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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cancer risk-reducing strategies in Ashkenazi women carrying founder variants have a cost-effective effect on reducing cancer morbidity and mortality. The British and US guidelines recommend BRCA1/2 (BRCA) screening among Ashkenazi Jewish people to identify high-risk individuals. BRCA status has not been investigated yet in the Jewish community of Rome. Methods: Patients were selected from the Family Cancer Clinic of the Umberto I University Hospital of Rome, and 38 unrelated families (28 of Roman Jewish and 10 of Libyan Jewish origin) were enrolled, comprising 44 subjects diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer. Genetic counseling and germline BRCA testing were conducted. Haplotype analysis was performed. Results: Of the probands, 26.5% (9/34) from 7/28 unrelated families (25%) in the Jewish community of Rome harbored the known BRCA2 c.7007G>C, p. (Arg2336Pro) variant (rs28897743). Genetic analysis of the four unrelated carriers revealed a shared haplotype, indicating a potential founder effect. The length of the haplotype might confirm the Roman community to be the oldest among Jewish communities in Europe. Conclusions: This study indicates the BRCA2 c.7007G>C variant found in the Jewish community of Rome to be a founder variant. Finally, we underline a pressing need to address the increased risk of carrying BRCA mutations among individuals with Jewish heritage, and to enhance genetic counseling and screening efforts in ethnic minorities that are not otherwise routinely reached.

Details

Title
BRCA Screening and Identification of a Common Haplotype in the Jewish Community of Rome Reveal a Founder Effect for the c.7007G>C, p. (Arg2336Pro) BRCA2 Variant
Author
De Marchis Laura 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Gelibter Alain Jonathan 2 ; Mammone Giulia 3 ; Madaio, Raffaele Angelo 4 ; Aretini Paolo 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; De, Bonis Maria 6 ; Zampatti Stefania 7   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Peconi Cristina 7 ; Guadagnolo Daniele 8   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Vestri Annarita 9   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Pizzuti, Antonio 10 ; Giardina Emiliano 8 ; Capoluongo Ettore Domenico 11 ; Minucci Angelo 12   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy, Medical Oncology Unit B, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I, 00161 Rome, Italy; [email protected] 
 Medical Oncology Unit B, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I, 00161 Rome, Italy; [email protected] 
 Division of Medical and Translational Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria, 05100 Terni, Italy; [email protected] 
 Oncology Unit, Jewish Hospital of Rome, 00148 Rome, Italy; [email protected] 
 Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, 56017 Pisa, Italy; [email protected] 
 Departmental Unit of Molecular and Genomic Diagnostics, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; [email protected] 
 Genomic Medicine Laboratory, UILDM IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, [email protected] (C.P.); [email protected] (A.M.) 
 Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (D.G.); [email protected] (E.G.) 
 Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; [email protected] 
10  Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; [email protected], Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, IRCCS, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy 
11  Dipartimento di Eccellenza in Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Federico II, 80146 Naples, Italy; [email protected], Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, Ospedale S. Giovanni Addolorata, 00184 Rome, Italy 
12  Genomic Medicine Laboratory, UILDM IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, [email protected] (C.P.); [email protected] (A.M.), Genomics Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy 
First page
1906
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20726694
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3223879944
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.