ATM Mutations and Phenotypes in Ataxia-Telangiectasia Families in the British Isles: Expression of Mutant ATM and the Risk of Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Breast Cancer

SummaryWe report the spectrum of 59 ATM mutations observed in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients in the British Isles. Of 51 ATM mutations identified in families native to the British Isles, 11 were founder mutations, and 2 of these 11 conferred a milder clinical phenotype with respect to both cerebellar degeneration and cellular features. We report, in two A-T families, an ATM mutation (7271T→G) that may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in both homozygotes and heterozygotes (relative risk 12.7; P=.0025), although there is a less severe A-T phenotype in terms of the degree of cerebellar degeneration. This mutation (7271T→G) also allows expression of full-length ATM protein at a level comparable with that in unaffected individuals. In addition, we have studied 18 A-T patients, in 15 families, who developed leukemia, lymphoma, preleukemic T-cell proliferation, or Hodgkin lymphoma, mostly in childhood. A wide variety of ATM mutation types, including missense mutations and in-frame deletions, were seen in these patients. We also show that 25% of all A-T patients carried in-frame deletions or missense mutations, many of which were also associated with expression of mutant ATM protein

6th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis (plus Hevylite)

The 6th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis (plus Hevylite) was held in Bath, UK on 23rd and 24th September 2010. This Symposium included measurements in monoclonal gammopathies, myeloma kidney and inflammatory diseases; data from the Multi-centre, Phase III, Randomised control trial on extended haemodialysis with the Gambro protein-leaking HCO 1100 dialyser; and presentations on Hevylite (intact immunoglobulin kappa/lambda ratios) in a variety of clinical situations