Novel coding and noncoding gene variants have been identified that may increase the risk for developing Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), according to a study published online Aug. 20 in Blood.

Jamie E. Flerlage, M.D., from St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and colleagues performed whole-genome sequencing on 234 individuals with and without HL from 36 pedigrees with two or more first-degree relatives with HL. To identify coding and noncoding variants, a family-based segregation analysis was performed.

The researchers identified 44 HL risk variants in 28 pedigrees, of which 33 and 11 were coding and noncoding, respectively. The top four recurrent risk variants were a coding variant in KDR, a 5'UTR in KLHDC8B, and noncoding variants in an intron of PAX5 and in an intron of GATA3. For one pedigree, a newly identified splice variant in KDR and high confidence stopgain variants affecting IRF7 and EEF2KMT were seen. In three independent pedigrees, multiple truncating variants in POLR1E were observed.

"We married several existing tools as well as customized approaches to make a pipeline that could process data from these families in a meaningful way," a coauthor said in a statement. "The work that went into making this pipeline is not specific to Hodgkin lymphoma; the pipeline can be used for any other disease where families are involved."

More information: Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Journal information: Blood 

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