Germline variation in O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) as cause of hereditary colorectal cancer

Abstract

© 2019 The Authors. ; Somatic epigenetic inactivation of the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is frequent in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, its involvement in CRC predisposition remains unexplored. We assessed the role and relevance of MGMT germline mutations and epimutations in familial and early-onset CRC. Mutation and promoter methylation screenings were performed in 473 familial and/or early-onset mismatch repair-proficient nonpolyposis CRC cases. No constitutional MGMT inactivation by promoter methylation was observed. Of six rare heterozygous germline variants identified, c.346C > T (p.H116Y) and c.476G > A (p.R159Q), detected in three and one families respectively, affected highly conserved residues and showed segregation with cancer in available family members. In vitro, neither p.H116Y nor p.R159Q caused statistically significant reduction of MGMT repair activity. No evidence of somatic second hits was found in the studied tumors. Case-control data showed over-representation of c.346C > T (p.H116Y) in familial CRC compared to controls, but no overall association of MGMT mutations with CRC predisposition. In conclusion, germline mutations and constitutional epimutations in MGMT are not major players in hereditary CRC. Nevertheless, the over-representation of c.346C > T (p.H116Y) in our familial CRC cohort warrants further research. ; This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, co-funded by FEDER funds -a way to build Europe- [SAF2016-80888-R (LV), SAF2014-55000-R (ME), SAF2015-68016-R (GC/MP), Juan de la Cierva and Sara Borrell postdoctoral contracts (PM)]; Instituto de Salud Carlos III [DTS16/00153 (ME) and CIBERONC CB16/12/00234]; the Government of Catalonia [Pla Estratègic de Recerca i Innovació en Salut SLT002/16/0037, 2017SGR1282, 2017SGR1080, 2014SGR633 and 2009SGR1315]; and Fundación Olga Torres. We thank the CERCA/Generalitat de Catalunya Program for institutional support. This study has been enabled by COST Action CA17118.