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Mikaeel RR, Young JP, Li Y, Smith E, Horsnell M, Uylaki W, Tapia Rico G, Poplawski NK, Hardingham JE, Tomita Y, Townsend AR, Feng J, Zibat A, Kaulfuß S, Müller C, Yigit G, Wollnik B, Price TJ. Survey of germline variants in cancer-associated genes in young adults with colorectal cancer. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2021; 61:105-113. [PMID: 34761457 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in young adults is rising. Identifying genetic risk factors is fundamental for the clinical management of patients and their families. This study aimed to identify clinically significant germline variants among young adults with CRC. Whole-exome sequencing data of blood-derived DNA from 133 unrelated young CRC patients (<55 years of age) underwent a comprehensive analysis of 133 cancer-predisposition/implicated genes. All patient tumors were evaluated for mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). Among 133 patients (aged 16-54 years), 15% (20/133) had clinically actionable pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in at least 1 well established cancer-predisposing gene: dMMR genes (6), MUTYH [bi-allelic (2), mono-allelic (3)], RNF43 (1), BMPR1A (1), BRCA2 (4), ATM (1), RAD51C (1), and BRIP1 (1). Five patients (4%) had variants in genes implicated in cancer but where the significance of germline variants in CRC risk is uncertain: GATA2 (1), ERCC2 (mono-allelic) (1), ERCC4 (mono-allelic) (1), CFTR (2). Fourteen (11%) had dMMR tumors. Eighteen (14%) reported a first-degree relative with CRC, but only three of these carried P/LP variants. Three patients with variants in polyposis-associated genes showed no polyposis (one each in MUTYH [bi-allelic], RNF43, and BMPR1A). Approximately one in five young adults in our series carried at least one P/LP variant in a cancer-predisposing/implicated gene; 80% of these variants are currently considered clinically actionable in a familial cancer setting. Family history and phenotype have limitations for genetic risk prediction; therefore multigene panel testing and genetic counseling are warranted for all young adults with CRC regardless of those two factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reger R Mikaeel
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,SAHMRI Colorectal Node, Basil Hetzel Institute, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Biology Department, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq
| | - Joanne P Young
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,SAHMRI Colorectal Node, Basil Hetzel Institute, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yun Li
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eric Smith
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mehgan Horsnell
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wendy Uylaki
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Tapia Rico
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Medical Oncology, Icon Cancer Centre Adelaide, Kurralta Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Nicola K Poplawski
- Adult Genetics Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Discipline of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer E Hardingham
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,SAHMRI Colorectal Node, Basil Hetzel Institute, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yoko Tomita
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia
| | - Amanda R Townsend
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jinghua Feng
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,ACRF Cancer Genomics Facility, Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Arne Zibat
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silke Kaulfuß
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Müller
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gökhan Yigit
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wollnik
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Timothy J Price
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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