A role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations in breast cancer susceptibility within Sardinian population

Abstract

Background: In recent years, numerous studies have assessed the prevalence of germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in various cohorts. We here extensively investigated the prevalence and geographical distribution of BRCA1-2 mutations in the entire genetically-homogeneous Sardinian population. The occurrence of phenotypic characteristics which may be predictive for the presence of BRCA1-2 germline mutations was also evaluated.

Methods: Three hundred and forty-eight breast cancer patients presenting a familial recurrence of invasive breast or ovarian carcinoma with at least two affected family members were screened for BRCA1-2 mutations by DHPLC analysis and DNA sequencing. Association of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutational status with clinical and pathological parameters was evaluated by Pearson's Chi-Squared test.

Results and conclusion: Overall, 8 BRCA1 and 5 BRCA2 deleterious mutations were detected in 35/348 (10%) families; majority (23/35;66%) of mutations was found in BRCA2 gene. The geographical distribution of BRCA1-2 mutations was related to three specific large areas of Sardinia, reflecting its ancient history: a) the Northern area, linguistically different from the rest of the island (where a BRCA2 c.8764_8765delAG mutation with founder effect was predominant); b) the Middle area, land of the ancient Sardinian population (where BRCA2 mutations are still more common than BRCA1 mutations); and c) the South-Western area, with many Phoenician and Carthaginian locations (where BRCA1 mutations are prevalent). We also found that phenotypic features such as high tumor grading and lack of expression of estrogen/progesterone receptors together with age at diagnosis and presence of ovarian cancer in the family may be predictive for the presence of BRCA1-2 germline mutations.

Figure 1

Geographical distribution of BRCA1-2 mutations carriers in Sardinia. Symbols indicate villages of origin for the patients presenting deleterious germline mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes: "green square" BRCA1 c.300 T>G; green circle BRCA1 c.916_917delTT; "green triangle" BRCA1 c.1099_1100delCA; "green arrow" BRCA1c.1499insA; "green heart"BRCA1 c.1632 A>T; "green diamond" BRCA1 c.1638 A>T;"green clubs" BRCA1 c.3823_3826delACAA; "green spades" BRCA1 c.4575delA; "blue square" BRCA2 c.3950_3952delTAGinsAT; "blue triangle" BRCA2 c.6586 C>G; "blue circle" BRCA2 c.6023_6024delTA; "blue arrow" BRCA2 c.8764_8765delAG; "blue heart"BRCA2 c.8559+1G>T. Dashed lines delimit the three geographical regions reported in the text.