High prevalence of BRCA1 stop mutation c.4183C>T in the Tyrolean population: implications for genetic testing

Eur J Hum Genet. 2016 Feb;24(2):258-62. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.108. Epub 2015 May 27.

Abstract

Screening for founder mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 has been discussed as a cost-effective testing strategy in certain populations. In this study, comprehensive BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing was performed in a routine diagnostic setting. The prevalence of the BRCA1 stop mutation c.4183C>T, p.(Gln1395Ter), was determined in unselected breast and ovarian cancer patients from different regions in the Tyrol. Cancer registry data were used to evaluate the impact of this mutation on regional cancer incidence. The mutation c.4183C>T was detected in 30.4% of hereditary BRCA1-associated breast and ovarian cancer patients in our cohort. It was also identified in 4.1% of unselected (26% of unselected triple negative) Tyrolean breast cancer patients and 6.8% of unselected ovarian cancer patients from the Lower Inn Valley (LIV) region. Cancer incidences showed a region-specific increase in age-stratified breast and ovarian cancer risk with standardized incidence ratios of 1.23 and 2.13, respectively. We, thus, report a Tyrolean BRCA1 founder mutation that correlates to a local increase in the breast and ovarian cancer risks. On the basis of its high prevalence, we suggest that targeted genetic analysis should be offered to all women with breast or ovarian cancer and ancestry from the LIV region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics*
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Codon, Terminator / genetics
  • Female
  • Founder Effect
  • Genetic Testing*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • Codon, Terminator