Citations

Abstract Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common form of all cancers among Asian females. Mutations in BRCA1/BRCA2 gene are observed in BC cases and also largely increases the lifetime risk of having BC. Because of the paucity of high-quality data on the molecular spectrum of BRCA mutations in South Asian populations, we aimed to explore the spectrum of BRCA gene mutation among the South Asian Population.Methods: A systematic literature search of electronic databases like PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar on BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation spectrum was carried out for peer-reviewed articles providing information on the spectrum of either BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation on South Asian women with any form of breast cancer.Results: Twenty studies were selected for review from four South Asian countries showing similar BRCA1/2 gene mutation patterns. 185delAG mutation in exon 2 in BRCA1 was the most common recurrent mutation and founder mutation found. Various intronic variants, variants of unknown significance, large genomic rearrangements (LGRs) and polymorphisms are also described in some studies. Conclusions: The prevalence of BRCA1 mutations is higher than BRCA2 mutations in the South Asian population with a wide variation among different countries and ethnicities. The knowledge of various population-specific mutations in these cancer susceptibility genes can help provide efficient strategies for genetic testing.

10581 Background: The prevalence of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in cancer predisposition genes among women with invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) and the risk of ILC in PV carriers is not well-defined. Methods: The study included 2,999 women with ILC and 32,544 unaffected controls from a population-based cohort; 3,796 women with ILC and 20,323 women with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) undergoing clinical multigene panel testing (clinical cohort); and 125,748 exome sequences from unrelated women without a cancer diagnosis in the gnomAD 3.0 dataset. Frequencies of germline PVs in breast cancer predisposition genes ( ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CDH1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, RAD51C, RAD51D, and TP53) were compared between women with ILC and unaffected controls in both cohorts and between women with ILC and IDC in the clinical cohort. Results: The frequency of PVs in breast cancer predisposition genes among women with ILC was 6.5% in the clinical cohort and 5.2% in the population-based cohort. In case-control analyses, CDH1 and BRCA2 PVs were associated with high risks of ILC (Odds ratio (OR) > 4), and CHEK2, ATM and PALB2 PVs were associated with moderate (OR = 2-4) risks. BRCA1 PVs and CHEK2 p.Ile157Thr were not associated with clinically relevant risks (OR < 2) of ILC. PV frequencies in these genes in ILC and IDC were similar except for PV frequencies in BRCA1 and CDH1. Conclusions: The study establishes that PVs in ATM, BRCA2, CDH1, CHEK2 and PALB2 are associated with an increased risk of ILC, whereas BRCA1 PVs are not. The similar overall PV frequencies for ILC and IDC suggest that cancer histology should not influence the decision to proceed with genetic testing. While, multigene panel testing may be appropriate for women with ILC, CDH1 should be specifically discussed in the context of low prevalence and attendant gastric cancer risk.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease of the intestinal tract that commonly presents with diarrhea. Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common complications associated with IBD that lead to flare-ups of underlying IBD. The pathophysiology of CDI includes perturbations of the gut microbiota, which makes IBD a risk factor due to the gut microbial alterations that occur in IBD, predisposing patients CDI even in the absence of antibiotics. Superimposed CDI not only worsens IBD symptoms but also leads to adverse outcomes, including treatment failure and an increased risk of hospitalization, surgery, and mortality. Due to the overlapping symptoms and concerns with false-positive molecular tests for CDI, diagnosing CDI in patients with IBD remains a clinical challenge. It is crucial to have a high index of suspicion for CDI in patients who seem to be experiencing an exacerbation of IBD symptoms. Vancomycin and fidaxomicin are the first-line treatments for the management of CDI in IBD. Microbiota restoration therapies effectively prevent recurrent CDI in IBD patients. Immunosuppression for IBD in IBD patients with CDI should be managed individually, based on a thorough clinical assessment and after weighing the pros and cons of escalation of therapy. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, the diagnosis of CDI in IBD, and outlines the principles of management of both CDI and IBD in IBD patients with CDI.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a consequence of flagrant use of antibiotics, an aging population with increasing comorbidities, and increased hospitalizations. The treatment of choice for CDI is antibiotics (vancomycin or fidaxomicin), with a possibility of recurrent CDI despite lack of additional risk factors for CDI. For the last 10 years, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising therapy for recurrent CDI, with success rates of over 85% compared with less than 50% with antibiotics for multiple recurrent CDI. Along with the success of FMT, several adverse and serious adverse events with FMT have been reported. These range from self-limiting abdominal pain to death due to severe sepsis. This review focuses on the safety of FMT, emphasizing the reports of transmission of pathobionts like extended-spectrum beta lactamase Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a potential pathogen that could be transmitted via FMT during the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges faced by clinicians for donor screening, clinical trials, and other aspects of FMT during the pandemic are discussed.

PURPOSE Among patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), the frequency of germline mutations in cancer susceptibility genes and the clinical relevance of these mutations are unclear. In this study, a prospective cohort of patients with mBC was used to determine mutation rates for breast cancer (BC) predisposition genes, to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with mutations, and to assess the influence of mutations on patient outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS Germline DNA from 2,595 patients with mBC enrolled in the prospective PRAEGNANT registry was evaluated for mutations in cancer predisposition genes. The frequencies of mutations in known BC predisposition genes were compared with results from a prospective registry of patients with nonmetastatic BC sequenced using the same QIAseq method and with public reference controls. Associations between mutation status and tumor characteristics, progression-free survival, and overall survival were assessed. RESULTS Germline mutations in 12 established BC predisposition genes (including BRCA1 and BRCA2) were detected in 271 (10.4%) patients. A mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 was seen in 129 patients (5.0%). BRCA1 mutation carriers had a higher proportion of brain metastasis (27.1%) compared with nonmutation carriers (12.8%). Mutations were significantly enriched in PRAEGNANT patients with mBC compared with patients with nonmetastatic BC (10.4% v 6.6%, P < .01). Mutations did not significantly modify progression-free survival or overall survival for patients with mBC. CONCLUSION Multigene panel testing may be considered in all patients with mBC because of the high frequency of germline mutations in BRCA1/2 and other BC predisposition genes. Although the prognosis of mutation carriers and nonmutation carriers with mBC was similar, differences observed in tumor characteristics have implications for treatment and for future studies of targeted therapies.

Aspirin and statin drugs have been associated with reduced risk of several gastrointestinal cancers, but their association with gallbladder cancer (GBC) has not been well established. We evaluated the association of aspirin and statins with the risk of GBC. Patients with GBC managed at Mayo Clinic between 2000 and 2019 were matched 1:2 with a general patient pool by age and sex. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations between GBC and aspirin or statin use. The analysis included 795 cases and 1590 controls, with a median age of 67 years. Aspirin or statin use alone or in combination was higher in controls (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that the use of aspirin [odds ratio (OR): 0.11; 95%CI: 0.08–0.15] or statins (OR: 0.29; 95%CI: 0.20–0.40) and their combined use (OR: 0.18; 95%CI: 0.13–0.24) was associated with lower risk of GBC. Multivariable analysis revealed that aspirin (OR: 0.12; 95%CI: 0.09–0.16) and combined statins and aspirin (OR: 0.46; 95%CI: 0.31–0.67) were associated with lower risk of GBC. Aspirin alone or in combination with statins is associated with a strongly reduced risk of GBC. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to elucidate their mechanisms.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Brain metastatic disease occurs in 10-30% of metastatic breast cancer cases. The incidence of brain metastases is increasing, yet overall survival remains &lt; 2 years. Treatment of brain metastases is limited with current clinical practice centered on radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Although these treatments may prolong survival in the short term, targeting oncogenic alterations in brain metastases may deliver a more sustained clinical benefit. In this multicenter study, we comprehensively characterized DNA and RNA alterations that aberrantly drive specific oncogenic pathway activity pertinent to breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM). METHODS: RNA sequencing was performed on a cohort of patient-matched primary and resected brain metastatic tumours (45 patients; N=90 samples). Whole exome DNA sequencing (WXS) was performed for 18/45 patients (54 trios consisting of primary tumor, brain metastasis and matched normal tissue). An independent brain metastatic WXS cohort (N=21 patients) (PMID: 26410082) was also analysed resulting in a total of 39 patient samples. Recurrent somatic copy number alterations (SCNA), somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and mutational signatures were identified from WXS data. Expressed gene fusions were detected computationally from RNA-Seq (N=45 cases) RESULTS: Of the 45 BCBM patients, median age at diagnosis was 51 years [25, 67], median overall survival 57 months (range 18-255) with median brain metastases free survival 34 months (range 5-216).Clinical molecular subtype of the primary tumour included 13 ER+/HER2- (29%), 16 HER2+ (35.5%) and 16 TNBC (35.5%). Regions of significant recurrent amplifications and deletions in BCBM (N=39 patients) were identified in 4q12, 10q11.21, 8p11.23, 8q23.3 and 17q12 (FDR &lt; 0.10). Recurrent expressed gene fusions identified in known cancer driver genes were associated with chromatin modification, MAPK and HER signaling pathways. Mutational signature analysis of SNVs identified signatures associated with ageing, mismatch repair and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) mutational processes. The relative contribution of the HRD signature was significantly increased in brain metastases compared to matched primary tumour (p &lt; 0.05). Concordantly increased HRD in the brain metastatic transcriptome was confirmed in these patients by gene set variation analysis (GSVA) of homologous recombination pathway genes from KEGG database in RNA-Seq data. Moreover, in the extended BCBM RNA-Seq (N=45 patients) GSVA pathway scores were elevated in brain metastases relative to primary tumours, validating the functional significance of altered DNA repair defects in brain metastases CONCLUSIONS: Here, we report recurrent genetic drivers, supported by altered functional transcriptome, unique to brain metastasis that may have clinical implications for prognosis and treatment choice. Specifically, targeting defects in the homologous recombination repair mechanism may represent new therapeutic strategies and management opportunities for breast cancer brain metastases patients. Citation Format: Nicola S Cosgrove, Damir Varešlija, Stephen Keelan, Simon Furney, Jodi M Carter, Steven N Hart, Siddhartha Yadav, Arnold DK Hill, Steffi Oesterreich, Adrian V Lee, Fergus J Couch, Leonie Young. Homologous recombination deficiency represents a new therapeutic strategy for breast cancer brain metastases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD13-01.

Abstract Background: About 10-20% of breast cancers (BC) are hereditary. Patients (pts) with BC and pathogenic variants (PVs) in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are at increased risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC). However, risks of CBC and recurrent BC associated with PVs in other established BC predisposition genes (e.g. PALB2, CHEK2, ATM) are less well established. We performed research genetic testing of over 4000 pts with BC treated at Mayo Clinic. Because most pts were unaware of their mutation status prior to selection of therapy, this cohort provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the natural history of BC recurrence after treatment of the index BC in pts with a deleterious mutation in predisposition genes. Methods: Women diagnosed and treated for BC at Mayo Clinic between 2001-2016 were enrolled in an IRB-approved research cohort. Pts were not selected for age of diagnosis or family history. Coding regions and consensus splice sites of established BC predisposition genes were subjected to amplicon-based deep sequencing using the QIAseq method in germline DNA extracted from peripheral blood or buccal samples. PVs in the genes were identified using GATK haplotype caller and Vardict. Patient, tumor, oncologic management and follow up data were reviewed. Herein we report on the differences in the incidence of local recurrence and CBC, among carriers and non- carriers and by predisposition gene using the cumulative incidence estimator and Fine and Gray regression to account for competing risks. Results: Of 4272 women with BC (median age 57, range 21-94), a PV in a BC predisposition gene was identified in 287 (6.7%). The most common PVs were seen in CHEK2 (67, 1.6%), BRCA1 (62, 1.5%), BRCA2 (60, 1.4%), ATM (47, 1.1%); 8 (0.2%) patients had more than one PV. Pts with any PVs presented at younger age (median 51 vs 58 years, p&lt;0.001), were more likely to have stage IV disease (4.5% vs 2.3%, p=0.02), estrogen receptor (ER) negative BC (19.5% vs 13.5%, p=0.005), and bilateral cancer (8.8% vs 4.3%, p&lt;0.001). ER- BC proportion varied by gene - 38.9% in pts with PVs associated with ER- BC (BRCA1, BARD1, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D) and 11.9% in those with PVs associated with ER+ BC (BRCA2, ATM, CDH1, CHEK2), p&lt;0.001. NCCN criteria for genetic testing were assessed for 3763, with 69.9% of those with PVs qualifying for testing compared to 46.3% of those without PVs (p&lt;0.001). Among 3973 pts (249 with PVs, 3724 without) with unilateral stage 0-III cancer, 168 pts developed local recurrence, 131 pts developed CBC and 248 pts developed distant disease with median 5 years of follow-up. Patients with any PV had higher rates of local recurrence after breast conserving surgery (HR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.2-4.2, p=0.01) but overall did not have significantly higher risk of CBC if contralateral prophylactic mastectomy was not performed (HR 1.7, 95% CI: 0.9-3.2, p=0.11). Specifically, pts with PVs in genes other than BRCA1 or BRCA2 did not have a higher risk of CBC compared to pts with no PV (HR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.4-2.7, p=0.96); the comparison of CBC risk in BRCA1 or BRCA2 versus those with no PV was HR 2.9 (95% CI: 1.3-6.5, p=0.01), while BRCA1 or BRCA2 compared to those with other PVs was HR 2.7 (95% CI: 0.8-9.3, p=0.13). In pts with CHEK2 PVs, the probability of CBC at 10-years follow-up was 5.4%, which was similar to pts without a mutation (5.3%), p=0.47. Conclusion: While PVs in known BC predisposition genes increase risk of BC development, risk of CBC in carriers of PVs in non-BRCA predisposition genes with BC are not as high as seen with BRCA1 or 2 PV carriers. This information regarding future BC will be helpful in personalizing decisions on the extent of surgery in carriers of PVs in BC predisposition genes. Citation Format: Judy C. Boughey, Tanya L. Hoskin, Siddhartha Yadav, Fergus J. Couch. The influence of pathogenic variants in breast cancer predisposition genes on secondary breast cancer events in a prospectively collected cohort of breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD10-02.

Abstract Cellular senescence contributes to age-related disorders including physical dysfunction, disabilities, and mortality caused by tissue inflammation and damage. Senescent cells accumulate in multiple tissues with aging and at etiological sites of multiple chronic disorders. The senolytic drug combination, Dasatinib plus Quercetin (D+Q), is known to reduce senescent cell abundance in aged mice. However, the effects of long-term D+Q treatment on intestinal senescent cell and inflammatory burden and microbiome composition in aged mice remain unknown. Here, we examine the effect of D+Q on senescence (p16Ink4a and p21Cip1) and inflammation (Cxcl1, Il1β, Il6, Mcp1, and Tnfα) markers in small (ileum) and large (caecum and colon) intestine in aged mice (n = 10) compared to age-matched placebo-treated mice (n = 10). Additionally, we examine microbial composition along the intestinal tract in these mice. D+Q-treated mice show significantly lower senescent cell (p16 and p21 expression) and inflammatory (Cxcl1, Il1β, Il6, Mcp1, and Tnfα expression) burden in small and large intestine compared with control mice. Further, we find specific microbial signatures in ileal, cecal, colonic, and fecal regions that are distinctly modulated by D+Q, with modulation being most prominent in small intestine. Further analyses reveal specific correlation of senescence and inflammation markers with specific microbial signatures. Together, these data demonstrate that the senolytic treatment reduces intestinal senescence and inflammation while altering specific microbiota signatures and suggest that the optimized senolytic regimens might improve health via reducing intestinal senescence, inflammation, and microbial dysbiosis in older subjects.