Gene and pathway based burden analyses in familial lymphoid cancer cases: Rare variants in immune pathway genes.

Genome-wide association studies have revealed common genetic variants with small effect sizes associated with diverse lymphoid cancers. Family studies have uncovered rare variants with high effect sizes. However, these variants explain only a portion of the heritability of these cancers. Some of the missing heritability may be attributable to rare variants with small effect sizes. We aim to identify rare germline variants associated with familial lymphoid cancers using exome sequencing. One case per family was selected from 39 lymphoid cancer families based on early onset of disease or rarity of subtype. Control data was from Non-Finnish Europeans in gnomAD exomes (N = 56,885) or ExAC (N = 33,370). Gene and pathway-based burden tests for rare variants were performed using TRAPD. Five putatively pathogenic germline variants were found in four genes: INTU, PEX7, EHHADH, and ASXL1. Pathway-based association tests identified the innate and adaptive immune systems, peroxisomal pathway and olfactory receptor pathway as associated with lymphoid cancers in familial cases. Our results suggest that rare inherited defects in the genes involved in immune system and peroxisomal pathway may predispose individuals to lymphoid cancers.

Variation in cancer risk among families with genetic susceptibility.

Germline mutations in many genes have been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer. This risk can vary across families who carry mutations in the same gene due to differences in the specific variants, gene-gene interactions, other susceptibility mutations, environmental factors, and behavioral factors. We develop an analytic tool to explore this heterogeneity using family history data. We propose to evaluate the ratio between the number of observed cancer cases in a family and the number of expected cases under a model where risk is assumed to be the same across families. We perform this analysis for both carriers and noncarriers in each family, using carrier probabilities when carrier statuses are unknown, and visualize the results. We first illustrate the approach in simulated data and then apply it to data on colorectal cancer risk in families carrying mutations in Lynch syndrome genes from Creighton University's Hereditary Cancer Center. We show that colorectal cancer risk in carriers can vary widely across families, and that this variation is not matched by a corresponding variation in the noncarriers from the same families. This suggests that the sources of variation in these families are to be found predominantly in variants harbored in the mutated MMR genes considered, or in variants interacting with them.

Preferences for breast cancer prevention among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

BACKGROUND: Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have high lifetime risks of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The decision to embark on risk reduction strategies is a difficult and personal one. We surveyed an international group of women with BRCA mutations and measured choices and sequence of breast cancer risk reduction strategies. METHODS: Women with a BRCA1/2 mutation and no previous cancer diagnosis were recruited from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and from a national advocacy group. Using an online survey, we asked about cancer-risk reduction preferences including for one of two hypothetical medicines, randomly assigned, and women's recommendations for a hypothetical woman (Susan, either a 25- or 36-year-old). Sunburst diagrams were generated to illustrate hierarchy of choices. RESULTS: Among 598 respondents, mean age was 40.9 years (range 25-55 years). Timing of the survey was 4.8 years (mean) after learning their positive test result and 33% had risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) and bilateral mastectomy (RRBM), while 19% had RRBSO only and 16% had RRBM only. Although 30% said they would take a hypothetical medicine, 6% reported taking a medicine resembling tamoxifen. Respondents were 1.5 times more likely to select a hypothetical medicine for risk reduction when Susan was 25 than when Susan was 36. Women assigned to 36-year-old Susan were more likely to choose a medicine if they had a family member diagnosed with breast cancer and personal experience taking tamoxifen. CONCLUSIONS: Women revealed a willingness to undergo surgeries to achieve largest reduction in breast cancer risk, although this would not be recommended for a younger woman in her 20s. The goal of achieving the highest degree of cancer risk reduction is the primary driver for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations in selecting an intervention and a sequence of interventions, regardless of whether it is non-surgical or surgical.

Predictors of long-term cancer-related distress among female BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers without a cancer diagnosis: an international analysis.

BACKGROUND: Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have high lifetime risks of developing breast and ovarian cancers. We sought to estimate the prevalence of cancer-related distress and to identify predictors of distress in an international sample of unaffected women with a BRCA mutation. METHODS: Women with a BRCA1/2 mutation and no previous cancer diagnosis were recruited from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and from a national advocacy group. Using an online survey, we asked about cancer risk reduction options and screening, and we measured cancer-related distress using the Impact of Event Scale. RESULTS: Among 576 respondents, mean age was 40.8 years (SD = 8.1). On average 4.9 years after a positive test result, 16.3% of women reported moderate-to-severe cancer-related distress. Women who had undergone risk-reducing breast and ovarian surgery were less likely to have (moderate or severe) cancer-related distress compared to other women (22.0% versus 11.4%, P value = 0.007). Women recruited from the advocacy group were more likely to have cancer-related distress than other women (21.6% versus 5.3%, P value = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 16% of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation experience distress levels comparable to those of women after a cancer diagnosis. Distress was lower for women who had risk-reducing surgery.

Variants of DNA mismatch repair genes derived from 33,998 Chinese individuals with and without cancer reveal their highly ethnic-specific nature.

PURPOSE: DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes play important roles in maintaining genome stability. Mutations in MMR genes disrupt their mismatch repair function, cause genome instability and lead to increased risk of cancer in the mutation carriers as represented by Lynch Syndrome. Studies have identified a large number of MMR variants, mostly in the Caucasian population, whereas data from non-Caucasian populations remain poorly illustrated. With the population size of 1.4 billion, knowledge of MMR variants in the Chinese population can be valuable in understanding the roles of ethnic MMR variation and cancer and to further guide clinical applications in MMR-related cancer prevention and treatment in the Chinese population. In this study, we systematically analysed the MMR variants from the Chinese population. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We performed a comprehensive MMR data mining and collected all the MMR variation data reported from 33,998 Chinese individuals consisting of 23,938 cancer and 10,060 non-cancer cases between January 1997 to May 2019. For the collected data, we performed standardisation following Human Genome Variation Society nomenclature and reannotated the MMR variant data following American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines and comparing with non-Chinese MMR data on various aspects. RESULTS: We identified a total of 540 MMR variants in the Chinese population, including 194 in MLH1, 181 in MSH2, 59 in MSH6, 53 in PMS2 single-base/indel changes and 53 large deletions/duplications in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, respectively. We determined that the pathogenic/likely pathogenic carrier rate in the Chinese population was 1.6%. Comparative analysis in variant spectrum, variant types, clinical classification and founder mutations showed substantial differences of MMR variation between Chinese and non-Chinese populations and the fact that over 90% of the variants were only present in the Chinese ethnicity reveals the highly ethnic-specific nature of the Chinese MMR variation . We also developed an open-access database, dbMMR-Chinese, to host all data (https://dbMMR-chinese.fhs.um.edu.mo). The rich MMR data from a large non-Caucasian population should be valuable to study MMR variation and its relationship with cancer and provide a valuable reference resource for MMR-related cancer prevention and treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the largest MMR data set from a single non-Caucasian population and reveals that MMR variation in the humans can be highly ethnic-specific.

Does preventive oophorectomy increase the risk of depression in BRCA mutation carriers?

OBJECTIVE: BRCA mutation carriers are advised to undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to prevent ovarian cancer. The abrupt hormonal withdrawal associated with early surgical menopause has been shown to increase the risk of depression and anxiety among women in the general population. The impact in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation is not known. METHODS: We undertook a matched prospective study of BRCA mutation carriers to evaluate the impact of oophorectomy on self-reported initiation of antidepressant use. We identified women with no personal history of cancer or depression and prospectively evaluated the frequency of self-reported medication use after surgery. Each exposed participant (oophorectomy) was randomly matched to a control participant (no oophorectomy) according to year of birth (within 3 years), BRCA mutation type (BRCA1 or BRCA2), and country of residence (Canada, United States, Poland). A total of 506 matched sets were included. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of antidepressant use (ever/never) following preventive oophorectomy in the entire study population and stratified by age at oophorectomy and by use of hormone therapy. RESULTS: Oophorectomy was not associated with more frequent antidepressant use among BRCA mutation carriers (OR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.22-0.96). We observed reductions in the odds of antidepressant medication use among women who underwent oophorectomy before the age of 50 years (OR = 0.33; 95% CI 0.14-0.78) and among those who initiated hormone therapy use after oophorectomy (OR = 0.35; 95% CI 0.14-0.90). Findings were similar when the analysis was based on self-reported depression (rather than antidepressant use). CONCLUSIONS: Although based on a small number of women, these findings suggest that oophorectomy does not increase psychological distress among women at an elevated risk of ovarian cancer.

Methylated SEPTIN9 plasma test for colorectal cancer detection may be applicable to Lynch syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The plasma-based methylated SEPTIN9 (mSEPT9) is a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test for adults aged 50-75 years who are at average risk for CRC and have refused colonoscopy or faecal-based screening tests. The applicability of mSEPT9 for high-risk persons with Lynch syndrome (LS), the most common hereditary CRC condition, has not been assessed. This study sought preliminary evidence for the utility of mSEPT9 for CRC detection in LS. DESIGN: Firstly, SEPT9 methylation was measured in LS-associated CRC, advanced adenoma, and subject-matched normal colorectal mucosa tissues by pyrosequencing. Secondly, to detect mSEPT9 as circulating tumor DNA, the plasma-based mSEPT9 test was retrospectively evaluated in LS subjects using the Epi proColon 2.0 CE assay adapted for 1mL plasma using the "1/1 algorithm". LS case groups included 20 peri-surgical cases with acolonoscopy-based diagnosis of CRC (stages I-IV), 13 post-surgical metastatic CRC, and 17 pre-diagnosis cases. The control group comprised 31 cancer-free LS subjects. RESULTS: Differential hypermethylation was found in 97.3% (36/37) of primary CRC and 90.0% (18/20) of advanced adenomas, showing LS-associated neoplasia frequently produce the mSEPT9 biomarker. Sensitivity of plasma mSEPT9 to detect CRC was 70.0% (95% CI, 48%-88%)in cases with a colonoscopy-based CRC diagnosis and 92.3% (95% CI, 64%-100%) inpost-surgical metastatic cases. In pre-diagnosis cases, plasma mSEPT9 was detected within two months prior to colonoscopy-based CRC diagnosis in 3/5 cases. Specificity in controls was 100% (95% CI 89%-100%). CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings suggest mSEPT9 may demonstrate similar diagnostic performance characteristics in LS as in the average-risk population, warranting a well-powered prospective case-control study.

The benefits of a model of interval comprehensive assessments (MICA) in hereditary cancer Syndromes: Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) as an example.

A high percentage of individuals at risk for hereditary cancer syndromes are unaware of their risk. This is especially detrimental in syndromes such as hereditary diffuse gastric cancer due to a CDH1 germline mutation, for which lifesaving prevention is possible. Surveillance for diffuse gastric cancer in the syndrome is limited, hence the recommendation for prophylactic total gastrectomy for mutation carriers. Genetic counseling and testing is crucial in suspected families but initial contact could be limited, leading to the importance of an interval comprehensive review every 5-8 years to identify and screen additional high-risk individuals. Our contact with a hereditary diffuse gastric cancer family in Jordan in 2011 led to a number of family members receiving education and genetic counseling. Our model of interval comprehensive assessment (MICA) was constructed and implemented by conducting family information service, video call and emails to the high-risk individuals 7 years after initial contact. Using an updated family pedigree we reached out to an additional thirteen high-risk members in six different countries and provided them with genetic education, counseling, and testing. Six members agreed to CDH1 testing (46%). Four tested positive (66%) and one member (25%) underwent prophylactic total gastrectomy.

Analysis of the CDKN2A Gene in FAMMM Syndrome Families Reveals Early Age of Onset for Additional Syndromic Cancers.

Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome that results from mutations in several genes, including the CDKN2A gene. In addition to melanoma, certain other malignancies such as pancreatic cancer are known to occur more frequently in family members who carry the mutation. However, as these families have been followed over time, additional cancers have been observed in both carriers and noncarriers. We sought to determine whether these additional cancers occur at higher frequencies in carriers than noncarriers. We performed survival analyses using 10 FAMMM syndrome families (N = 1,085 individuals) as well as a mixed effects Cox regression, with age at last visit to the clinic or age at cancer diagnosis as our time variable. This analysis was done separately for the known FAMMM-related cancers and "other" cancer groups. The survival curves showed a significant age effect with carriers having a younger age at cancer onset than noncarriers for FAMMM-related cancers (as expected) as well as for newly associated cancers. The Cox regression reflected what was seen in the survival curves, with all models being highly significant (P = 7.15E-20 and P = 5.00E-13 for the FAMMM-related and other cancers, respectively). These analyses support the hypothesis that CDKN2A mutation carriers in FAMMM syndrome families have increased risk for early onset of several cancer types beyond the known cancers. Therefore, these individuals should be screened for additional cancers, and mutation screening should be extended to more than first-degree relatives of an index carrier patient. SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that carriers of mutations in the CDKN2A gene in FAMMM syndrome are at increased risk for early onset of several cancer types beyond the known cancers.

International trends in the uptake of cancer risk reduction strategies in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

BACKGROUND: Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation face high risks of breast and ovarian cancer. In the current study, we report on uptake of cancer screening and risk-reduction options in a cohort of BRCA mutation carriers from ten countries over two time periods (1995 to 2008 and 2009 to 2017). METHODS: Eligible subjects were identified from an international database of female BRCA mutation carriers and included women from 59 centres from ten countries. Subjects completed a questionnaire at the time of genetic testing, which included past use of cancer prevention options and screening tests. Biennial follow-up questionnaires were administered. RESULTS: Six-thousand two-hundred and twenty-three women were followed for a mean of 7.5 years. The mean age at last follow-up was 52.1 years (27-96 years) and 42.3% of the women had a prior diagnosis of breast cancer. In all, 27.8% had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and  64.7% had a BSO. Screening with breast MRI increased from 70% before 2009 to 81% at or after 2009. There were significant differences in uptake of all options by country. CONCLUSION: For women who received genetic testing more recently, uptake of prophylactic mastectomy and breast MRI is significantly higher than those who received genetic testing more than 10 years ago. However, uptake of both BSO and breast MRI is not optimal, and interventions to increase uptake are needed.

Oophorectomy and risk of contralateral breast cancer among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

PURPOSE: Following a diagnosis of breast cancer, BRCA mutation carriers face an increased risk of developing a second (contralateral) cancer in the unaffected breast. It is important to identify predictors of contralateral cancer in order to make informed decisions about bilateral mastectomy. The impact of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (i.e., oophorectomy) on the risk of developing contralateral breast cancer is unclear. Thus, we conducted a prospective study of the relationship between oophorectomy and the risk of contralateral breast cancer in 1781 BRCA1 and 503 BRCA2 mutation carriers with breast cancer. METHODS: Women were followed from the date of diagnosis of their first breast cancer until the date of diagnosis of a contralateral breast cancer, bilateral mastectomy, date of death, or date of last follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of contralateral breast cancer associated with oophorectomy. Oophorectomy was included as a time-dependent covariate. We performed a left-censored analysis for those women who reported a primary breast cancer prior to study entry (i.e., from completion of baseline questionnaire). RESULTS: After an average of 9.8 years of follow-up, there were 179 (7.8%) contralateral breast cancers diagnosed. Oophorectomy was not associated with the risk of developing a second breast cancer (HR 0.92; 95% CI 0.68-1.25). The relationship did not vary by BRCA mutation type or by age at diagnosis of the first breast cancer. There was some evidence for a decreased risk of contralateral breast cancer among women with an ER-positive primary breast cancer, but this was based on a small number of events (n = 240). CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings suggest that oophorectomy has little impact on the risk of contralateral breast cancer.

Oestrogen receptor status and survival in women with BRCA2-associated breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the predictors of mortality, including ER status, in women with a BRCA2 mutation and breast cancer. METHODS: Eligible participants were identified from within two longitudinal cohorts. These patients were selected because they were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1975 and 2015 and carried a BRCA2 mutation. Data were abstracted from the medical record and pathology report. We analysed the effects of ER status and other variables on breast cancer specific survival using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety women with breast cancer and a BRCA2 mutation were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up time was 12.3 years (range 1-39 years) and 89 subjects died (22.8%). In the multivariate analysis, women with ER-positive tumours were more likely to die than women with ER-negative tumours (HR 2.08, 95% CI 0.99-4.36, p = 0.05), and this was of borderline significance. For the 233 women with ER-positive tumours the 20-year survival rate was 62.2%, compared to 83.7% for 58 women with ER-negative tumours (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of women with a BRCA2 mutation present with ER-positive breast cancer, and for these women, prognosis may be worse than for BRCA2 carriers with ER-negative breast cancer.

Common genetic variants contribute to incomplete penetrance: evidence from cancer-free BRCA1 mutation carriers.

PURPOSE: The presence of pathogenic germline mutation in BRCA1 gene is considered as the most penetrant genetic predisposition for breast cancer. However, a portion of BRCA1 mutation carriers never develops breast cancer throughout their lifetime. This phenomenon is called incomplete penetrance. Genetic factor is proposed to contribute to this phenomenon, but the details regarding the genetic factor remain elusive. BRCA1 mutations were inherited from the ancestors of the mutation carrier families during human evolution, and their presence is a consistent threat to the survival of the mutation carrier population. In the present study, we hypothesize that evolution could positively select genetic components in the mutation carrier population to suppress the oncogenesis imposed by the predisposition. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To test our hypothesis, we used whole exome sequencing to compare germline variation of all genes in pairs of breast cancer-unaffected and breast cancer-affected BRCA1 mutation carriers, each pair was from the same family carrying the same BRCA1 mutation. RESULTS: We identified a group of 'beneficial' variants enriched in the breast cancer-unaffected carrier group. These were the common variants in human population distributed in multiple genes involved in multiple functionally important pathways. We found a single-nucleotide polymorphism, rs3735400 located in ANLN gene, which plays an essential role in controlling cytokinesis and is often found to be overexpressed in cancer. The carriers of this variant had lower cumulative risk of developing breast cancer; overexpression of the variant-containing ANLN decreased ANLN nuclear localization suppressed expression of the variant-containing ANLN, and decreased the cellular proliferation respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings support our hypothesis that common genetic variants can be evolutionarily selected in BRCA1 mutation carrier population to counterpart the oncogenic effects imposed by mutation predisposition in BRCA1, contributing to the incomplete penetrance.

Age at first full-term birth and breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

PURPOSE: In the general population, an early age at first full-term birth confers protection against the risk of developing breast cancer. The relationship between age at first birth and breast cancer risk is not clear for women with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Thus, we undertook a case-control study of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation to study the effects of age at first full-term birth matched for other reproductive factors. METHODS: Information about reproductive factors, including age at first birth as well as medical history, was collected from a routinely administered research questionnaire. There were 2,295 matched pairs of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation included in the final analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean age at first full-term birth among the BRCA1 (24.9 vs. 25.2; P = 0.10) or BRCA2 mutation carriers (26.5 vs. 26.6 years; P = 0.80). Findings were similar in the analysis limited to cases who were diagnosed with breast cancer prior to age 45. CONCLUSION: This matched analysis of a large number of BRCA mutation carriers suggests that age at first birth has little influence on BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer risk.

Age-specific ovarian cancer risks among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

OBJECTIVES: For women at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, it is important to provide an accurate recommendation for the optimal age for preventive surgery in order to maximize the preventative effect while delaying symptoms associated with early surgical menopause. The goal of the current study was to estimate age-specific incidence rates of ovarian cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. METHODS: From our international registry, we identified 5689 women with no previous diagnosis of ovarian or fallopian tube cancer or preventive oophorectomy. Women were followed from the date of completion of the baseline questionnaire until either a diagnosis of ovarian or fallopian tube cancer, prophylactic oophorectomy, death or last follow-up. The annual and cumulative incidence rates of ovarian cancer were estimated. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 4.7 years (ranges 0-22.6), 195 incident ovarian or fallopian tube cancers were diagnosed (169 [86%] ovarian cancers, 22 [11%] fallopian tube cancers and four [2%] cancers that involved both the ovaries and fallopian tubes). Of these, 45 (23%) cancers were diagnosed at preventive surgery (occult cancers). The cumulative risk of ovarian cancer to age 80 was 49% for BRCA1 and 21% for BRCA2 mutation carriers. The mean age at diagnosis was 51.3 years (ranges 33-84) among women with a BRCA1 mutation and 61.4 years (ranges 44-80) among women with a BRCA2 mutation. CONCLUSION: Based on a cumulative risk of 0.55% to age 35 for BRCA1 mutation carriers and of 0.56% to age 45 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, we recommend bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy before age 40, but ideally by age 35, for women with a BRCA1 mutation and by age 45 for those with a BRCA2 mutation to maximize prevention and to minimize adverse effects.

Hormone Replacement Therapy After Oophorectomy and Breast Cancer Risk Among BRCA1 Mutation Carriers.

Importance: Prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is recommended for BRCA1 mutation carriers to prevent ovarian cancer. Whether or not hormone replacement therapy (HRT) initiated after oophorectomy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer has not been evaluated in a prospective study. Objective: To determine the association between HRT use and BRCA1-associated breast cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers from 80 participating centers in 17 countries was conducted between 1995 and 2017 with a mean follow-up of 7.6 years. Participants had sought genetic testing for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation because of a personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Carriers of BRCA1 mutation with no personal medical history of cancer who underwent bilateral oophorectomy following enrollment were eligible for the cohort study. Exposures: A follow-up questionnaire was administered every 2 years to obtain detailed information on HRT use. A left-truncated Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs associated with the initiation of HRT use postoophorectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident breast cancer. Results: A total of 872 BRCA1 mutation carriers with a mean postoophorectomy follow-up period of 7.6 years (range, 0.4-22.1) were included in this study. Mean (SD) age of participants was 43.4 (8.5) years. Among these, 92 (10.6%) incident breast cancers were diagnosed. Overall, HRT use after oophorectomy was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The HR was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.62-1.52; P = .89) for ever use of any type of HRT vs no use; however, the effects of estrogen alone and combination hormonal therapy were different. After 10 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of breast cancer among women who used estrogen-alone HRT was 12% compared with 22% among women who used estrogen plus progesterone HRT (absolute difference, 10%; log rank P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that use of estrogen after oophorectomy does not increase the risk of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 mutation and should reassure BRCA1 mutation carriers considering preventive surgery that HRT is safe. The possible adverse effect of progesterone-containing HRT warrants further study.

Germline Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A) Mutations Confer Susceptibility to Multiple Myeloma.

Given the frequent and largely incurable occurrence of multiple myeloma, identification of germline genetic mutations that predispose cells to multiple myeloma may provide insight into disease etiology and the developmental mechanisms of its cell of origin, the plasma cell (PC). Here, we identified familial and early-onset multiple myeloma kindreds with truncating mutations in lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A), an epigenetic transcriptional repressor that primarily demethylates histone H3 on lysine 4 and regulates hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal. In addition, we found higher rates of germline truncating and predicted deleterious missense KDM1A mutations in patients with multiple myeloma unselected for family history compared with controls. Both monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma cells have significantly lower KDM1A transcript levels compared with normal PCs. Transcriptome analysis of multiple myeloma cells from KDM1A mutation carriers shows enrichment of pathways and MYC target genes previously associated with myeloma pathogenesis. In mice, antigen challenge followed by pharmacologic inhibition of KDM1A promoted PC expansion, enhanced secondary immune response, elicited appearance of serum paraprotein, and mediated upregulation of MYC transcriptional targets. These changes are consistent with the development of MGUS. Collectively, our findings show that KDM1A is the first autosomal-dominant multiple myeloma germline predisposition gene providing new insights into its mechanistic roles as a tumor suppressor during post-germinal center B-cell differentiation.Significance: KDM1A is the first germline autosomal dominant predisposition gene identified in multiple myeloma and provides new insights into multiple myeloma etiology and the mechanistic role of KDM1A as a tumor suppressor during post-germinal center B-cell differentiation. Cancer Res; 78(10); 2747-59. ©2018 AACR.

Prospective evaluation of body size and breast cancer risk among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests that larger body size in early life confers lifelong protection from developing breast cancer, few studies have investigated the relationship between body size and breast cancer risk among BRCA mutation carriers. Therefore, we conducted a prospective evaluation of body size and the risk of breast cancer among BRCA mutation carriers. METHODS: Current height and body mass index (BMI) at age 18 were determined from baseline questionnaires. Current BMI and weight change since age 18 were calculated from updated biennial follow-up questionnaires. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Among 3734 BRCA mutation carriers, there were 338 incident breast cancers over a mean follow-up of 5.5 years. There was no association between height, current BMI or weight change and breast cancer risk. Women with BMI at age 18 ≥22.1 kg/m2 had a decreased risk of developing post-menopausal breast cancer compared with women with a BMI at age 18 between 18.8 and 20.3 kg/m2 (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.30-0.82; P = 0.006). BMI at age 18 was not associated with risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: There was no observed association between height, current BMI and weight change and risk of breast cancer. The inverse relationship between greater BMI at age 18 and post-menopausal breast cancer further supports a role of early rather than current or adulthood exposures for BRCA-associated breast cancer development. Future studies with longer follow-up and additional measures of adiposity are necessary to confirm these findings.

Physical activity during adolescence and young adulthood and the risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is inversely associated with the risk of breast cancer among women in the general population. It is not clear whether or not physical activity is associated with the risk of BRCA-associated breast cancer. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 443 matched pairs of BRCA mutation carriers to evaluate the association between physical activity and breast cancer risk. Moderate and vigorous physical activities at ages 12-13, ages 14-17, ages 18-22, ages 23-29 and ages 30-34 were determined using the Nurses' Health Study II Physical Activity Questionnaire. We estimated mean metabolic equivalent task hours/week for moderate, vigorous and total physical activities overall (ages 12-34), during adolescence (ages 12-17) and during early adulthood (ages 18-34). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for total, moderate and strenuous recreational physical activities and breast cancer risk, by menopausal status. RESULTS: Overall, there was no significant association between total physical activity and subsequent breast cancer risk (ORQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.01, 95% CI 0.69-1.47; P-trend = 0.72). Moderate physical activity between ages 12-17 was associated with a 38% decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer (ORQ4 vs. Q1 = 0.62; 95% CI 0.40-0.96; P-trend = 0.01). We found no association between exercise and breast cancer diagnosed after menopause. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that early-life physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer among BRCA mutation carriers. IMPACT: Future prospective analyses, complemented by mechanistic evidence, are warranted in this high-risk population.