A de novo FLCN mutation in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax and renal cancer; A clinical and molecular evaluation

Menko, Fred H. and Johannesma, Paul C. and Van Moorselaar, R. Jeroen A. and Reinhard, Rinze and Van Waesberghe, Jan Hein and Thunnissen, Erik and Houweling, Arjan C. and Leter, Edward M. and Waisfisz, Quinten and Van Doorn, Martijn B. and Starink, Theo M. and Postmus, Pieter E. and Coull, Barry J. and Van Steensel, Maurice A.M. and Gille, Johan J.P. (2013) A de novo FLCN mutation in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax and renal cancer; A clinical and molecular evaluation. Familial Cancer, 12 (3). pp. 373-379. ISSN 1389-9600

Abstract

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is an autosomal dominant condition due to germline FLCN (folliculin) mutations, characterized by skin fibrofolliculomas, lung cysts, pneumothorax and renal cancer. We identified a de novo FLCN mutation, c.499C>T (p.Gln167X), in a patient who presented with spontaneous pneumothorax. Subsequently, typical skin features and asymptomatic renal cancer were diagnosed. Probably, de novo FLCN mutations are rare. However, they may be under-diagnosed if BHD is not considered in sporadic patients who present with one or more of the syndromic features. Genetic and immunohistochemical analysis of the renal tumour indicated features compatible with a tumour suppressor role of FLCN. The finding that mutant FLCN was expressed in the tumour might indicate residual functionality of mutant FLCN, a notion which will be explored in future studies.