Publications by authors named "Valeria Viassolo"

Article Synopsis
  • * D3NS analyzes real-world cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, focusing on bladder, ovarian, and kidney cancers, and utilizes a network of gene interactions for enhanced detection of meaningful patterns.
  • * The method successfully identifies tumor subtypes with different survival rates and links to various clinical outcomes, positioning D3NS as a valuable tool for future cancer research and clinical applications.
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Article Synopsis
  • About 20%-45% of familial melanoma cases have a genetic link, prompting a study at the University Hospital of Verona to explore this connection in patients with cutaneous melanoma.
  • Out of 1,320 patients, only 35 (2.7%) were tested for genetic variants, with 11.4% found to carry pathogenic variants in critical melanoma genes like CDKN2A and MITF.
  • Key predictors for genetic predisposition included a family history of pancreatic cancer, multiple melanomas, and a high number of nevi, suggesting a monogenic risk for melanoma in these cases.
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BRCA1 and BRCA2 play a central role in DNA repair and their germline pathogenic variants (gBRCA) confer a high risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. Standard chemotherapy regimens for these cancers include DNA-damaging agents. We hypothesized that gBRCA carriers might be at higher risk of developing chemotherapy-related hematologic toxicity and therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN).

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Background: Carriers of germline pathogenic variants of the BRCA1 gene (gBRCA1) tend to have a higher incidence of haematological toxicity upon exposure to chemotherapy. We hypothesised that the occurrence of agranulocytosis during the first cycle of (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy (C1) in breast cancer (BC) patients could predict gBRCA1 pathogenic variants.

Patients And Methods: The study population included non-metastatic BC patients selected for genetic counselling at Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (Jan.

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Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Variability between patients in prognosis and treatment response is partially explained by traditional clinicopathological factors. We established a large population-based cohort of patients with CRC and their first-degree and second-degree relatives registered in the Canton of Geneva, to evaluate the role of family history and tumour biomarkers on patient outcomes.

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Background: Family history is a known risk factor for breast cancer, but its prognostic value and the prognostic value of tumour characteristics in relation to family history has not been clearly established. In addition, studies of intra-familial tumour characteristics and prognosis in population-based settings are very rare. Two previous studies have suggested that breast cancer prognosis clusters within families.

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Background: The clinical utility of machine-learning (ML) algorithms for breast cancer risk prediction and screening practices is unknown. We compared classification of lifetime breast cancer risk based on ML and the BOADICEA model. We explored the differences in risk classification and their clinical impact on screening practices.

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BRCA1/BRCA2 genes play a central role in DNA repair and their mutations increase sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. There are conflicting data regarding the prognostic value of BRCA germline mutations in breast cancer (BC) patients. We collected clinical, pathological and genetic data of a cohort 925 BC patients preselected for genetic screening and treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, of whom 266 were BRCA carriers.

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Objective: To investigate clinical factors associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in relapsing epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients with BRCA mutations and receiving olaparib as maintenance therapy in daily practice.

Methods: Multicenter (8 hospitals) European retrospective study of relapsing EOC patients having germline or somatic mutations of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes and treated with olaparib as maintenance therapy after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Results: One hundred and fifteen patients were included.

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Background: Comprehensive breast cancer risk prediction models enable identifying and targeting women at high-risk, while reducing interventions in those at low-risk. Breast cancer risk prediction models used in clinical practice have low discriminatory accuracy (0.53-0.

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Background: An international workshop on cancer predisposition cascade genetic screening for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and Lynch syndrome (LS) took place in Switzerland, with leading researchers and clinicians in cascade screening and hereditary cancer from different disciplines. The purpose of the workshop was to enhance the implementation of cascade genetic screening in Switzerland. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with cascade screening for HBOC and LS in Switzerland (CASCADE study); family implications and the need for family-based interventions; the need to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cascade genetic screening; and interprofessional collaboration needed to lead this initiative.

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Purpose: BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins are central to DNA repair process through homologous recombination. We hypothesize that BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers may exhibit increased hematological toxicity when receiving genotoxic chemotherapy.

Methods: We included women with primary breast cancers screened for BRCA1/BRCA2 germline mutations and treated with (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy in Geneva (Swiss cohort).

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Background: Germline pathogenic variants in the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility gene BRCA1 are associated with a 60% lifetime risk for breast and ovarian cancer. This overall risk estimate is for all BRCA1 variants; obviously, not all variants confer the same risk of developing a disease. In cancer patients, loss of BRCA1 function in tumor tissue has been associated with an increased sensitivity to platinum agents and to poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.

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BRCA2 plays a central role in homologous recombination by loading RAD51 on DNA breaks. The objective of this study is to determine whether the location of mutations in the RAD51-binding domain (RAD51-BD; exon 11) of gene affects the clinical outcome of ovarian cancer patients. A study cohort of 353 women with ovarian cancer who underwent genetic germline testing for and genes was identified.

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Background: Breast, colorectal, ovarian, and endometrial cancers constitute approximately 30% of newly diagnosed cancer cases in Switzerland, affecting more than 12,000 individuals annually. Hundreds of these patients are likely to carry germline pathogenic variants associated with hereditary breast ovarian cancer (HBOC) or Lynch syndrome (LS). Genetic services (counseling and testing) for hereditary susceptibility to cancer can prevent many cancer diagnoses and deaths through early identification and risk management.

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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and referral for genetic counseling are the standard of care. We assessed TNBC prevalence, management, and outcome using data from the population-based Geneva cancer registry.

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Approximately 5 to 10% of all malignant tumors can be attributed to highly penetrant cancer predisposition genes. More than 100 of these genes have been identified. Taking into account the complexity and the various implications of predictive oncology, and in accordance with the current regulation, every constitutional molecular analysis must be performed within the framework of a genetic counseling.

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Numerous genetic factors that influence breast cancer risk are known. However, approximately two-thirds of the overall familial risk remain unexplained. To determine whether some of the missing heritability is due to rare variants conferring high to moderate risk, we tested for an association between the c.

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The micronucleus test is a well-established DNA damage assay in human monitoring. The test was proposed as a promising marker of cancer risk/susceptibility mainly on the basis of studies on breast cancer. Our recent meta-analysis showed that the association between micronuclei frequency, either at baseline or after irradiation, and breast cancer risk or susceptibility, has been evaluated in few studies of small size, with inconsistent results.

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Genetic counseling and BRCA1/BRCA2 genes testing are routinely offered in a clinical setting. However, no data are available on the proportion of breast cancer patients with a positive family history undergoing genetic counseling. By linking databases of the Oncogenetics and Cancer Prevention Unit at the Geneva University Hospitals and the population-based Geneva Cancer Registry, we evaluated the uptake of genetic counseling among 1709 breast cancer patients with familial risk of breast cancer and the determinants of such a consultation process.

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We report clinical and behavioural evaluation data in 42 Italian girls with triple X syndrome whose diagnosis was made prenatally between 1998 and 2006 in three Italian centres. At initial evaluation, reproductive and medical histories were collected. Clinical assessment of the child was performed by a clinical geneticist and included a detailed personal history, physical evaluation and auxological measurements.

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