RB1 gene mutations in retinoblastoma and its clinical correlation

To find correlation between the type of mutations observed and the severity of the disease using multiple techniques like polymerase chain reactions (PCR), quantitative multiplex PCR, sequencing and RNA analysis.

Prospective, observational study. Patients who had been screened for mutations in the RB1 gene were included in the study. Patient details including demographic data; age and sex, laterality, international classification of intraocular retinoblastoma (ICIOR) staging, modality of management, histopathology high risk factors if the eyes were enucleated and metastasis rate were assessed.

Seventy four patients were studied. Fifty three patients had bilateral and 21 unilateral disease. Complete genetic data was analyzed for 74 patients and complete clinical correlation was established for all the 49 patients with mutations. Of the total mutations identified, 11/49 (22.4%) of patients had large deletions, 12/49 (24.5%) had small deletions or insertions, 14/49 (28.6%) had nonsense mutations, 7/49 (14.3%) had splice mutations and 5/49 (10.2%) of patients had missense mutations. Four cases were familial. Group E ICIOR stage at presentation was noted in 40% of patients with large deletions, 33% with small deletions whereas 38.5% with splice mutations and 44.4% of patients with missense mutations presented with Group B ICIOR. Twenty five percentages of eyes with large deletions had high risk features on histopathology and one patient among these developed metastasis.

Current laboratory testing of RB1 mutations may be feasible in determining the severity of the disease and patient counseling. The study provides a starting point for looking at correlations.