Introduction: disorder is a recently introduced term for phenotypes associated with germline Wilms Tumor 1 () variants, including glomerulopathy, urogenital anomalies, and Wilms tumor. Previous studies showed a bias toward missense variants in the DNA-binding/Zinc-finger domain of (exon 8 and 9) and patients with early-onset glomerulopathy. Thorough genotype-phenotype correlations including follow-up data on late-onset glomerulopathy risk are lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe management of children with syndromes associated with an increased risk of benign and malignant neoplasms is a complex challenge for healthcare professionals. The 2023 AACR Childhood Cancer Predisposition Workshop provided updated consensus guidelines on cancer surveillance in these syndromes, aiming to improve early detection, intervention, and reduce morbidity associated with such neoplasms. In this paper, we review several of the rare conditions discussed in this workshop.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile next generation sequencing has expanded the scientific understanding of Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), the clinical use and re-use of exome sequencing is still emerging. We revisited clinical exome data from 1300 IEI patients using an updated in silico IEI gene panel. Variants were classified and curated through expert review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Germline DNA sequencing is increasingly used within pediatric oncology, yet parental experiences remain underexplored.
Methods: Parents of children undergoing cancer predisposition gene panel sequencing (143 genes) were surveyed before and after disclosure of results. Questionnaires assessed knowledge, expectations, worries, satisfaction, and regret.
Background: Germline data have become widely available in paediatric oncology since the introduction of paired tumour-germline sequencing. To guide best practice in cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS) diagnostics, we aimed to assess the diagnostic yield of extensive germline analysis compared with clinical selection-based genetic testing among all children with cancer.
Methods: In this prospective diagnostic study, all children (aged 0-19 years) with newly diagnosed neoplasms treated in the Netherlands national centre, the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology (Utrecht, Netherlands), between June 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, were offered two approaches to identify CPSs.
Biallelic germline pathogenic variants in one of the four mismatch repair genes (MSH2, MSH6, MLH1 and PMS2) cause a very rare, highly penetrant, childhood-onset cancer syndrome, called constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD). The European consortium "Care for CMMRD" (C4CMMRD) was founded in Paris in 2013 to facilitate international collaboration and improve our knowledge of this rare cancer predisposition syndrome. Following initial publications on diagnostic criteria and surveillance guidelines for CMMRD, several partners collaborating within the C4CMMRD consortium have worked on and published numerous CMMRD-related clinical and biological projects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReplication repair deficiency (RRD) is a pan-cancer mechanism characterized by abnormalities in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system due to pathogenic variants in the PMS2, MSH6, MSH2, or MLH1 genes, and/or in the polymerase-proofreading genes POLE and POLD1. RRD predisposition syndromes (constitutional MMR deficiency, Lynch, and polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis) share overlapping phenotypic and biological characteristics. Moreover, cancers stemming from germline defects of one mechanism can acquire somatic defects in another, leading to complete RRD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChung-Jansen syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, behavioral problems, obesity and dysmorphic features. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the PHIP gene that encodes for the Pleckstrin homology domain-interacting protein, which is part of an epigenetic modifier protein complex. Therefore, we hypothesized that PHIP haploinsufficiency may impact genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Brain-based developmental disabilities (BBDDs) comprise a large and heterogeneous group of disorders including autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy or genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders. Parents caring for a child with BBDD face multiple challenges that cause increased stress and high risk of mental health problems. Peer-based support by fellow parents for a various range of patient groups has shown potential to provide emotional, psychological and practical support.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A pathogenic variant in SCN1A can result in a spectrum of phenotypes, including Dravet syndrome (DS) and genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS + ) syndrome. Dravet syndrome (DS) is associated with refractory seizures, developmental delay, intellectual disability (ID), motor impairment, and challenging behavior(1,2). GEFS + is a less severe phenotype in which cognition is often normal and seizures are less severe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study explored the experiences and needs of adolescents, ranging from 12 to 18 years old, who have recently been diagnosed with cancer and participated in a nationwide germline genetic sequencing study within the context of pediatric oncology. The 21 adolescents in this qualitative interview study viewed genetic sequencing as an integral part of their cancer journey. They often characterized germline sequencing as "good-to-know" without specifying immediate utility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To explore the influence of preterm birth on parental beliefs about gross motor development and parents' supportive role in infants' motor development.
Methods: Prospective cohort study: Parents of infants born very preterm (VPT) (gestation ≤32 weeks, birth weight <1500 g, without perinatal complications) and parents of healthy infants born full-term (FT) completed the Parental Beliefs on Motor Development questionnaire.
Results: Questionnaires from 37 parents of infants born VPT, aged 3.
Lynch syndrome (LS) predisposes to cancer in adulthood and is caused by heterozygous germline variants in a mismatch repair (MMR) gene. Recent studies show an increased prevalence of LS among children with cancer, suggesting a causal relationship. For LS-spectrum (LSS) cancers, including high-grade gliomas and colorectal cancer, causality has been supported by typical MMR-related tumor characteristics, but for non-LSS cancers, causality is unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Distinguishing congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAMs) from pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) can be challenging. Previously diagnosed patients with CPAM may have been misdiagnosed and we may have missed DICER1-associated PPBs, a diagnosis with important clinical implications for patients and their families. To gain insight in potential misdiagnoses, we systematically assessed somatic DICER1 gene mutation status in an unselected, retrospective cohort of patients with a CPAM diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeterozygous germline pathogenic variants (GPVs) in , the gene encoding the ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling protein SMARCA4 (previously known as BRG1), predispose to several rare tumour types, including small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcaemic type, atypical teratoid and malignant rhabdoid tumour, and uterine sarcoma. The increase in germline testing of in recent years has revealed putative GPVs affecting in patients with other cancer types. Here we describe 11 patients with neuroblastoma (NBL), including 4 previously unreported cases, all of whom were found to harbour heterozygous germline variants in Median age at diagnosis was 5 years (range 2 months-26 years); nine were male; and eight of nine cases had tumour location information in the adrenal gland.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough hematologic malignancies (HM) are no longer considered exclusively sporadic, additional awareness of familial cases has yet to be created. Individuals carrying a (likely) pathogenic germline variant (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: To improve diagnostics of cancer predisposition syndromes (CPSs) in children with cancer, it is essential to evaluate the effect of CPS gene sequencing among all children with cancer and compare it with genetic testing based on clinical selection. However, a reliable comparison is difficult because recent reports on a phenotype-first approach in large, unselected childhood cancer cohorts are lacking.
Objective: To describe a national children's cancer center's experience in diagnosing CPSs before introducing routine next-generation sequencing.
Background: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a monogenic syndrome associated with SCN1A mutations in the majority of patients and characterized by devastating epilepsy, that may be life-threatening. Aside from refractory seizures, core symptoms of DS include behavioral difficulties, developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and motor dysfunction. Previous DS research has mainly focused on epileptic seizures and pharmacological management and less on behavioral difficulties.
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