TP53 mutations, amplification of P63 and expression of cell cycle proteins in squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus from a low incidence area in Western Europe

In Europe, high incidence rates of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCCE) are observed in western France (Normandy and Brittany) and in north-eastern Italy. Analysis of TP53 mutations in tumours from these regions has shown a high prevalence of mutations at A:T basepairs that may result from DNA damage caused by specific mutagens. However, the spectrum of TP53 mutations in regions of low incidence is unknown. We report here TP53 mutation analysis in 33 SCCE collected in Lyon, an area of low incidence. These tumours were also examined for MDM2 and P63 amplification, and for expression of p16INK4a/CDKN2a, cyclin E, p27Kipland Cox2. TP53 mutations were detected in 36% of the cases (12/33). In contrast with regions of high incidence, the mutation spectrum did not show a high prevalence of mutations at A:T base pairs. P63 was amplified in 5/32 cases tested (15.5%). No amplification of MDM2 was found. Expression studies revealed frequent loss of p16INK4a/CDKN2a(46%) and p27Kipl(25%) expression, and frequent overexpression of Cyclin E (70%) and Cox2 (42%). Overall, these results indicate that in Europe, SCCE from areas of high and low incidence present a similar pattern of molecular alterations but differ by the type of TP53 mutations. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Detailed haplotype analysis at the TP53 locus in p.R337H mutation carriers in the population of Southern Brazil: evidence for a founder effect

Due to patterns of migration, selection, and population expansion, founder effects are common among humans. In Southern Brazil, a recurrent TP53 mutation, p.R337H, is detected in families with cancer predisposition. We have used whole locus resequencing and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping to refine TP53 locus haplotype definitions. Haplotyping of 12 unrelated p.R337H carriers using a set of 29 tag SNPs, revealed that all subjects carried the same haplotype, and presence of the mutation on this haplotype was confirmed by allele-specific PCR. The probability that this haplotype occurs independently in all index cases was of 3.1x10(-9), demonstrating a founder effect. Analysis of the patterns of 103 tumors diagnosed in 12 families showed that the presence of p.R337H is associated with multiple cancers of the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) spectrum, with relatively low penetrance before the age of 30 but a lifetime risk comparable to classical LFS. The p.R337H families are mostly distributed along a road axis historically known as the main route used by merchants of Portuguese origin in the XVIII and XIX century. This historical circumstance and the relatively low penetrance before the age of 30 may have contributed to the maintenance of this pathogenic mutation in a large, open population

Epidermal growth factor receptor (<it>EGFR</it>) mutations and expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in central Asia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) shows geographic variations in incidence, with high incidences (>50/10⁵ person-years) in central Asia, including North Eastern Iran (Golestan) and Northern India (Kashmir). In contrast to Western countries, smoking does not appear to be a significant risk factor for ESCC in central Asia. In lung adenocarcinoma, activating mutations in the gene encoding epidermal growth factor receptor (<it>EGFR</it>) are frequent in tumors of never smokers of Asian origin, predicting therapeutic sensitivity to <it>Egfr</it>-targeting drugs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study 152 cases of histologically confirmed ESCC from Iran (Tehran and Golestan Province) and North India (Kashmir Valley) have been analyzed for <it>EGFR</it> mutation by direct sequencing of exons 18–21. <it>Egfr</it> protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 34 samples from Tehran and <it>HER2</it> mutations were analyzed in 54 cases from Kashmir.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 14 (9.2%) <it>EGFR</it> variations were detected, including seven variations in exons. Among those, four (2.6%) were already documented in lung cancers, two were reported as polymorphisms and one was a potentially new activating mutation. All but one variation in introns were previously identified as polymorphisms. Over-expression of <it>Egfr</it> was detected in 22/34 (65%) of tested cases whereas no <it>HER2</it> mutation was found in 54 cases from Kashmir.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, <it>EGFR</it> mutations appear to be a rare event in ESCC in high incidence areas of central Asia, although a very small proportion of cases may harbor mutations predicting sensitivity to anti-<it>Egfr</it> drugs.</p

Prevalence of the <i>TP53</i> p.R337H Mutation in Breast Cancer Patients in Brazil

<div><p>Germline <i>TP53</i> mutations predispose individuals to multiple cancers and are associated with Li-Fraumeni/Li-Fraumeni-Like Syndromes (LFS/LFL). The founder mutation <i>TP53</i> p.R337H is detected in 0.3% of the general population in southern Brazil. This mutation is associated with an increased risk of childhood adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) but is also common in Brazilian LFS/LFL families. Breast Cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in <i>TP53</i> mutation carriers. We have assessed the prevalence of p.R337H in two groups: (1) 59 BC affected women with a familial history (FH) suggestive of hereditary cancer syndrome but no LFS/LFL features; (2) 815 BC affected women unselected for cancer FH, diagnosed with BC at or before age 45 or at age 55 or older. Among group 1 and group 2 patients, 2/59 (3.4%, CI95%: 0.4%–11.7%) and 70/815 (8.6%, CI95%: 6.8%–10.7%), respectively, were p.R337H carriers in the germline. The prevalence of p.R337H was higher in women diagnosed with BC at or before age 45 (12.1%, CI95%: 9.1%–15.8%) than at age 55 or older (5.1%, CI95%: 3.2%–7.7%), p<0.001). The Brazilian founder p.R337H haplotype was detected in all carriers analysed. These results suggest that inheritance of p.R337H may significantly contribute to the high incidence of BC in Brazil, in addition to its recently demonstrated impact on the risk of childhood ACC.</p></div