Cancer Susceptibility Gene Mutations in Individuals With Colorectal Cancer

J Clin Oncol. 2017 Apr 1;35(10):1086-1095. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.71.0012. Epub 2017 Jan 30.

Abstract

Purpose Hereditary factors play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, yet the prevalence of germline cancer susceptibility gene mutations in patients with CRC unselected for high-risk features (eg, early age at diagnosis, personal/family history of cancer or polyps, tumor microsatellite instability [MSI], mismatch repair [MMR] deficiency) is unknown. Patients and Methods We recruited 1,058 participants who received CRC care in a clinic-based setting without preselection for age at diagnosis, personal/family history, or MSI/MMR results. All participants underwent germline testing for mutations in 25 genes associated with inherited cancer risk. Each gene was categorized as high penetrance or moderate penetrance on the basis of published estimates of the lifetime cancer risks conferred by pathogenic germline mutations in that gene. Results One hundred five (9.9%; 95% CI, 8.2% to 11.9%) of 1,058 participants carried one or more pathogenic mutations, including 33 (3.1%) with Lynch syndrome (LS). Twenty-eight (96.6%) of 29 available LS CRCs demonstrated abnormal MSI/MMR results. Seventy-four (7.0%) of 1,058 participants carried non-LS gene mutations, including 23 (2.2%) with mutations in high-penetrance genes (five APC, three biallelic MUTYH, 11 BRCA1/2, two PALB2, one CDKN2A, and one TP53), 15 of whom lacked clinical histories suggestive of their underlying mutation. Thirty-eight (3.6%) participants had moderate-penetrance CRC risk gene mutations (19 monoallelic MUTYH, 17 APC*I1307K, two CHEK2). Neither proband age at CRC diagnosis, family history of CRC, nor personal history of other cancers significantly predicted the presence of pathogenic mutations in non-LS genes. Conclusion Germline cancer susceptibility gene mutations are carried by 9.9% of patients with CRC. MSI/MMR testing reliably identifies LS probands, although 7.0% of patients with CRC carry non-LS mutations, including 1.0% with BRCA1/2 mutations.

MeSH terms

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / genetics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2 / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / genetics
  • DNA Glycosylases / genetics
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule / analysis
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule / genetics
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group N Protein
  • Female
  • Genes, BRCA1
  • Genes, BRCA2
  • Genes, p16
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Germ-Line Mutation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mismatch Repair Endonuclease PMS2 / analysis
  • Mismatch Repair Endonuclease PMS2 / genetics
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1 / analysis
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1 / genetics
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / analysis
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Penetrance
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • APC protein, human
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EPCAM protein, human
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group N Protein
  • G-T mismatch-binding protein
  • MLH1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PALB2 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2
  • CHEK2 protein, human
  • DNA Glycosylases
  • mutY adenine glycosylase
  • PMS2 protein, human
  • MSH2 protein, human
  • Mismatch Repair Endonuclease PMS2
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein