Skin cancer risk in hereditary mixed cancer syndromes

A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited pathogenic variants in one or more genes. Most hereditary cancer syndromes exhibit autosomal dominant inheritance. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to women's cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Assessments should be performed by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic care providers and should be updated regularly. An assessment includes information on personal and family history, including pathology, imaging reports, and evaluation of other medical risk factors for cancer. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing and tailored cancer screening or risk reduction measures, or both. Currently, genetic testing is guided by personal history, family history, pedigree analysis and, in some cases, risk models that may include pathology reports and confirmation of cancer diagnoses with medical records, death certificates, or both. Counseling before and after genetic testing is an important part of the process to discuss rationale for any genetic testing, disclose results, define other cancer risks, identify educational needs, and secure referrals if necessary for ongoing management. This revision includes updates related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, cascade testing, and referrals to genetics specialists.

A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited pathogenic variants in one or more genes. Most hereditary cancer syndromes exhibit autosomal dominant inheritance. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to women's cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Assessments should be performed by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic care providers and should be updated regularly. An assessment includes information on personal and family history, including pathology, imaging reports, and evaluation of other medical risk factors for cancer. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing and tailored cancer screening or risk reduction measures, or both. Currently, genetic testing is guided by personal history, family history, pedigree analysis and, in some cases, risk models that may include pathology reports and confirmation of cancer diagnoses with medical records, death certificates, or both. Counseling before and after genetic testing is an important part of the process to discuss rationale for any genetic testing, disclose results, define other cancer risks, identify educational needs, and secure referrals if necessary for ongoing management. This revision includes updates related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, cascade testing, and referrals to genetics specialists.

BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes are among the best-known and most extensively studied hereditary cancer syndromes. Nevertheless, many patients who proved negative at BRCA genetic testing bring pathogenic mutations in other suppressor genes and oncogenes associated with hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers. These genes include TP53 in Li–Fraumeni syndrome, PTEN in Cowden syndrome, mismatch repair (MMR) genes in Lynch syndrome, CDH1 in diffuse gastric cancer syndrome, STK11 in Peutz–Jeghers syndrome, and NF1 in neurofibromatosis type 1 syndrome. To these, several other genes can be added that act jointly with BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the double-strand break repair system, such as PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, NBN, BRIP1, RAD51C, and RAD51D. Management of primary and secondary cancer prevention in these hereditary cancer syndromes is crucial. In particular, secondary prevention by screening aims to discover precancerous lesions or cancers at their initial stages because early detection could allow for effective treatment and a full recovery. The present review aims to summarize the available literature and suggest proper screening strategies for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer syndromes other than BRCA.

Lynch Syndrome: A Single Hereditary Cancer Syndrome or Multiple Syndromes Defined by Different Mismatch Repair Genes?

A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited mutations in one or more genes. Cases of cancer commonly encountered by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic providers--such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer--are features of specific hereditary cancer syndromes. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to gynecologic cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Screening should include, at minimum, a personal cancer history and a first- and second-degree relative cancer history that includes a description of the type of primary cancer, the age of onset, and the lineage (paternal versus maternal) of the family member. In addition, a patient's ethnic background can influence her genetic risk. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing.

Background: Referral of individuals with suspected hereditary breast-ovarian cancer or Lynch syndrome for genetic services is very important as it allows effective surveillance and prevention strategies for these individuals and their family members. However, evidence to date indicates poor recognition of both hereditary cancer syndromes, and inappropriate or under referral of patients with suspected hereditary cancer syndromes for genetic services. In this review, we summarize the most common physician-related factors important for referral of these patients for genetic services. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in both PubMed and Embase for studies published from the earliest date possible until May 1, 2013. The search terms included MeSH and Emtree headings, and free-text words: "health knowledge, attitudes, practice", "attitude of health personnel", "clinical competence", "family history", "referral and consultation", "health care availability", "availability of health care", "health care access", "accessibility of health care", "genetic services", "genetic counseling", "genetic testing", "genetic predisposition to cancer", "hereditary neoplastic syndromes", "familial cancer", "hereditary cancer", "Lynch syndrome", "hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome", and "physicians". Three reviewers abstracted data and assessed quality independently, with disagreement resolved by consensus. Results: The search revealed 202 discrete citations. One hundred and twelve articles were retrieved and 41 relevant citations were assessed. Of the 41 relevant studies, 18 assessed family history documentation, 29 assessed physicians' knowledge, 19 assessed awareness of genetic services, 29 assessed physicians' referral patterns, and only three investigated physicians' ability to distinguish between low- and high-risk patients. Physicians demonstrated insufficient knowledge about hereditary cancer syndromes, particularly Lynch syndrome. Family history documentation was inadequate and lacked details for proper risk assessment, and physicians were more likely to refer patients directly to a genetic service when they were aware of such services. Conclusions: This review highlights the need to improve referral of high-risk individuals and their family members for genetic services.

Prevalence of Suspected Hereditary Cancer Syndromes and Germline Mutations Among a Diverse Cohort of Probands Reporting a Family History of Prostate Cancer: Toward Informing Cascade Testing for Men

Patients with pathogenic variants (PV) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC). Some patients with HBOC have a family history (FH) of different types of cancer not related to the syndrome. The objective of this study was to observe the FH profile of cancer in patients with HBOC syndrome. A total of 123 patients treated at the Advanced Breast Diagnostic Center (CORA) with clinical criteria suggestive of HBOC syndrome were selected according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). The collection of 4 ml of blood was performed, which was subjected to DNA extraction and PV analysis in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes by next generation sequencing. The data were analyzed using the Sophia DDM and Ion Reporter software. The variants were considered to be pathogenic according to the ACMG criteria. It was found that among 123 patients analyzed, 19 had HBOC syndrome, of whom 5 were related. Thus, we had 16 families with HBOC syndrome. Among the 16 families, 14 (87.5%) had FH from cancers related to HBOC syndrome, 9 (56.25%) had FH from cancers not related to HBOC syndrome, and 1 (16.25%) did not have FH cancer. A total of 8 (50%) of families with HBOC also met the NCCN criteria for other hereditary cancer syndromes, 3 (18.75%) for Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) and HBOC, 3 (18.75%) for Lynch syndrome (LS) and HBOC, and 2 (12.5%) for HBOC, LFS, and LS. The most common cancers observed outside the common spectrum of HBOC syndrome in families were stomach cancer (25%), intestine (18.75%), liver (18.75%), and skin (18.75%). These data suggest the importance of a complete assessment of FH in patients with HBOC syndrome to better understand its relationship with the predisposition to different types of cancer.

Hereditary cancer syndromes are defined as syndromes, where the genetics of cancer are the result of low penetrant polymorphisms or of a single gene disorder inherited in a mendelian fashion. During the last decade, compelling evidence has accumulated that approximately 5–10% of all cancers could be attributed to hereditary cancer syndromes. A tremendous progress has been made over the last decade in the evaluation and management of these syndromes. However, hereditary syndromes associated with gynecologic malignancies still present significant challenge for oncogynecologists. Oncogynecologists tend to pay more attention to staging, histological type and treatment options of gynecological cancers than thinking of inherited cancers and taking a detailed family history. Moreover, physicians should also be familiar with screening strategies in patients with inherited gynecological cancers. Lynch syndrome and hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome are the most common and widely discussed syndromes in medical literature. The aim of the present review article is to delineate and emphasize the majority of hereditary gynecological cancer syndromes, even these, which are rarely reported in oncogynecology. The following inherited cancers are briefly discussed: Lynch syndrome; “site-specific” ovarian cancer and hereditary breast–ovarian cancer syndrome; Cowden syndrome; Li-Fraumeni syndrome; Peutz-Jeghers syndrome; ataxia-telangiectasia; DICER1- syndrome; gonadal dysgenesis; tuberous sclerosis; multiple endocrine neoplasia type I, II; hereditary small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type and hereditary undifferentiated uterine sarcoma; hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and MUTYH-associated polyposis. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, pathology and screening of these syndromes are discussed. General treatment recommendations are beyond the scope of this review.

Hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes comprise approximately 10% of diagnosed cancers; however, familial forms are believed to account for up to 30% of some cancers. In Hispanics, the most commonly diagnosed hereditary cancers include colorectal cancer syndromes such as, Lynch Syndrome, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes. Although the incidence of hereditary cancers is low, patients diagnosed with hereditary cancer syndromes are at high-risk for developing secondary cancers. Furthermore, the productivity loss that occurs after cancer diagnosis in these high-risk patients has a negative socio-economic impact. This review summarizes the genetic basis, phenotype characteristics, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s screening, testing, and surveillance guidelines for the leading hereditary cancer syndromes. The aim of this review is to promote a better understanding of cancer genetics and genetic testing in Hispanic patients.

Hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) are genetic diseases with an increased risk of developing cancer. This research describes the implementation of a cancer prevention model, genetic counseling, and germline variants testing in an oncologic center in Mexico. A total of 315 patients received genetic counseling, genetic testing was offered, and 205 individuals were tested for HCS. In 6 years, 131 (63.90%) probands and 74 (36.09%) relatives were tested. Among the probands, we found that 85 (63.9%) had at least one germline variant. We identified founder mutations in BRCA1 and a novel variant in APC that led to the creation of an in-house detection process for the whole family. The most frequent syndrome was hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) (41 cases with BRCA1 germline variants in most of the cases), followed by eight cases of hereditary non-polyposic cancer syndrome (HNPCC or Lynch syndrome) (with MLH1 as the primarily responsible gene), and other high cancer risk syndromes. Genetic counseling in HCS is still a global challenge. Multigene panels are an essential tool to detect the variants frequency. Our program has a high detection rate of probands with HCS and pathogenic variants (40%), compared with other reports that detect 10% in other populations.

Most cases of gastric and pancreatic cancer are sporadic, but familial clustering can be observed in approximately 10% of cases. Hereditary gastric cancer accounts for avery low percentage of cases (1-3%) and two syndromes have been characterized: hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) and gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS). Gastric and pancreatic cancer can develop in the setting of other hereditary cancer syndromes, such as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), or various hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, including juvenile polyposis and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Patients with hereditary pancreatitis carry an increased risk of cancer (40-55%).

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) affects nearly 300,000 people worldwide each year and is responsible for over 100,000 deaths each year. RCC is not a single disease; it is made up of a number of different types of cancer, with different histologies and clinical courses, responding differently to therapy and caused by different genes. There are currently 17 genes known to cause RCC, 14 of which are associated with inherited forms of the disease. Study of the RCC gene pathways has shown that RCC is fundamentally a metabolic disease. Much of what is known about the genetic basis of RCC has been learned from studying RCC-predisposition families. von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is a hereditary cancer syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk for the development of tumors in a number of organs, including the kidneys. Patients affected with VHL are at risk for the development of bilateral, multifocal, clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Genetic linkage analysis in VHL families was performed to identify the VHL gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. VHL gene mutation that segregates with the disease is identified in 100% of VHL families. VHL gene mutation or methylation is also found in a high percentage of tumors from patients with sporadic, nonfamilial clear cell RCC. The product of the VHL gene, pVHL, has been found to form a complex with elongin C, elongin B, Cul2, and RBX1 to target the hypoxia-induced factors, HIF1/2, for oxygen-dependent ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Although 9 targeted therapeutic agents have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC, many patients eventually progress and may succumb to this disease. High-grade, high-stage, low-survival clear cell RCC has been shown to be characterized by a pattern consistent with aerobic glycolysis, reduced oxidative phosphorylation, and a dependence on the pentose phosphate shunt. Clinical trials targeting the metabolic basis of clear cell RCC, including targeting HIF2 transcription, are currently under way. Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma (HPRC) is a hereditary cancer syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk for the development of bilateral, multifocal type 1 papillary RCC. HPRC is characterized by germline mutation of the MET proto-oncogene. MET gene alteration or amplification is found in a high percentage of tumors from patients with nonhereditary, sporadic Type 1 papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC). Clinical trials are currently under way targeting the MET pathway in patients with Type 1 PRCC. Birt-Hogg-Dubé is an inherited form of chromophobe RCC (ChRCC) in which affected individuals are at risk for the development of bilateral multifocal chromophobe and hybrid oncocytic RCC. Genetic linkage analysis identified the FLCN as the Birt-Hogg-Dubé gene. The product of the FLCN gene, folliculin, forms a complex with the FLCN binding proteins, FNIP1/2, and the gamma subunit of AMPK. Inactivation of the FLCN has been shown to result in activation of mTORC1/mTORC2. A clinical trial is currently being conducted to evaluate the effect of targeting the mTORC1 pathway in patients with Birt-Hogg-Dubé-associated renal tumors. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is a hereditary cancer syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk for the development of cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas and an aggressive form of Type 2 PRCC. HLRCC is characterized by mutation of the gene for the Krebs cycle enzyme, fumarate hydratase (FH). HLRCC-associated type 2 PRCC has been shown to be characterized by a Warburg shift to aerobic glycolysis with decreased oxidative phosphorylation and a glutamine-dependent reductive carboxylation. Clinical trials are currently under way evaluating the effect of agents targeting the FH pathway in patients with HLRCC-associated RCC. SDH-RCC is an inherited from of renal cell carcinoma that occurs in families with germline mutation of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) B,C, or D genes. Similar to FH-deficient RCC, SDH-RCC is characterized by a metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis, significantly impaired oxidative phosphorylation (consistent with complex 2 dysfunction), and a glutamine-dependent reductive carboxylation. SDH-RCC renal tumors are malignant and have a propensity to spread when they are small. Understanding the metabolic basis of renal cell carcinoma has the potential to provide the foundation for the development of more effective forms of therapy for patients with these cancers.

Pathogenic DNA variants associated with familial hypercholesterolemia, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and Lynch syndrome are widely recognized as clinically important and actionable when identified, leading some clinicians to recommend population-wide genomic screening. To assess the prevalence and clinical importance of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants associated with each of 3 genomic conditions (familial hypercholesterolemia, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and Lynch syndrome) within the context of contemporary clinical care. This cohort study used gene-sequencing data from 49 738 participants in the UK Biobank who were recruited from 22 sites across the UK between March 21, 2006, and October 1, 2010. Inpatient hospital data date back to 1977; cancer registry data, to 1957; and death registry data, to 2006. Statistical analysis was performed from July 22, 2019, to November 15, 2019. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic DNA variants classified by a clinical laboratory geneticist. Composite end point specific to each genomic condition based on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events for familial hypercholesterolemia, breast or ovarian cancer for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and colorectal or uterine cancer for Lynch syndrome. Among 49 738 participants (mean [SD] age, 57 [8] years; 27 144 female [55%]), 441 (0.9%) harbored a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant associated with any of 3 genomic conditions, including 131 (0.3%) for familial hypercholesterolemia, 235 (0.5%) for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and 76 (0.2%) for Lynch syndrome. Presence of these variants was associated with increased risk of disease: for familial hypercholesterolemia, 28 of 131 carriers (21.4%) vs 4663 of 49 607 noncarriers (9.4%) developed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, 32 of 116 female carriers (27.6%) vs 2080 of 27 028 female noncarriers (7.7%) developed associated cancers; and for Lynch syndrome, 17 of 76 carriers (22.4%) vs 929 of 49 662 noncarriers (1.9%) developed colorectal or uterine cancer. The predicted probability of disease at age 75 years despite contemporary clinical care was 45.3% for carriers of familial hypercholesterolemia, 41.1% for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and 38.3% for Lynch syndrome. Across the 3 conditions, 39.7% (175 of 441) of the carriers reported a family history of disease vs 23.2% (34 517 of 148 772) of noncarriers. The findings suggest that approximately 1% of the middle-aged adult population in the UK Biobank harbored a pathogenic variant associated with any of 3 genomic conditions. These variants were associated with an increased risk of disease despite contemporary clinical care and were not reliably detected by family history.

Objectives: Patients with hereditary cancer syndromes are at high risk for a second primary cancer. Early identification of these patients after an initial cancer diagnosis is the key to implementing cancer risk-reducing strategies. Methods: A commercial laboratory database was searched for women with a history of both breast and ovarian or colorectal and endometrial cancer who underwent genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) or Lynch syndrome (LS). Results: Among women with both breast and ovarian cancer, 22.4% (2,237/9,982) had a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Among women with both colorectal and ovarian cancer, 28.1% (264/941) had a mutation associated with LS. In 66.6% of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers and in 58.3% of LS mutation carriers, >5 years passed between the cancer diagnoses. Of patients with HBOC and LS, 56 and 65.2%, respectively, met the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for hereditary cancer testing after their initial diagnosis based on their personal cancer history alone. Conclusions: A substantial number of women tested for LS or HBOC after being diagnosed with two successive primary cancers were diagnosed with a hereditary cancer syndrome. In many cases, the time interval between the diagnoses was long enough to allow for the implementation of surveillance and/or prophylactic measures. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel