Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor
Published on: February 1, 2018
Genetic predisposition to cancers in children and adolescents
Yoshiko Nakano1,2, Ron Rabinowicz1,2, David Malkin1,2
1Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children.
Insights
Childhood cancer is often caused by inherited genetic factors. Early detection and tailored treatments for childhood cancer predisposition syndromes significantly improve survival rates and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Human Genetics
- Cancer Genomics
Background:
- Childhood cancer is a leading cause of mortality in children aged 1-14.
- Inherited genetic factors play a significant role in pediatric cancer development.
- Cancer predisposition syndromes affect 10-18% of pediatric cancer patients.
Approach:
- Reviewing current literature on childhood cancer predisposition syndromes.
- Highlighting diagnostic approaches and genetic counseling strategies.
- Summarizing surveillance protocols and emerging therapeutic interventions.
Key Points:
- Genetic susceptibility is a crucial factor in childhood cancer.
- Advances in technology facilitate the discovery of new cancer predisposition genes and syndromes.
- Early detection through focused surveillance improves survival in affected children.
- Tailored treatments and preventative strategies are under development.
Conclusions:
- Understanding cancer predisposition syndromes is vital for pediatric oncology.
- Genetic counseling and family screening are essential components of management.
- Ongoing research aims to refine early tumor detection and develop novel therapies for pediatric cancers.
Purpose Of Review:
Childhood cancer is rare, but it remains the leading cause of disease-related mortality among children 1-14 years of age. As exposure to environmental factors is lower in children, inherited genetic factors become an important player in the cause of childhood cancer. This review highlights the current knowledge and approach for cancer predisposition syndromes in children.
Recent Findings:
Current literature suggests that 10-18% of paediatric cancer patients have an underlying genetic susceptibility to their disease. With better knowledge and technology, more genes and syndromes are being discovered, allowing tailored treatment and surveillance for the probands and their families.Studies have demonstrated that focused surveillance can detect early malignancies and increase overall survival in several cancer predisposition syndromes. Various approaches have been proposed to refine early tumour detection strategies while minimizing the burden on patients and families. Newer therapeutic strategies are being investigated to treat, or even prevent, tumours in children with cancer predisposition.
Summary:
This review summarizes the current knowledge about different cancer predisposition syndromes, focusing on the diagnosis, genetic counselling, surveillance and future directions.
More Related Videos
08:15gDNA Enrichment by a Transposase-based Technology for NGS Analysis of the Whole Sequence of BRCA1, BRCA2, and 9 Genes Involved in DNA Damage Repair
Published on: October 6, 2014
11:15Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors
Published on: September 20, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...