AUTHOR=Kong Wen , Yang Tongtong , Wen Xiaodong , Mu Zhongyi , Zhao Cheng , Han Sujun , Tian Jing , Zhang Xinhao , Zhou Tao , Zhang Yanrui , Lou Feng , Cao Shanbo , Wang Huina , Zhang Jin TITLE=Germline Mutation Landscape and Associated Clinical Characteristics in Chinese Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.737547 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.737547 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease of genomic alterations, of which the complete panorama helps in facilitating molecular-guided therapy. Germline mutation profiles and associated somatic and clinical characteristics remains unexplored in Chinese RCC patients.

Methods

We retrospectively profiled the germline and somatic mutations of 322 unselected RCC patients using a panel consisting of 808 cancer-related genes. We categorized patients into three groups based on germline mutation status and compared the somatic mutation spectrum among different groups.

Results

Approximately one out of ten (9.9%) RCC patients were identified to carry pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline variants (PGVs), of which 3.7% were variants in syndromic RCC-associated genes and 6.2% were other cancer-predisposition genes. The most common PGV was found in VHL (2.2%), followed by FH, TSC2, ATM, BRCA1, NBN, and BLM (0.6% each). Young patients (≤46 years) were more likely to harbor PGVs. Variants in syndromic RCC-associated genes were predominant identified in young patients, while variants in other cancer-predisposition genes were found in patients >46 years more frequently. Furthermore, 39.3% (11/28) of patients carrying PGVs were detected to have somatic “second hit” events. Germline and somatic sequencing, including microsatellite instability (MSI) status analysis, provided potentially actionable therapeutic targets in 17.1% of patients in the whole cohort.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that approximately 10% of RCC patients carried clinically significant germline mutations. Current guidelines recommendation for genetic testing seemed not sensitive enough to identify patients with hereditary RCC susceptibility. It is rational to promote genetic testing in RCC population.