Case-control analysis identifies shared properties of rare germline variation in cancer predisposing genes Journal Article


Authors: Artomov, M.; Joseph, V.; Tiao, G.; Thomas, T.; Schrader, K.; Klein, R. J.; Kiezun, A.; Gupta, N.; Margolin, L.; Stratigos, A. J.; Kim, I.; Shannon, K.; Ellisen, L. W.; Haber, D.; Getz, G.; Tsao, H.; Lipkin, S. M.; Altshuler, D.; Offit, K.; Daly, M. J.
Article Title: Case-control analysis identifies shared properties of rare germline variation in cancer predisposing genes
Abstract: Along with traditional effects of aging and carcinogen exposure—inherited DNA variation has substantial contribution to cancer risk. Extraordinary progress made in analysis of common variation with GWAS methodology does not provide sufficient resolution to understand rare variation. To fulfill missing classification for rare germline variation we assembled dataset of whole exome sequences from>2000 patients (selected cases tested negative for candidate genes and unselected cases) with different types of cancers (breast cancer, colon cancer, and cutaneous and ocular melanomas) matched to more than 7000 non-cancer controls and analyzed germline variation in known cancer predisposing genes to identify common properties of disease-associated DNA variation and aid the future searches for new cancer susceptibility genes. Cancer predisposing genes were divided into non-overlapping classes according to the mode of inheritance of the related cancer syndrome or known tumor suppressor activity. Out of all classes only genes linked to dominant syndromes presented significant rare germline variants enrichment in cases. Separate analysis of protein-truncating and missense variation in this list of genes confirmed significant prevalence of protein-truncating variants in cases only in loss-of-function tolerant genes (pLI < 0.1), while ultra-rare missense variants were significantly overrepresented in cases only in constrained genes (pLI > 0.9). In addition to findings in genetically enriched cases, we observed significant burden of rare variation in unselected cases, suggesting substantial role of inherited variation even in relatively late cancer manifestation. Taken together, our findings provide reference for distribution and types of DNA variation underlying inherited predisposition to some common cancer types. © 2019, European Society of Human Genetics.
Keywords: major clinical study; case control study; cancer risk; phenotype; allele; cancer susceptibility; breast cancer; skin cancer; cohort analysis; gene frequency; genetic variation; dna; early cancer; colon cancer; family history; li-fraumeni syndrome; genetic risk; tumor suppressor protein; genetic predisposition; genetic screening; cutaneous melanoma; hospital based case control study; germline mutation; disease burden; eye melanoma; human; priority journal; article; malignant neoplasm
Journal Title: European Journal of Human Genetics
Volume: 27
Issue: 5
ISSN: 1018-4813
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2019-05-01
Start Page: 824
End Page: 828
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/s41431-019-0346-0
PUBMED: 30718883
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6461796
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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  1. Kenneth Offit
    789 Offit
  2. Robert J. Klein
    63 Klein
  3. Vijai Joseph
    211 Joseph
  4. Tinu Mary Thomas
    19 Thomas