2012-05-15
MAX mutations cause hereditary and sporadic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Publication
Publication
Clinical Cancer Research , Volume 18 - Issue 10 p. 2828- 2837
Purpose: Pheochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are genetically heterogeneous neural crest-derived neoplasms. Recently we identified germline mutations in a new tumor suppressor susceptibility gene, MAX (MYC-associated factor X), which predisposes carriers to PCC. How MAX mutations contribute to PCC/PGL and associated phenotypes remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and associated phenotypic features of germline and somatic MAX mutations in PCC/PGL. Design: We sequenced MAX in 1,694 patients with PCC or PGL (without mutations in other major susceptibility genes) from 17 independent referral centers. We screened for large deletions/duplications in 1,535 patients using a multiplex PCR-based method. Somatic mutations were searched for in tumors from an additional 245 patients. The frequency and type of MAX mutation was assessed overall and by clinical characteristics. Results: Sixteen MAX pathogenic mutations were identified in 23 index patients. All had adrenal tumors, including 13 bilateral or multiple PCCs within the same gland (P < 0.001), 15.8% developed additional tumors at thoracoabdominal sites, and 37% had familial antecedents. Age at diagnosis was lower (P = 0.001) in MAX mutation carriers compared with nonmutated cases. Two patients (10.5%) developed metastatic disease. A mutation affecting MAX was found in five tumors, four of them confirmed as somatic (1.65%). MAX tumors were characterized by substantial increases in normetanephrine, associated with normal or minor increases in metanephrine. Conclusions: Germline mutations in MAX are responsible for 1.12% of PCC/PGL in patients without evidence of other known mutations and should be considered in the genetic work-up of these patients.
| Additional Metadata | |
|---|---|
| doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-0160, hdl.handle.net/1765/65878 | |
| Clinical Cancer Research | |
| Organisation | Department of Pathology |
|
Burnichon, N., Cascoń, A., Schiavi, F., Morales, N., Comino-Méndez, I., Abermil, N., … Robledo, M. (2012). MAX mutations cause hereditary and sporadic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Clinical Cancer Research, 18(10), 2828–2837. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-0160 |
|