Constitutional Mosaicism Research Articles

Constitutional mosaicism of pathogenic variants in SMARCB1 in a subset of patients with sporadic rhabdoid tumors.

Malignant rhabdoid tumors are aggressive malignancies predominantly affecting very young children. The characteristic genetic alteration is biallelic inactivation of SMARCB1. In approximately 30% of patients one SMARCB1 allele is constitutionally altered conferring a particularly unfavourable prognosis. Constitutional mosaicism for pathogenic SMARCB1 mutations has recently been reported in distinct cases of allegedly sporadic rhabdoid tumors. We aimed to systematically investigate the frequency and clinical impact of constitutional mosaicism in patients with sporadic rhabdoid tumors included in the EU-RHAB registry. We selected 29 patients with rhabdoid tumors displaying at least one pathogenic small variant in SMARCB1 in the tumor DNA and absence of a germline mutation. We re-screened blood-derived patient and control DNA for the respective small variant by PCR with unique molecular identifiers and ultra-deep next generation sequencing. Clinical data in patients with and without mosaicism and 174 EU-RHAB controls were compared. Employing an ultra-deep sequencing approach, we detected tumor-associated SMARCB1 variants in blood-derived DNA in 9/29 patients. In 6/29 patients (21%), whose variant allele frequency (VAF) exceeded 2%, constitutional mosaicism was assumed whereas tumor DNA contamination was documented in 1/3 patients with VAF below 1%. No significant differences were observed between 6 mosaic-positive and 20 -negative patients regarding age at diagnosis, presence of metastases, event-free or overall survival. Constitutional mosaicism for pathogenic small SMARCB1 variants is recurrent in patients with allegedly sporadic rhabdoid tumors. The clinical implications of such variants need to be determined in larger, prospective cohorts also including detection of structural variants of SMARCB1.

Abstract PS07-09: Prenatal BRCA1 epimutations is a major cause of triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background: Low level normal cell BRCA1 epimutations have been associated with an increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the fraction of TNBCs that may have BRCA1 epimutations as their underlying cause is unknown. Neither are the time of occurrence and the potential inheritance pattern of BRCA1 epimutations established. Methods: To address these questions, we analyzed BRCA1 methylation status in breast cancer tissue and matched white blood cells (WBC) from 411 patients with primary breast cancer, including 66 TNBCs. Samples were analyzed by a highly sensitive next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay on an Illumina MiSeq sequencer, allowing allele-resolved methylation assessment. Further, to assess the time of origin and the characteristics of normal cell BRCA1 methylation, we analyzed umbilical cord samples from 1260 newborn girls and 200 newborn boys.To assess potential Mendelian heritage, we analyzed BRCA1 methylation status in WBCs from 575 mothers and 531 fathers of newborn girls with (n = 102) and without (n = 473) WBC BRCA1 methylation. Results: We found concordant tumor and mosaic WBC BRCA1 epimutations in 10 out of 66 patients with TNBC and in four out of six patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-low expression (< 10%) of tumors (combined 14 out of 72; 19.4%, CI: 11.1-30.5). These exceeded the number of tumors harboring germline (n = 5) or somatic (n = 4) BRCA1 mutations. Notably, BRCA1 methylation and BRCA1 mutations were mutually exclusive. Contrasting the findings in TNBC and ER-low exprssion tumors, we found WBC and tumor BRCA1 methylation concordance in only three out of 221 patients with ER >10+% tumors and zero out of 116 patients with HER2 positive tumors. Intraindividually, BRCA1 epimutations affected the same allele in normal and tumor cells. Assessing BRCA1 methylation in umbilical cord WBCs from newborn girls, we found mosaic, predominantly monoallelic BRCA1 epimutations, with qualitative features similar to those in adults, in 113/1260 (9.0%) of individuals. We found no correlation between WBC BRCA1 methylation in newborns and methylation status in their mothers, fathers, or any parent. Notably, WBC BRCA1 methylation occurred at a significantly lower frequency in newborn boys ( 9/200; 4.5%) as compared to newborn girls (p = 0.038). Similarly, WBC BRCA1 methylation was found less common among fathers (16/531; 3.0%), as compared to mothers (46/575; 8.0%; p = 0.0003). Conclusions: Our findings suggest prenatal BRCA1 epimutations might be the underlying cause of around 20% of TNBC and low-ER expressing breast cancers. Such constitutional mosaic BRCA1 methylation likely arise through gender-related mechanisms in utero, independent of Mendelian inheritance. Citation Format: Per Lonning, Hans Petter Eikesdal, Elisabet Ognedal, Bjornar Gilje, Steinar Lundgren, Egil Blix, Helge Espelid, Jürgen Geisler, Stephanie Geisler, Emiel Janssen, Synnøve Yndestad, Laura Minsaas, Beryl Leirvaag, Reidun Lillestol, Stian Knappskog, Oleksii Nikolaienko. Prenatal BRCA1 epimutations is a major cause of triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS07-09.

Prenatal BRCA1 epimutations contribute significantly to triple-negative breast cancer development

BackgroundNormal cell BRCA1 epimutations have been associated with increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the fraction of TNBCs that may have BRCA1 epimutations as their underlying cause is unknown. Neither are the time of occurrence and the potential inheritance patterns of BRCA1 epimutations established.MethodsTo address these questions, we analyzed BRCA1 methylation status in breast cancer tissue and matched white blood cells (WBC) from 408 patients with 411 primary breast cancers, including 66 TNBCs, applying a highly sensitive sequencing assay, allowing allele-resolved methylation assessment. Furthermore, to assess the time of origin and the characteristics of normal cell BRCA1 methylation, we analyzed umbilical cord blood of 1260 newborn girls and 200 newborn boys. Finally, we assessed BRCA1 methylation status among 575 mothers and 531 fathers of girls with (n = 102) and without (n = 473) BRCA1 methylation.ResultsWe found concordant tumor and mosaic WBC BRCA1 epimutations in 10 out of 66 patients with TNBC and in four out of six patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-low expression (< 10%) tumors (combined: 14 out of 72; 19.4%; 95% CI 11.1–30.5). In contrast, we found concordant WBC and tumor methylation in only three out of 220 patients with 221 ER ≥ 10% tumors and zero out of 114 patients with 116 HER2-positive tumors. Intraindividually, BRCA1 epimutations affected the same allele in normal and tumor cells. Assessing BRCA1 methylation in umbilical WBCs from girls, we found mosaic, predominantly monoallelic BRCA1 epimutations, with qualitative features similar to those in adults, in 113/1260 (9.0%) of individuals, but no correlation to BRCA1 methylation status either in mothers or fathers. A significantly lower fraction of newborn boys carried BRCA1 methylation (9/200; 4.5%) as compared to girls (p = 0.038). Similarly, WBC BRCA1 methylation was found less common among fathers (16/531; 3.0%), as compared to mothers (46/575; 8.0%; p = 0.0003).ConclusionsOur findings suggest prenatal BRCA1 epimutations might be the underlying cause of around 20% of TNBC and low-ER expression breast cancers. Such constitutional mosaic BRCA1 methylation likely arise through gender-related mechanisms in utero, independent of Mendelian inheritance.

Unexpected Findings in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome: Low-Level Constitutional Mosaicism in BRCA2.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) is a clinical entity characterized by an increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The genetic diagnosis is based on the identification of heterozygous germinal variants in HBOC susceptibility genes. However, it has recently been described that constitutional mosaic variants can contribute to the aetiology of HBOC. In constitutional mosaicism, individuals have at least two genotypically distinct populations of cells that arise from an early post-zygote event. The mutational event occurs early enough in development to affect several tissues. It is detected in germinal genetic studies as low variant allele frequency (VAF) variants (<30%) that are generally overlooked during the prioritization process. Constitutional mosaic variants can affect both somatic and germinal cells, and thus can be passed to the offspring and have important consequences for genetic counselling. In this work, we report the c.9648+1G>A mosaic variant in the BRCA2 gene and propose a diagnostic algorithm to deal with potential mosaic findings identified by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Low-level constitutional mosaicism of BRCA1 in two women with young onset ovarian cancer

Germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 cause hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The vast majority of these variants are inherited from a parent. De novo constitutional pathogenic variants are rare. Even fewer cases of constitutional mosaicism have been reported and these have mostly been described in women with breast cancer. Here we report low-level constitutional mosaicism identified by Next Generation Sequencing in two women with ovarian cancer. A BRCA1 c.5074G > A p.(Asp1692Asn) variant detected in the first female at 42 years, classed as likely pathogenic, was found in ~ 52% of reads in DNA extracted from tumour, ~ 10% of reads in DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and ~ 10% of reads in DNA extracted from buccal mucosa. The second BRCA1 c.2755_2758dupCCTG p.(Val920AlafsTer6) variant was detected in a female aged 53 years, classed as pathogenic, and was found in ~ 59% of reads in DNA extracted from tumour, ~ 14% of reads in DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and similarly in ~ 14% of reads in both DNA extracted from buccal mucosa and urine sample. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of these variants at a corresponding low level consistent with mosaicism that may not have been detected by this method alone. This report demonstrates the clinical benefit for two women of BRCA1/BRCA2 germline NGS testing at a depth that can detect low-level mosaicism. As well as informing appropriate treatments, tumour sequencing results may facilitate the detection and interpretation of low-level mosaic variants in the germline. Both results have implications for other cancer risks and for relatives when providing a family cancer risk assessment and reproductive risk. The implications for laboratory practice, clinical genetics management and genetic counselling for constitutional mosaicism of BRCA1/BRCA2 are discussed.

Constitutional Mosaicism: A Critical Issue in the Definition of BRCA-Inherited Cancer Risk.

Constitutional Mosaicism: A Critical Issue in the Definition of BRCA-Inherited Cancer Risk.

Fibroblast testing can inform medical management in individuals with mosaic variants detected on hereditary cancer panels

Mosaic variants are regularly detected on hereditary cancer genetic tests. While some of these variants may be constitutional, the majority are likely limited to blood lineages. In the present study, we correlate clinical histories from individuals with mosaic findings identified on hereditary cancer testing and the outcomes of follow-up fibroblast (FB) testing. We observed 620 mosaic variants, including 339 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs) occurring most often in TP53, CHEK2, ATM, and NF1. About half of individuals with NF1 mosaic PVs did not report any clinical features of NF1 and were older at testing (p<0.0001) compared to those with an NF1-related phenotype. Among 42 mosaic PVs evaluated by FB testing, 17 (40.5%) were confirmed in FB and were mostly identified in individuals with phenotypes consistent with the gene disease spectrum. Our data show that FB testing is helpful for identifying those with likely constitutional mosaicism benefitting from increased screening and follow-up vs. those with blood-limited variants potentially not requiring intense surveillance but warranting further hematologic work-up.

OP014: Fibroblast testing can inform medical management in individuals with mosaic variants detected on hereditary cancer panels

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has improved efficiency and increased sensitivity of genetic testing, making it possible to detect variants present at lower allele fraction, referred to as mosaic. For some syndromic genes such as NF1, constitutional mosaicism is a well-known phenomenon associated with segmental, unilateral, and/or less-severe disease. Within the context of hereditary cancer testing, however, the majority of mosaic variants are likely limited to blood and/or blood precursor cells.

Nearly half of TP53 variants are misattributed to Li-Fraumeni syndrome: A clinical evaluation of individuals with TP53 variants detected by hereditary cancer panel assays on blood or saliva.

10501 Background: Multigene panel testing (MGPT) has identified TP53 pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in patients with diverse phenotypes from no cancer to classic Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). There is increasing recognition of variants at low allelic fraction (VAF) for TP53 in particular, which can be suggestive of post-zygotic mosaicism or aberrant clonal expansion (ACE), comprising clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) or occult hematologic neoplasia. Distinguishing among these categories is essential because of widely different cancer risk and management implications for patients and their relatives. We report an evaluation of TP53 positive probands to determine germline versus somatic status from a cancer genetics clinic. Methods: We reviewed probands with TP53 P/LP variants by MGPT on blood (N = 83) or saliva (N = 1) samples from 2012-2019. Available VAFs were collected from commercial testing laboratories. Probands positive for a known familial variant, who met LFS testing criteria without indication of low VAF, or who carried the Brazil founder p.R337H variant were considered germline. For those with uncertain germline status, data was obtained from ancillary testing of family members, cultured skin fibroblasts, and other somatic benign or tumor tissues. TP53 variants were further categorized based on all available data. Results: Of the 84 probands, 28 (33%) had germline TP53 P/LP variants determined by above initial criteria; 18 (21%) were confirmed germline through ancillary testing. Seven (8%) individuals were classified as having constitutional mosaicism. In eleven (13%) individuals, the TP53 variants were consistent with ACE, in 9 (11%) with CHIP and in 2 (2%) with a hematologic malignancy (1 CLL, 1 NHL). Five (6%) cases could not be categorized despite ancillary testing. Fifteen (18%) probands declined any further workup. Conclusions: A TP53 P/LP variant found on peripheral blood or saliva MGPT does not always originate in the germline. In a clinical cancer genetics cohort, only 54% of patients had TP53 P/LP germline variants; these patients plus those with constitutional mosaicism (8%) require intensified surveillance. Assessment of VAF, family member testing, and analysis of TP53 in cultured fibroblasts or other tissue samples may distinguish germline and constitutional mosaic variants from the ACE spectrum. Expanding use of MGPT will increase this clinical challenge, which may motivate the modification of lab reports to include VAF and possible non-germline explanations. The findings of this study support a framework of multiple strategies to discern true constitutional status of a TP53 P/LP variant.

The PSPP Judgment of the Bundesverfassungsgericht and the Slovenian Constitutional System

The BVerfG’s judgment on the PSPP marks another important part of the EU constitutional mosaic. It was the first time that the court declared an EU act ultra vires. Intense academic commentary ensued, mostly adopting a critical attitude towards the judgment. However, a summary rejection of the underlying idea of an exceptional national constitutional review of EU acts does not seem warranted. Unconditional primacy has been disputed by different national courts for some time now, and on two occasions, national apex courts already declared EU acts ultra vires. Considering its inherent diversity, the EU should be able to accommodate legitimate national constitutional concerns. A common frame of reference, possibly provided by Art. 4(2) TEU, could facilitate such accommodation if very high standards of violation were adopted by national courts, which would also respect the principle of loyal cooperation. In this regard, EU law also marks red lines when it comes to its fundamental principles, limiting the possibility of abuse. The Slovenian Constitution introduces EU law through Art. 3a, adopted for the purpose of accession to the EU. The Slovenian Constitutional Court's case law is generally very EU-friendly, and it could be marked by cooperative vagueness, echoing the doctrines of the CJEU. A clear answer regarding the relationship between national (constitutional) law and EU law is lacking in its jurisprudence. The court explicitly left the question of absolute primacy open. The substantive preconditions for the transfer of sovereign rights in Art. 3a, namely, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the principles of the rule of law, have been interpreted in different ways in academia. However, considering the inalienable right to self-determination, in exceptional cases of serious encroachment on fundamental constitutional values, the SCC would probably adopt its version of the BVerfG’s doctrines.

The Combination of Single-Cell and Next-Generation Sequencing Can Reveal Mosaicism for BRCA2 Mutations and the Fine Molecular Details of Tumorigenesis.

Simple SummaryGermline and somatic BRCA1/2 mutations may define therapeutic targets and refine cancer treatment options. However, routine BRCA diagnostic approaches cannot reveal the exact time and origin of BRCA1/2 mutation formation, and thus, the fine details of their contribution to tumor progression remain less clear. We established a diagnostic pipeline using high-resolution microscopy and laser microcapture microscopy to test for BRCA1/2 mutations in tumors at the single-cell level, followed by deep next-generation sequencing of various tissues from the patient. To demonstrate the power of our approach, here we present a detailed analysis of an ovarian cancer patient, in which we describe constitutional somatic mosaicism of a BRCA2 mutation. Characterization of the mosaic mutation at the single-cell level contributes to a better understanding of BRCA mutation formation and supports the concept that the combination of single-cell and next-generation sequencing methods is advantageous over traditional mutational analysis methods.Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Germline and somatic BRCA1/2 mutations may define therapeutic targets and refine cancer treatment options. However, routine BRCA diagnostic approaches cannot reveal the exact time and origin of BRCA1/2 mutation formation, and thus, the fine details of their contribution to tumor progression remain less clear. Here, we establish a diagnostic pipeline using high-resolution microscopy and laser microcapture microscopy to test for BRCA1/2 mutations in the tumor at the single-cell level, followed by deep next-generation sequencing of various tissues from the patient. To demonstrate the power of our approach, here, we describe a detailed single-cell-level analysis of an ovarian cancer patient we found to exhibit constitutional somatic mosaicism of a pathogenic BRCA2 mutation. Employing next-generation sequencing, BRCA2 c.7795G>T, p.(Glu2599Ter) was detected in 78% of reads in DNA extracted from ovarian cancer tissue and 25% of reads in DNA derived from peripheral blood, which differs significantly from the expected 50% of a hereditary mutation. The BRCA2 mutation was subsequently observed at 17–20% levels in the normal ovarian and buccal tissue of the patient. Together, our findings suggest that this mutation occurred early in embryonic development. Characterization of the mosaic mutation at the single-cell level contributes to a better understanding of BRCA mutation formation and supports the concept that the combination of single-cell and next-generation sequencing methods is advantageous over traditional mutational analysis methods. This study is the first to characterize constitutional mosaicism down to the single-cell level, and it demonstrates that BRCA2 mosaicism occurring early during embryogenesis can drive tumorigenesis in ovarian cancer.

Apparently Heterozygous TP53 Pathogenic Variants May Be Blood Limited in Patients Undergoing Hereditary Cancer Panel Testing

Heterozygous (HET) TP53 pathogenic variants (PVs) are associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a dominantly inherited condition causing high risk for sarcoma, breast, and other cancers. Recent reports describe patients without features of LFS and apparently HET TP53 PVs in blood cells but not fibroblasts (FBs), suggesting the variant occurred sporadically during hematopoiesis and rose to high allele fraction through clonal expansion. To explore possible clonal hematopoiesis in patients undergoing hereditary cancer testing, FB testing was performed for patients with apparently HET or mosaic TP53 PVs identified in blood, oral rinse, or buccal specimens via next-generation sequencing panels. Among 291 individuals with TP53 PVs, 146 (50.2%) appeared HET and 145 (49.8%) were mosaic. Twenty-eight HET cases were proven constitutional through familial testing. FB testing was completed for 17 apparently HET and 36 mosaic patients. FB testing was positive in 11 of 17 (64.7%) apparently HET patients, only one of whom met Chompret criteria. Of 36 mosaic patients, 5 (13.9%) were also mosaic in FBs, indicating constitutional mosaicism. Breast cancers in patients with constitutional TP53 PVs were diagnosed at younger ages (P<0.0001) and more likely to demonstrate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression (P=0.0003). These results demonstrate the utility of cultured FB testing to clarify constitutional status for TP53 PVs identified on next-generation sequencing panels, particularly for patients not meeting LFS or Chompret criteria.

Highly sensitive MLH1 methylation analysis in blood identifies a cancer patient with low-level mosaic MLH1 epimutation

Constitutional MLH1 methylation (epimutation) is a rare cause of Lynch syndrome. Low-level methylation (≤ 10%) has occasionally been described. This study aimed to identify low-level constitutional MLH1 epimutations and determine its causal role in patients with MLH1-hypermethylated colorectal cancer.Eighteen patients with MLH1-hypermethylated colorectal tumors in whom MLH1 methylation was previously undetected in blood by methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) were screened for MLH1 methylation using highly sensitive MS-melting curve analysis (MS-MCA). Constitutional methylation was characterized by different approaches.MS-MCA identified one patient (5.6%) with low-level MLH1 methylation (~ 1%) in blood and other normal tissues, which was confirmed by clonal bisulfite sequencing in blood. The patient had developed three clonally related gastrointestinal MLH1-methylated tumor lesions at 22, 24, and 25 years of age. The methylated region in normal tissues overlapped with that reported for other carriers of constitutional MLH1 epimutations. Low-level MLH1 methylation and reduced allelic expression were linked to the same genetic haplotype, whereas the opposite allele was lost in patient’s tumors. Mutation screening of MLH1 and other hereditary cancer genes was negative.Herein, a highly sensitive MS-MCA-based approach has demonstrated its utility for the identification of low-level constitutional MLH1 epigenetic mosaicism. The eventual identification and characterization of additional cases will be critical to ascertain the cancer risks associated with constitutional MLH1 epigenetic mosaicism.

A substantial proportion of apparently heterozygous TP53 pathogenic variants detected with a next-generation sequencing hereditary pan-cancer panel are acquired somatically.

Previous analysis of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) hereditary pan‐cancer panel testing demonstrated that approximately 40% of TP53 pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (PVs) detected have NGS allele frequencies between 10% and 30%, indicating that they likely are acquired somatically. These are seen more frequently in older adults, suggesting that most result from normal aging‐related clonal hematopoiesis. For this analysis, apparent heterozygous germline TP53 PV carriers (NGS allele frequency 30–70%) were offered follow‐up testing to confirm variant origin. Ninety‐eight probands had samples submitted for follow‐up family member testing, fibroblast testing, or both. The apparent heterozygous germline TP53 PV was not detected in 32.6% (15/46) of submitted fibroblast samples, indicating that it was acquired somatically, either through clonal hematopoiesis or via constitutional mosaicism. Notably, no individuals with confirmed germline or likely germline TP53 PVs met classic Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) criteria, only 41% met Chompret LFS criteria, and 59% met neither criteria, based upon provider‐reported personal and family cancer history. Comprehensive reporting of TP53 PVs detected using NGS, combined with follow‐up analysis to confirm variant origin, is advised for clinical testing laboratories. These findings underscore the investment required to provide individuals and family members with clinically accurate genetic test results pertaining to their LFS risk.

Constitutional Mosaic Epimutations - a hidden cause of cancer?

Silencing of tumor suppressor genes by promoter hypermethylation is a key mechanism to facilitate cancer progression in many malignancies. While promoter hypermethylation can occur at later stages of the carcinogenesis process, constitutional methylation of key tumor suppressors may be an initiating event whereby cancer is started. Constitutional BRCA1 methylation due to cis-acting germline genetic variants is associated with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, this seems to be a rare event, restricted to a very limited number of families. In contrast, mosaic constitutional BRCA1 methylation is detected in 4-7% of newborn females without germline BRCA1 mutations. While the cause of such methylation is poorly understood, mosaic normal tissue BRCA1 methylation is associated with a 2-3 fold increased risk of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). As such, BRCA1 methylation may be the cause of a significant number of ovarian cancers. Given the molecular similarities between HGSOC and basal-like breast cancer, the findings with respect to HGSOC suggest that constitutional BRCA1 methylation could be a risk factor for basal-like breast cancer as well. Similar to BRCA1, some specific germline variants in MLH1 and MSH2 are associated with promoter methylation and a high risk of colorectal cancers in rare hereditary cases of the disease. However, as many as 15% of all colorectal cancers are of the microsatellite instability (MSI) “high” subtype, in which commonly the tumors harbor MLH1 hypermethylation. Constitutional mosaic methylation of MLH1 in normal tissues has been detected but not formally evaluated as a potential risk factor for incidental colorectal cancers. However, the findings with respect to BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancer raises the question whether mosaic MLH1 methylation is a risk factor for MSI positive colorectal cancer as well. As for MGMT, a promoter variant is associated with elevated methylation across a panel of solid cancers, and MGMT promoter methylation may contribute to an elevated cancer risk in several of these malignancies. We hypothesize that constitutional mosaic promoter methylation of crucial tumor suppressors may trigger certain types of cancer, similar to germline mutations inactivating the same particular genes. Such constitutional methylation events may be a spark to ignite cancer development, and if associated with a significant cancer risk, screening for such epigenetic alterations could be part of cancer prevention programs to reduce cancer mortality in the future.

Constitutional mosaicism in RASA1-related capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation.

Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM) is caused by germline RASA1 and EPHB4 alterations. RASA1 intralesional second hits have also been reported. Here we report RASA1 constitutional mosaicism, defined here as the presence of a mosaic variant in all cell types of an individual, in two patients with CM-AVM. High-throughput sequencing was used to search for RASA1 pathogenic variants in blood samples from two unrelated patients with CM-AVM. An affected tissue sample from one of the patients was also analyzed. Both patients showed different nonsense RASA1 variants in mosaic, ranging from 7% to 21.5%, in blood samples and in the corresponding affected tissue sample from one of the patients. In conclusion, we report for the first time the presence of RASA1 constitutional mosaicism in CM-AVM. Constitutional mosaicism has implications for accurate molecular diagnosis and recurrence risk and helps to explain the great phenotypic variability in CM-AVM.

Turner syndrome: New insights from prenatal genomics and transcriptomics.

In some parts of the world, prenatal screening using analysis of circulating cell-free (cf) DNA in the plasma of pregnant women has become part of routine prenatal care with limited professional guidelines and without significant input from the Turner syndrome community. In contrast to the very high positive predictive values (PPVs) achieved with cfDNA analysis for trisomy 21 (91% for high-risk and 82% for low-risk cases), the PPVs for monosomy X are much lower (~26%). This is because the maternal plasma sample contains both maternal cfDNA and placental DNA, which is a proxy for the fetal genome. Underlying biological mechanisms for false positive monosomy X screening results include confined placental mosaicism, co-twin demise, and maternal mosaicism. Somatic loss of a single X chromosome in the mother is a natural phenomenon that occurs with aging; this could explain many of the false positive cfDNA results. There is also increased awareness of women who have constitutional mosaicism for 45, X who are fertile. It is important to recognize that a positive cfDNA screen for 45, X does not mean that the fetus has Turner syndrome. A follow-up diagnostic test, either amniocentesis or neonatal karyotype/chromosome microarray, is recommended. Research studies on cell-free mRNA in second trimester amniotic fluid, which is almost exclusively fetal, demonstrate consistent dysregulation of genes involved in the hematologic, immune, and neurologic systems. This suggests that some of the pathophysiology of Turner syndrome occurs early in fetal life and presents novel opportunities for consideration of antenatal treatments.

Abstract PD1-06: Mosaic TP53 variants in women with breast cancer

Abstract Background: Germline TP53 pathogenic variants are indicative of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a dominantly inherited hereditary cancer syndrome with high lifetime risks for female breast and other cancers. Genetic testing for LFS may reveal mosaicism, indicating a variant is present in some, but not all, of the cells tested. While these findings may represent a true constitutional event, mosaicism for TP53 variants also has been reported as a somatic event in lymphoblastoid cells from individuals with hematologic malignancy, previous chemotherapy exposure, or due to age-related clonal hematopoietic expansion. Understanding if a mosaic variant is constitutional can influence the patient's management and impact familial risk assessment. We present clinical history and follow-up testing from a series of female breast cancer patients with blood or oral rinse testing revealing a mosaic TP53 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant (collectively, PV). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical history and genetic testing results to identify women with a personal history of breast cancer and mosaicism for one or more TP53 PV identified on multi-gene hereditary cancer testing at our clinical diagnostic laboratory. Descriptive statistics were employed. Results: Forty-eight women with breast cancer were identified as having a mosaic TP53 PV, defined as an allelic fraction of &amp;lt;35%. Mean age at first breast cancer diagnosis was 49.2 years. Twenty children of 13 women with mosaic TP53 PV pursued targeted testing; none were positive for their mother's TP53 PV. Six of the 48 women (16.7%) pursued cultured fibroblast testing for the mosaic TP53 PV. In five, the PV was not found in fibroblasts. All five were diagnosed with breast cancer &amp;gt;40 years of age and three had other primary cancer diagnoses, including one with sarcoma. In one patient with early-onset and HER2-positive breast cancer, testing of fibroblasts also identified mosaicism for the TP53 PV, indicating constitutional mosaicism. Conclusions: For individuals with a mosaic TP53 PV, identification of the variant in a second tissue is necessary to confirm constitutional mosaicism and heightened risk for other LFS-associated cancers. In this series, additional testing confirmed one of six patients with mosaic TP53 PV pursuing fibroblast testing to have constitutional mosaicism. This individual's breast cancer was HER2-positive and her age at diagnosis was younger than those whose mosaic PV was not identified in fibroblasts. Additional follow-up testing data are needed to understand whether confirmatory testing in a second tissue is indicated for any breast cancer patient with a mosaic TP53 PV, or would be most likely to reveal constitutional mosaicism in individuals whose breast cancers are HER2-positive or early-onset. Citation Format: Mester JL, Postula K, Bissonnette J, Klein RT, Hruska K. Mosaic TP53 variants in women with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD1-06.

Constitutional mosaicism of a de novo TP53 mutation in a patient with bilateral choroid plexus carcinoma

Choroid plexus tumors (CPT) constitute 2%-5% of all pediatric brain tumors and include high grade choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC). About 40% of CPC patients harbor germline TP53 mutations, associated with diminished survival rates. However, the number of TP53 carriers might be underestimated due to suboptimal ability of Sanger sequencing to identify mosaicism. We describe an 18-month-old boy with ultra-rare, bilateral disseminated CPC and negative family history of cancer. Next generation sequencing (NGS) revealed constitutional mosaicism of de novo TP53 mutation, which was barely detectable by Sanger sequencing. This is the first description of a de novo TP53 mutation mosaicism in a patient with CPC. Up to now four cases of de novo TP53 mutations in CPC patients have been described but none of them were mosaic. Since TP53 mutation mosaicism may have an impact on management of patients and predisposition to other cancers, a reliable method of identification is important. Our results highlight the utility of high-throughput technologies in detection of potentially important genetic markers.

Abstract P2-02-02: Clinical significance of TP53 mosaic mutations uncovered in constitutional genetic testing

Abstract Background: Mosaic findings (mutations outside of the expected 50:50 allele ratio) are often detected in the course of routine constitutional genetic testing due to the high sensitivity of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The significance of these findings is however often unclear. They can result from constitutional mosaicism secondary to an early embryological event, an acquired somatic mutation in hematopoietic cells, a technical artifact, or (less likely) a reversion event. Studies have shown that clonal hematopoiesis increases with age, seen in up to 10% and 25% of individuals 65 and 90 years of age, respectively. Additional studies have demonstrated expansion of TP53 mutations in peripheral blood cells following chemotherapy administration. We therefore wanted to investigate the potential clinical significance of mosaic mutations found in the peripheral blood in samples submitted for hereditary cancer testing with a focus on TP53. Methods: We examined high-depth NGS data from blood cell-derived DNA for mutations with pathogenic potential suggestive of mosaicism (5-30% allele frequency) in known hereditary cancer genes. For each gene, we determined the average ages of patients tested and compared these distributions to the distribution of ages of patients found to have mosaic mutations. For the mosaic TP53 mutations, we further characterized the mutations found as well as described the clinical scenarios in which the mosaic findings occurred. Results: To date, 101 patients were found to have possibly mosaic mutations with pathogenic potential, including 26 cases with TP53 mutations (0.07% of patients tested), 16 with CHEK2 mutations (0.05%), and 16 with ATM mutations (0.05%). Significant bias towards older ages is seen in patients with ATM (p= 0.0026) and CHEK2 (p=4.2x10-6) mosaic findings. Mosaic TP53 and NF1 mutations were also enriched in older patients , although not as significantly as CHEK2 and ATM mosaic patients. 24/25 patients with TP53 mosaic mutations with a known history were cancer affected. In the COSMIC database, 20/20 of the TP53 mosaic mutations are associated with neoplastic conditions and 13/20 are associated with hematolymphoid neoplasms. 15/20 of the pathogenic mosaic TP53 findings were seen previously in our lab at a ratio corresponding to germline, thereby significantly lessening the possibility of technical artifact. Conclusion: The statistically significant older ages of patients with ATM and CHEK2 mosaic variants suggests that many of these are acquired changes in hematopoietic stem cells rather than constitutional mosaicism per se. Although NF1 is known to be associated with constitutional mosaicism, the bias towards older patients of the NF1 mosaics we saw similarly suggests that most are acquired changes in the hematopoietic stem cells. The less significant age bias in the TP53 events suggests that chemotherapy administration may be leading to enrichment of TP53 mutated clones, although an increased rate of constitutional mosaicism cannot be ruled out. Citation Format: Deucher A, Lincoln S, Sorenson J. Clinical significance of TP53 mosaic mutations uncovered in constitutional genetic testing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-02-02.