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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of BRCA1 protein in benign, borderline, and malignant epithelial ovarian neoplasms and its relationship to methylation and allelic loss of the BRCA1 gene.

BRCA1 is a putative tumour suppressor gene responsible for a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome. To clarify the possible involvement of BRCA1 in the development of sporadic ovarian neoplasms, this study analysed the immunohistochemical expression of BRCA1 protein in normal ovarian surface epithelium and 119 epithelial ovarian tumours (19 benign, 24 borderline, and 76 malignant tumours). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of BRCA1 was examined using three microsatellite markers to analyse the relationship between BRCA1 expression and alterations of the BRCA1 gene. Methylation of the BRCA1 promoter was also analysed by methylation-specific PCR. In ovarian carcinomas showing heterogeneous expression of BRCA1 protein in the same tumour, LOH and methylation status were analysed using microdissection techniques. Finally, the relationship of BRCA1 expression or its genetic alteration to clinicopathological parameters and patient survival was analysed. Ovarian surface epithelial cells expressed BRCA1 protein. Decreased expression of BRCA1 was found in 16% of benign tumours, 38% of borderline tumours, and 72% of carcinomas. LOH of BRCA1 was demonstrated in no benign tumours, 15% of borderline tumours, and 66% of carcinomas. Methylation of BRCA1 was not detected in benign or borderline tumours, but was present in 31% of carcinomas. Reduced expression of BRCA1 correlated with the presence of gene methylation. The frequency of BRCA1 methylation and LOH was higher in serous carcinomas than in other types. In one of the three serous carcinomas that showed heterogeneous expression of BRCA1, BRCA1-positive borderline-like tumour cells were LOH-positive and methylation-negative, whereas adjacent BRCA1-negative carcinoma cells were LOH-positive and methylation-positive. The prognosis of carcinoma patients did not correlate with BRCA1 expression or genetic status. These findings suggest that reduced expression of BRCA1 protein along with genetic and epigenetic changes of the BRCA1 gene play an important role in the development of sporadic ovarian carcinomas, particularly those of serous histology.

Adult↗

A new germline mutation in BRCA1 gene in a sicilian family with ovarian cancer.

A group of 103 sicilian patients with hereditary and familiar breast and/or ovarian cancer were screened for Breast Cancer 1 gene (BRCA1) mutations by direct sequencing PCR products spanning the coding region and partial intronic regions of the BRCA1 gene. In this study, we report a new germline mutation in BRCA1 gene, not previously reported in the BIC database, in a woman with ovarian cancer at 46 years old. Mother's proband has been diagnosed the same histotype of ovarian cancer at 42 age. The mutational analyses that shown a 4843delC frameshift mutation in exon 16 of BRCA1 gene was extended to other family members including the proband's brother and her two sons. Direct automatic sequencing of DNA extracted from the lymphocytes showed exactly the same 4843delC frameshift mutation only in the brother. In conclusion, the characterization of this mutation could help in the identification of a founder mutation of sicilian area and this may provide significant advantages for genetic counselling.

Adult↗

BRCA1 gene mutation and loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17q21 in primary prostate cancer.

The tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 on chromosome 17q21 has been characterized and shown to be mutated in patients with familial breast and ovarian cancer. Several studies examined the relatives of women with breast cancer and noted an association with ovarian and prostate cancer. This study investigated 24 human prostate cancer specimens for BRCA1 gene mutations and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 17q21 assessed by the polymerase chain reaction. LOH was identified using 7 highly polymorphic tandem repeat markers on chromosome 17q21, in addition to an analysis of the whole coding region of the BRCA1 gene. Four of the 24 prostate cancer specimens showed LOH at one or more loci, all of which were histologically poorly differentiated (4 of 11) and stage D (4 of 15). One of the 24 cases showed a germ-line mutation of the BRCA1 gene, and a sister of this patient died of ovarian cancer. It appears that the BRCA1 gene is not frequently involved in the development of primary prostate cancer.

BRCA1 Protein↗

Genetic instability of BRCA1 gene at locus D17S855 is related to clinicopathological behaviors of gastric cancer from Chinese population.

AIM: To investigate genetic instability of gene BRCA1 at locus D17S855, and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer in Chinese population. METHODS: Microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of gene BRCA1 at locus D17S855 were compared between 37 samples of gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous gastric tissue. RESULTS: MSI at locus D17S855 was positive in 7 of 37 samples of gastric cancer (18.95%). MSI had a close relationship with TNM staging but no relation with lymph node metastasis, histological type or tumor differentiation. MSI positive frequency in TNM I + II (31.58%, 6/19) was much higher than that in TNM III + IV (5.56%, 1/18), (P < 0.05). LOH positive rate was 18.92% (7/37). LOH had no relationship to histological type, tumor differentiation or lymph node metastasis, but LOH positive rate in TNM III + IV was 33.33% (6/18), much higher than that in TNM I + II ( 5.26%, 1/19), (P < 0.05). BRCA1 protein was expressed in 14 of 37 samples of gastric cancer. The positive rates of BRCA1 protein in TNM I + II and TNM III + IV were 57.89% and 16.67%, respectively, (P < 0.05). The positive rate of BRCA1 protein was 77.78% in high differentiation samples, 30.77% in middle differentiation and 12.50% in lower differentiation samples, (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MSI of BRCA1 gene could be used as a molecular marker in early phases of sporadic gastric cancer in Chinese population. LOH occurs at later period of gastric cancer, therefore, it could be used as prognostic factor.

Asian People↗

Evolutionary conservation analysis increases the colocalization of predicted exonic splicing enhancers in the BRCA1 gene with missense sequence changes and in-frame deletions, but not polymorphisms.

INTRODUCTION: Aberrant pre-mRNA splicing can be more detrimental to the function of a gene than changes in the length or nature of the encoded amino acid sequence. Although predicting the effects of changes in consensus 5' and 3' splice sites near intron:exon boundaries is relatively straightforward, predicting the possible effects of changes in exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) remains a challenge. METHODS: As an initial step toward determining which ESEs predicted by the web-based tool ESEfinder in the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 are likely to be functional, we have determined their evolutionary conservation and compared their location with known BRCA1 sequence variants. RESULTS: Using the default settings of ESEfinder, we initially detected 669 potential ESEs in the coding region of the BRCA1 gene. Increasing the threshold score reduced the total number to 464, while taking into consideration the proximity to splice donor and acceptor sites reduced the number to 211. Approximately 11% of these ESEs (23/211) either are identical at the nucleotide level in human, primates, mouse, cow, dog and opossum Brca1 (conserved) or are detectable by ESEfinder in the same position in the Brca1 sequence (shared). The frequency of conserved and shared predicted ESEs between human and mouse is higher in BRCA1 exons (2.8 per 100 nucleotides) than in introns (0.6 per 100 nucleotides). Of conserved or shared putative ESEs, 61% (14/23) were predicted to be affected by sequence variants reported in the Breast Cancer Information Core database. Applying the filters described above increased the colocalization of predicted ESEs with missense changes, in-frame deletions and unclassified variants predicted to be deleterious to protein function, whereas they decreased the colocalization with known polymorphisms or unclassified variants predicted to be neutral. CONCLUSION: In this report we show that evolutionary conservation analysis may be used to improve the specificity of an ESE prediction tool. This is the first report on the prediction of the frequency and distribution of ESEs in the BRCA1 gene, and it is the first reported attempt to predict which ESEs are most likely to be functional and therefore which sequence variants in ESEs are most likely to be pathogenic.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Missense alterations of BRCA1 gene detected in diverse cancer patients.

The mutations in the breast cancer susceptible gene BRCA1 are responsible for about 50% of inherited breast cancers and confer increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer to its carriers. BRCA1 gene mutations may also be related with other types of cancers such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate if BRCA1 mutation could be detected in diverse types of cancers. We used PCR-NIRCA and PCR-SSCP methods for screening the BRCA1 mutation hot regions, exons 2, 5, 11, 16 and 20. The positive samples were sequenced to confirm the nature of the mutations. We have identified a rare sequence variant, A3537G (Ser 1140Gly) in a B cell lymphoma patient and two polymorphisms, A1186G (Gln356Arg) in a brain cancer patient and A3667G (Lys1183Arg) in a germline tumor patient. In conclusion, 3 missense alterations of BRCA1 gene have been identified in cancers other than breast cancer.

Adult↗

Screening for the breast cancer gene (BRCA1) using a biochip system and molecular beacon probes immobilized on solid surfaces.

We describe the use of a biochip based on complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology for detection of specific genetic sequences using molecular beacons (MB) immobilized on solid surfaces as probes. The applicability of this miniature detection system for screening for the BRCA1 gene is evaluated using MB probes, designed especially for the BRCA1 gene. MB probes are immobilized on a zeta-probe membrane by biotin-streptavidin immobilization. Two immobilization strategies are investigated to obtain optimal assay sensitivity. The MB is immobilized by manual spotting on zeta-probe membrane surfaces with the use of a custom-made stamping system. The detection of the BRCA1 gene using an MB probe is successfully demonstrated and expands the use of the CMOS biochip for medical applications.

Adsorption↗

Mutation screening of the BRCA1 gene in Slovak patients.

Breast cancer is the most commonly observed malignancy in women of the western world. The family history is the strongest risk factor for the disease. Two major genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 that are involved in the familial breast and ovarian cancer have been described. Germ-line mutations of the BRCA1 gene have been linked to 85% of all hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. We performed a mutation screening ofthe entire codingregion of the BRCA1 gene in 29 Slovak families suspected of having inherited predisposition to breast cancer. For the analysis we used a combination of a single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and sequencing. Genetic alterations were consistently indicated by SSCP and DHPLC and consequently confirmed by DNA sequencing as previously described pathogenic mutations. The patients with inherited BRCA1 mutations will undergo genetic counseling and cancer prevention health care program.

BRCA1 Protein↗

Mutation detection in the breast cancer gene BRCA1 using the protein truncation test.

About 400 distinct mutations have been defined in the BRCA1 gene, and these are spread fairly evenly through the 5592 bp of coding DNA. This circumstance presents a formidable challenge for mutation screening. Apart from total direct sequencing, the preferred screening method has been single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) gels, with a smaller input from constant denaturant gradient electrophoresis (CDGE), heteroduplex (HD) analysis, and mismatch cleavage. The protein truncation test (PTT) was used early in BRCA1 mutation screening but has not been widely adopted, perhaps because a straightforward analysis of the whole BRCA1 gene requires working with RNA and all its perceived problems. The present work was undertaken to assess the practicality of using the PTT under routine conditions for the screening of long genes such as BRCA1 that are not highly expressed in lymphocytes. We conclude that, provided RNA preparation is carried out effectively and consistently, the PTT approach has significant advantages over other methodologies such as SSCP gels.

Base Sequence↗

Localization of BRCA1 gene expression in adult cynomolgus monkey tissues.

The breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 encodes a phosphoprotein of 1863 amino acids containing a highly conserved N-terminal RING finger domain and a C-terminal acidic region typical of several transcription factors. BRCA1 acts as a tumor suppressor that may inhibit the proliferation of breast and ovarian cancer cells. To gain knowledge and to further understand the biological function of BRCA1, we examined its localization and expression in various tissues from 20-year-old male and female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) by in situ hybridization using a 35S-labeled human BRCA1 DNA probe fragment derived from exon 11. In mammary glands, BRCA1 expression was primarily located in the duct and acinar epithelial cells. In the ovary, strong BRCA1 expression was detected in granulosa cells in maturing follicles and in luteal cells of the corpus luteum, as well as in the epithelial cells overlying the tunica albuginea. Specific signal was also observed in epithelial cells of the oviduct, endometrium, cervix, and vagina. Moreover, BRCA1 was strongly expressed in the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules as well as over interstitial cells of the testis, in the epithelium of the epididymis, and in epithelial cells bordering the glandular lumen of the seminal vesicles. Signal was also detected in both the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary. In the adrenal glands, the signal was greater in the zona glomerulosa compared to the two other cortical zones, whereas the medullary cells were weakly labeled. In the stomach, and in small and large intestine, epithelial cells of the crypts usually exhibited stronger positive reaction than that observed over surface epithelial lining cells. BRCA1 expression was also found in diverse types of epithelial cells of the thyroid, pancreas, salivary glands, trachea, urinary bladder, and kidneys. In addition to demonstrating widespread tissue- and cell-specific expression of the BRCA1 gene in primate tissues, primarily in the epithelia, we observed a weaker but specific signal in various other cell types, suggesting a generalized biological function of BRCA1.

Animals↗

Screening for large rearrangements of the BRCA1 gene in German breast or ovarian cancer families using semi-quantitative multiplex PCR method.

Since the identification of the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, a large number of different germline mutations in both genes have been found by conventional PCR-based mutation detection methods. Complex germline rearrangements such as those reported in the BRCA1 gene are often not detectable by these standard diagnostic techniques. To detect large deletions or duplications encompassing one or more exons of the BRCA1 gene and in order to estimate the frequency of BRCA1 rearrangements in German breast or ovarian cancer families, a semi-quantitative multiplex PCR method was developed and applied to DNA samples of patients from families negatively tested for disease causing mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 coding regions by direct sequencing. Out of 59 families analysed, one family was found to carry a rearrangement in the BRCA1 gene (duplication of exon 13). The results indicate that the semi-quantitative multiplex PCR method is useful for the detection of large rearrangements in the BRCA1 gene and therefore represents an additional valuable tool for mutation analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Adult↗

A strong candidate for the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1.

A strong candidate for the 17q-linked BRCA1 gene, which influences susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer, has been identified by positional cloning methods. Probable predisposing mutations have been detected in five of eight kindreds presumed to segregate BRCA1 susceptibility alleles. The mutations include an 11-base pair deletion, a 1-base pair insertion, a stop codon, a missense substitution, and an inferred regulatory mutation. The BRCA1 gene is expressed in numerous tissues, including breast and ovary, and encodes a predicted protein of 1863 amino acids. This protein contains a zinc finger domain in its amino-terminal region, but is otherwise unrelated to previously described proteins. Identification of BRCA1 should facilitate early diagnosis of breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility in some individuals as well as a better understanding of breast cancer biology.

Alleles↗

Mutations and polymorphisms in the familial early-onset breast cancer (BRCA1) gene. Breast Cancer Information Core.

Mutations in the familial early-onset breast cancer gene (BRCA1) account for approximately 2-5% of all breast cancer cases (Easton et al., 1993). Since the isolation of the BRCA1 gene in 1994, many mutations have been identified. We report here a total of 254 BRCA1 mutations, 132 (52%) of which are unique. These represent mutations entered into a database established by the Breast Cancer Information Core (BIC), which have appeared in the literature or have been submitted by BIC members and other contributors prior to publication. A total of 221 (87%) of all mutations or 107 (81%) of the unique mutations are small deletions, insertions, nonsense point mutations, splice variants, and regulatory mutations that result in truncation or absence of the BRCA1 protein. A total of 11 disease-associated missense mutations (5 unique), and 21 variants (19 unique) as yet unclassified as either missense mutations or polymorphisms have been detected. Thirty-five independent benign polymorphisms are also described. The most common mutations are 185delAG and 5382insC, which account for 30 (11.7%) and 26 (10.1%), respectively, of all mutations shown. The biological and clinical relevance of these BRCA1 mutations is discussed.

Age of Onset↗

Cloning, genetic mapping and expression studies of the rat Brca1 gene.

The breast cancer gene BRCA1 has previously been cloned from both human and mouse. We cloned a fragment of the rat Brca1 homologue in order to map it and explore its biological function. Partial cDNA fragments of the rat Brca1 homologue were isolated by RT-PCR. Sequence analysis revealed that the RING-finger domain is well conserved among rat, mouse and human. Rat Brca1 mRNA was expressed in most tissues studied with the highest level in testis, consistent with studies in human and mouse. Next, intron 6-containing DNA fragments were amplified by PCR from WKY and WF rat strains. The splicing sites between exon 6 and exon 7 are conserved between rat and human. Partial sequencing of the rat Brca1 intron 6 revealed a polymorphism of a pentanucleotide TTTTG repeat between the WKY and WF strains. With this intragenic microsatellite marker, we were able to map precisely the rat Brca1 gene to chromosome 10 using a genetic linkage study of (WKY x WF)F1 x WF backcross rats. Brca1 cosegregates with marker BAND3A, and is flanked by R5123 and R5842. Using this polymorphic marker, we also investigated the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the Brca1 microsatellite marker in carcinogen- or radiation-induced mammary carcinomas in (WF x F344)F1 female rats. No LOH or somatic microsatellite instability was detected in 18 DMBA-induced tumors studied. Only one LOH of the F344 allele was observed in 26 radiation-induced tumors tested. Ribonuclease protection assays demonstrated that Brca1 mRNA levels are similar in normal rat mammary glands and mammary carcinomas of various etiologies, including those induced by DMBA, NMU, activated-neu and activated-ras oncogenes.

Alleles↗

Human, canine and murine BRCA1 genes: sequence comparison among species.

Five to ten percent of breast cancer in the western world may be attributed to the inheritance of highly penetrant mutations in the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1. The biological function of BRCA1 and factors affecting expressivity, such as gene-environment and gene-gene interactions, may be more effectively studied in appropriate animal models. We report the cloning and sequencing of the canine and murine BRCA1 genes and contrast the sequences with human BRCA1. The amino terminal 120 residues of the gene are > 80% identical among the three species. The C-terminus is also highly conserved, containing an 80 amino acid stretch that is over 80% identical. Motifs of likely functional significance are maintained, including the amino terminal RING finger motif (amino acids 24-64) and the granin consensus sequence (1214-1223). The distribution of missense mutations and neutral polymorphisms identified in BRCA1-linked breast cancer suggests that disease associated missense mutations occur at highly conserved residues whereas polymorphisms are in regions of lower conservation. Among eighteen missense mutations with unknown consequences, seven occur in amino acids that are identical across species. Four of these seven (E1219D, A1708E, P1749R and M1775R) are also within conserved domains. Taken together, these data predict regions of the gene which may be critical for normal function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Implication of BRCA1 gene in breast cancer.

Breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1) is known to be responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. This gene is highly penetrant conferring a risk for 0.92 by the age of 70. Germline mutation in this gene leads to susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer, with a genotype phenotype correlation. Frequency of mutations of this gene in normal population of breast cancer is low suggesting that the effort of primary screening for BRCA1 gene should be restricted to only familial cases with a strong history of breast and ovarian cancer. Recent studies indicate that BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene responsible for both normal development and carcinogenesis of the breast. Normal function elucidated so far, reveal BRCA1 to be a multifunctional protein involved in DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and transcription. There is circumstantial evidence that gene interacts with p53, a protein involved in cell cycle control, DNA repair and apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

Novel somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in sporadic breast tumors.

Germline mutations in two major susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 contribute to the majority of inherited breast and ovarian cancers. Besides the germline mutation, tumor progression depends on the loss of a wild-type allele. Allelic losses in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 loci have also been detected in a high proportion of sporadic breast tumors, suggesting the role of these genes in the development of non-inherited breast cancer. Forty unselected breast tumors were analyzed for the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at BRCA1 and BRCA2 regions and tumors with allelic deletions were screened for the presence of acquired genetic alterations in respective genes. 21.1% of 38 informative tumor samples carried LOH at the BRCA1 locus whereas 33.3% of 39 informative samples showed LOH at the BRCA2 locus. Pathogenic truncating mutations in the BRCA1 gene were found in two tumor samples with allelic losses, whereas no mutations were identified in the BRCA2 gene. Mutations were not detected in non-tumor samples from the same individuals, which indicated that the BRCA1 allele was inactivated by somatic mutations in tumor tissue. The c.1116G>A (1235G>A) nonsense mutation (p.W372X) belongs to the genetic abnormalities detected infrequently in hereditary tumors; the c.3862delG (3981delG) frameshift mutation (p.E1288fsX1306) is a novel gene alteration. The occurrence of inactivating somatic mutations in sporadic breast tumors suggested the role of the BRCA1 gene in tumorigenesis in at least a minor group of patients with non-familial breast cancer.

Adult↗

Identification of missense and truncating mutations in the BRCA1 gene in sporadic and familial breast and ovarian cancer.

The cloning of the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1, allows direct estimation of the proportion of these cancers in the general population which can be attributed to germline mutations in this gene. We have used a combination of SSCP, heteroduplex analysis, and chemical cleavage of mismatch to screen the BRCA1 gene for mutations in the germline of 42 patients with breast or ovarian cancer who either have a moderate family history of these cancers, or have no family history of malignancy but a very early onset of the disease. A total of 30 sequence variants were observed, eight of which have not been described previously. Three sequence changes detected by chemical cleavage or heteroduplex analysis were missed by SSCP. The variants included 13 missense mutations, which were assessed for their pathogenic implications. Two of these (M18T and A1708E) are nonconservative substitutions which are located in evolutionarily conserved regions of the gene: M18T lies just upstream of the RING finger motif, and A1708E abolishes the transcriptional transactivation activity of the carboxy-terminal region of BRCA1. Mutations were observed in eight patients overall (19.0%), and protein-truncating mutations occurred in five of 27 (18.5%) families with 1-3 cases of breast or ovarian cancer. The data suggest that a significant proportion of patients with a modest or no family history of these cancers may carry germline mutations in BRCA1.

Adult↗