Genetics of Apparently Sporadic Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma in a Chinese Population.
Identification of germline mutation in patients with apparently sporadic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas is crucial. Clinical indicators, which include young age, bilateral or multifocal, extra-adrenal, malignant, or recurrent tumors, predict the likelihood of harboring germline mutation in Caucasian subjects. However, data on the prevalence of germline mutation, as well as the applicability of these clinical indicators in Chinese, are lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional study at a single endocrine tertiary referral center in Hong Kong. Subjects with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas were evaluated for the presence of germline mutations involving 10 susceptibility genes, which included NF1, RET, VHL, SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, TMEM 127, MAX, and FH genes. Clinical indicators were assessed for their association with the presence of germline mutations. Germline mutations, 2 being novel, were found in 24.4% of the 41 Chinese subjects recruited and 11.4% among those with apparently sporadic presentation. The increasing number of the afore-mentioned clinical indicators significantly correlated with the likelihood of harboring germline mutation in one of the 10 susceptibility genes. (r=0.757, p=0.026). The presence of 2 or more clinical indicators should prompt genetic testing for germline mutations in Chinese subjects. In conclusion, our study confirmed that a significant proportion of Chinese subjects with apparently sporadic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma harbored germline mutations and these clinical indicators identified from Caucasians series were also applicable in Chinese subjects. This information will be of clinical relevance in the design of appropriate genetic screening strategies in Chinese populations.
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
C H
CH
Lee
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
C Y Y
CY
Cheung
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
W S
WS
Chow
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Y C
YC
Woo
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
C Y
CY
Yeung
Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
B H H
BH
Lang
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
C H Y
CH
Fong
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
K H M
KH
Kwok
Kowloon West Cluster Laboratory Genetic Service, Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
S P L
SP
Chen
Kowloon West Cluster Laboratory Genetic Service, Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
C M
CM
Mak
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
K C B
KC
Tan
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
K S L
KS
Lam
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000235:genetics*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000235:genetics*; D012372:ROC Curve