Cited 14 times since 2013 (1.3 per year) source: EuropePMC Familial cancer, Volume 12, Issue 3, 1 1 2013, Pages 373-379 A de novo FLCN mutation in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax and renal cancer; a clinical and molecular evaluation. Menko FH, Johannesma PC, van Moorselaar RJ, Reinhard R, van Waesberghe JH, Thunnissen E, Houweling AC, Leter EM, Waisfisz Q, van Doorn MB, Starink TM, Postmus PE, Coull BJ, van Steensel MA, Gille JJ
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is an autosomal dominant condition due to germline FLCN (folliculin) mutations, characterized by skin fibrofolliculomas, lung cysts, pneumothorax and renal cancer. We identified a de novo FLCN mutation, c.499C>T (p.Gln167X), in a patient who presented with spontaneous pneumothorax. Subsequently, typical skin features and asymptomatic renal cancer were diagnosed. Probably, de novo FLCN mutations are rare. However, they may be under-diagnosed if BHD is not considered in sporadic patients who present with one or more of the syndromic features. Genetic and immunohistochemical analysis of the renal tumour indicated features compatible with a tumour suppressor role of FLCN. The finding that mutant FLCN was expressed in the tumour might indicate residual functionality of mutant FLCN, a notion which will be explored in future studies.
