A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review

Introductionmost sympathetic paragangliomas are driven by germline pathogenic variants. Identifying germline succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) pathogenic variant has important management implications. Here we report a novel germline variant in the SDHB gene in a patient with metastatic paraganglioma...

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Main Authors: Stella Bernardi, Stefania Zovato, Gianmaria Pennelli, Marco Cavallaro, Matteo Rovina, Chiara Dobrinja, Alessandra Guglielmi, Fabrizio Zanconati, Daniela Mazzà, Alberto Nieri, Mirco Bartolomei, Francesca Schiavi
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1577421/full
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author Stella Bernardi
Stella Bernardi
Stefania Zovato
Gianmaria Pennelli
Marco Cavallaro
Matteo Rovina
Chiara Dobrinja
Chiara Dobrinja
Alessandra Guglielmi
Fabrizio Zanconati
Fabrizio Zanconati
Daniela Mazzà
Alberto Nieri
Mirco Bartolomei
Francesca Schiavi
author_facet Stella Bernardi
Stella Bernardi
Stefania Zovato
Gianmaria Pennelli
Marco Cavallaro
Matteo Rovina
Chiara Dobrinja
Chiara Dobrinja
Alessandra Guglielmi
Fabrizio Zanconati
Fabrizio Zanconati
Daniela Mazzà
Alberto Nieri
Mirco Bartolomei
Francesca Schiavi
author_sort Stella Bernardi
collection DOAJ
description Introductionmost sympathetic paragangliomas are driven by germline pathogenic variants. Identifying germline succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) pathogenic variant has important management implications. Here we report a novel germline variant in the SDHB gene in a patient with metastatic paraganglioma and his response to available treatments.Case presentationa 37-year-old Serbian man was admitted to hospital due to hypertension, tachycardia and hyperhidrosis. Screening for secondary hypertension revealed elevated 24-h urinary normetanephrine. A CT scan showed the presence of a 54 x 76 mm retroperitoneal mass that surrounded the aorta, which was located below the pancreas and behind the duodenum. The patient was diagnosed having extra-adrenal sympathetic metastatic paraganglioma (PGL), for which we scheduled debulking surgery and genetic testing. Tumor debulking improved patient symptoms as well as signs of catecholamine excess and tumor mass effects. Meanwhile waiting for next-generation sequencing (NGS) results, the patient started a treatment with sunitinib. At this point, NGS results showed a novel and previously not reported germline SDHB c.314T>A gene variant, which was initially classified as a class 3 variant of uncertain significance. Immunohistochemistry for SDHA and SDHB showed absence of SDHB expression and allowed us to reclassify this variant as a class 4 “likely pathogenic” variant. At this stage, due to disease progression and genetic results, sunitinib was stopped and the patient started peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, which was not able to stop disease progression. In the end, the patient was treated with Averbuch chemotherapy (which is still ongoing), with an amelioration of clinical laboratory and imaging parameters.ConclusionClinical characteristics as well as data from SDHB immunohistochemistry well support reclassification of the novel germline SDHB c.314T>A gene variant as a class 4 “likely pathogenic” variant in the patient with metastatic PGL. This information might help clinicians in the management of its carriers and their families. In this case, only debulking surgery and chemotherapy with Averbuch scheme were clinically effective. Further studies are needed to better clarify and outline at which time point during the disease course SDHB patients should start Averbuch-scheme chemotherapy.
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series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-8a1cb331999e4e269b6c836a563fb1332025-08-20T03:42:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-03-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15774211577421A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature reviewStella Bernardi0Stella Bernardi1Stefania Zovato2Gianmaria Pennelli3Marco Cavallaro4Matteo Rovina5Chiara Dobrinja6Chiara Dobrinja7Alessandra Guglielmi8Fabrizio Zanconati9Fabrizio Zanconati10Daniela Mazzà11Alberto Nieri12Mirco Bartolomei13Francesca Schiavi14Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, ItalyEndocrinology Unit (UCO Medicina Clinica), ASUGI, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Trieste, ItalyFamilial Cancer Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, ItalyDepartment of Medicine (DIMED) University of Padua, UOC Anatomia Patologica Azienda Ospedale-Università Padova, Padua, ItalyRadiology (UCO Radiologia), ASUGI, Maggiore Hospital, Trieste, ItalyEndocrinology Unit (UCO Medicina Clinica), ASUGI, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, ItalySurgery (UCO Clinica Chirurgica), ASUGI, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Trieste, ItalyOncology (SC Oncologia) ASUGI, Maggiore Hospital, ASUGI, Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, ItalyPathology (UCO Anatomia Patologica) ASUGI, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Trieste, ItalyMedical Genetics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy0Nuclear Medicine Unit, Onco-Hematological Department, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy0Nuclear Medicine Unit, Onco-Hematological Department, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy1Immunology and Molecular Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, ItalyIntroductionmost sympathetic paragangliomas are driven by germline pathogenic variants. Identifying germline succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) pathogenic variant has important management implications. Here we report a novel germline variant in the SDHB gene in a patient with metastatic paraganglioma and his response to available treatments.Case presentationa 37-year-old Serbian man was admitted to hospital due to hypertension, tachycardia and hyperhidrosis. Screening for secondary hypertension revealed elevated 24-h urinary normetanephrine. A CT scan showed the presence of a 54 x 76 mm retroperitoneal mass that surrounded the aorta, which was located below the pancreas and behind the duodenum. The patient was diagnosed having extra-adrenal sympathetic metastatic paraganglioma (PGL), for which we scheduled debulking surgery and genetic testing. Tumor debulking improved patient symptoms as well as signs of catecholamine excess and tumor mass effects. Meanwhile waiting for next-generation sequencing (NGS) results, the patient started a treatment with sunitinib. At this point, NGS results showed a novel and previously not reported germline SDHB c.314T>A gene variant, which was initially classified as a class 3 variant of uncertain significance. Immunohistochemistry for SDHA and SDHB showed absence of SDHB expression and allowed us to reclassify this variant as a class 4 “likely pathogenic” variant. At this stage, due to disease progression and genetic results, sunitinib was stopped and the patient started peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, which was not able to stop disease progression. In the end, the patient was treated with Averbuch chemotherapy (which is still ongoing), with an amelioration of clinical laboratory and imaging parameters.ConclusionClinical characteristics as well as data from SDHB immunohistochemistry well support reclassification of the novel germline SDHB c.314T>A gene variant as a class 4 “likely pathogenic” variant in the patient with metastatic PGL. This information might help clinicians in the management of its carriers and their families. In this case, only debulking surgery and chemotherapy with Averbuch scheme were clinically effective. Further studies are needed to better clarify and outline at which time point during the disease course SDHB patients should start Averbuch-scheme chemotherapy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1577421/fullmetastatic paragangliomaSDHBPPGLAverbuch chemotherapyPRRTtyrosine kinase inhibitors
spellingShingle Stella Bernardi
Stella Bernardi
Stefania Zovato
Gianmaria Pennelli
Marco Cavallaro
Matteo Rovina
Chiara Dobrinja
Chiara Dobrinja
Alessandra Guglielmi
Fabrizio Zanconati
Fabrizio Zanconati
Daniela Mazzà
Alberto Nieri
Mirco Bartolomei
Francesca Schiavi
A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review
Frontiers in Endocrinology
metastatic paraganglioma
SDHB
PPGL
Averbuch chemotherapy
PRRT
tyrosine kinase inhibitors
title A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review
title_full A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review
title_fullStr A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review
title_full_unstemmed A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review
title_short A novel germline (c.314T>A) SDHB variant in metastatic paraganglioma: case report and literature review
title_sort novel germline c 314t a sdhb variant in metastatic paraganglioma case report and literature review
topic metastatic paraganglioma
SDHB
PPGL
Averbuch chemotherapy
PRRT
tyrosine kinase inhibitors
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1577421/full
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