Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors with KIT germline mutation in a Chinese family: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by an array of clinical manifestations. Only 35 kindreds with germline KIT mutations and six with germline PDGFRA mutations have been reported so far. It is often characterized by a series of manifestations, such as multiple lesions and hyperpigmentation. However, the effect of imatinib treatment in these patients is still uncertain.

CASE SUMMARY

Here, we report two patients (father and daughter) in a Chinese family (for the first time) with germline KIT mutation, and described their pathology, genetics and clinical manifestations. A 25-year-old Chinese woman went to hospital because of abdominal pain, and computed tomography showed multiple tumors in the small intestine. Small pigmented spots appeared on the skin within a few months after birth. Her father also had multiple pigmented spots and a history of multifocal GISTs. Multiple GISTs associated with diffuse interstitial Cajal cells (ICCs) hyperplasia were positive for CD117 and DOG-1. Gene sequencing revealed a germline mutation at codon 560 of exon 11 (p.V560G) of KIT gene in these two patients. Imatinib therapy showed the long-lasting disease stability after resection. Remarkably, the hypopigmentation of the skin could also be observed. Luckily germline KIT mutation has not been identified yet in the 3-year-old daughter of the female patient.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of familial GISTs depends on combination of diffuse ICCs hyperplasia, germline KIT/PDGFRA mutation, hyperpigmentation and family history.

Key Words: Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Germline KIT mutation; Cutaneous hyperpigmentation; Imatinib therapy; Case report

Core tip: Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with a germline KIT oncogene mutation are always accompanied by symptoms, such as cutaneous hyperpigmentation, dysphagia and mastocytosis. We present a novel KIT germline mutation (p.V560G) in a 25-year-old Chinese woman with familial GISTs. The same mutation was detected in the tumor and saliva samples of her father. They both had similar cutaneous hyperpigmentation on their face, body and limbs. Imatinib therapy resulted in a long-term response and generalized hypopigmentation. This case highlights that clinical manifestations, family history, pathological examination and molecular determination should be combined for correct diagnosis. This novel KIT germline mutation may be of therapeutic significance.

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors occurring in the gastroin (GI) tract and originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)[1]. Previous research has demonstrated that the constitutive activation of tyrosine kinase, the main pathogenic event in most GISTs, is caused by mutation within the KIT gene[2]. Although GISTs are mostly sporadic, families with multiple inherited GISTs have been found[3,4]. Familial GISTs are mostly associated with mutations in KIT (most commonly), PDGFRA[5], NF1, and SDH[6,7] genes.

Reported kindreds of familial GISTs (germline KIT mutation) have represented variable phenotypic features characterized by early presentation, multiple lesions, involvement of some related family members, cutaneous hyperpigmentation and dysphagia[8]. That is because KIT gene (as a proto-oncogene) is important in the development of various cell lines, including ICCs and melanocytes[8, 9]. The rarity of familial GISTs means that their correct diagnosis and therapeutic strategy deserve more attention.

In this paper, we describe two patients (father and daughter) in a Chinese family, for the first time, with germline KIT-mutated GISTs, who presented to our center with multiple GISTs and cutaneous hyperpigmentation. We also followed their response to imatinib therapy for GISTs and hyperpigmentation.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 25-year-old Chinese woman (III: 1, Figure 1) presented to the hospital with abdominal pain.

Figure 1 Pedigree of the family.

History of present illness

The patient experienced abdominal pain for 10 d (with symptom aggravation for the last 48 h).

History of past illness

The patient had no previous medical history.

Personal and family history

The patient reported a history of progressive cutaneous hyperpigmentation that developed a few months after birth (Figure 2A). Many new dark lentiginous macules, similar to cafe-au-lait macules, had subsequently appeared over her face, body and limbs (Figure 2B), and also showed on her popliteal fossa and hands (Figure 2C). We carefully inquired into the family history of this patient, and obtained the information that her father (II: 1, Figure 1) had a history of multiple GISTs in the small intestine in 2002 and similar cutaneous hyperpigmentation on his body. He had been admitted to the hospital in 2002 for abdominal pain and dark stools, and underwent resection of GISTs (measuring from 3 cm to 20 cm, with a maximum diameter of 20 cm). He did not receive imatinib therapy and had no postoperative follow-up after first surgery. In 2019, he was again referred to the hospital for abdominal pain and tumor recurrence within the abdomen could be seen. He underwent a second operation to remove multiple tumors in the small intestine (with a maximum diameter of 4 cm), which were diagnosed as recurrent GISTs in July 2019. Some small tumors (> 10, diameter 0.5–1 cm) located in specific locations were not surgically removed. The grandmother (I: 2, Figure 1) of the female patient died of space-occupying lesions in the abdominal cavity, but the diagnosis was unclear. In addition, she was thought to have the same cutaneous hyperpigmentation.

Figure 2 Clinical features of pigmented lesions of patient 1 (III: 1). A: Hyperpigmentation with well-defined margin was observed on the face; B: Around the mouth and on back of the lower limbs; C: Before initiation of imatinib therapy there was apparent pigmentation on the hand; D and E: After 7 mo of imatinib therapy, the pigmentations diminished, and the skin tone became lighter.

Physical examination

The patient came to our hospital for a pathological consultation, and no physical examination was performed.

Laboratory examinations

The patient came to our hospital for a pathological consultation, and no laboratory examination was performed.

Imaging examinations

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed multiple tumors (measuring 0.5 cm–4 cm in diameter) in the small intestine with irregular low density. No calcification and necrosis were found.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Partial resection of the small intestine for the removal of multiple tumors (0.5–4 cm) was performed in the original hospital and this patient was diagnosed with GIST in November 2019. We retrospectively reviewed the pathological sections, and the results of histomorphology showed that the tumors consisted of spindle cells in a fascicular and whorl-like pattern (Figure 3) with high cellularity, mild to medium polymorphism but almost no mitotic figures (0 mitosis/50 HPF). Diffuse hyperplasia of the ICCs was observed within the myenteric plexus of the small intestine. Immunohistochemistry showed that the majority of tumor cells were positive for CD117 (KIT receptor) and DOG-1, and the Ki67 index was < 1%. For the multiple lesions, diagnosis of low-risk GIST without mitotic activity was confirmed.

Figure 3 Morphologic evidences for the role of the interstitial cells of Cajal as the cells of origin of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. A: Transition from the non-neoplastic area to the tumor indicating hyperplasia of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) (original magnification: 25 ×); B: In non-neoplastic area, hyperplasia of ICCs can be seen (original magnification: 400 ×). C and D: The tumor was composed of proliferation of spindle cells (original magnification: C: 100 ×, D: 200 ×).

DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue and patient’s saliva. Exons 9, 11, 13 and 17 of KIT and exons 12 and 18 of PDGFRA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and used for direct sequencing. The results of two test samples showed a point mutation at codon 560 in Patient 1, which resulted in the exchange of leucine by proline (p.V560G), indicating a de novo KIT germline mutation.

We re-examined the biopsy specimen of the tumors resected at the first operation in 2002 in the patient’s father, and the tumors were also composed of spindle cells and showed focally high cellularity and two mitotic figures/50 HPF. These tumors were finally classified into the high-risk group according to NIH criteria. Histopathology of his recurrent tumors (resection in 2019) was similar to the previous ones. DNA sequencing analysis was conducted from the saliva sample and paraffin-embedded specimens, and the results showed the same KIT germline mutation in exon 11 (p.V560G) as the specimens from his daughter showed.

Considering the uncertainty of the implications and prognosis of a potential positive bearer status for germline KIT, the female patient made a decision to have genetic counseling for her 3-year-old daughter (IV: 1, Figure 1). This child had no phenotypic features (such as cutaneous pigmented lesions). A saliva sample was obtained from this child, and sequence analysis showed no KIT gene mutation in exon 11 (The pedigree of this family is shown in Figure 1).

The female patient and her father were eventually diagnosed with familial GIST with a novel KIT germline mutation (p.V560G).

TREATMENT

Two months after tumor resection (January 2020), the female patient was followed up with adjuvant imatinib therapy, 400 mg/d. Besides, adjuvant treatment with imatinib 400 mg/d was administered to her father.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

Three months after treatment initiation (April 2020), the female patient noticed a decrease in the number of pigmented lesions around her mouth (Figure 2E); the skin on her hands became lighter in tone (Figure 2D); and the color of her hair, pubic hair, and body hair changed to white. In August 2020 (8 mo after imatinib therapy), she underwent CT scan, and there was no clinical evidence of progression. Her father’s pigmentations diminished within 3 mo (started from October 2019) of imatinib treatment. At their last follow-up visit in April 2021 (about 16 mo after treatment), CT showed long-lasting disease stability in both patients.

DISCUSSION

Familial GIST was first reported by Nishida in 1998[10]. It is a rare inherited disease and has been reported in 35 different families and eight individuals with germline KIT mutations[11]. Most affected families, including the members described in our study, have been shown to harbor a germline KIT mutation in exon 11 (encoding the juxtamembrane domain)[6,12]. Some GIST families have been confirmed to have a germline PDGFRA mutation[1,13]. In the family described by Zsebo et al[14] in which one of two consecutive Val residues (codons 559 and 560, GTT–GTT) of the KIT JM structural domain was missing, two family members showed skin pigmentation in the perineum. By histological and immunohistochemical examinations, as well as molecular genetic analysis, we uncovered a single germline mutation in codon 560 (c.560T > G, p.V560G) at KIT exon 11 in a family with GISTs and hyperpigmentation.

The origin of mesenchymal tumors in the GI tract has long been a focus of debate. Previous studies[15] have demonstrated that abnormalities of ICC, the “pacemaker cells of the gut”, may cause various motility disorders of the GI tract. Miettinen et al[16] argued that GISTs were derived from transformed neoplastic precursors of the ICCs. A GIST model (harboring a germline KIT mutation) with ICC hyperplasia was produced in mice transfected with the knock-in mutant KIT (V558del) [17]. In this study, diffuse ICC hyperplasia that presented in the muscularis propria in the nontumorous wall of the small bowel was found in the female patient and her father. Immunohistochemical examination showed that most tumor cells were positive for DOG-1 and CD117 (KIT protein). ICCs were confirmed to express CD117 and DOG-1. Therefore, data from a transgenic mouse model[18], together with histological findings in previous studies[19] and ours, indicated that activation of germline KIT results in hyperplasia of the ICCs from which GISTs derive.

Clinically, symptoms such as multiple primary neoplasms (with several affected relatives), dysphagia and abnormal pigmentation[1,12,20] can be observed in familial GISTs. Median age at diagnosis of sporadic GISTs is around 60 years, while tumors of familial GISTs may present at earlier ages than that of sporadic GISTs[20]. The kindred in our study demonstrated some of these traits. The two patients in this pedigree who were diagnosed with multiple GISTs in their 20s (female patient) and 30s (father) were also noted to have cutaneous pigmentation, which developed a few months after birth and increased in size and number with age. Prior study of familial GISTs has illustrated an association with cutaneous hyperpigmentation[21]. This association results from the role of KIT in development of melanocytes, as well as ICCs from which GISTs derive[22].

Although the effectiveness of imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in the treatment of familial GISTs has not been established, many individuals with this disease have accepted therapy with imatinib, which might result in resolution of the hyperpigmentation and stable disease[23,24]. However, not all patients experience pigmentary changes and tumor regression in response to imatinib, nor did all patients experience the same degree of changes[21]. Conca et al[25] detected GIST in two family members with the L576P mutation (in exon 11) who had a poor response to imatinib, since the tumors persisted microscopically. Gupta et al[6] reported two siblings with hereditary GISTs with the missense mutation p.Val559Ala. Both patients were treated with imatinib, but only one patient’s condition changed to stable after such treatment. After a stable period of > 1 year, disease progression was observed in the other. The different responses to imatinib may have been due to secondary drug resistance, and the type of mutation and its location. Both patients in our study were treated with adjuvant imatinib (400 mg/d) after surgery (after the second operation in the father). Within several months of imatinib treatment, hyperpigmentation diminished and the skin tone became lighter. Previous studies have demonstrated that KIT and its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) play significant roles in the development of four cell lineages: hematopoietic cells, melanocytes, germ cells, and mast cells[24,26]. Imatinib has been identified as a KIT inhibitor, which may lead to downstream inhibition of tyrosinase gene promoter and subsequent melanin synthesis inhibition. In vitro studies [21, 27], the number of melanocytes decreased significantly after imatinib therapy. This indicates that SCF-KIT interaction can regulate the development and survival of melanocytes in the context of GISTs[28].

In conclusion, although GIST associated with germline KIT mutations is rare, it should be taken into consideration when we encounter patients (especially young) with multiple lesions and other typical manifestations, including cutaneous hyperpigmentation, multiple lentigines and macrocytosis. This case highlights the importance of inquiring about a detailed family history in individuals with GI lesions and abnormal pigmentation. The detection of KIT germline mutation is the key to diagnosis. Imatinib therapy in both our patients led to stable disease and hypopigmentation.

CONCLUSION

Familial GISTs with KIT mutations are closely correlated with various symptoms. The diagnosis should be based on comprehensive information including clinical manifestations, detailed family history, pathological examination and molecular determination. Imatinib treatment should be considered in these patients. Additionally, the possibility of genetic testing or counseling is of practical value to the individuals at high risk.