Analysis and interpretation of genetic testing results from 249 Chinese high to very-high risk non-metastatic prostate cancer patients / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze germline genetic testing in Chinese high-to very-high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer patients.Methods:This study included 249 Chinese patients with high- to very-high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer for germline genetic testing, in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, from January 2018 to December 2022. High risk and very-high risk are termed according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Prostate Cancer Guideline (2022 V1). The mean age of the patients was (66.7±9.2) years old and median PSA level was 28.50 (ranging 2.43 - 1481.11) ng/ml. Within these 249 patients, 84 (33.7%) were T 1-2, 98 (39.3%) were T 3-4, while 67 (26.9%) were unclear in T stage. Additionally, 51 patients (20.5%) were classified into International Society of Urological Pathology(ISUP) grade group 1-3 group and 198 patients (79.5%) were in ISUP 4-5 group. Focusing on 16 genetic susceptibility genes for prostate cancer, we interpret the germline genetic testing data in accordance with the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guideline, clarify the germline pathogenic mutation rate and elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics of germline pathogenic mutation carriers. Results:Among Chinese high-to very-high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer patients, 7.2% (18/249) had germline pathogenic mutations. Patients with mutations had a significantly higher proportion of first-degree relatives with a history of malignancy than those without mutations (50% vs. 13%, P<0.001), but there was no difference in age of onset [(68.2±9.3)years vs. (66.6±9.2) years], PSA level (median 40.68 ng/ml vs. 28.00 ng/ml), T stage [T 3-4 38.9%(7/18)vs. 39.4%(91/231)] and ISUP grade [group 4-5 88.9%(16/18) vs. 78.8%(182/231)]. Germline pathogenic mutations were observed in BRCA2 (7 patients, 38.9%), MSH2 (3 patients, 16.7%), PALB2 (2 patients, 11.1%), ATM (2 patients, 11.1%), RAD51C (1 patient, 5.6%), PMS2 (1 patient, 5.6%), MSH6 (1 patient, 5.6%) and HOXB13 (1 patient, 5.6%). By comparing with normal controls of East-Asian population, germline pathogenic mutations in BRCA2 ( OR=11.1, 95% CI 4.8-25.6, P<0.001) and MSH2 ( OR= 43.5, 95% CI 8.5-200.0, P<0.001) can significantly increase the risk of developing high- to very-high-risk prostate cancer in Chinese males. Conclusions:This study identified a germline pathogenic mutation rate of 7.2% in 249 Chinese patients with high- or very-high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer. Carrying germline BRCA2 or MSH2 pathogenic mutations can significantly increase the risk of high- or very-high-risk prostate cancer in Chinese men.