Considerations on Diagnosis and Surveillance Measures of PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome: Clinical and Genetic Study in a Series of Spanish Patients.

Background: The limited knowledge about the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) makes its diagnosis a challenging task. We aimed to define the clinical and genetic characteristics of this syndrome in the Spanish population and to identify new genes potentially associated with the disease.Results: We reviewed the clinical data collected through a specific questionnaire in a series of 145 Spanish patients with a phenotypic features compatible with PHTS and performed molecular characterization through several approaches including next generation sequencing and whole exome sequencing (WES).Macrocephaly, mucocutaneous lesions, gastrointestinal polyposis and obesity are prevalent phenotypic features in PHTS and help predict the presence of a PTEN germline variant in our population. We also find that PHTS patients are at risk to develop cancer in childhood or adolescence. Furthermore, we observe a high frequency of variants in exon 1 of PTEN, which are associated with renal cancer and overexpression of KLLN and PTEN. Moreover, WES revealed variants in genes like NEDD4 that merit further research.Conclusions: This study expands previously reported findings in other PHTS population studies and makes new contributions regarding clinical and molecular aspects of PHTS, which are useful for translation to the clinic and for new research lines.

Gardner-associated fibroma of the neck: role of a multidisciplinary evaluation for familial adenomatous polyposis diagnosis

Introduction: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of multiple adenomas in the colon and rectum with a lifetime risk of 80%–100% to develop colorectal cancer if undetected or untreated. Gardner-associated fibroma (GAF) is a rare, benign soft tissue lesion with uncertain pathogenesis. GAF is generally associated with FAP in its clinical variant, called Gardner syndrome (GS). Case Description: A 16-year-old boy with no comorbidities and no significant medical history was referred to the Unit of Hereditary Digestive Tract Tumours, Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy, for genetic counselling after surgical removal of a right anterior cervical paramedian fibroma. The histopathology on the specimen led to the diagnosis of GAF. He had no family history for colorectal cancer or gastrointestinal polyposis and denied any gastrointestinal symptoms. Physical examination showed a small frontal osteoma and colonoscopy showed the presence of multiple small sessile polyps (>100 polyps, diameter <5 mm) diffusely present on the large bowel. Genetic testing revealed a pathogenic germline variant in the APC gene. The predictive genetic test on the patient’s parents and sister was negative for the identified APC mutation; therefore, the patient carried an apparent de novo germline mutation. Conclusions: GAF may represent a sentinel sign of FAP, preceding gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings. A careful multidisciplinary approach is determinant for correct and early diagnosis of FAP.

Cronkhite–Canada-szindróma

Összefoglaló. A Cronkhite–Canada-szindróma egy extrém ritka, nem öröklődő, gyomor-bél rendszeri polyposissal, fehérjevesztő enteropathiával és ectodermalis elváltozásokkal járó megbetegedés. A világon eddig összesen körülbelül 500 esetet jegyeztek fel. Az etiológia pontosan nem tisztázott, hátterében elsősorban autoimmun folyamatot feltételeznek. A diagnózis a páciens kórtörténetén, a fizikális vizsgálaton, az endoszkópos képen és a szövettani leleten alapul. A jelen közleményben egy 71 éves férfi beteg esetét mutatjuk be. A klinikai kép és az elvégzett vizsgálatok alapján a tünetek hátterében Cronkhite–Canada-szindrómát igazoltunk, majd a szakirodalomban leggyakrabban alkalmazott kombinált protonpumpagátló, kortikoszteroid és meszalazin adását vezettük be, illetve táplálásterápiát alkalmaztunk. Tudomásunk szerint Cronkhite–Canada-szindrómás beteg esete Magyarországon elsőként kerül ismertetésre. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(11): 432–438. Summary. Cronkhite–Canada syndrome is an extremely rare, noninherited disease, characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis, protein-losing enteropathy and ectodermal abnormalities. Approximately 500 cases have been reported worldwide. The aetiology is unknown, most probably autoimmune mechanisms may be involved. The diagnosis is based on patient history, physical examination, endoscopic findings and histology. Here we report the case of a 71-year-old male, diagnosed with Cronkhite–Canada syndrome. The treatment consisted of proton-pump inhibitor, corticosteroids, mesalazin and nutritional therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Cronkhite–Canada syndrome in Hungary. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(11): 432–438.

PCR-based genotyping assays to detect germline APC variant associated with hereditary gastrointestinal polyposis in Jack Russell terriers

Background The prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) neoplastic polyps in Jack Russell terriers (JRTs) has increased in Japan since the late 2000s. Recently, we demonstrated that JRTs with GI polyps harbor identical germline variant in the APC gene (c.[462_463delinsTT]) in the heterozygous state. Thus, this disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. Although the affected JRTs have distinct features, such as the development of multiple GI polyps and an early age of disease onset, genetic testing is indispensable for a definitive diagnosis. Here, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays capable of detecting germline APC variant were designed and validated using synthetic wild-type and mutant DNAs and genomic DNAs from carrier and non-carrier dogs. Result First, the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was developed by taking advantage of the germline APC variant creating a new restriction site for MseI. In the PCR-RFLP assay, the 156-bp region containing the variant site was amplified by PCR and subsequently digested with MseI, yielding diagnostic 51 and 58 bp fragments from the mutant allele and allowing determination of the APC genotypes. It was possible to determine the genotypes using genomic DNA extracted from the peripheral blood, buccal swab, or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Next, a TaqMan duplex real-time PCR assay was developed, where a 78-bp region flanking the variant was amplified in the presence of wild-type allele- and mutant allele-specific fluorescent probes. Using blood-derived DNA, altogether 40 cycles of PCR amplification determined the APC genotypes of all examined samples by measuring the fluorescence intensities. Importantly, false-positive and false-negative errors were never detected in both assays. Conclusion In this study, we developed highly reliable genetic tests for hereditary GI polyposis in JRTs, providing accurate assessment of the presence of the causative germline APC variant. The genotyping assays could contribute to the diagnosis and prevention of hereditary GI polyposis in dogs.

Sustained clinical response to infliximab in refractory Cronkhite-Canada syndrome

A 59-year-old man with refractory Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) had poor clinical response to high-dose intravenous steroids, azathioprine, total parenteral nutrition and best supportive care. He remained highly symptomatic with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, recurrent sepsis and profound weight loss. Infliximab induction was given as rescue therapy, with marked clinical improvement observed within 3 weeks. This allowed steroid taper. Within 12 months of infliximab therapy, he achieved complete clinical remission and returned to his baseline weight and a full oral diet. Sequential endoscopies observed significant regression of previous marked gastrointestinal polyposis, including histological remission on colonic biopsies at 3.5 and 5 years of treatment. He currently remains in remission following 6 years of combination therapy with 5 mg/kg 8 weekly infliximab and azathioprine, and there is ongoing discussion with regard to the benefits and risks of therapy de-escalation. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of infliximab in inducing and maintaining remission in refractory CCS.

Clinical criteria for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome diagnosis: Look for what is missing

The Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyposis and mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation. In this report we discuss diagnostic circumstances of new PJS family. Keywords: Intestinal obstruction; intussusception; Peutz-Jeghers syndrome; polyps; surgery.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex with rare associated findings in the gastrointestinal system: a case report and review of the literature

Background Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a complex and heterogeneous genetic disease that has well-established clinical diagnostic criteria. These criteria do not include gastrointestinal tumors. Case presentation We report a 45-year-old patient with a clinical and molecular diagnosis of TSC and a family history of cancer, presenting two rare associated findings: gastrointestinal polyposis and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. This patient was subjected to a genetic test with 80 cancer predisposing genes. The genetic panel revealed the presence of a large pathogenic deletion in the TSC2 gene, covering exons 2 to 16 and including the initiation codon. No changes were identified in the colorectal cancer and colorectal polyposis genes. Discussion and conclusions We describe a case of TSC that presented tumors of the gastro intestinal tract that are commonly unrelated to the disease. The patient described here emphasizes the importance of considering polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract and low grade neuroendocrine tumor as part of the TSC syndromic phenotype.