A new publication in the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) by Jennifer M. Kalish and colleagues about uniform tumor screening recommendations for rare syndromes with increased risk for Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma and other embryonal tumors like Bohring-Opitz Syndrome. “In the 43 cases reported by Russell and colleagues (2015), two patients developed WT and one had nephroblastomatosis leading to a renal neoplasm incidence of 7%. The small number of reported patients with BOS and high infant mortality rate indicates that the true cancer risk may be higher than reported.” (Kalish, 2017)
Abstract:
“A number of genetic syndromes [as is the case here among other syndromes, the Bohring Opitz Syndrome has been described] have been linked to increased risk for Wilms tumor (WT), hepatoblastoma (HB), and other embryonal tumors. Here, we outline these rare syndromes with at least a 1% risk to develop these tumors and recommend uniform tumor screening recommendations for North America. Specifically, for syndromes with increased risk for WT, we recommend renal ultrasounds every 3 months from birth (or the time of diagnosis) through the seventh birthday. For HB, we recommend screening with full abdominal ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein serum measurements every 3 months from birth (or the time of diagnosis) through the fourth birthday. We recommend that when possible, these patients be evaluated and monitored by cancer predisposition specialists. At this time, these recommendations are not based on the differential risk between different genetic or epigenetic causes for each syndrome, which some European centers have implemented. This differentiated approach largely represents distinct practice environments between the United States and Europe, and these guidelines are designed to be a broad framework within which physicians and families can work together to implement specific screening. Further study is expected to lead to modifications of these recommendations.” (Surveillance Recommendations for Children with Overgrowth Syndromes and Predisposition to Wilms Tumors and Hepatoblastoma.
