P53 germline mutations in childhood cancers and cancer risk for carrier individuals.

The family history of cancer in children treated for a solid malignant tumour in the Paediatric Oncology Department at Institute Gustave-Roussy, has been investigated. In order to determine the role of germline p53 mutations in genetic predisposition to childhood cancer, germline p53 mutations were sought in individuals with at least one relative (first- or second-degree relative or first cousin) affected by any cancer before 46 years of age, or affected by multiple cancers. Screening for germline p53 mutation was possible in 268 index cases among individuals fulfilling selection criteria. Seventeen (6.3%) mutations were identified, of which 13 were inherited and four were de novo. Using maximum likelihood methods that incorporate retrospective family data and correct for ascertainment bias, the lifetime risk of cancer for mutation carriers was estimated to be 73% for males and nearly 100% for females with a high risk of breast cancer accounting for the difference. The risk of cancer associated with such mutations is very high and no evidence of low penetrance mutation was found. These mutations are frequently inherited but de novo mutations are not rare.

Germ-line exclusion of a single p53 allele by premature termination of translation in a Li-Fraumeni syndrome family.

Germline p53 mutations have been detected in approximately half of the families affected by the Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), in which they are believed to represent the genetic status predisposing to multiple cancers. Failure to detect mutations in the other half of LFS families suggests that sequence analysis, which has been limited to the p53 gene coding region, have overlooked other genetic events lying outside of this region or/and that alterations in other gene(s) than p53 may also lead to the syndrome. In this report, we present the evidence that a single base pair deletion in the p53 coding sequence, leading to premature signal termination of translation, generates a null allele by preventing transport of mutant allele mRNAs into the cytoplasm. This allelic exclusion which confers a status of unizygote vis-à-vis the wild-type p53 gene to individuals who carry the mutant allele, leads to predisposition to multiple cancers in a Li-Fraumeni family. Thus, the loss of the wild-type p53 allele appears as the rate limiting step in tumor induction.

Oncogenic potential of guanine nucleotide stimulatory factor alpha subunit in thyroid glands of transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice have been used to address the issue of the oncogenic potential of mutant guanine nucleotide stimulatory factor (Gs) alpha subunit in the thyroid gland. The expression of the mutant Arg-201-->His Gs alpha subunit transgene has been directed to murine thyroid epithelial cells by bovine thyroglobulin promoter. The transgenic animals develop hyperfunctioning thyroid adenomas with increased intracellular cAMP levels and high uptake of [125I]iodine and produced elevated levels of circulating triiodothyronine and thyroxine. These animals demonstrate that the mutant form of Gs alpha subunit carries an oncogenic activity, thus supporting the model that deregulation of cAMP level alters growth control in thyroid epithelium. These animals represent models for humans with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules.