title: Aberrations of the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 DNA damage sensor complex in human breast cancer: MRE11 as a candidate familial cancer-predisposing gene.
abstract: The MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1 genes encode proteins of the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex critical for proper maintenance of genomic integrity and tumour suppression; however, the extent and impact of their cancer-predisposing defects, and potential clinical value remain to be determined. Here, we report that among a large series of approximately 1000 breast carcinomas, around 3%, 7% and 10% tumours showed aberrantly reduced protein expression for RAD50, MRE11 and NBS1, respectively. Such defects were more frequent among the ER/PR/ERBB2 triple-negative and higher-grade tumours, among familial (especially BRCA1/BRCA2-associated) rather than sporadic cases, and the NBS1 defects correlated with shorter patients' survival. The BRCA1-associated and ER/PR/ERBB2 triple-negative tumours also showed high incidence of constitutively active DNA damage signalling (gammaH2AX) and p53 aberrations. Sequencing the RAD50, MRE11 and NBS1 genes of 8 patients from non-BRCA1/2 breast cancer families whose tumours showed concomitant reduction/loss of all three MRN-complex proteins revealed two germline mutations in MRE11: a missense mutation R202G and a truncating mutation R633STOP (R633X). Gene transfer and protein analysis of cell culture models with mutant MRE11 implicated various destabilization patterns among the MRN complex proteins including NBS1, the abundance of which was restored by re-expression of wild-type MRE11. We propose that germline mutations qualify MRE11 as a novel candidate breast cancer susceptibility gene in a subset of non-BRCA1/2 families. Our data have implications for the concept of the DNA damage response as an intrinsic anti-cancer barrier, various components of which become inactivated during cancer progression and also represent the bulk of breast cancer susceptibility genes discovered to date.
authors.affiliation: Institute Cancer Biology and Centre for Genotoxic Stress Research, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jirina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartkova
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tommiska
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oplustilova
authors.forename: Kirsimari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aaltonen
authors.forename: Anitta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamminen
authors.forename: Tuomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mistrik
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aittomäki
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nevanlinna
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartek
mesh_terms: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000032:analysis; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000076228:MRE11 Homologue Protein; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C121766:MRE11 protein, human; D050505:Mutant Proteins; C112156:NBN protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000076228:MRE11 Homologue Protein; D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; C112158:RAD50 protein, human; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes