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Handbook of Genetic Counseling/Osteosarcoma and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
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Osteosarcoma and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Contracting
What concerns do you have for yourself or for your family?
What questions do you have?
Overview of agenda
Elicit medical history
Review family history
Discuss genetics, testing, treatment and management
Osteosarcoma Background
Most common type of bone cancer
Arises in osteoid tissue in bones
Most common in knees, upper legs, and upper arms
Commonly affects people from ages 10-25
Accounts for about 5% of childhood tumors
50% form in bones around knee
Only about 30% of patients with localized tumors survive free of relapse
Symptoms of bone cancer
Pain is most common symptom
Other symptoms depend on location and size of tumor
Tumors in or near joints may cause swelling or tenderness
Can interfere with normal ability to move
May weaken bones and make fractures more likely
General symptoms include fatigue, fever, weight loss, and anemia
Diagnosis
Alkaline phosphatase assay
Blood test to determine enzyme levels
Large amounts of alkaline phosphatase found in blood when cells of bone tissue are active
During childhood growth
During mending of broken bone
When tumor causes production of abnormal bone tissue
X-rays show location, size, and shape of tumor
Bone scan, CT, MRI, or angiogram may be recommended if X-ray suggests that a tumor is cancerous
Biopsy needed to determine for sure if tumor is cancer
Needle biopsy - make small hole in bone and remove tissue sample from tumor with needle-like instrument
Incisional biopsy - cut into tumor and remove sample of tissue
No staging system for osteosarcoma so use general terms
Localized
Metastatic - most often to lungs or other bones (20% of patients)
Recurrence - most often in the lungs (5 year survival is 20-40% following surgery)
Treatment
Depends on type, size, location, and stage of cancer
Surgery
Amputation of limb necessary in some cases
Pre or post-operative chemotherapy has improved success of limb-sparing surgery
May remove only cancerous section of bone and replace it with prosthesis
Chemotherapy and radiation may be used alone or together
Tumors are generally resistant to radiation
Degree of necrosis following chemotherapy predicts prognosis
Various clinical trials for surgeries, radiation therapies, and chemotherapies
Risk factors for bone cancers
Radiation or chemotherapy treatment in children or young adults for other conditions
Adults with Paget's disease are at increased risk for osteosarcoma
Hereditary factors
Li Fraumeni Syndrome Overview
Cancer predisposition syndrome
Associated with soft-tissue sarcomas, breast cancer, leukemia, osteosarcoma, melanoma, and cancer of the colon, pancreas, adrenal cortex, and brain
Increases risk for development of cancers
Diagnosis is made clinically and genetic testing is available
Genetic Etiology
Due to mutation in TP53 gene on 17p13 that codes for TP53 protein in more than 50% of cases
Tumor suppressor gene nicknamed "guardian of the genome"
Acts as checkpoint control following DNA damage by delaying cell cycle progression until damaged DNA is repaired or cell commits to apoptosis
Activates downstream genes to repair DNA
Signals molecule to confirm damage and proceed with apoptosis
Arrests cell cycle by mediating RB pathway
CHEK2 gene at 22q12.1 also associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Reported in only a few families thus far
Putative tumor suppressor gene
Lies in TP53 pathway
One of checkpoint genes activated in response to DNA damage by phorsphorylating p53
Not known if cancer risks are different than those due to TP53 mutations
Mutations in this gene appear to be most common in osteosarcomas
Autosomal dominant inheritance
Offspring of affected individuals have 50% chance of inheriting mutation
Most individuals diagnosed have an affected parent
De novo mutation rate unknown
Fewer than 400 families reported worldwide
Association of malignancies with TP53 mutations
Less than 1% of all breast cancers
2-10% of childhood brain tumors
50-100% of childhood adrenocortical carcinomas
2-3% of osteosarcomas
9% of rhabdomyosarcomas
7-20% of multiple primaries occurring at young ages
Penetrance
May be as high as 90%
About 25% of cancers occur before age 18
About 50% of individuals have malignancy by age 40
About 90% of individuals have malignancy by age 70
Different studies give different numbers - may be genetic heterogeneity
Clinical Features
Predisposes to a number of different types of tumors
Osteosarcomas (23/151)
Soft-tissue sarcomas (32/151)
Pre-menopausal breast cancers (36/151)
Brain tumors - neuroblastoma commonly (14/151)
Adrenal cortical tumors (4/151)
Leukemia - particularly acute leukemia (9/151)
Also associated with excess rates of other cancers
Melanoma
Stomach cancer
Colon cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Esophageal cancer
Gonadal germ cell tumors diagnosed at young ages
Wilm's tumor
Adult women have higher cancer risk than men because of high frequency of breast cancer
Also increases risk to develop multiple primary cancers
Up to 50% may develop second cancer
4% develop third cancer
2% develop four cancers
Survivors of childhood cancer have greatest risk to develop another primary
Radiation exposure appears to increase risk of second cancer
Genotype-phenotype correlation
R337H mutations associate with development of childhood adrenocortical carcinoma as low penetrance allele
13964gc mutation in intron 6 in series of patients with breast cancer as low penetrance allele
Diagnosis
Clinical diagnostic criteria (LFS)
Proband with sarcoma diagnosed under 45 years of age
First-degree relative with any cancer under 45 years of age
Third family member who is first- or second-degree relative with cancer under 45 or sarcoma at any age
Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome (LFL)
Share some, but not all features of LFS
Birch's definition
Proband with any childhood cancer or sarcoma, brain tumor, or adrenal cortical tumor diagnosed under 45 years of age
First- or second-degree relative with a typical LFS cancer at any age
Additional first- or second-degree relative with any cancer under the age of 60
Eele's definition
Two first- or second-degree relatives with LFS-related malignancies
Can occur at any age
Molecular genetic testing
Identifies mutations in TP53 gene in about 70% of patients with LFS and 8-22% of families with LFL
DNA sequencing
Available clinically
Identifies mutations in about 75% of families
About 80% of identifiable mutations are in exons 5-8 so testing is often limited to only these exons
Full gene sequencing and protein function for novel missense mutations generally only offered on research basis
Chip-based DNA sequencing
Available on research basis only
Detects most of common single base pair mutations that have been identified
Sensitivity of 90-98% depending on how much of coding region is sequenced
Can test asymptomatic individuals once mutation is identified in the family
Cannot predict age of onset, severity, type of cancer, or rate of preogression
Lack of proven surveillance or prevention so not justified for management but may be useful for reproductive, financial, and career planning or peace of mind
Testing has been confined to individuals 18 and older since no proven management options
Prenatal testing is possible if mutation identified in family but requires careful genetic counseling
Potential risks of testing
May not be covered by insurance
Possible problems with health, life, and disability insurance coverage
Possible employment and educational discrimination
Changes in social and family interaction
Implications for other at-risk family members
Limitations in management options
Potential benefits of testing
Explanation for frequent/rare occurrence of cancer in family
Clarification of risk/relief if individual tests negative for known mutation
Help make decisions regarding medical management or life decisions
Clinical molecular testing
City of Hope
Sequencing of coding exons 2-11 and intron junctions
Sensitivity estimated to be greater than 95% for point mutations
Requires 6 cc of whole blood in yellow or lavender topped tube
Full mutation analysis - $450, known mutation analysis $250
Turn-around time is 4 weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE)
Shows differences in 2 alleles as small as single base substitution, insertion, deletion
Sensitivity estimated to be greater than 95% in coding sequence
Turn-around time is 4 weeks
Fairview Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory
Sequencing analysis
Requires 15 ml blood in yellow topped tube
Turn-around time is 4-8 weeks
Management
No surveillance except breast cancer screening has been show to reduce morbidity and mortality
At-risk individuals should pay attention to signs and symptoms
Lingering aches and illnesses
Headaches, bone pain, abdominal discomfort
Surveillance for at-risk children
Complete physical exam
Urinalysis
Complete blood count
Abdominal ultrasound examination
Additional organ-targeted surveillance based on family history
Surveillance for at-risk adults
Annual complete physical exam including skin, nervous system, rectum, and Pap smear for women
Consider scans of head and abdomen annually
Semi-annual clinical breast exam for women
Annual mammograms, breast ultrasonography, or MRI
Mammograms controversial because of increased sensitivity to radiation
Should begin screening by age 25-30
Additional organ-targeted surveillance based on family history
Differential Diagnosis
Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome
Retinoblastoma - Autosomal dominant
Due to mutations in RB1 gene at 13q14
RB1 protein is negative regulator of cell growth
Approximately 90% of retinoblastomas occur before age 3
Increases risk to develop osteosarcoma 500-fold
Rothmund-Thomson syndrome - Autosomal recessive
Due to mutations in RECQL4 gene at 8q24.3 in some families
Cancer risks increased but not quantified
Clinical features include:
Skin atrophy marbleized pigmentation
Telangiectasia
Cataracts
Osteosarcoma is most commonly reported malignancy
Werner syndrome - Autosomal recessive
Due to mutations in WRN (RECQL2) gene at 8p12
Cancer risk is 10% lifetime
Clinical features include:
Multiple complaints of problems associated with aging beginning in 20's and 30's
Cataracts, graying hair or balding, decreased muscle mass, arteriosclerosis, scleroderma, endocrine failure, and NIDDM
Also may have lack of growth spurt in puberty or dysmorphic features
Increased risk for osteosarcoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, melanoma, thyroid cancer, and hematological malignancies
References
Hillmann A, et al. "Familial Occurrence of Osteosarcoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature." J Cancer
Res Clin Oncol (2000) 126: 497-502.
"Li-Fraumeni Syndrome." GeneReviews. http://www.genereviews.org
Lindor NM, et al. "The Concise Handbook of Family Cancer Syndromes." Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1998) 90(14): 1039-1071.
"Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone." National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov
Schneider, Katherine. Counseling about Cancer: Strategies for Genetic Counseling (2002).
www.lfsassociation.org
Notes
The information in this outline was last updated in Nov 2002.