant up-regulation of the proto-oncogene pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1), suggesting that HMGA2 promotes tumorigenesis through PLAG1 activation. This was supported by the identification of genetic PLAG1 alterations resulting in expression signatures as seen in leiomyomas with HMGA2 aberrations. RAD51 paralog B (RAD51B), the preferential translocation partner of HMGA2, was up-regulated in MED12 mutant lesions, suggesting a role for this gene in the genesis of leiomyomas. FH-deficient leiomyomas were uniquely characterized by activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) target genes, supporting the hypothesis that accumulation of fumarate leads to activation of the oncogenic transcription factor NRF2. This study emphasizes the need for molecular stratification in leiomyoma research and possibly in clinical practice as well. Further research is needed to determine whether the candidate biomarkers presented herein can provide guidance for managing the millions of patients affected by these lesions.