Identification of 33 candidate oncogenes by screening for base-specific mutations

BACKGROUND: Genes with recurrent codon-specific somatic mutations are likely drivers of tumorigenesis and potential therapeutic targets. Hypermutable cancers may represent a sensitive system for generation and selection of oncogenic mutations. METHODS: We utilised exome-sequencing data on 25 sporadic microsatellite-instable (MSI) colorectal cancers (CRCs) and searched for base-specific somatic mutation hotspots. RESULTS: We identified novel mutation hotspots in 33 genes. Fourteen genes displayed mutations in the validation set of 254 MSI CRCs: ANTXR1, MORC2, CEP135, CRYBB1, GALNT9, KRT82, PI15, SLC36A1, CNTF, GLDC, MBTPS1, OR9Q2, R3HDM1 and TTPAL. A database search found examples of the hotspot mutations in multiple cancer types. CONCLUSIONS: This work reveals a variety of new recurrent candidate oncogene mutations to be further scrutinised as potential therapeutic targets.