Germline MUTYH mutations and high-grade gliomas: Novel evidence for a potential association

There is growing body of evidence supporting the role of germline mutations in the pathogenesis of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and the widespread use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels facilitates their detection. Variants of the MUTYH gene are increasingly recognized as suspected germline background of various extraintestinal malignancies, besides their well-characterized role in the polyposis syndrome associated with biallelic mutations. Using a multigene NGS panel (Illumina TruSight Oncology 500), we detected one H3 G34V- and one H3 K27M-mutant pediatric high-grade diffuse glioma, in association with c.1178G>A (p.G393D) and c.916C>T (p.R306C) MUTYH variants, respectively. Both MUTYH mutations were germline, heterozygous and inherited, according to the subsequent genetic testing of the patients and their first-degree relatives. In the H3 K27M-mutant glioma, amplifications affecting the 4q12 region were also detected, in association with KDR-PDGFRA, KIT-PDGFRA, and KDR-CHIC2 fusions, previously unreported in this entity. Among 47 other CNS tumors of various histological types tested with the same NGS panel in our institution, only one adult glioblastoma harbored MUTYH mutation. Together with a single previous report, our data raises the possibility of an association between germline MUTYH mutations and CNS malignancies, particularly in pediatric histone H3-mutant gliomas.

Automated summary

There is growing evidence supporting the role of germline mutations in pediatric central nervous system tumors, and next-generation sequencing panels can help detect them. MUTYH gene variants are now known to be associated with various extraintestinal cancers, in addition to their role in polyposis syndrome. Using a multigene next-generation sequencing panel, two mutant pediatric high-grade diffuse gliomas were identified along with germline MUTYH variants. These findings suggest a possible association between germline MUTYH mutations and CNS malignancies, particularly in pediatric histone H3-mutant gliomas.