BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic sequence variants in women of African origin or ancestry.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) pathogenic sequence variants (PSVs) confer elevated risks of multiple cancers. However, most BRCA1/2 PSVs reports focus on European ancestry individuals. Knowledge of the PSV distribution in African descent individuals is poorly understood. We undertook a systematic review of the published literature and publicly available databases reporting BRCA1/2 PSVs also accessed the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) database to identify African or African descent individuals. Using these data, we inferred which of the BRCA PSVs were likely to be of African continental origin. Of the 43,817 BRCA1/2 PSV carriers in the CIMBA database, 469 (1%) were of African descent. Additional African descent individuals were identified in public databases (n = 291) and the literature (n = 601). We identified 164 unique BRCA1 and 173 unique BRCA2 PSVs in individuals of African ancestry. Of these, 83 BRCA1 and 91 BRCA2 PSVs are of likely or possible African origin. We observed numerous differences in the distribution of PSV type and function in African origin versus non-African origin PSVs. Research in populations of African ancestry with BRCA1/2 PSVs is needed to provide the information needed for clinical management and decision-making in African descent individuals worldwide

An international effort towards developing standards for best practices in analysis, interpretation and reporting of clinical genome sequencing results in the CLARITY Challenge

There is tremendous potential for genome sequencing to improve clinical diagnosis and care once it becomes routinely accessible, but this will require formalizing research methods into clinical best practices in the areas of sequence data generation, analysis, interpretation and reporting. The CLARITY Challenge was designed to spur convergence in methods for diagnosing genetic disease starting from clinical case history and genome sequencing data. DNA samples were obtained from three families with heritable genetic disorders and genomic sequence data were donated by sequencing platform vendors. The challenge was to analyze and interpret these data with the goals of identifying disease-causing variants and reporting the findings in a clinically useful format. Participating contestant groups were solicited broadly, and an independent panel of judges evaluated their performance. RESULTS: A total of 30 international groups were engaged. The entries reveal a general convergence of practices on most elements of the analysis and interpretation process. However, even given this commonality of approach, only two groups identified the consensus candidate variants in all disease cases, demonstrating a need for consistent fine-tuning of the generally accepted methods. There was greater diversity of the final clinical report content and in the patient consenting process, demonstrating that these areas require additional exploration and standardization. CONCLUSIONS: The CLARITY Challenge provides a comprehensive assessment of current practices for using genome sequencing to diagnose and report genetic diseases. There is remarkable convergence in bioinformatic techniques, but medical interpretation and reporting are areas that require further development by many groups

An Eye on Trafficking Genes: Identification of Four Eye Color Mutations in Drosophila.

Genes that code for proteins involved in organelle biogenesis and intracellular trafficking produce products that are critical in normal cell function . Conserved orthologs of these are present in most or all eukaryotes, including Drosophila melanogaster. Some of these genes were originally identified as eye color mutants with decreases in both types of pigments found in the fly eye. These criteria were used for identification of such genes, four eye color mutations that are not annotated in the genome sequence: chocolate, maroon, mahogany, and red Malpighian tubules were molecularly mapped and their genome sequences have been evaluated. Mapping was performed using deletion analysis and complementation tests. chocolate is an allele of the VhaAC39-1 gene, which is an ortholog of the Vacuolar H+ ATPase AC39 subunit 1. maroon corresponds to the Vps16A gene and its product is part of the HOPS complex, which participates in transport and organelle fusion. red Malpighian tubule is the CG12207 gene, which encodes a protein of unknown function that includes a LysM domain. mahogany is the CG13646 gene, which is predicted to be an amino acid transporter. The strategy of identifying eye color genes based on perturbations in quantities of both types of eye color pigments has proven useful in identifying proteins involved in trafficking and biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles. Mutants of these genes can form the basis of valuable in vivo models to understand these processes

BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic sequence variants in women of African origin or ancestry

BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) pathogenic sequence variants (PSVs) confer elevated risks of multiple cancers. However, most BRCA1/2 PSVs reports focus on European ancestry individuals. Knowledge of the PSV distribution in African descent individuals is poorly understood. We undertook a systematic review of the published literature and publicly available databases reporting BRCA1/2 PSVs also accessed the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) database to identify African or African descent individuals. Using these data, we inferred which of the BRCA PSVs were likely to be of African continental origin. Of the 43,817 BRCA1/2 PSV carriers in the CIMBA database, 469 (1%) were of African descent. Additional African descent individuals were identified in public databases (n = 291) and the literature (n = 601). We identified 164 unique BRCA1 and 173 unique BRCA2 PSVs in individuals of African ancestry. Of these, 83 BRCA1 and 91 BRCA2 PSVs are of likely or possible African origin. We observed numerous differences in the distribution of PSV type and function in African origin versus non‐African origin PSVs. Research in populations of African ancestry with BRCA1/2 PSVs is needed to provide the information needed for clinical management and decision‐making in African descent individuals worldwide.GEMO: Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer; the Association “Le cancer du sein, parlons‐en!” Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the "CIHR Team in Familial Risks of Breast Cancer" program and French National Institute of Cancer (INCa). Cancer Research UK Grants. Grant Numbers: C1287/A11990, C1287/A10118. University of California Los Angeles: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation; Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Mayo Clinic: NIH, NCI Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE), and a grant from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Grant Numbers: CA176785, CA192393, CA116201, CA116167. NCI: Intramural Research Program of the US National Cancer Institute, NIH, and by support services contracts NO2‐CP‐11019‐50, N02‐CP‐21013‐63 and N02‐CP‐65504 with Westat, Inc, Rockville, MD. Grant Numbers: N02‐CP‐21013‐63, N02‐CP‐65504, NO2‐CP‐11019‐50. National Cancer Institute. Grant Numbers: RC4CA153828, 5U54CA156732‐07, R25CA112486. FPGMX: Mutua Madrileña Foundation (FMMA). Grant Number: FISPI05/2275. Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center: Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Robert and Kate Niehaus Clinical Cancer Genetics Initiative, Andrew Sabin Research Fund and a Cancer Center Support Grant/Core Grant (P30 CA008748). Grant Number: P30 CA008748. Fox Chase Cancer Center: University of Kansas Cancer Center and Kansas Bioscience Authority Eminent Scholar Program and by Chancellors Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences Professorship. Grant Numbers: R01 CA214545, P30 CA168524, R0 1CA140323. BCFR ‐ all: CA164920 from National Cancer Institute. The content of this manuscript does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the National Cancer Institute or any of the collaborating centers in the Breast Cancer Family Registry (BCFR), nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government or the BCFR. University of Pennsylvania: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R01‐CA102776 and R01‐CA083855; Breast Cancer Research Foundation; Susan G. Komen Foundation for the cure, Basser Research Center for BRCA. UPITT/MWH: Hackers for Hope Pittsburgh. VFCTG: Victorian Cancer Agency, Cancer Australia, National Breast Cancer Foundation. Grant Numbers: R01‐CA102776, R01‐CA083855. HRBCP: Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Dr Ellen Li Charitable Foundation, Kerry Group Kuok Foundation, National Institute of Health1R 03CA130065, and North California Cancer Center. Grant Number: 03CA130065. BMBSA is supported by Cancer Association of South Africa. University California San Francisco: UCSF Cancer Risk Program and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. CIMBA: CIMBA data management and data analysis were supported by Cancer Research – UK grants C12292/A20861, C12292/A11174. ACA is a Cancer Research ‐UK Senior Cancer Research Fellow. GCT and ABS are NHMRC Research Fellows. iCOGS: European Community's Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement n° 223175 (HEALTH‐F2‐2009‐223175) (COGS), Cancer Research UK (C1287/A10118, C1287/A 10710, C12292/A11174, C1281/A12014, C5047/A8384, C5047/A15007, C5047/A10692, C8197/A16565), National Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is supported by Breast Cancer Research Foundation. UKFOCR: Cancer Research UK. GEORGETOWN: Non‐Therapeutic Subject Registry Shared Resource at Georgetown University (NIH/NCI grant P30‐CA051008), Fisher Center for Hereditary Cancer and Clinical Genomics Research, and Swing Fore the Cure. Grant Number: P30‐CA051008.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/humu2020-10-01hj2020Genetic

BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic sequence variants in women of African origin or ancestry.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) pathogenic sequence variants (PSVs) confer elevated risks of multiple cancers. However, most BRCA1/2 PSVs reports focus on European ancestry individuals. Knowledge of the PSV distribution in African descent individuals is poorly understood. We undertook a systematic review of the published literature and publicly available databases reporting BRCA1/2 PSVs also accessed the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) database to identify African or African descent individuals. Using these data, we inferred which of the BRCA PSVs were likely to be of African continental origin. Of the 43,817 BRCA1/2 PSV carriers in the CIMBA database, 469 (1%) were of African descent. Additional African descent individuals were identified in public databases (n = 291) and the literature (n = 601). We identified 164 unique BRCA1 and 173 unique BRCA2 PSVs in individuals of African ancestry. Of these, 83 BRCA1 and 91 BRCA2 PSVs are of likely or possible African origin. We observed numerous differences in the distribution of PSV type and function in African origin versus non-African origin PSVs. Research in populations of African ancestry with BRCA1/2 PSVs is needed to provide the information needed for clinical management and decision-making in African descent individuals worldwide