Detection of a heterozygous germline APC mutation in a three-generation family with familial adenomatous polyposis using targeted massive parallel sequencing in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant hereditary syndrome characterised by the development of hundreds to thousands of adenomatous colonic polyps during the second decade of life. FAP is caused by germ line mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene located on chromosome 5q21–22. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old female was presented with 100–1000 adenomatous colonic polyps, typical of classic FAP symptoms. Genetic testing using massively parallel sequencing identified a 5-bp deletion (c.3927_3931delAAAGA) which causes frameshift (p.Glu1309Aspfs) and creates a premature stop codon, resulting in the replacement of the last 1535 amino acids of APC by five incorrect amino acids. Two of the proband’s four siblings also exhibited classic FAP symptoms and carried the same 5-bp heterozygous deletion in the APC gene. One of the proband’s two nephews also tested positive for this mutation but has not been examined by endoscopy due to his young age. CONCLUSIONS: We reported here for the first time the use of massively parallel sequencing (MPS)-based genetic testing to identify a germline mutation within a three-generation Vietnamese family. This mutation is most likely responsible for the development of FAP.