RAD50 and NBS1 are breast cancer susceptibility genes associated with genomic instability.
The Mre11 complex, composed of RAD50, NBS1 and MRE11, has an essential role in the maintenance of genomic integrity and preventing cells from malignancy. Here we report the association of three Mre11 complex mutations with hereditary breast cancer susceptibility, studied by using a case-control design with 317 consecutive, newly diagnosed Northern Finnish breast cancer patients and 1000 geographically matched healthy controls (P = 0.0004). RAD50 687delT displayed significantly elevated frequency in the studied patients (8 out of 317, OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.5-12.5, P= 0.008), which indicates that it is a relatively common low-penetrance risk allele in this cohort. Haplotype analysis and the screening of altogether 512 additional breast cancer cases from Sweden, Norway and Iceland suggest that RAD50 687delT is a Finnish founder mutation, not present in the other Nordic cohorts. The RAD50 IVS3-1G>A splicing mutation leading to translational frameshift was observed in one patient, and the NBS1 Leu150Phe missense mutation affecting a conserved residue in the functionally important BRCA1 carboxy-terminal (BRCT) domain in two patients, both being absent from 1000 controls. Microsatellite marker analysis showed that loss of the wild-type allele was not involved in the tumorigenesis in any of the studied mutation carriers, but they all showed increased genomic instability assessed by cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes (P = 0.006). In particular, the total number of chromosomal rearrangements was significantly increased (P = 0.002). These findings suggest an effect for RAD50 and NBS1 haploinsufficiency on genomic integrity and susceptibility to cancer.
Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Oulu/Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Katri
K
Heikkinen
Katrin
K
Rapakko
Sanna-Maria
SM
Karppinen
Hannele
H
Erkko
Sakari
S
Knuutila
Tuija
T
Lundán
Arto
A
Mannermaa
Anne-Lise
AL
Børresen-Dale
Ake
A
Borg
Rosa B
RB
Barkardottir
John
J
Petrini
Robert
R
Winqvist
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D042822:Genomic Instability; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C112156:NBN protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; C112158:RAD50 protein, human; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes