Hepatoblastoma and APC gene mutation in familial adenomatous polyposis.
BACKGROUND
Hepatoblastoma is a rare, rapidly progressive, usually fatal childhood malignancy, which if confined to the liver can be cured by radical surgical resection. An association between hepatoblastoma and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which is due to germline mutation of the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene, has been confirmed, but correlation with site of APC mutation has not been studied.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the APC mutational spectrum in FAP families with hepatoblastoma as a possible basis to select kindreds for surveillance.


METHODS
Eight patients with hepatoblastoma in seven FAP kindreds were compared with 97 families with identified APC gene mutation in a large Registry.


METHODS
APC gene mutation was evaluated by RNase protection assay or in vitro synthesis protein assay. The chi 2 test and correlation were used for data analysis.


RESULTS
APC gene mutation was identified in all seven FAP kindreds in which an at risk member developed hepatoblastoma. A male predominance was noted (six of eight), similar to literature cases (18 of 25, p < 0.01. Mutations were restricted to codons 141 to 1230, but no significant difference in site of mutation between pedigrees with and without hepatoblastoma was identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatoblastoma occurs primarily in boys in FAP kindreds and is associated with germline APC mutation in the 5' end of the gene. However, the site of APC mutation cannot be used to predict occurrence of this extracolonic cancer in FAP pedigrees.
Giardiello
F M
FM
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Petersen
G M
GM
Brensinger
J D
JD
Luce
M C
MC
Cayouette
M C
MC
Bacon
J
J
Booker
S V
SV
Hamilton
S R
SR
D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D017491:Genes, APC; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors