Skip to main content
Download PDF

Cascade Fumarate Hydratase mutation screening allows early detection of kidney tumour: a case report

BMC Medical Genetics volume 18, Article number: 79 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Fumarate hydratase (FH) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which results in a major defect in cellular metabolism. It presents in infancy with progressive encephalopathy, hypotonia, seizures and failure to thrive and is often fatal in childhood. It is caused by mutations in the FH gene (1q42.1) that result in deficiency of the citric acid cycle enzyme fumarate hydratase, resulting in accumulation of fumaric acid. Heterozygous germline mutations in the FH gene predispose to an aggressive autosomal dominant inherited early-onset kidney cancer syndrome: hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC).

Case presentation

Cascade FH mutation screening enabled the early diagnosis of a renal tumour in an asymptomatic parent of a child with fumarate hydratase deficiency, resulting in timely and possibly life-saving treatment.

Conclusion

While the theoretical risk of kidney cancer in parents of children with recessive fumarate hydratase deficiency is well recognized, to our knowledge this is the first report of a kidney tumour being detected in a parent by screening performed for this indication. This underscores the importance of offering lifelong kidney surveillance to such parents and other heterozygous relatives of children born with fumarate hydratase deficiency.

Peer Review reports

Background

Inherited cancer syndromes are an important cause of disease, accounting for 5-10% of cancers in the general population [1]. These disorders are usually inherited as dominant traits and therefore afflict multiple generations of the same family, either in childhood or adulthood. Early diagnosis can have major survival benefits and active surveillance for cancer from a young age allows tumors to be safely removed before they have metastasized. A detailed family history is therefore a crucial part of the assessment of all patients with cancer.

Identification of the mutated genes responsible for inherited cancer syndromes is important because bi-allelic somatic mutations in the same genes are frequently found in sporadic cancers; a major cause of death in the general population. Defining these genes has provided some key insights into the cellular mechanisms responsible for cancer.

Kidney cancer kills approximately 4250 people each year in the UK (~3% cancer deaths) [2]. It frequently presents late, often only detected incidentally during radiological imaging of the abdomen, and if it has metastasized at time of diagnosis, may prove fatal. Early detection of renal lesions in at-risk individuals can therefore be life-saving.

Here, we present a case of a kidney tumour associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) that was diagnosed by cascade screening of the healthy parents of an infant with autosomal recessive fumarate hydratase deficiency.

Case presentation

The index case is the first child of unrelated healthy Caucasian parents. Antenatal ultrasound identified the child had dilated cerebral ventricles and she was induced at term for this reason. She had an uncomplicated delivery and was of normal birth weight. There was initial concern about jaundice but no specific treatment was required.

She presented at 3 months of age with seizures and hypotonia although her parents had noted some visual inattentiveness and developmental delay prior to presentation. Seizure control was challenging with short periods of good control being achieved with multiple anticonvulsant agents. On examination, she was plagiocephalic, with an alternating divergent strabismus, a wide mouth with tented upper lip and some facial coarsening. An MRI scan showed a delay in myelination and evidence of poor white matter bulk.

Urinary organic acid analysis by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry showed raised fumarate (4790 μmol/mmol creatinine) with mildly raised succinate and 2-oxoglutarate levels. Functional enzyme analysis in fibroblasts showed fumarate hydratase activity of 20% control level, and genetic analysis of the FH gene showed compound heterozygosity for mutations in c.844G>C p.Gly282Arg (present in the father) and c.1127A>C p.Gln376Pro (inherited from the mother), confirming a diagnosis of fumarate hydratase deficiency.

Developmental progress was very slow. She was babbling and rolling at 2 years of age but did not achieve independent sitting and her development plateaued from around 2.5 years. She had significant central visual impairment limited to perception of light. There were episodes of status epilepticus and latterly episodes of abnormal posturing and dystonia. Her growth faltered and she failed to thrive, her weight fell below the 0.4th centile and she died at 4 years of age.

The parents were offered screening by renal ultrasonography in view of their known heterozygous mutations in the FH gene. An ultrasound of the 30-year-old asymptomatic father showed a cystic lesion at the lower pole of the left kidney. MRI scan confirmed a 2 cm × 2 cm × 1.8 cm cystic exophytic lesion (Fig. 1). There was no evidence of metastatic spread and he underwent a robot-assisted laparoscopic partial left nephrectomy from which he made an uneventful recovery. Histological examination of the renal lesion demonstrated a low grade tubulocystic carcinoma, with cysts lined by hob-nailing cells containing eosinophilic cytoplasm and rounded nuclei with conspicuous nucleoli, which had been completely resected (Fig. 2). Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for CD10, vimentin and CK19 and was negative for CK7, racemase, and RCC. FH and 2-Succinocysteine (2SC) immunohistochemistry was not assessed in line with current routine clinical practice.

Fig. 1
figure1

Abdominal MRI showing a 2 × 2 × 1.8 cm exophytic lesion in the lower pole of the left kidney demonstrating septation and enhancement

Full size image
Fig. 2
figure2

Histology shows a multicystic tumour with cysts lined by hobnailed cells (arrow) with a low mitotic index and prominent nucleoli (a, low power; b, high power). Within the stroma are tubular elements with similar nuclear features (c)

Full size image

Discussion and conclusions

Approximately 3-5% of all kidney cancers are inherited and at present there are ten syndromes and 12 genes that have been found to be associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer [3]. Heterozygous mutations in genes including VHL, Fumarate hydratase (FH) and Succinate dehydrogenase subunits (SDHB, SDHC and SDHD) are associated with different types of renal cancers and somatic loss of the second allele can often be demonstrated in the associated renal lesions. Many of the genetic defects associated with inherited kidney cancer syndromes perturb cellular metabolism by disrupting the citric acid cycle and the renal lesions associated with these different molecular defects have different histological and clinical characteristics. Here we present a case of an FH-associated kidney tumour identified by screening an asymptomatic parent of a child with autosomal recessive fumarate hydratase deficiency caused by compound heterozygous mutations in the FH gene.

Heterozygous loss-of-function FH mutation is associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome [4]. The clinical manifestations include uterine fibroids (present in 75-98% of female mutation carriers) often requiring myomectomy or hysterectomy before the age of 40 years [4,5,6]; painful cutaneous leiomyomata (present in 76-100% of mutation carriers, with mean age of onset of 25 years) [5, 7, 8]; and renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) which occur with variable penetrance in approximately 14-18% of affected individuals [7, 9]. Following the recognized association with renal cancer, the term HLRCC has superseded the earlier terms Reed’s Disease [10] and Multiple Cutaneous and Uterine Leiomyomata syndrome (MCUL) [4].

HLRCC-associated RCCs are a group of histologically heterogeneous tumors that can be described as papillary, solid, tubulocystic, cribiform or cystic in nature and have recently been added as a separate entity to the 2016 WHO Classification [11]. Cells share a characteristic appearance; a large nucleus and prominent inclusion-like eosinophilic nucleoli surrounded by a clear halo [12]. Immunohistochemistry demonstrates a lack of FH protein expression and increased 2SC levels in the tumor [13,14,15]; a finding that should prompt genetic screening of affected individuals. Traditionally ‘type 2 papillary RCCs’ were the renal lesion most commonly associated with HLRCC, however a recent genomic analysis has suggested that ‘type 2 papillary RCC’ is not in fact a single tumor type, but instead consists of sub-groups with different molecular backgrounds [16]. Interestingly, DNA methylation analysis identified a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) which was associated with reduced FH mRNA expression; this was seen in 56% of tumors with germline FH mutations and associated with poor survival [16].

It is clinically important to differentiate FH-deficient RCC from other renal cell cancers as the former have a high chance of early invasion and metastasis, even when the lesion diameter is very small (<1 cm). This contrasts with most sporadic renal cell carcinomas and those associated with other inherited conditions (such as VHL disease), in which tumours smaller than 3 cm in diameter tend to be well circumscribed with a very low probability of metastasis. This distinction suggests that aggressive screening (by regular high-resolution imaging) and early resection of even very small suspicious lesions that are identified in patients with HLRCC may be necessary to reduce the risk of fatal metastatic cancer [17]. Management of these lesions requires early nephron-sparing surgery and a Phase II clinical trial (NCI 10-C-0114) for the treatment of advanced or metastatic HLRCC-associated kidney cancer using bevacizumab (targeting VEGFA) and erlotinib (targeting EGFR kinase activity) is currently under way (NCT01130519).

Germline mutations in the FH gene are diagnostic for HLRCC and approximately 120 potentially pathogenic mutations have been identified [18]. Genetic testing should be offered to anyone with clinical manifestations of the syndrome or with a family history of HLRCC. The renal tumours seen with HLRCC can present at a young age (10-44 years) and current recommendations suggest considering screening children with a known heterozygous FH mutation with abdominal MRI annually from the age of 8 years [19].

The FH gene has been suggested as a ‘non-classical’ tumour suppressor gene. It encodes the enzyme fumarate hydratase which catalyses the conversion of fumarate to malate in the citric acid cycle. Deficiency of this enzyme results in excessive fumarate accumulation and it is hypothesised that fumarate may act as an ‘oncometabolite’ in FH-deficient kidney cancer [17]. One theory is that the excess fumarate induces an environment of ‘pseudo-hypoxia’ by stabilisation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and upregulation of its target genes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) creating optimal conditions for tumour proliferation. Alternatively, it has been proposed that fumarate may indirectly stabilise the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and result in activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway [20].

While HLRCC is caused by heterozygous FH mutations, and transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, inheritance of two defective FH alleles has been described in around 100 patients, and is associated with a significant deficiency of the fumarate hydratase enzyme. This causes a major defect of cellular metabolism which usually manifests in the peri-natal period or in early infancy. Dysmorphology is frequently present and characteristic features include a depressed nasal bridge, widely spaced eyes, frontal bossing, ear anomalies and narrow forehead. Brain atrophy and white matter abnormalities are also described [21]. Clinical features include encephalopathy, poor feeding, lethargy, stupor and epilepsy. Other reports include recurrent vomiting and hepatosplenomegaly [21], neonatal polycythaemia [22] and pancreatitis [23]. Clinical outcomes in these infants are unfortunately poor with progressive neurological and systemic disease leading to death in infancy or early childhood in most cases [24].

While the theoretical risk of kidney cancer in parents of children with recessive fumarate hydratase deficiency is well recognized, to our knowledge this is the first report of identification of a parent with a kidney tumour by screening performed for this indication. This underscores the importance of offering lifelong kidney surveillance to such parents and other heterozygous relatives of children born with fumarate hydratase deficiency.

Abbreviations

2SC:

2-Succinocysteine

EGFR:

Epidermal growth factor receptor

FH:

Fumarate hydratase

GLUT1:

Glucose transporter 1

HIF-1α:

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha

HLRCC:

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer

MCUL:

Multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomata syndrome

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

Nrf2:

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2

RCC:

Renal cell carcinoma

SDHB, SDHC and SDHD :

Succinate dehydrogenase subunits

VEGFA:

Vascular endothelial growth factor A

VHL:

Von-Hippel Lindau

References

  1. 1.

    Banks KC, Moline JJ, Marvin ML, Newlin AC, Vogel KJ. 10 rare tumours that warrant a genetics referral. Familial Cancer. 2013;12(1):1–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. 2.

    Deaths registered in England and Wales (Series DR), 2013. Office for National Statistics. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics%2D-deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales%2D-series-dr-/2013/index.html. Accessed June 2015.

  3. 3.

    Haas NB, Nathanson KL. Hereditary kidney cancer syndromes. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2014;21(1):81–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    Launonen V, Vierimaa O, Kiuru M, Isola J, Roth S, Pukkala E, Sistonen P, Herva R, Aaltonen LA. Inherited susceptibility to uterine leiomyomas and renal cell cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98(6):3387–92.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. 5.

    Wei MH, Toure O, Glenn GM, Pithukpakorn M, Neckers L, Stolle C, Choyke P, Grubb R, Middelton L, Turner ML, Walther MM, Merino MJ, Zbar B, Lineham WM, Toro JR. Novel mutations in FH and expansion of the spectrum of phenotypes expressed in families with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer. J Med Genet. 2006;43:18–27.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. 6.

    Tomlinson IP, Alam NA, Rowan AJ, Barclay E, Jaeger EE, Kelsell D, Leigh I, Gorman P, Lamlum H, Rahman S, Roylance RR, Olpin S, Bevan S, Barker K, Hearle N, Houlston RS, Kiuru M, Lehtonen R, Karhu A, Vilkki S, Laiho P, Eklund C, Vierimaa O, Aittomäki K, Hietala M, Sistonen P, Paetau A, Salovaara R, Herva R, Launonen V, Aaltonen LA, Multiple Leiomyoma Consortium. Germline mutations in FH predispose to dominantly inherited uterine fibroids, skin leiomyomata and papillary renal cell cancer. Nat Genet. 2002;30(4):406–10.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. 7.

    Toro JR, Nickerson ML, Wei MH, Warren MB, Glenn GM, Turner ML, Stewart L, Duray P, Tourre O, Sharma N, Choyke P, Stratton P, Merino M, Walther MM, Linehan WM, Schmidt LS, Zbar B. Mutations in the Fumarate hydratase gene cause hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families in North America. Am J Hum Genet. 2003;73(1):95–106.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. 8.

    Smit DL, Mesenkamp AR, Badeloe S, Breuning MH, Simon ME, van Spaendonck KY, Aalfs CM, Post JG, Shanley S, Krapels IP, Hoefsloot LH, van Moorselaar RJ, Starink TM, Bayley JP, Frank J, van Steensel MA, Menko FH. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families referred for fumarate hydratase germline mutation analysis. Clin Genet. 2011;79(1):49–59.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. 9.

    Gardie B, Remenieras A, Kattygnarath D, et al. Novel FH mutations in families with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) and patients with isolated type 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma. J Med Genet. 2011;48:226–34.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. 10.

    Reed WB, Walker R, Horowitz R. Cutaneous leiomyomata with uterine leiomyomata. Acta Derm Venereol. 1973;53(5):409–16.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    Moch H, Cubilla AL, Humphrey PA, et al. The 2016 WHO classification of Tumours of the urinary system and male genital organs-part a: renal, penile, and testicular Tumours. Eur Urol. 2016;70(1):93–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. 12.

    Merino MJ, Torres-Cabala C, Pinto P, Linehan WM. The morphologic spectrum of kidney tumors in hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) syndrome. Am J Surg Pathol. 2007;31(10):1578–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. 13.

    Smith SC, Trpkov K, Chen YB, et al. Tubulocystic carcinoma of the kidney with poorly differentiated foci: a frequent morphologic pattern of Fumarate Hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol. 2016;40(11):1457–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    Chen YB, Brannon AR, Toubaji A, et al. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome-associated renal cancer: recognition of the syndrome by pathologic features and the utility of detecting aberrant succination by immunohistochemistry. Am J Surg Pathol. 2014;38(5):627–37.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    Trpkov K, Hes O, Agaimy A, et al. Fumarate Hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma is strongly correlated with Fumarate Hydratase mutation and hereditary Leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome. Am J Surg Pathol. 2016;40(7):865–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. 16.

    Network CGAR, Linehan WM, Spellman PT, et al. Comprehensive molecular characterization of papillary renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(2):135–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    Schmidt LS, Linehan WM. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2014;7:253–60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. 18.

    Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD). http://www.LOVD.nl/FH. Accessed June 2015.

  19. 19.

    Menko FH, Maher ER, Schmidt LS, Middelton LA, Aittomäki K, Tomlinson I, Richard S, Linehan WM. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC): renal cancer risk, surveillance and treatment. Familial Cancer. 2014;13(4):637–44.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    Yang M, Soga T, Pollard PJ, Adam J. The emerging role of fumarate as an oncometabolite. Front Oncol. 2012;2:85.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    Allegri G, Fernandes MJ, Scalco FB, Correia P, Simoni RE, Llerena JC Jr, de Oliveira ML. Fumaric aciduria: an overview and the first Brazilian case report. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2010;33(4):411–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. 22.

    Kerrigan JF, Aleck KA, Tarby TJ, Bird CR, Heidenreich RA. Fumaric aciduria: clinical and imaging features. Ann Neurol. 2000;47(5):583–8.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    Phillips TM, Gibson JB, Ellison DA. Fumarate hydratase deficiency in monozygotic twins. Pediatr Neurol. 2006;35(2):150–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    Loeffen J, Smeets R, Voit T, Hoffmann G, Smeitink J. Fumarase deficiency presenting with periventricular cysts. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2005;28:799–800.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients.

Funding

DG is supported by an MRC Clinician Scientist award.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Centre for Nephrology, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    Melanie M. Y. Chan & Daniel P. Gale

  2. Northeast Thames Regional Genetics Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK

    Angela Barnicoat, Lucy Side & Helen Brittain

  3. Department of Urology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    Faiz Mumtaz & Michael Aitchison

  4. Department of Histopathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    Alan W. H. Bates

Authors
  1. Melanie M. Y. Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Angela Barnicoat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Faiz Mumtaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Aitchison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lucy Side
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Helen Brittain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Alan W. H. Bates
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Daniel P. Gale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AB, LS and HB were involved in the clinical care of the child. FM, MA and DG were involved in the clinical care of the father. AWHB provided histopathology images and expertise. MC and DG co-authored the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel P. Gale.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval was waived as only standard patient care carried out. Consent to participate was included in consent to publish.

Consent for publication

Written informed consent for publication of the clinical details and images was obtained from both parents. A copy of the consent form is available for review by the Editor of this journal.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chan, M.M.Y., Barnicoat, A., Mumtaz, F. et al. Cascade Fumarate Hydratase mutation screening allows early detection of kidney tumour: a case report. BMC Med Genet 18, 79 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12881-017-0436-1

Download citation

Keywords

  • Fumarate hydratase deficiency
  • Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC)
  • Hereditary cancer
  • Case report

BMC Medical Genetics

ISSN: 1471-2350

Contact us