Recurring pathogenic variants in the BRCA2 gene in the Ethiopian Jewish population. Founder mutations?

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk for various cancers including breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreas and melanoma. Identifying BRCA1/2 mutation carriers enables risk assessment, surveillance, early detection and risk reduction. In certain Israeli sub-populations recurring and founder mutations have been identified and for these, testing for founder mutations is simple, efficient and cost-effective. Founder mutations in the Jewish Ethiopian population have not been described. We report here the identification of a recurring BRCA2 mutation in the Ethiopian Jewish population; c.5159C>A; p.Ser1720Ter, which has only been described once before in this population. In addition, in another family of the same origin we found the BRCA2 c.7579delG; p.Val2527Ter mutation that has been previously described in two different Jewish Ethiopian families. In Israel genetic testing is performed in a sequential stepwise manner, first testing a panel of predominant mutations and if negative further testing by gene sequencing is offered. Recently it has been decided to expand the founder mutation panel to include mutations which have been found in two or more separate families. This new panel will include the BRCA2 c.7579delG; p.Val2527Ter mutation, and we recommend that the BRCA2 c.5159C>A; p.Ser1720Ter mutation should also be added to the new predominant mutation panel.