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01-01-2017 | Original Article

Characterization of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants found in a Norwegian breast or ovarian cancer cohort

Authors: Elisabeth Jarhelle, Hilde Monica Frostad Riise Stensland, Lovise Mæhle, Marijke Van Ghelue

Published in: Familial Cancer | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 cause hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Molecular screening of these two genes in patients with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer has revealed pathogenic variants as well as genetic variants of unknown significance (VUS). These VUS may cause a challenge in the genetic counseling process regarding clinical management of the patient and the family. We investigated 32 variants previously detected in 33 samples from patients with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. cDNA was analyzed for alternative transcripts and selected missense variants located in the BRCT domains of BRCA1 were assessed for their trans-activation ability. Although an extensive cDNA analysis was done, only three of the 32 variants appeared to affect the splice-process (BRCA1 c.213-5T>A, BRCA1 c.5434C>G and BRCA2 c.68-7T>A). In addition, two variants located in the BRCT domains of BRCA1 (c.5075A>C p.Asp1692Ala and c.5513T>G p.Val1838Gly) were shown to abolish the BRCT domain trans-activation ability, whereas BRCA1 c.5125G>A p.Gly1709Arg exhibited equal trans-activation capability as the WT domain. These functional studies may offer further insights into the pathogenicity of certain identified variants; however, this assay is only applicable for a subset of missense variants.

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Title: Characterization of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants found in a Norwegian breast or ovarian cancer cohort
Authors: Elisabeth Jarhelle
Hilde Monica Frostad Riise Stensland
Lovise Mæhle
Marijke Van Ghelue
Publication date: 01-01-2017
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Familial Cancer / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1389-9600
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7292
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-016-9916-2

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