The utility of cerebrospinal fluid–derived cell-free DNA in molecular diagnostics for the PIK3CA-related megalencephaly-capillary malformation (MCAP) syndrome: a case report
Wei-Liang Chen, E. Pao, James Owens, I. Glass, C. Pritchard, Brain H Shirts, C. Lockwood, G. Mirzaa
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引用次数: 8
Abstract
The megalencephaly-capillary malformation (MCAP) syndrome is an overgrowth disorder caused by mosaic gain-of-function variants in PIK3CA. It is characterized by megalencephaly or hemimegalencephaly, vascular malformations, somatic overgrowth, among other features. Epilepsy is commonly associated with MCAP, and a subset of individuals have cortical malformations requiring resective epilepsy surgery. Like other mosaic disorders, establishing a molecular diagnosis is largely achieved by screening lesional tissues (such as brain or skin), with a low diagnostic yield from peripheral tissues (such as blood). Therefore, in individuals with MCAP in whom lesional tissues are scarce or unavailable or those ineligible for epilepsy surgery, establishing a molecular diagnosis can be challenging. Here we report on the utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-derived cfDNA for the molecular diagnosis of an individual with MCAP syndrome harboring a mosaic PIK3CA variant (c.3139C > T, p.His1047Tyr). The proband presented with asymmetric megalencephaly without significant dysgyria. He did not have refractory epilepsy and was therefore not a candidate for epilepsy surgery. However, he developed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in late childhood, with four CSF samples obtained via lumbar puncture for cancer staging during which one sample was collected for cfDNA extraction and sequencing. PIK3CA variant allele fractions in CSF cell-free DNA (cfDNA), skin fibroblasts, and peripheral blood were 3.08%, 37.31%, and 2.04%, respectively. This report illustrates the utility of CSF-derived cfDNA in MCAP syndrome. Minimally invasive–based molecular diagnostic approaches utilizing cfDNA not only facilitate accurate genetic diagnosis but also have important therapeutic implications for individuals with refractory epilepsy as repurposed PI3K-AKT-MTOR pathway-inhibitors become more widely available.
期刊介绍:
Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies is an open-access, peer-reviewed, international journal in the field of precision medicine. Articles in the journal present genomic and molecular analyses of individuals or cohorts alongside their clinical presentations and phenotypic information. The journal''s purpose is to rapidly share insights into disease development and treatment gained by application of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, biomarker analysis, and other approaches. The journal covers the fields of cancer, complex diseases, monogenic disorders, neurological conditions, orphan diseases, infectious disease, gene therapy, and pharmacogenomics. It has a rapid peer-review process that is based on technical evaluation of the analyses performed, not the novelty of findings, and offers a swift, clear path to publication. The journal publishes: Research Reports presenting detailed case studies of individuals and small cohorts, Research Articles describing more extensive work using larger cohorts and/or functional analyses, Rapid Communications presenting the discovery of a novel variant and/or novel phenotype associated with a known disease gene, Rapid Cancer Communications presenting the discovery of a novel variant or combination of variants in a cancer type, Variant Discrepancy Resolution describing efforts to resolve differences or update variant interpretations in ClinVar through case-level data sharing, Follow-up Reports linked to previous observations, Plus Review Articles, Editorials, and Position Statements on best practices for research in precision medicine.