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A primary breast cancer with distinct foci of estrogen receptor-alpha positive and negative cells derived from the same clonal origin as revealed by whole exome sequencing

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Abstract

Background/purpose

Tumor heterogeneity is a now well-recognized phenomenon that can affect the classification, prognosis and treatment of human cancers. Heterogeneity is often described in primary breast cancers based upon histologic subtypes, hormone- and HER2-receptor status, and immunolabeling for various markers, which can be seen within a single tumor as mixed cellular populations, or as separate discrete foci.

Experimental design/methods

Here, we present a case report of a patient’s primary breast cancer that had two separate but adjacent histologic components, one that was estrogen receptor (ER) positive, and the other ER negative. Each component was subjected to whole exome sequencing and compared for gene identity to determine clonal origin.

Results

Using prior bioinformatic tools, we demonstrated that both the ER positive and negative components shared many variants, including passenger and driver alterations. Copy number variations also supported the two components were derived from a single common clone.

Conclusions

These analyses strongly suggest that the two ER components of this patient’s breast cancer were derived from the same clonal origin. Our results have implications for the evolution of breast cancers with mixed histologies, and how they might be best managed for optimal therapy.

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Acknowledgements

We thank various members of the Park and Wheelan lab for helpful thoughts and discussions. This work was supported by NIH R01CA194024, NIH P30CA006973, Susan G. Komen, the Commonwealth Foundation, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Marcie Ellen Foundation, The Helen Golde Trust, and The Canney Foundation. None of the funding sources influenced the design, interpretation or submission of this manuscript.

Disclosure

B.H.P. is a paid member of scientific advisory boards for Loxo Oncology, and has ownership interest in Loxo Oncology. B.H.P. has research contracts with Foundation Medicine, Inc. Under separate licensing agreements between Horizon Discovery, LTD and The Johns Hopkins University, B.H.P. is entitled to a share of royalties received by the University on sales of products. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by the Johns Hopkins University, in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed by the other authors.

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Author notes

  1. Kelly Kyker-Snowman and Bracha Erlanger Avigdor contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Kelly Kyker-Snowman, Bracha Erlanger Avigdor, Ashley Cimino-Mathews, Sarah J. Wheelan, Pedram Argani & Ben Ho Park

  2. Department of Anatomic Pathology, Northwell Pathology, Northshore University Hospital Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Cohen Children Hospital, Lake Success, NY, 11040, USA

    Mansoor Nasim

  3. Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Ashley Cimino-Mathews & Pedram Argani

  4. Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Sarah J. Wheelan

  5. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Ben Ho Park

  6. 1550 Orleans St. CRB II, Room 1M51, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Sarah J. Wheelan

  7. Weinberg Building Room 2242, Baltimore, MD, 21231-2410, USA

    Pedram Argani

  8. 1650 Orleans Street, CRB1 Room 151, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Ben Ho Park

Authors
  1. Kelly Kyker-Snowman
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  2. Bracha Erlanger Avigdor
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  3. Mansoor Nasim
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  4. Ashley Cimino-Mathews
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  5. Sarah J. Wheelan
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  6. Pedram Argani
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  7. Ben Ho Park
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sarah J. Wheelan, Pedram Argani or Ben Ho Park.

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Kyker-Snowman, K., Erlanger Avigdor, B., Nasim, M. et al. A primary breast cancer with distinct foci of estrogen receptor-alpha positive and negative cells derived from the same clonal origin as revealed by whole exome sequencing. Breast Cancer Res Treat 170, 425–430 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4742-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4742-x

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