Germline deletions in the tumour suppressor gene FOCAD are associated with polyposis and colorectal cancer development. Issue 2 (26th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weren, Robbert DA; Venkatachalam, Ramprasath; Cazier, Jean‐Baptiste; Farin, Henner F; Kets, C Marleen; de Voer, Richarda M; Vreede, Lilian; Verwiel, Eugène TP; van Asseldonk, Monique; Kamping, Eveline J; Kiemeney, Lambertus A; Neveling, Kornelia; Aben, Katja KH; Carvajal‐Carmona, Luis; Nagtegaal, Iris D; Schackert, Hans K; Clevers, Hans; van de Wetering, Marc; Tomlinson, Ian P; Ligtenberg, Marjolijn JL; Hoogerbrugge, Nicoline; Geurts van Kessel, Ad; Kuiper, Roland P
• Is Part Of: Journal of pathology. Volume 236:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 164
• Publication Date: 2015-03-26
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1002/path.4520
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3417

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="path4520-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="path4520-para-0001">Heritable genetic variants can significantly affect the lifetime risk of developing cancer, including polyposis and colorectal cancer (CRC). Variants in genes currently known to be associated with a high risk for polyposis or CRC, however, explain only a limited number of hereditary cases. The identification of additional genetic causes is, therefore, crucial to improve CRC prevention, detection and treatment. We have performed genome‐wide and targeted DNA copy number profiling and resequencing in early‐onset and familial polyposis/CRC patients, and show that deletions affecting the open reading frame of the tumour suppressor gene <italic>FOCAD</italic> are recurrent and significantly enriched in CRC patients compared with unaffected controls. All patients carrying <italic>FOCAD</italic> deletions exhibited a personal or family history of polyposis. RNA <italic>in situ</italic> hybridization revealed <italic>FOCAD</italic> expression in epithelial cells in the colonic crypt, the site of tumour initiation, as well as in colonic tumours and organoids. Our data suggest that monoallelic germline deletions in the tumour suppressor gene <italic>FOCAD</italic> underlie moderate genetic predisposition to the development of polyposis and CRC. © 2015 Authors. Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.</p> </abstract>