Fam Cancer. 2010 May 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Survey of familial glioma and role of germline p16 ( INK4A ) /p14 ( ARF ) and p53 mutation.
Robertson LB, Armstrong GN, Olver BD, Lloyd AL, Shete S, Lau C, Claus EB, Barnholtz-Sloan J, Lai R, Il'yasova D, Schildkraut J, Bernstein JL, Olson SH, Jenkins RB, Yang P, Rynerason AL, Wrensch M, McCoy L, Wienkce JK, McCarthy B, Davis F, Vick NA, Johansen C, Bødtcher H, Sadetzki S, Bruchim RB, Yechezkel GH, Andersson U, Melin BS, Bondy ML, Houlston RS.

Section of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton, Surrey, UK.

Abstract
There is increasing recognition of familial propensity to glioma as a distinct clinical entity beyond a few rare syndromes; however its genetic basis is poorly understood. The role of p16 ( INK4A ) /p14 ( ARF ) and p53 mutations in sporadic glioma provides a strong rationale for investigating germline mutations in these genes as a cause of familial glioma. To survey the familial glioma phenotype and examine the contribution of germline mutation in p16 ( INK4A ) /p14 ( ARF ) and p53 to the disease we have analyzed a series of 101 index familial cases collected through the GLIOGENE Consortium ( http://braintumor.epigenetic.org/ ). There was little evidence for within family correlations for tumour histology, suggesting generic susceptibility to glial tumors. We did not detect any functional mutations in p16 ( INK4A ) or p14 ( ARF ). One index case with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) diagnosed at age 54 and had a family history comprised of a paternal aunt with GBM at age 55, carried the p53 R158H mutation, which is predicted to be functional and has previously been implicated as a cause of Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Our findings provide no evidence that p16 ( INK4A ) /p14 ( ARF ) and p53 mutations contribute significantly to familial glioma.