Pilot Study on Low Penetrance Breast and Colorectal Cancer Predisposition Markers in Latvia

Abstract

Introduction

It has not been established whether CHEK2 and NOD2 variants are present in Latvia and whether inherited variation in these genes influences cancer risk in this population.

Aim of the study

To evaluate the role of CHEK2 and NOD2 mutations in breast and colorectal cancers in the population of Latvia.

Materials and methods

Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 185 breast cancer and 235 colorectal cancer consecutive hospital-based cases from 11/2003 to 06/2005. The population control group included blood samples from the clamped distal part of the umbilical cord from 978 consecutive anonymous newborns born between 03/2005 and 08/2005. All cases and controls were tested for the presence of NOD2 3020insC mutation and CHEK2 I157T mutation.

Results

NOD2 3020insC was present in 7.7% (18/235) of CRC cancers, in 9.2% (17/185) of breast cancers and in 7.7% (75/974) of controls. CHEK2 I157T variant was found in 7.6% (14/185) of breast cancer cases, 10.2% (24/235) of colon cancer cases and in 6.4% (63/978) of population controls. NOD2 3020insC variant was associated with increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 2.5, p < 0.05) for cases diagnosed at age between 51 and 60 years. CHEK2 I157T variant was associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR = 1.7, p < 0.05) with the highest OR = 2.0 for cases diagnosed at age >70 yrs.

Conclusions

NOD2 3020insC, CHEK2 I157T variants may be associated with increased risk of colorectal and breast cancers in Latvia.

Introduction

There is continuing interest in identifying DNA variants which are associated with an increased risk of cancer. Several studies have suggested an increased risk of cancer in individuals who carry a mutation in the CHEK2 gene, one of the genes in the DNA damage signalling pathway. Originally, a single founder allele in CHEK2, 1100delC, was reported to be a low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility allele in several studies, and in many ethnic groups [1-4]. Then, a positive association was found between CHEK2 variants and prostate cancer in the USA, Finland and Poland [5-7]. Recently, it was reported that individuals with a single common founder allele in Poland (the I157T missense variant) have increased risk of cancer development in many organs including the breast, prostate, thyroid, kidney and colon [8].

The NOD2 gene is associated with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease - Crohn's disease [9]. It was reported that a single truncating mutation in NOD2, 3020insC, may confer increased risk of late onset colorectal cancer [10] and then that a NOD2 mutation may be associated with increased susceptibility to lung, ovarian, early-onset laryngeal cancer and early onset breast cancer [11].

It has not been established whether CHEK2 and NOD2 variants are present in Latvia and whether inherited variation in these genes influences cancer risk in this population. To address these issues, we report here the results of the CHEK2 and NOD2 analyses for 185 breast cancer cases and 235 colorectal cancer cases.

Methods

From 11/2003 to 06/2005 family cancer history and peripheral venous blood samples were collected in 185 consecutive hospital-based breast cancer cases and 235 colorectal cancer cases. The population control group included umbilical cord blood samples from 978 consecutively collected anonymous newborn children between 03/2005 and 08/2005. Cases were considered consecutive if at least 70% of newly diagnosed patients were involved in the study from a particular hospital and department in a given period of time. In the breast cancer group, 82 cases were involved from the Regional Oncology Hospital of Daugavpils, 72 cases from the Regional Oncology Hospital of Liepaja and 31 cases from Paula Stradins University Hospital.

In the CRC group, 92 cases were involved from the Oncology Center of Latvia, 73 cases from Paula Stradins University Hospital, 46 cases from the Regional Oncology Hospital of Liepaja and 24 cases from the Regional Oncology Hospital of Daugavpils. In the CRC group 114/235 (49%) were females and 121/235 (51%) were males. The distribution of breast and colorectal cancers according to the age of diagnosis are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Distribution of breast cancer and CRC group according to age at time of cancer diagnosis

Decade	Breast cancer	%	CRC	%
20-29	1	0.60%	2	0.90%
30-39	9	4.90%	4	1.70%
40-49	31	16.90%	14	6.00%
subtotal (<50)	41	22.40%	20	8.60%
50-59	46	25.10%	37	15.70%
60-69	55	30.00%	79	33.60%
70-79	30	16.40%	80	34.00%
80-89	10	5.50%	17	7.20%
>90	1	0.55%	2	0.85%
subtotal (>50)	142	77.60%	215	91.40%
total	183*		235

*In 2 cases time of breast cancer onset was unknown

Median age of CRC onset was 66 years and median onset of breast cancer was 60 years.

In order to evaluate the representativity of breast cancer and CRC groups, they were compared to all newly diagnosed breast and colorectal cancers diagnosed between years 1999 and 2003 in Latvia and it was concluded that breast and CRC groups are comparable to the total group of newly diagnosed breast cancers and CRCs as far as age at time of diagnosis and gender are concerned.

All cancer and control group samples were tested for the presence of NOD2 3020insC, CHEK2 I157T polymorphisms as described by G. Kurzawski and C. Cybulski respectively [7-10].

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Pauls Stradins University Hospital and the Central Committee of Medical Ethics.

All patients completed a family cancer history questionnaire. Family cancer histories were analysed according to internationally approved clinical diagnostic hereditary cancer criteria. If there were no malignancies among relatives of the proband the patient was classified as being negative for a family history of the disease.

The prevalence of the CHEK2 and NOD2 alleles in cases and population controls was compared. Odds ratios were generated from two-by-two tables and statistical significance was assessed using the Fisher exact test. The odds ratios were used as estimates of relative risk.

Results

The NOD2 3020insC mutation was present in 7.7% (18/235) of CRC cancers, in 9.2% (17/185) of breast cancer patients and in 7.7% (75/974) of the control group. The CHEK2 I157T polymorphism was found in 7.6% (14/185) of breast cancer patients, 10.2% (24/235) of colon cancer cases and in 6.4% (63/978) of the control group.

Statistically significant differences compared to population controls were observed: for NOD2 3020insC for the subgroup of breast cancer patients diagnosed at the age between 51 and 60 (OR = 2.5, p < 0.05) (Table 2); for CHEK2 I157T for the entire series of consecutive colorectal cancers (OR = 1.7, p < 0.05). The highest odds ratio (OR = 2.0, p = 0.06) was observed for CRC diagnosed at age >70 yrs (Table 3).

Table 2.

Prevalence of NOD2 3020insC mutation in breast cancer patients, according to age at onset

Age groups	Prevalence of NOD2 3020insC
<41	0% (0/10)
41-50	9.7% (3/31)
51-60	17% (8/46)*
61-70	7.3% (4/55)
>70	4.9% (2/41)
total	9.1% (17/185)

* - statistically significant difference as compared to population controls (7.7% (75/974); OR = 2.5, p < 0.05)

Table 3.

Prevalence of CHEK2 I157T mutation in colorectal cancer cases according to age at onset

Age groups	Prevalence of CHEK2 I157T
<51	15% (3/20)
51-60	5.4% (2/37)
61-70	8.9% (7/79)
>70	12.1% (12/99)
total	10.2% (24/235)*

* - significant difference compared to controls (6.4% (63/978); OR = 1.7, p < 0.05)

In seven NOD2 3020insC positive cases family cancer history was negative. In another 10 cases there were two other relatives affected with cancer in their families, which did not match any recognised diagnostic criteria of hereditary cancer. A single NOD2 3020insC positive patient had a family history of three CRCs in their family.

The average age of cancer onset for breast cancer patients harbouring NOD2 3020insC was 58 years. In six NOD2 3020insC positive breast cancer patients their family cancer history was negative. In 5/17 (29%) cases at least two breast cancers were identified in these families and one family matched the criteria of belonging to unspecified strong cancer family aggregation (CFA).

The average age of disease onset for CHEK2 I157T positive CRC cases was 67. In 16 cases with the I157T mutation family cancer history was negative. Among another 8 CHEK2 I157T positive CRC patients, 3/24 (13%) matched criteria of CFA, 1/24 (4%) case was suspected of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and 1/24 (4%) case had late-onset HNPCC.

The average age of breast cancer onset for CHEK2 I157T positive cases was 59 years. In four CHEK2 I157T positive breast cancer cases family cancer history was negative. 8/14 (57%) cases had familial breast cancer.

Discussion and conclusions

This first study of low penetrant CRC and breast cancer predisposition markers in Latvia shows a trend that both NOD2 3020insC and CHEK2 I157T polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of colorectal and breast cancers.

Statistically significant differences between cases and controls were not as well expressed as it has been recognised in earlier studies from Poland, probably because of the much smaller number of cases and controls, but the general trend was the same - NOD2 3020insC was more frequent among early onset breast cancers and late onset CRCs; CHEK2 I157T was in excess among colorectal cancer and late onset breast cancer cases. In our study we focused on breast and colon cancers. Since for both sites we saw a similar trend as described earlier by the Polish group, we expect that the spectrum of tumours associated with mutations in NOD2 and CHEK2 in Latvia will also include other cancers. However, further studies on larger series of cancers and of different sites are necessary in this regard.