title: Mutations and polymorphisms in the SDHB, SDHD, VHL, and RET genes in sporadic and familial pheochromocytomas.
abstract: The prevalence of germ line mutations within the RET-protooncogene and the tumor suppressor genes SDHB, SDHD, and VHL in pheochromocytomas (PC) varies in recent studies from 12 to 24%, if one look at them collectively. DNA was extracted from frozen tumor tissue as well as from blood leukocytes of 36 PC (26 sporadic/10 MEN2). Exons 1-8 of the SDHB-gene, 1-4 of the SDHD-gene, 1-3 of the VHL-gene, and exons 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 of the RET-gene were amplified by PCR and analyzed by DHPLC with the Transgenomic WAVE-System. Samples with aberrant wave profiles were subjected to direct sequencing. Genetic aberrations were correlated to clinical characteristics. Germ line mutations in sporadic PC were identified in four patients (11%) whereas somatic mutations were observed in two (5%) patients. Nine coding polymorphisms (PM) were identified in seven (19%) patients. Intronic variants were observed in six (17%) patients and were all located in the SHDB gene. Patients with wild type alleles in all assessed genes were older (53 vs. 37 years, P = 0.007) and presented with an increased tumor size (49 vs. 32 mm, P = 0.003) compared to patients with mutations. Malignant PC revealed multiple (>2) genetic alterations more frequently than benign PC (4/7 vs. 4/29, P = 0.03). Interestingly intronic variants of the SDHB gene occur more frequently in malignant than in benign PC (3/7 vs. 2/29, P = 0.04). The frequency of germ line mutations in sporadic pheochromocytomas was lower in our cohort than previously reported. Polymorphisms of the RET gene are common (17%) and occur in familial and sporadic PC. Multiple genetic alterations including mutations, polymorphisms and intronic variants are more frequently observed in malignant PC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, Marburg 35037, Germany. jwaldman@med.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Habbe
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fendrich
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rothmund
authors.forename: Detlef K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: Emily P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000235:genetics*; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C491545:SDHD protein, human; C108095:SDHB protein, human; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; C497446:VHL protein, human