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Pathogenic variants reveal candidate genes for prostate cancer germline testing for men of African ancestry

  • Pan Prostate Cancer Group
  • , HEROIC PCaPH Africa1K

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) germline testing, while gaining momentum, is ancestry restrictive and African exclusive. Through whole genome sequencing for 217 African ancestral cases (186 southern African, 31 Pan representative), we identify 172 potentially pathogenic variants in 78 DNA damage repair or PCa related genes. Prevalence for reported (13/217, 5.99%) and cumulative predicted (24/217, 11.06%) variants of significance (11 genes) falls below that reported for non-Africans. Conversely, BRCA1, HOXB13, CDK12, MLH1, MSH2, and BRIP1 remain unimpacted. Through pathogenic ranking based on variant frequency and functionality, clinical presentation and tumour-matched biallelic inactivation, top-ranked candidates include PREX2, POLE, FAT1, BRCA2, POLQ, LRP1B and ATM. Besides notable impact of DNA polymerases, including POLG, Fanconi anaemia genes include FANCD2, FANCA, FANCG, ERCC4, FANCE and FANCI, while DNA mismatch repair genes MSH3 and PMS1 outranked known namesakes MSH6 and PMS2. This study provides insights into the spectrum of African-relevant potentially pathogenic PCa variants, highlighting much-needed gene candidates for ancestry-inclusive germline testing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number8799
JournalNature communications
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2025
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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