Balanced chromosomal rearrangement in a partner revealed after Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies (PGT-A)

In general population, it is estimated that 1/560 -1/1100 of the individuals are carriers of a balanced structural alteration and, in general, do not present an abnormal phenotype. For patients who have balanced rearrangements, a family planning alternative is to perform an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle with the embryonic analysis by Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Chromosomal Structural Rearrangements (PGT-SR). This test aims to reduce the time to obtain a healthy chromosomally pregnancy, to minimize the risk of miscarriage and a live birth with a chromosomopathy. The present work reports a case in which the couple had a history of implantation failure and biochemical pregnancy. They had not performed the karyotype exam to verify the parents' chromosomal content. After two embryo transfers without achieving pregnancy, the couple was directed to the Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies (PGT-A). The result presented in PGT-A in the couple's first cycle using the embryo selection technique showed recurrent segmental aneuploidies the trophectoderm biopsies. The couple was given genetic counselling, and they decided to investigate their karyotype, which showed a balanced chromosomal rearrangement in one of the parents. With this investigation and genetic counselling, it was possible to apply the correct embryonic analysis strategy, which contributed to a healthy pregnancy and birth with a living child.

Analysis of CYP1A1 and COMT polymorphisms in women with cervical cancer

The aim of this case-control study was to obtain a comprehensive panel of genetic polymorphisms present only in genes (cytochrome P-450 1A1--CYP1A1 and catechol-O-methyl transferase--COMT) within the metabolic pathway of sex steroids and determine their possible associations with the presence or absence of cervical cancer. Genotypes of 222 women were analyzed: a) 81 with cancer of the cervix treated at the Cancer Hospital Alfredo Abram, between June 2012 and May 2013, with diagnosis confirmed surgically and/or through histomorphological examination; and b) 141 healthy women who assisted at the Endocrine Gynecology and Climacteric Ambulatory, Department of Gynecology, UNIFESP-EPM. These polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and visualized on 3% agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. We found a significant association between the frequency of the CYP1A1 polymorphism and the development of cervical cancer. A statistical difference was observed between patient and control groups for CYP1A1 polymorphism genotype distributions (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the COMT gene polymorphism genotype distributions between the patient and control groups (P > 0.05) or between other risk variables analyzed. The CYP1A1 gene involved in the metabolic pathway of sex steroids might influence the emergence of pathological conditions such as cervical cancer in women who carry a mutated allele, and result in 1.80 and 13.46 times increased risk for women with heterozygous or homozygous mutated genotypes, respectively.

Abstract 5592: Lack of association between AGTR1 (A168G and T825A) and ACE T5529C polymorphisms with breast cancer among Brazilian women

Background: Angiotensin II (AngII) exerts promitotic, pro-proliferative and angiogenic effects and the administration of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduces tumor growth in animal models of cancer. AngII type 1 receptor (AGTR1) is found in a wide variety of normal tissues, increased expression is often found in the corresponding neoplastic tissues, suggesting that its overexpression is involved in carcinogenesis. In a previous study we observed that the ID genotype might be protective against breast cancer and also that the ACE (I/D) polymorphism is a possible target for developing genetic markers for breast cancer. Other authors have also observed the association of the ACE with breast cancer risk. To further test the hypothesis that AngII participates in breast carcinogenesis through AGTR1 and ACE, we examined genetic polymorphisms in the 5’-region of the AGTR1 gene (A-168G and T-825A) and in the ACE (T5529C) in relation to risk of breast cancer among Brazilian women. Methods: Genotyping was performed through Real Time PCR (A168G and T825A) or PCR-RFLP (T5529C) using genomic DNA extracted from buccal cells of subjects with or without breast cancer.Results: Patients with (case) or without (control) breast cancer aging from 30 to 90 years old were genotyped for A168G (n=516), and the following frequencies obtained for AA, AG and GG in % were, among cases: 63, 30, 07 and among controls: 64, 32, 04 (p = 0.89). For T825A (n=562), we determined the frequency of TT, TA and AA (in %, cases: 62, 33, 05; controls: 59, 33, 08; p = 0.68). At last, for ACE (T5529C) (n=272) these are the obtained frequencies for TT, TC and CC genotypes in %, among cases: 65, 23, 12 and among controls: 55, 29, 15 (p = 0.39).

Conclusion: Our results suggest a lack of significant association between AGTR1 polymorphisms (A168G and T825A) with breast cancer risk in the Brazilian population, in contrast to a previous result among Chinese women, where an association of the AGTR1 polymorphisms with breast cancer has been reported. Regarding the ACE T5529C polymorphism, it also did not show any association with breast cancer risk in the present study, differently from the observed for another polymorphism of the same gene, the ACE (I/D). Therefore, the AGTR1 (A168G and T825A) and ACE (T5529C) variant genotypes do not appear to be related to risk of breast cancer among Brazilian women. Support: FAPESP.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5592. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5592

Progesterone receptor (PROGINS) polymorphism and the risk of endometrial cancer development

The progesterone receptor gene (PROGINS) has been identified as a risk modifier for benign and malignant gynecological diseases. The present case-control study is to evaluate the role of the PROGINS polymorphisms, as risk factor, for endometrial cancer development and to investigate the association between these genetics variants and clinical/pathologic variables of endometrial cancer. PROGINS polymorphism was examined in a total of 121 patients with endometrial cancer and 282 population-based control subjects, all located at the same area in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The genotyping of PROGINS polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The frequencies of PROGINS polymorphism T1/T1, T1/T2, and T2/T2 were 82.6%, 14.9%, and 2.5% in the endometrial cancer patients and 78.4%, 21.6%, and 0% in the controls, respectively. The chi(2) test showed a higher incidence of the T2/T2 genotype in the endometrial cancer group subjects, these results were statistically different (P= 0.012). However, due to the fact that there were no women in the control group showing homozygosis for the allele T2, the correct evaluation of odds ratio could not be properly calculated. Regarding the clinical and pathologic findings observed within the group of patients with endometrial cancer, there was significant correlation between T1/T2 genotype and the presence of myoma (P= 0.048). No correlations were observed among the other variables. These data suggest that the PROGINS polymorphism T2/T2 genotype might be associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.