Evaluation of a candidate breast cancer associated SNP in ERCC4 as a risk modifier in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Results from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/BRCA2 (CIMBA)

Background: In this study we aimed to evaluate the role of a SNP in intron 1 of the ERCC4 gene (rs744154), previously reported to be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in the general population, as a breast cancer risk modifier in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Methods: We have genotyped rs744154 in 9408 BRCA1 and 5632 BRCA2 mutation carriers from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) and assessed its association with breast cancer risk using a retrospective weighted cohort approach. Results: We found no evidence of association with breast cancer risk for BRCA1 (per-allele HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.93–1.04, P=0.5) or BRCA2 (per-allele HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.89–1.06, P=0.5) mutation carriers. Conclusion: This SNP is not a significant modifier of breast cancer risk for mutation carriers, though weak associations cannot be ruled out. A Osorio1, R L Milne2, G Pita3, P Peterlongo4,5, T Heikkinen6, J Simard7, G Chenevix-Trench8, A B Spurdle8, J Beesley8, X Chen8, S Healey8, KConFab9, S L Neuhausen10, Y C Ding10, F J Couch11,12, X Wang11, N Lindor13, S Manoukian4, M Barile14, A Viel15, L Tizzoni5,16, C I Szabo17, L Foretova18, M Zikan19, K Claes20, M H Greene21, P Mai21, G Rennert22, F Lejbkowicz22, O Barnett-Griness22, I L Andrulis23,24, H Ozcelik24, N Weerasooriya23, OCGN23, A-M Gerdes25, M Thomassen25, D G Cruger26, M A Caligo27, E Friedman28,29, B Kaufman28,29, Y Laitman28, S Cohen28, T Kontorovich28, R Gershoni-Baruch30, E Dagan31,32, H Jernström33, M S Askmalm34, B Arver35, B Malmer36, SWE-BRCA37, S M Domchek38, K L Nathanson38, J Brunet39, T Ramón y Cajal40, D Yannoukakos41, U Hamann42, HEBON37, F B L Hogervorst43, S Verhoef43, EB Gómez García44,45, J T Wijnen46,47, A van den Ouweland48, EMBRACE37, D F Easton49, S Peock49, M Cook49, C T Oliver49, D Frost49, C Luccarini50, D G Evans51, F Lalloo51, R Eeles52, G Pichert53, J Cook54, S Hodgson55, P J Morrison56, F Douglas57, A K Godwin58, GEMO59,60,61, O M Sinilnikova59,60, L Barjhoux59,60, D Stoppa-Lyonnet61, V Moncoutier61, S Giraud59, C Cassini62,63, L Olivier-Faivre62,63, F Révillion64, J-P Peyrat64, D Muller65, J-P Fricker65, H T Lynch66, E M John67, S Buys68, M Daly69, J L Hopper70, M B Terry71, A Miron72, Y Yassin72, D Goldgar73, Breast Cancer Family Registry37, C F Singer74, D Gschwantler-Kaulich74, G Pfeiler74, A-C Spiess74, Thomas v O Hansen75, O T Johannsson76, T Kirchhoff77, K Offit77, K Kosarin77, M Piedmonte78, G C Rodriguez79, K Wakeley80, J F Boggess81, J Basil82, P E Schwartz83, S V Blank84, A E Toland85, M Montagna86, C Casella87, E N Imyanitov88, A Allavena89, R K Schmutzler90, B Versmold90, C Engel91, A Meindl92, N Ditsch93, N Arnold94, D Niederacher95, H Deißler96, B Fiebig97, R Varon-Mateeva98, D Schaefer99, U G Froster100, T Caldes101, M de la Hoya101, L McGuffog49, A C Antoniou49, H Nevanlinna6, P Radice4,5 and J Benítez1,3 on behalf of CIMB

Resolution on the results of Advisory Board “Searching the effective methods of testing and treating patients with NSCLC caused by <i>NTRK</i> gene fusions“

The Advisory Board was held on December 24, 2021. The molecular genetic research lead specialists and national lead oncologists discussed issues of diagnosis of NTRK gene translocations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as current opportunities for the treatment of patients with NSCLC caused by NTRK gene fusions. The experts reaffirmed the necessity to identify timely patients with NSCLC caused by NTRK gene fusions, as the correct diagnosis of the disease, including the use of modern diagnostic methods of NTRK gene fusion (NGS is the most sensitive and specific method) determines the success of patient treatment. In this regard, it is critical that physicians know the advantages and disadvantages of each molecular diagnostic method used to have the opportunity to choose the best approach in each clinical case. In order to have a clear, well-functioning strategy for managing patients with suspected NSCLC caused by NTRK gene fusion, it is necessary to use molecular genetic tests, as well as include TRK inhibitors (in particular, the drug larotrectinib; at the time publication of the Resolution, the drug larotrectinib is not registered in the territory of the Russian Federation) in the clinical guidelines for the treatment of lung cancer. Larotrectinib is a highly selective tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor. The clinical studies on larotrectinib have demonstrated high response rates and durable responses in adults and children with tumours associated with NTRK gene fusions, including primary CNS tumours and brain metastases. The objective response rate observed with larotrectinib was 79%, with 16% achieving a complete response and 64% achieving a partial response. At the same time, the median progression-free survival on larotrectinib was 28.3 months, and the median overall survival was 44.4 months

Large family with both parents affected by distinct BRCA1 mutations: implications for genetic testing

Although the probability of both parents being affected by BRCA1 mutations is not negligible, such families have not been systematically described in the literature. Here we present a large breast-ovarian cancer family, where 3 sisters and 1 half-sister inherited maternal BRCA1 5382insC mutation while the remaining 2 sisters carried paternal BRCA1 1629delC allele. No BRCA1 homozygous mutations has been detected, that is consistent with the data on lethality of BRCA1 knockout mice. This report exemplifies that the identification of a single cancer-predisposing mutation within the index patient may not be sufficient in some circumstances. Ideally, all family members affected by breast or ovarian tumor disease have to be subjected to the DNA testing, and failure to detect the mutation in any of them calls for the search of the second cancer-associated allele

Evaluation of polygenic risk scores for breast and ovarian cancer risk prediction in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 94 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer (BC) risk and 18 associated with ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Several of these are also associated with risk of BC or OC for women who carry a pathogenic mutation in the high-risk BC and OC genes BRCA1 or BRCA2. The combined effects of these variants on BC or OC risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have not yet been assessed while their clinical management could benefit from improved personalized risk estimates. Methods: We constructed polygenic risk scores (PRS) using BC and OC susceptibility SNPs identified through population-based GWAS: for BC (overall, estrogen receptor [ER]-positive, and ER-negative) and for OC. Using data from 15 252 female BRCA1 and 8211 BRCA2 carriers, the association of each PRS with BC or OC risk was evaluated using a weighted cohort approach, with time to diagnosis as the outcome and estimation of the hazard ratios (HRs) per standard deviation increase in the PRS. Results: The PRS for ER-negative BC displayed the strongest association with BC risk in BRCA1 carriers (HR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23 to 1.31, P = 8.2 x 10(53)). In BRCA2 carriers, the strongest association with BC risk was seen for the overall BC PRS (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.28, P = 7.2 x 10(-20)). The OC PRS was strongly associated with OC risk for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. These translate to differences in absolute risks (more than 10% in each case) between the top and bottom deciles of the PRS distribution; for example, the OC risk was 6% by age 80 years for BRCA2 carriers at the 10th percentile of the OC PRS compared with 19% risk for those at the 90th percentile of PRS. Conclusions: BC and OC PRS are predictive of cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Incorporation of the PRS into risk prediction models has promise to better inform decisions on cancer risk management

BRCA2 polymorphic stop codon K3326X and the risk of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers

Background: The K3326X variant in BRCA2 (BRCA2*c.9976A&gt;T; p.Lys3326*; rs11571833) has been found to be associated with small increased risks of breast cancer. However, it is not clear to what extent linkage disequilibrium with fully pathogenic mutations might account for this association. There is scant information about the effect of K3326X in other hormone-related cancers. Methods: Using weighted logistic regression, we analyzed data from the large iCOGS study including 76 637 cancer case patients and 83 796 control patients to estimate odds ratios (ORw) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for K3326X variant carriers in relation to breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer risks, with weights defined as probability of not having a pathogenic BRCA2 variant. Using Cox proportional hazards modeling, we also examined the associations of K3326X with breast and ovarian cancer risks among 7183 BRCA1 variant carriers. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: The K3326X variant was associated with breast (ORw = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.40, P = 5.9x10- 6) and invasive ovarian cancer (ORw = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.43, P = 3.8x10-3). These associations were stronger for serous ovarian cancer and for estrogen receptor–negative breast cancer (ORw = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.2 to 1.70, P = 3.4x10-5 and ORw = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.28 to 1.76, P = 4.1x10-5, respectively). For BRCA1 mutation carriers, there was a statistically significant inverse association of the K3326X variant with risk of ovarian cancer (HR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.84, P = .013) but no association with breast cancer. No association with prostate cancer was observed. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that the K3326X variant is associated with risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers independent of other pathogenic variants in BRCA2. Further studies are needed to determine the biological mechanism of action responsible for these associations

Сигнальный механизм рецептора андрогена при раке предстательной железы: резистентность к антиандрогенной терапии и связь с генами репарации повреждений ДНК

Background. Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains a complex problem due to patients' previous treatments and limited selection of subsequent therapies. While 2nd generation antiandrogens are initially effective, resistance to them is not an exceptional event. Mechanisms depending on androgen receptor and independent of it have been described. A special focus is on mutations in DNA repair genes, particularly genes involved in homologous recombination repair (HRR) as a possible cause of somatic genetic abnormalities specifically in progressive metastatic disease. However, data on the effect of the HRR defect on the effectiveness of antiandrogen therapy for prostate cancer are very limited, which requires additional clinical studies.Aim. To evaluate the effect of clinical, morphological, molecular and genetic factors on the effectiveness of enzalutamide antiandrogen therapy in patients with prostate cancer and known mutations in DNA repair genes involved in HRR and mismatch repair.Materials and methods. The study was performed at the Clinical Oncological Dispensary No. 1 (Krasnodar). Retrospective analysis of clinical and morphological parameters of 54 patients with prostate cancer who received enzalutamide antiandrogen therapy and with known status of germ line and somatic mutations of HRR DNA repair genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, BARD, BRIP1, CDK12, CHEK1, CHEK2, PALB2, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD54L, FANCL) and microsatellite instability in immunohistochemical determination of mismatch repair deficit was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.22 software.Results and conclusion. In 17 of 54 patients, pathogenic germline and somatic mutations of HRR genes were detected: 7 mutations in BRCA2 gene, 4 - in CHEK2, 2 - in BRCA1, 2 - in CDK12, 1 - in BRIP1 and 1 - in ATM. It was shown that in the group of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, histological grade per the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) G2 (total Gleason score 7 (3 + 4)) is significantly associated with the absence of HRR mutation, and grade G3 (total Gleason score 7 (4 + 3)) was associated with HRR mutations (р &lt;0.05). Increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level/biochemical progression 12-16 weeks after enzalutamide therapy start was significantly associated with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer without HRR mutations (р &lt;0.05). In case of tumor response to enzalutamide therapy, decrease in PSA level did not depend on the age of disease onset, differentiation grade, primary advancement, previous docetaxel treatment, and presence of HRR mutation. Cox multivariate regression test showed that prescription of docetaxel before enzalutamide increased the risk of PSA-progression (hazard ratio (HR) 5.160; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.549-17.189; р = 0.008) and radiographic progression (HR 5.161; 95 % CI 1.550-17.187; р = 0.008). Progression risk decreased with increased level of PSA decrease 12-16 weeks after enzalutamide therapy start: for PSA decrease &gt;30 % HR 0.150; 95 % CI 0.040-0.570; р = 0.005; for PSA decrease &gt;50 % HR 0.039; 95 % CI 0.006-0.280; р = 0.001; for PSA decrease &gt;90 % HR 0.116; 95 % CI 0.036-0.375; р = 0.000. Presence of HRR mutation, age &lt;58 years, primary metastatic disease and poorly differentiated morphology did not affect duration without PSA-progression (p &gt;0.05). Kaplan-Meier curves showed a trend towards increased time to development of castration resistance in the group of primary early cancer (Breslow р = 0.06; Tarone-Ware р = 0.062). Subgroup analysis showed that in the cohort of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (n = 48), absence of HRR mutation in patients who previously received docetaxel therapy increases time to PSA-progression compared to patients with mutations (log-rank р &lt;0.05).Введение. Метастатический кастрационно-резистентный рак предстательной железы остается сложной проблемой ввиду предлеченности пациентов и ограниченного выбора методов последующей терапии. При первоначальной эффективности антиандрогенов 2-го поколения резистентность к ним не является исключительным событием. Описаны механизмы, зависящие от рецептора андрогена и не зависящие от него. При этом пристальное внимание уделено мутациям в генах репарации повреждений ДНК, в частности путем гомологичной рекомбинации (homologous recombination repair, HRR), как возможной причине соматических генетических нарушений именно при прогрессирующем метастатическом течении. Однако данные о влиянии дефекта HRR на эффективность антиандрогенной терапии РПЖ весьма ограниченны, что требует проведения дополнительных клинических исследований.Цель исследования - оценка влияния клинико-морфологических и молекулярно-генетических факторов на эффективность антиандрогенной терапии энзалутамидом у больных раком предстательной железы с известным статусом мутаций генов репарации ДНК путем HRR и механизма репарации некомплементарных пар нуклеотидов.Материалы и методы. Исследование выполнено на базе Клинического онкологического диспансера № 1 (Краснодар). Ретроспективно проанализированы клинико-морфологические параметры 54 больных раком предстательной железы, получивших антиандрогенную терапию энзалутамидом, с известным статусом герминальных и соматических мутаций генов репарации повреждений ДНК путем HRR (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, BARD, BRIP1, CDK12, CHEK1, CHEK2, PALB2, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD54L, FANCL) и микросателлитной нестабильности при иммуногистохимическом определении дефицита репарации некомплементарных пар нуклеотидов. Статистический анализ выполнен с использованием пакета IBM SPSS Statistics v.22.Результаты и заключение. У 17 из 54 пациентов выявлены патогенные герминальные и соматические мутации генов HRR: 7 мутаций в гене BRCA2, 4 - в CHEK2, 2 - в BRCA1, 2 - в CDK12, 1 - в BRIP1 и 1 - в ATM. Показано, что в группе больных метастатическим кастрационно-резистентным раком предстательной железы гистологическая градация по классификации Международного общества урологических патологов (ISUP) G2 (сумма баллов по шкале Глисона 7 (3 + 4)) статистически значимо связана с отсутствием мутации генов HRR, при этом градация G3 (сумма баллов по шкале Глисона 7 (4 + 3)) ассоциирована с наличием мутаций генов HRR (р &lt;0,05). Рост уровня простатического специфического антигена (ПСА)/биохимическое прогрессирование в сроки 12-16 нед от начала терапии энзалутамидом был статистически значимо связан с метастатическим кастрационно-резистентным раком предстательной железы без мутаций генов HRR (р &lt;0,05). В случае ответа опухоли на лечение энзалутамидом снижение уровня ПСА не зависело от возраста манифестации заболевания, степени дифференцировки, первичной распространенности, предшествующего назначения доцетаксела и наличия мутации генов HRR. В многофакторном регрессионном анализе Кокса назначение доцетаксела до энзалутамида повышало риск ПСА-прогрессирования (отношение рисков (ОР) 5,160; 95 % доверительный интервал (ДИ) 1,549-17,189; р = 0,008) и рентгенологического прогрессирования (ОР 5,161; 95 % ДИ 1,550-17,187; р = 0,008). Риск прогрессирования уменьшался при увеличении степени снижения уровня ПСА после 12-16 нед терапии энзалутамидом: при снижении уровня ПСА &gt;30 % ОР 0,150; 95 % ДИ 0,040-0,570; р = 0,005; при снижении уровня ПСА &gt;50 % ОР 0,039; 95 % ДИ 0,006-0,280; р = 0,001; при снижении уровня ПСА &gt;90 % ОР 0,116; 95 % ДИ 0,036-0,375; р = 0,000. Наличие мутации генов HRR, возраст &lt;58 лет, первично-метастатическое заболевание и низкодифференцированная морфология не влияли на время без ПСА-прогрессирования (p &gt;0,05). При построении кривых Каплана-Майера имелась тенденция к увеличению времени до развития кастрационной резистентности в группе первичного раннего рака (Breslow р = 0,06; Tarone-Ware р = 0,062). При подгрупповом анализе в когорте больных метастатическим кастрационно-резистентным раком предстательной железы (n = 48) наличие мутации генов HRR у пациентов, предлеченных доцетакселом, было связано с уменьшением времени до ПСА-прогрессирования по сравнению с больными без мутации (log-rank р &lt;0,05)

Реактивация иммуноопосредованного колита на фоне таргетной терапии у больной диссеминированной меланомой кожи

Background. The development of unique immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is a known hallmark of immunotherapy. Generally, such complications occur during the first 3–6 months of immunotherapy, however, the experience with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) shows that irAEs can also occur after completion of ICI therapy, as well as during other anticancer treatment regimens. Description of the clinical case. We present a clinical case of a patient with metastatic cutaneous melanoma, who had recurrent events of grade 2 immune-mediated diarrhea during the 2ndline of therapy. After completion of the course of immunosuppressive therapy with systemic glucocorticoids, irAE resumed, and mesalazine and budesonide (local steroid) with subsequent dose reduction were prescribed. Maintenance anti-inflammatory therapy and re-induction of targeted therapy with BRAF- and MEK-inhibitors due to the progression of the disease resulted in the reactivation of immune-mediated colitis. The complication was successfully managed by increasing dose of local steroid to full dose. Anticancer therapy was continued at the same regime without recurrent episodes of irAEs. Conclusion. When changing the anticancer treatment regimen, the recurrence of irAEs dictates careful monitoring of toxicity and the importance of timely selection of the optimal treatment algorithm to improve the quality and longevity of cancer patients.Обоснование. Известной отличительной чертой иммунотерапии является развитие уникальных иммуноопосредованных нежелательных явлений (иоНЯ). В основном подобные осложнения возникают в течение первых 3–6 мес иммунотерапии, однако опыт применения ингибиторов контрольных точек (ИКТ) показывает, что иоНЯ могут возникать и после завершения терапии ИКТ, в т. ч. на фоне других режимов противоопухолевого лечения. Описание клинического случая. Представлен клинический случай пациентки с метастатической меланомой кожи, у которой на фоне 2-й линии лекарственной терапии отмечалась рецидивирующая иммуноопосредованная диарея ii степени. После завершения курса иммуносупрессивной терапии системными глюкокортикостероидами (ГКС) иоНЯ возобновились и были купированы сочетанием месалазина и будесонида (местного ГКС) с последующим снижением его дозы. На фоне поддерживающей противовоспалительной терапии и последующей таргетной терапии комбинацией BRAF- и MEK-ингибиторов, назначенной в связи с прогрессированием заболевания, отмечена реактивация иммуноопосредованного колита. Увеличение дозы местного ГКС до полной вновь позволило успешно купировать осложнение. Противоопухолевая терапия была продолжена в прежнем режиме без повторных эпизодов иоНЯ. Заключение. Возобновление иоНЯ при смене режима противоопухолевого лечения диктует необходимость тщательного мониторинга токсичности и подчеркивает важность своевременного подбора оптимального алгоритма лечения для повышения качества и увеличения продолжительности жизни онкологических больных

The impact of adjuvant therapy on contralateral breast cancer risk and the prognostic significance of contralateral breast cancer: a population based study in the Netherlands

Background The impact of age and adjuvant therapy on contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk and prognostic significance of CBC were evaluated. Patients and Methods In 45,229 surgically treated stage I–IIIA patients diagnosed in the Netherlands between 1989 and 2002 CBC risk was quantified using standardised incidence ratios (SIRs), cumulative incidence and Cox regression analysis, adjusted for competing risks. Results Median follow-up was 5.8 years, in which 624 CBC occurred <6 months after the index cancer (synchronous) and 1,477 thereafter (metachronous). Older age and lobular histology were associated with increased synchronous CBC risk. Standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of CBC was 2.5 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.4–2.7). The SIR of metachronous CBC decreased with index cancer age, from 11.4 (95% CI 8.6–14.8) when <35 to 1.5 (95% CI 1.4–1.7) for ≥60 years. The absolute excess risk of metachronous CBC was 26.8/10,000 person-years. The cumulative incidence increased with 0.4% per year, reaching 5.9% after 15 years. Adjuvant hormonal (Hazard rate ratio (HR) 0.58; 95% CI 0.48–0.69) and chemotherapy (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.60–0.90) were associated with a markedly decreased CBC risk. A metachronous CBC worsened survival (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.33–1.56). Conclusion Young breast cancer patients experience high synchronous and metachronous CBC risk. Adjuvant hormonal or chemotherapy considerably reduced the risk of CBC. CBC occurrence adversely affects prognosis, emphasizing the necessity of long-term surveillance directed at early CBC-detection

Topoisomerase II-Mediated DNA Damage Is Differently Repaired during the Cell Cycle by Non-Homologous End Joining and Homologous Recombination

Topoisomerase II (Top2) is a nuclear enzyme involved in several metabolic processes of DNA. Chemotherapy agents that poison Top2 are known to induce persistent protein-mediated DNA double strand breaks (DSB). In this report, by using knock down experiments, we demonstrated that Top2α was largely responsible for the induction of γH2AX and cytotoxicity by the Top2 poisons idarubicin and etoposide in normal human cells. As DSB resulting from Top2 poisons-mediated damage may be repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR), we aimed to analyze both DNA repair pathways. We found that DNA-PKcs was rapidly activated in human cells, as evidenced by autophosphorylation at serine 2056, following Top2-mediated DNA damage. The chemical inhibition of DNA-PKcs by wortmannin and vanillin resulted in an increased accumulation of DNA DSB, as evaluated by the comet assay. This was supported by a hypersensitive phenotype to Top2 poisons of Ku80- and DNA-PKcs- defective Chinese hamster cell lines. We also showed that Rad51 protein levels, Rad51 foci formation and sister chromatid exchanges were increased in human cells following Top2-mediated DNA damage. In support, BRCA2- and Rad51C- defective Chinese hamster cells displayed hypersensitivity to Top2 poisons. The analysis by immunofluorescence of the DNA DSB repair response in synchronized human cell cultures revealed activation of DNA-PKcs throughout the cell cycle and Rad51 foci formation in S and late S/G2 cells. Additionally, we found an increase of DNA-PKcs-mediated residual repair events, but not Rad51 residual foci, into micronucleated and apoptotic cells. Therefore, we conclude that in human cells both NHEJ and HR are required, with cell cycle stage specificity, for the repair of Top2-mediated reversible DNA damage. Moreover, NHEJ-mediated residual repair events are more frequently associated to irreversibly damaged cells