Inherited gynaecological cancer syndromes

Patterns and Frequency of Pathogenic Germline Mutations among Patients with Newly-Diagnosed Endometrial Cancer: The Jordanian Exploratory Cancer Genetics (Jo-ECAG) Endometrial Study

Most of endometrial cancers are sporadic, with 5% or less being attributed to inherited pathogenic germline mutations and mostly related to the Lynch syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate patterns and frequencies of germline mutations in patients with endometrial cancer in an Arab region. Consecutive patients with endometrial cancer (n = 130), regardless of their age and family history, were enrolled. Germline genetic testing, using an 84-gene panel, was performed on all. Almost half of the patient population (n = 64, 49.2%) was tested based on international guidelines, while the remaining patients (n = 66, 50.8%) were tested as part of an ongoing universal germline genetic testing program. Among the whole group, 18 (13.8%) patients had positive pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline variants. The most common variants encountered were in MLH1 (n = 4, 22.2%), PMS2 (n = 3, 16.7%), ATM, MSH2, MUTYH, and BRCA2 (n = 2, 11.1% each). In addition, three (2.3%) patients were found to have an increased risk allele of the APC gene. P/LP variants were more common among patients with carcinosarcoma and clear cell carcinoma, younger patients (age ≤ 50 years), and in patients with a non-metastatic disease. We conclude that germline genetic variants, mostly in genes related to the Lynch syndrome, are relatively common among Arab patients with endometrial cancer.

Hereditary Gynecologic Cancer Syndromes - A Narrative Review

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.