A Comparative Genomic Analysis of Parathyroid Adenomas and Carcinomas Harboring Heterozygous Germline CDC73 Mutations

Parathyroid cancer has been linked to germline mutations of the Cell Division Cycle 73 (CDC73) gene. However, carriers harboring cancer-associated germline CDC73 mutations may develop only parathyroid adenoma or no parathyroid disease. This incomplete penetrance indicates that additional genomic events are required for parathyroid tumorigenesis.

(1) Determine the status of the second CDC73 allele in parathyroid tumors harboring germline CDC73 mutations and (2) compare the genomic landscapes between parathyroid carcinomas and adenomas.

Whole-exome and RNA sequencing of 12 parathyroid tumors harboring germline CDC73 mutations (6 adenomas and 6 carcinomas) and their matched normal tissues.

All 12 parathyroid tumors had gained 1 somatic event predicted to cause a complete inactivation of the second CDC73 allele. Several distinctive genomic features were identified in parathyroid carcinomas compared to adenomas, including more single nucleotide variants bearing the C > G transversion and APOBEC deamination signatures, frequent mutations of the genes involved in the PI-3K/mTOR signaling, a greater number of copy number variations, and substantially more genes with altered expression. Parathyroid carcinomas also share some genomic features with adenomas. For instance, both have recurrent somatic mutations and copy number loss that impact the genes involved in T-cell receptor signaling and tumor antigen presentation, suggesting a shared strategy to evade immune surveillance.

Biallelic inactivation of CDC73 is essential for parathyroid tumorigenesis in carriers harboring germline mutations of this gene. Despite sharing some genomic features with adenomas, parathyroid carcinomas have more distinctive alterations in the genome, some of which may be critical for cancer formation.