Pseudoautosomal linkage in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Familiäre Leukämien

Im Gefolge einer Vielzahl von genetisch bedingten Erkrankungen, wie den DNA-Reparatur-Defizienz-Syndromen, Tumordispositions-, Immundefizienz-, Cancer-Family- und Bone-Marrow-Failure-Syndromen sowie bei einigen angeborenen Chromosomenanomalien werden oft Leukämien und andere hämatologische Neoplasien beobachtet. In letzter Zeit konnten darüber hinaus in Familien mit erhöhter Leukämieinzidenz konstitutionelle Mutationen spezifischer Gene identifiziert werden, die auch bei sporadischen Leukämien in Form von somatischen Mutationen involviert sind. Neben diesen Mutationen mit hoher Penetranz scheinen Genveränderungen mit niedriger Penetranz oder auch Polymorphismen von Genen, die bei der Zellproliferation, der DNA-Reparatur, der Apoptose, der Detoxifizierung u. a. m. eine Rolle spielen, die Disposition zur Leukämieentwicklung bzw. den Krankheitsverlauf zu beeinflussen. Diese neuen Erkenntnisse über konstitutionelle, zu Leukämien disponierende genetische Veränderungen könnten die Kluft zwischen angeborenen und erworbenen genetischen Erkrankungen allmählich überbrücken.

Familial aggregation and heterogeneity of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in population-based samples

The importance of genetic factors in the etiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is suggested by case-control and cohort studies. Most previous studies have been too small to estimate accurately risks of specific categories of lymphoproliferative malignancies in relatives of NHL cases or to quantify the contribution of NHL case characteristics to familial risk. We have overcome sample size limitations and potential recall bias by using large databases from Sweden and Denmark. Diagnoses of lymphoproliferative malignancies were compared in 70,006 first-degree relatives of 26,089 NHL cases (including 7,432 with subtype information) versus 161,352 first-degree relatives of 58,960 matched controls. Relatives of NHL cases were at significantly increased risk for NHL [relative risk (RR), 1.73; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.39-2.15], Hodgkin lymphoma (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.0-1.97), and nonsignificantly for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.93-1.85). No increased risk was found for multiple myeloma among case relatives. Findings with respect to siblings compared with parents and offspring or with respect to age at diagnosis of proband were inconsistent. In both populations, relatives of cases with an aggressive NHL subtype were at substantially increased risk of NHL (combined RR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.80-7.02). We conclude that NHL has an important familial component, which is shared with Hodgkin lymphoma and CLL. We estimate that the absolute lifetime risk for a first-degree relative of an NHL case to develop NHL is 3.6% (compared with a population risk of 2.1%) and higher if the index case had an aggressive subtype of NHL.

Causation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia--insights from familial disease

In Western countries B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia. Evidence from epidemiological studies and family studies strongly supports the notion that a subset of CLL involves inherited susceptibility. Identification of genes predisposing to CLL should be useful for diagnosis and treatment, as well as serving as a model for B-cell tumorigenesis in general. Here, we review the current status of knowledge about inherited susceptibility to CLL.