Germline mutations of the paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) gene in neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a frequent pediatric tumor for which recurrent somatic rearrangements are known. Germline mutations of predisposing gene(s) are suspected on the basis of rare familial cases and the association of NB with other genetically determined congenital malformations of neural crest-derived cells--namely, Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and/or congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). We recently identified the paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) gene as the major disease-causing gene in isolated and syndromic CCHS, which prompted us to regard it as a candidate gene in NB. Here, we report on germline mutations of PHOX2B in both a familial case of NB and a patient with the HSCR-NB association. PHOX2B, therefore, stands as the first gene for which germline mutations predispose to NB.
Trochet
Delphine
D
Unité de Recherches sur les Handicaps Génétiques de l'Enfant, INSERM U-393, and Département de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
Bourdeaut
Franck
F
Janoueix-Lerosey
Isabelle
I
Deville
Anne
A
de Pontual
Loïc
L
Schleiermacher
Gudrun
G
Coze
Carole
C
Philip
Nicole
N
Frébourg
Thierry
T
Munnich
Arnold
A
Lyonnet
Stanislas
S
Delattre
Olivier
O
Amiel
Jeanne
J
D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C109220:NBPhox protein; D014157:Transcription Factors