MED12 exon 2 and TERT promoter mutations in primary and recurrent breast fibroepithelial lesions

Abstract

The genetic alterations in the recurrent breast fibroepithelial tumors are poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate mediator protein complex subunit 12 (MED12) exon 2 and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations in a series of primary and recurrent fibroepithelial tumors. Sanger sequencing for MED12 exon 2 and TERT promoter was performed in 26 pairs of primary and recurrent fibroepithelial tumors (19 pairs of phyllodes tumors and seven pairs of fibroadenomas). The relationship between the genotypes and clinicopathological variables was also analyzed. MED12 mutation was identified in 19 primary tumors (12 phyllodes tumors and 7 fibroadenomas) and 17 recurrences (14 phyllodes tumors and three fibroadenomas). Most recurrent phyllodes tumors retained the original MED12 variants (17/19). Six recurrent fibroadenomas showed different MED12 variants from their paired primary tumors (6/7). TERT promoter mutation was identified in 13 primary phyllodes tumors (13/19) and 15 recurrent phyllodes tumors (15/19). However, it was only identified in one primary fibroadenoma (1/7). Recurrent phyllodes tumors often retained the original MED12 and TERT promoter mutations, while recurrent fibroadenomas often acquired new MED12 mutations. Our findings suggest that recurrent phyllodes tumors may be "true recurrence," and TERT mutant "benign fibroepithelial tumors" should be treated as phyllodes tumors.