Are there low-penetrance TP53 alleles? Evidence from childhood adrenocortical tumors

We have analyzed a panel of 14 cases of childhood adrenocortical tumors uns elected for family history and have identified germline TP53 mutations in > 80%, making this the highest known incidence of a germline mutation in a tu mor-suppressor gene in any cancer. The spectrum of germline TP53 mutations detected is remarkably limited. Analysis of tumor tissue for loss of consti tutional heterozygosity, with respect to the germline mutant allele and the occurrence of other somatic TP53 mutations, indicates complex sequences of genetic events in a number of tumors. None of the families had cancer hist ories that conformed to the criteria for Li-Fraumeni syndrome, but, in some families, we were able to demonstrate thar; the mutation had been inherite d. In these families there were gene carriers unaffected in their 40s and 5 0s, and there were others with relatively late-onset cancers. These data pr ovide evidence that certain TP53 alleles confer relatively low penetrance f or predisposition to the development of cancer, and they imply that deleter ious TP53 mutations may be more frequent in the population than has been es timated previously Our findings have considerable implications for the clin ical management of children with andrenocortical tumors and their parents, in terms of both genetic testing and the early detection and treatment of t umors.