Inma Rosas

We wanted to implement an NGS strategy to globally analyze hereditary cancer with diagnostic quality while retaining the same degree of understanding and control we had in pre-NGS strategies. To do this, we developed the I2HCP panel, a custom bait library covering 122 hereditary cancer genes. We improved bait design, tested different NGS platforms and created a clinically driven custom data analysis pipeline. The I2HCP panel was developed using a training set of hereditary colorectal cancer, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and neurofibromatosis patients and reached an accuracy, analytical sensitivity and specificity greater than 99%, which was maintained in a validation set. I2HCP changed our diagnostic approach, involving clinicians and a genetic diagnostics team from panel design to reporting. The new strategy improved diagnostic sensitivity, solved uncertain clinical diagnoses and identified mutations in new genes. We assessed the genetic variation in the complete set of hereditary cancer genes, revealing a complex variation landscape that coexists with the disease-causing mutation. We developed, validated and implemented a custom NGS-based strategy for hereditary cancer diagnostics that improved our previous workflows. Additionally, the existence of a rich genetic variation in hereditary cancer genes favors the use of this panel to investigate their role in cancer risk.

Plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors involving large nerves present in 30%-50% Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients. Atypical neurofibromas (ANF) are distinct nodular lesions with atypical features on histology that arise from PNFs. The risk and timeline of malignant transformation in ANF is difficult to assess. A recent NIH workshop has stratified ANFs and separated a subgroup with multiple atypical features and higher risk of malignant transformation termed atypical neurofibromatous neoplasms with uncertain biological potential (ANNUBP). We performed an analysis of intratumor heterogeneity on eight PNFs to link histological and genomic findings. Tumors were homogeneous although histological and molecular heterogeneity was identified. All tumors were 2n, almost mutation-free and had a clonal NF1(-/-) origin. Two ANFs from the same patient showed atypical features on histology and deletions of CDKN2A/B. One of the ANFs exhibited different areas in which the degree of histological atypia correlated with the heterozygous or homozygous loss of the CDKN2A/B loci. CDKN2A/B deletions in different areas originated independently. Results may indicate that loss of a single CDKN2A/B copy in NF1(-/-) cells is sufficient to start ANF development and that total inactivation of both copies of CDKN2A/B is necessary to form an ANNUBP.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a tumor predisposition genetic disease caused by mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. Plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) are benign Schwann cell (SC) tumors of the peripheral nerve sheath that develop through NF1 inactivation and can progress toward a malignant soft tissue sarcoma. There is a lack of non-perishable model systems to investigate PNF development. We reprogrammed PNF-derived NF1(-/-) cells, descendants from the tumor originating cell. These NF1(-/-)-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) captured the genomic status of PNFs and were able to differentiate toward neural crest stem cells and further to SCs. iPSC-derived NF1(-/-) SCs exhibited a continuous high proliferation rate, poor myelination ability, and a tendency to form 3D spheres that expressed the same markers as their PNF-derived primary SC counterparts. They represent a valuable model to study and treat PNFs. PNF-derived iPSC lines were banked for making them available.

BACKGROUND: A clinical overlap exists between mosaic Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and sporadic Schwannomatosis conditions. In these cases a molecular analysis of tumors is recommended for a proper genetic diagnostics. This analysis is challenged by the fact that schwannomas in both conditions bear a somatic double inactivation of the NF2 gene. However, SMARCB1-associated schwannomas follow a four-hit, three-step model, in which both alleles of SMARCB1 and NF2 genes are inactivated in the tumor, with one of the steps being always the loss of a big part of chromosome 22 involving both loci. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a 36-year-old woman who only presented multiple subcutaneous schwannomas on her right leg. To help discriminate between both possible diagnoses, an exhaustive molecular genetic and genomic analysis was performed on two schwannomas of the patient, consisting in cDNA and DNA sequencing, MLPA, microsatellite multiplex PCR and SNP-array analyses. The loss of a big part of chromosome 22 (22q12.1q13.33) was identified in both tumors. However, this loss involved the NF2 but not the SMARCB1 locus. SNP-array analysis revealed the presence of the same deletion breakpoint in both schwannomas, indicating that this alteration was actually the first NF2 inactivating hit. In addition, a distinct NF2 point mutation in each tumor was identified, representing independent second hits. In accordance with these results, no deletions or point mutations in the SMARCB1 gene were identified. None of the mutations were present in the blood. Two of the patient's children inherited chromosome 22 deleted in schwannomas of the mother, but in its wild type form. CONCLUSIONS: These results conclusively confirm the segmental mosaic NF2 nature of the clinical phenotype presented.