Week 1 - Genetics Flashcards
The presence of male breast cancer in a family with other breast cancers, suggests what gene may be mutated
BRCA2
Out of MSH2, MLH1, BRCA2, RET and APC- which one is NOT a tumour suppressor gene?
RET (proto-oncogene)
Proto-oncogenes do what?
They participate in the normal cellular response to growth factors
What 4 capabilities must be acquired for a cell to develop into a cancer?
- Proliferative signalling
- Avoidance of apoptosis
- Bypassing replicated senescence
- Insensitivity to anti-growth signalling
What do tumour suppressor genes do?
- Normally inhibit progression through the cell cycle
- Promote apoptosis or act as stability genes
What do proto-oncogenes do?
- Normally stimulate the cell cycle
- Activation –> “oncogenes” with gain of function
What do stability genes/caretaker genes do?
Minimise genetic alterations
What are the 2 broad types of cancers?
- Sporadic
2. Familial
Describe Sporadic cancer?
- Common
- Late onset
- Single primary tumour
Describe Familial cancer?
- Uncommon
- Early onset
- Often multiple primaries
How are most of the more common cancer predisposition syndromes inherited?
- Autosomal dominant fashion
- Mainly due to inheritance of an altered tumour suppressor gene giving inactivation of the wild-type allele
What is the Knudson’s hypothesis 1971?
Two hits –> Cancer
List 2 common inherited cancer syndromes?
- Breast cancer
2. Colon cancer
What 4 things can a cancer family history clinic offer?
- Family tree then verify diagnosis
- Estimate likelihood of predisposing gene mutation
- Discuss screening, risk factors, preventative measures
- Testing
What are the 2 breast cancer genes which can be tested for mutations?
- BRCA1
2. BRCA2
What are the 3 less common genes which cause a high-risk of developing familial breast cancer?
- TP53
- PALB2
- PTEN
What are 2 questions you should ask during a history if you suspect breast cancer?
- Presence of ovarian cancer in the family? (BRCA1)
2. Male breast cancer in family? (BRCA2)
There are at least ___ loci that confer an increased susceptibility to breast cancer?
72
What does each genetic variant generally confer?
A 10-20% increased risk of breast cancer
What is the function of BRCA1 & BRCA2 proteins?
DNA repair by homologous recombination of double-strand breaks
When would you do DNA testing in an affected individual?
- If they have at least 10% chance of possessing a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Use of “next generation sequencing”
What are 2 possible preventative measures offered to BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers?
- Prophylactic bilateral mastectomies
2. Prophylactic oophorectomies
List the 3 common genes which can be mutated in ovarian cancer?
- BRCA1
- BRCA2
- MLH1 / MSH2
What is a possible treatment for ovarian cancer?
PARP (poly ADP ribose polymerase) inhibition (olaparib)
Describe colon cancer?
- Mostly autosomal dominant inheritance
- Mostly hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (2-3%)
What can some colon cancers be?
Familial adenomatous polyposis or FAP (0.5%)
Describe Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)?
- Usually only a few polyps (<10)
- Uterus, stomach, ovary
What is Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) due to?
Inheritance of mutation in miss-match repair (MMR) system genes (important for accurate DNA replication)
What is the are the 6 cancers associated with miss-match repair (MMR) gene mutation?
- Colon cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Urothelial cancer
- Gliomas
How do you screen for those at risk of HNPCC?
Colonoscopies
How should you screen individuals at high risk of colon cancer?
- 2 yearly colonoscopies from age 25
- 2 yearly upper GI endoscopy from age 50
What drug reduces the risk of colon cancer according to the CAPP2 trial?
Aspirin
What are the 4 genes causing HNPCC & what are their %?
- MLH1 - 50%
- MSH2 - 40%
- MSH6 - 7-10%
- PMS2 - <5%
What gene is mutated in Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)?
APC gene
What is a clinical sign in 80% of people with Familial adenomatous polyposis?
Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE)
What is the screening test for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)?
Annual bowel screening from age 11
What is Li Fraumeni syndrome?
Rare autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome (breast cancer, brain tumours, sarcoma, leukaemia, adrenocortical carcinoma)
What are the % chances of cancer in Li Fraumeni syndrome by age 30 and 50?
- 50% by age 30
- 90% by age 50
What gene is mutated in Li Fraumeni syndrome?
TP53 (master control gene)
Describe how to understand a pedigree/family tree?
- Roman numerals = generations
- Male = square
- Female = circle
- Diagonal line = dead
- Young–>Old = Left–>Right
If the mother has a mutated BRCA gene, what are the chances of her daughter inheriting the mutated gene? And what are her chances in developing breast cancer?
- 1 in 2 (50%) chance in inheriting the BRCA gene
- The general population has a 80% chance of getting breast cancer, however her chance is 50x80% = 40% chance of getting breast cancer
What is an activated proto-oncogene called?
Oncogene
What chromosome is the BRCA1 gene on?
17
What chromosome is the BRCA2 gene on?
13
What does a low-penetrance mean?
That you have the gene variant, however, you only have a small increased chance of actually getting the disease
What are the clues to indicate an autosomal dominant inheritance?
- Both males & females
- Vertical pedigree pattern
- Variable expression & complete/incomplete penetrance
What are the effects of a mother taking thalidomide for her morning sickness during pregnancy?
- Baby born with limb defects
- Failed organ development
- Miscarriages
What are 3 other examples of autosomal dominant conditions?
- Inherited breast or colon cancer
- Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
- NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1)
Describe Sickle cell disease
- Autosomal recessive
- Sickle-shaped red blood cells in a sickle haemoglobin (HbS) homozygote
What are clues to indicate an autosomal recessive inheritance?
- Usually horizontal pattern
- Both males & females
- Expressivity more constant within a family
Give 4 examples of autosomal recessive conditions?
- Cystic fibrosis
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
A man affected by an autosomal recessive condition has a partner affected by the same condition. They have 3 children. What is the chance that their 3rd child will be affected?
100% as the parents are both affected and not just carriers
Autosomal dominant diseases are expressed in ________?
Heterozygotes
Autosomal recessive diseases are expressed in _________ OR _________?
- Homozygotes (2 identical mutated alleles)
OR - Compound heterozygotes (CPD) (2 different mutations)
What does Mendelian inheritance mean?
Its to do with a single gene
How can you tell the difference between a X linked condition and an autosomal dominant condition?
- X linked: More common in males as they only have 1 X chromosome, whereas females have 2. But a father could not pass on the gene to his son as he passes on the Y chromosome
- Autosomal dominant: Father passes gene onto son (X gene not affected). Both male and females can be affected
What are 2 examples of how some people can be more likely to develop a disease than others?
- Environmental factors (switch on and off genes ie. epigenetic)
- Other modifier genes
What does variable expression mean regarding genetic inheritance?
Some people are more affected by the disease than others even though they both inherit the same gene mutation
What does incomplete penetrance mean?
You could inherit the gene (increasing the risk), however not actually develop the disease/condition
What does complete penetrance mean?
You inherit the gene and have a 100% risk of developing the disease/condition
Give an example of a disease which is autosomal dominant with complete penetrance?
Achondroplasia
How does thalidomide work?
It’s a teratogen which changes how the protein functions but doesn’t alter the DNA sequence
Give an example of a modifier gene in breast cancer?
FGFR2 variants in BRCA2 mutation carriers
What is the % chance of being a carrier for an autosomal recessive gene if both parents are carriers?
50%
What is the % chance of NOT being affected/ being a carrier for an autosomal recessive gene if both parents are carriers?
25%
For autosomal dominant the offspring of affected individuals usually have a _____ risk?
50:50
For autosomal recessive the offspring of affected individuals have a ____ risk?
Low
What are “obligate carriers”?
- Individuals who are clinically unaffected but carry a gene mutation based on analysis of the family history
- Usually applies to disorders inherited autosomal recessive & X-linked recessive
Describe X linked recessive inheritance?
- No male to male transmission
- Mostly or only males affected
- Occasionally “manifesting carriers” due to “skewed X-inactivation”
What is skewed X-inactivation?
Occurs when the inactivation of 1 X chromosome is favored over the other, leading to an uneven number of cells with each chromosome inactivated
What are the risks for an X linked recessive carrier (heterozygote) mother having male & female children?
- MALE: 50% affected
- FEMALE: 50% carriers
What are the risks for an X linked recessive affected father having male & female children?
- MALE: none affected
- FEMALE: 100% carriers
Give 3 examples of X-linked dominant inheritance?
- Vitamin D resistant rickets
- Incontinentia pigmenti (male lethality)
- Rett syndrome (male lethality)
Describe the pattern of X-linked dominant inheritance?
Like autosomal dominant but NO male transmission
What is the sex ratio for X-linked recessive inheritance?
Male»_space; Female
What is the sex ratio for X-linked dominant inheritance?
F:M = 2:1
What is the pedigree pattern for X-linked recessive inheritance?
Knight’s move (“L” shaped movement)
What is the pedigree pattern for X-linked dominant inheritance?
Vertical
Describe Genetic “anticipation”?
Increasing severity & earlier age of onset in successive generations
Give 3 examples of diseases with atypical mendelian inheritance?
- Huntington disease
- Fragile X syndrome
- Myotonic dystrophy
Describe pseudo-dominant inheritance?
- It’s an autosomal recessive condition with a very high carrier frequency
- It appears like autosomal dominant
Give an example of a condition with pseudo-dominant inheritance?
Gilbert syndrome
Describe Gilberts syndrome?
- Carrier frequency: ~50%
- Intermittent jaundice due to unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia
Describe mitochondria DNA?
- Smaller genome
- Circular
- 37 genes
- No introns
Describe mitochondrial inheritance?
- Inherited only from the mother
- All children inherit it from the mother but to variable extents
- Syndromes often affect muscle, brain & eyes
Give an example of a disease with mitochondrial inheritance?
Leigh’s disease
What are the 4 examples of atypical inheritance?
- Genetic anticipation
- Gonadal mosaicism
- Pseudodominant
- Mitochondrial
Describe the presentation of Huntington’s disease?
- Onset between 30-50
- Progressive chorea, dementia & psychiatric symptoms
What is chorea?
Involuntary movements
Describe the genetics behind huntington’s disease?
- Autosomal dominant with genetic anticipation
- Unstable length
- Mutation in gene huntingtin (HTT) on chromosome 4