Gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS) is an autosomal-dominant cancer-predisposition syndrome with a significant risk of gastric, but not colorectal, adenocarcinoma. We mapped the gene to 5q22 and found loss of the wild-type allele on 5q in fundic gland polyps from affected individuals. Whole-exome and -genome sequencing failed to find causal mutations but, through Sanger sequencing, we identified point mutations in APC promoter 1B that co-segregated with disease in all six families. The mutations reduced binding of the YY1 transcription factor and impaired activity of the APC promoter 1B in luciferase assays. Analysis of blood and saliva from carriers showed allelic imbalance of APC, suggesting that these mutations lead to decreased allele-specific expression in vivo. Similar mutations in APC promoter 1B occur in rare families with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Promoter 1A is methylated in GAPPS and sporadic FGPs and in normal stomach, which suggests that 1B transcripts are more important than 1A in gastric mucosa. This might explain why all known GAPPS-affected families carry promoter 1B point mutations but only rare FAP-affected families carry similar mutations, the colonic cells usually being protected by the expression of the 1A isoform. Gastric polyposis and cancer have been previously described in some FAP-affected individuals with large deletions around promoter 1B. Our finding that GAPPS is caused by point mutations in the same promoter suggests that families with mutations affecting the promoter 1B are at risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, regardless of whether or not colorectal polyps are present.

Mendelian tumour syndromes are caused by rare mutations, which usually lead to protein inactivation. Few studies have determined whether or not the same genes harbour other, more common variants, which might have a lower penetrance and/or cause mild disease, perhaps indistinguishable from sporadic disease and accounting for a considerable proportion of the unexplained inherited risk of tumours in the general population. Germline variants at the APC locus are excellent candidates for explaining why some individuals are predisposed to colorectal adenomas, but do not have the florid phenotype of familial adenomatous polyposis. We have screened 164 unrelated patients with 'multiple' (3-100) colorectal adenomas for germline variants throughout the APC gene, including promoter mutations. In addition to three Ashkenazi patients with I1307K, we found seven patients with the E1317Q variant. E1317Q is significantly associated with multiple colorectal adenomas (OR = 11. 17, 95% CI = 2.30-54.3, p < 0.001), accounting for approximately 4% of all patients with multiple colorectal adenomas. In addition, four patients with truncating APC variants in exon 9 or in the 3' part of the gene were identified. Germline APC variants account for approximately 10% of patients with multiple adenomas. Unidentified predisposition genes almost certainly exist. We argue that it is worthwhile to screen multiple adenoma patients for a restricted number of germline APC variants, namely the missense changes E1317Q and I1307K (if of Ashkenazi descent), and, if there is a family history of colorectal tumours, for truncating mutations 5' to exon 5, in exon 9 and 3' to codon 1580.

Several distinct melanoma syndromes have been defined, and genetic tests are available for the associated causative genes. Guidelines for melanoma genetic testing have been published as an informal “rule of twos and threes,” but these guidelines apply to CDKN2A testing and are not intended for the more recently described non-CDKN2A melanoma syndromes. In order to develop an approach for the full spectrum of hereditary melanoma patients, we have separated melanoma syndromes into two types: “melanoma dominant” and “melanoma subordinate.” Syndromes in which melanoma is a predominant cancer type are considered melanoma dominant, although other cancers, such as mesothelioma or pancreatic cancers, may also be observed. These syndromes are associated with defects in CDKN2A, CDK4, BAP1, MITF, and POT1. Melanoma-subordinate syndromes have an increased but lower risk of melanoma than that of other cancer(s) seen in the syndrome, such as breast and ovarian cancer or Cowden syndrome. Many of these melanoma-subordinate syndromes are associated with well-established predisposition genes (e.g., BRCA1/2, PTEN). It is likely that these predisposition genes are responsible for the increased susceptibility to melanoma as well but with lower penetrance than that observed for the dominant cancer(s) in those syndromes. In this review, we describe our extension of the “rule of twos and threes” for melanoma genetic testing. This algorithm incorporates an understanding of the spectrum of cancers and genes seen in association with melanoma to create a more comprehensive and tailored approach to genetic testing.

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