Background: SMARCA4 mutations have recently been identified as driving lesions of the ovarian small cell carcinoma of hypercalcemic type (SCCHT). Familial occurrence of this neoplasm was described previously.
Methods: We looked for germline SMARCA4 alterations in eight patients with the SCCHT. DNA was extracted from probands' and their relatives' blood. The SMARCA4 coding sequence, previously found altered in all the tumors, was PCR amplified and sequenced in the germline DNA.
Results: Two patients carried a heterozygous germline SMARCA4 alteration: c.3760G > T and c.2352insG, respectively. The analysis of the probands' next of kins revealed that the c.3760G > T mutation was inherited by the proband and her sister from their father, and the sisters' four children also carried the mutation. The proband's sister was diagnosed with a carcinoma of the parotid gland at age 2. A brother of the other proband was tested negative.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that some women develop the ovarian SCCHT due to the inherited or possibly de novo-occurring germline alterations in the SMARCA4 gene, however, its penetrance appears limited. Nevertheless, because of high aggressiveness of the SCCHT, a molecular diagnostics of the SMARCA4 gene and careful follow-up should be offered to patients with this cancer and their families.