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Human Mutation 2023Germline pathogenic variants in predispose individuals to develop a variety of benign and malignant tumors. Accurate variant curation and classification is essential...
Germline pathogenic variants in predispose individuals to develop a variety of benign and malignant tumors. Accurate variant curation and classification is essential for reliable diagnosis of -related tumor predisposition and identification of individuals who may benefit from surveillance. Since 2015, most labs have followed the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) sequence variant classification guidelines for germline variant curation. However, these general guidelines lack gene-specific nuances and leave room for subjectivity. Consequently, a group of experts joined ClinGen to form the and miRNA-Processing Genes Variant Curation Expert Panel (VCEP), to create - specific ACMG/AMP guidelines for germline variant curation. The VCEP followed the FDA-approved ClinGen protocol for adapting and piloting these guidelines. A diverse set of 40 variants were selected for piloting, including 14 known Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic (P/LP) variants, 12 known Benign/Likely Benign (B/LB) variants, and 14 variants classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS) or with conflicting interpretations in ClinVar. Clinically meaningful classifications (i.e., P, LP, LB, or B) were achieved for 82.5% (33/40) of the pilot variants, with 100% concordance among the known P/LP and known B/LB variants. Half of the VUS or conflicting variants were resolved with four variants classified as LB and three as LP. These results demonstrate that the -specific guidelines for germline variant curation effectively classify known pathogenic and benign variants while reducing the frequency of uncertain classifications. Individuals and labs curating variants should consider adopting this classification framework to encourage consistency and improve objectivity.
Topics: Humans; Genetic Testing; Genetic Variation; Genome, Human; Genomics; Neoplasms; Germ Cells; Ribonuclease III; DEAD-box RNA Helicases
PubMed: 38084291
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9537832 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare childhood tumor originating from the lung or pleura, typically treated with surgery, chemotherapy (CTx), and/or radiation...
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare childhood tumor originating from the lung or pleura, typically treated with surgery, chemotherapy (CTx), and/or radiation therapy (RTx). This study aimed to assess patient and tumor features, treatment methods, and survival rates in PPB. We retrospectively analyzed PPB patients under 18 from 2004 to 2019, using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). We assessed 5-year overall survival (OS) rates based on disease presentation and treatment regimens, using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional regression. Among 144 cases identified, 45.9% were female, with a median age of 2 years (interquartile range 1-3). In all, 62.5% of tumors originated from the lung, and 10.4% from the pleura. Moreover, 6.9% were bilateral, and the median tumor size was 8.9 cm, with 4.2% presenting with metastases. The 5-year OS rate was 79.6%, with no significant change over time (2004-2009, 77.6%; 2010-2014, 90.8%; 2015-2019, OS 75.3%; = 0.08). In all, 5.6% received CTx alone, 31.3% surgery alone, 45.8% surgery/CTx, and 17.4% surgery/CTx/RTx. The OS rates were comparable between the surgery/CTx/RTx (80.0%) and surgery/CTx (76.5%) groups (adjusted Hazard Ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 0.57-5.19; = 0.34). Therefore, due to the unchanged survival rates over time, further prospective multicenter studies are needed to determine the optimal multimodal treatment regimens for this rare pediatric tumor.
PubMed: 38671641
DOI: 10.3390/children11040424 -
Translational Pediatrics Apr 2024-associated tumors are heterogeneous and affect several organs. -associated primary intracranial sarcoma is associated with histone H3 trimethylation on lysine 27...
BACKGROUND
-associated tumors are heterogeneous and affect several organs. -associated primary intracranial sarcoma is associated with histone H3 trimethylation on lysine 27 (H3K27me3) loss in nucleus by immunohistochemistry.
METHODS
We explored the H3K27me3 immunostaining pattern in other -associated tumors. Twelve tumors from eleven patients with confirmed mutations (sporadic and germline) data from a pancancer next-generation sequencing panel, and four tumors of pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) were retrieved from our database and stained with anti-H3K27me3 antibody.
RESULTS
The H3K27me3 expression in the nucleus showed heterogeneous mosaic loss in neoplastic Sertoli cell components in three of the five cases of moderately to poorly differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. Among two tumors of -associated primary intracranial sarcoma, one showed complete loss of H3K27me3 in all neoplastic cells, whereas the other showed mosaic loss in the sarcomatous spindle cells. One -associated tumor with epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation, including pulmonary blastoma and PPB, showed mosaic loss of glandular epithelial and mesenchymal components. Four cases of type II PPB and a single case of type III PPB showed a similar mosaic loss of H3K27me3 staining restricted to large spindle cell components. All other components in all tumors-including Leydig cells; the areas of epithelial, cartilaginous, and rhabdomyomatous differentiation; and all cells of the remaining three cases (one papillary thyroid carcinoma and two cases of PPB type I)-demonstrated retained H3K27me3 staining.
CONCLUSIONS
H3K27me3 expression is not universally lost in -associated tumors and thus is not predictive of mutation status. The mosaic regional loss of H3K27me3 immunostaining is consistent in PPB type II and III, which can be a helpful diagnostic marker for these tumors and suggests a similarity to -associated intracranial sarcoma.
PubMed: 38715664
DOI: 10.21037/tp-24-61 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2020DICER1 syndrome is a rare genetic condition predisposing to hereditary cancer and caused by variants in the gene. The risk to present a neoplasm before the age of 10... (Review)
Review
DICER1 syndrome is a rare genetic condition predisposing to hereditary cancer and caused by variants in the gene. The risk to present a neoplasm before the age of 10 years is 5.3 and 31.5% before the age of 60. variants have been associated with a syndrome involving familial pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB), a rare malignant tumor of the lung, which occurs primarily in children under the age of 6 years and represents the most common life-threatening manifestation of DICER1 syndrome. Type I, II, III, and Ir (type I regressed) PPB are reported with a 5-year overall survival ranging from 53 to 100% (for type Ir). gene should be screened in all patients with PPB and considered in other tumors mainly in thyroid neoplasms (multinodular goiter, thyroid cancer, adenomas), ovarian tumors (Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, sarcoma, and gynandroblastoma), and cystic nephroma. A prompt identification of this syndrome is necessary to plan a correct follow-up and screening during lifetime.
PubMed: 33552988
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.614541 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Fetal lung interstitial tumor (FLIT) is an extremely rare pediatric lung tumor that shares radiological features with congenital pulmonary malformations (cPAM) and other... (Review)
Review
Fetal lung interstitial tumor (FLIT) is an extremely rare pediatric lung tumor that shares radiological features with congenital pulmonary malformations (cPAM) and other lung neoplasms. A review of the literature, together with the first European case, are herein reported. A systematic and manual search of the literature using the keyword "fetal lung interstitial tumor" was conducted on PUBMED, Scopus, and SCIE (Web of Science). Following the PRISMA guidelines, 12 articles were retrieved which describe a total of 21 cases of FLIT, and a new European case is presented. A prenatal diagnosis was reported in only 3 out of 22 (13%) cases. The mean age at surgery was 31 days of life (1-150); a lobectomy was performed in most of the cases. No complications or recurrence of disease were reported at a mean follow-up of 49 months. FLIT is rarely diagnosed during pregnancy, may present at birth with different levels of respiratory distress, and requires prompt surgical resection. Histology and immunohistochemistry allow for the differentiation of FLIT from cPAM and other lung tumors with poor prognosis, such as pleuropulmonary blastoma, congenital peri-bronchial myofibroblastic tumor, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, and congenital or infantile fibrosarcoma.
PubMed: 37238376
DOI: 10.3390/children10050828 -
Radiology Case Reports Oct 2021Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare and highly aggressive pulmonary malignancy in children. Clinically, the malignancy is often mistaken for symptoms of respiratory tract...
Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare and highly aggressive pulmonary malignancy in children. Clinically, the malignancy is often mistaken for symptoms of respiratory tract infection or pneumothorax. The neoplasm is histologically characterized by primitive blastema and a malignant mesenchymal stroma that demonstrates multidirectional differentiation. The patients with PPB are managed by multimodal therapy. We present a report of 3 cases of histopathologically diagnosed pleuropulmonary blastoma. The patients presented with chief complaints of difficulty in breathing, cough, fever and chest pain. Radiographs of the patients showed partial to complete opacification of hemithorax. Contrast enhanced computed tomography scans revealed large well defined heterogenously enhancing solid mass lesions in the hemithorax. Knowledge of types, imaging findings, staging and association with other tumors is crucial for correct diagnosis of pleuropulmonary blastoma and subsequent adequate management.
PubMed: 34401014
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.06.046 -
Journal of Indian Association of... 2024Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare malignancy associated with mutations in the DICER1 gene. Early-stage disease (PPB type I) mimics cystic lung malformations and...
PURPOSE
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare malignancy associated with mutations in the DICER1 gene. Early-stage disease (PPB type I) mimics cystic lung malformations and develops in infants <1 year of age, and PPB type II and III arises in older children. The objective of this study was to analyze predictive factors of mortality in pediatric patients aged 0-19 years diagnosed with PPB between 2000 and 2019 in the USA.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of pediatric patients (0-19 years) in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database was conducted from 2000 to 2019 with a diagnosis of PPB using International Classification of Disease for Oncology, third edition code 8973/3 and rare tumor code 45. Demographics, incidence, staging, treatment, and mortality were extracted. A mortality risk predictive equation was developed using logistic regression. Statistical analysis was conducted through Microsoft Excel Analysis ToolPak and Solver.
RESULTS
There were a total of 71 new cases of PPB during the study period, with 16 (22%) deaths. The demographic analysis demonstrated that 40/71 (56.3%) patients were female, 57/71 (80.3%) were White, and 64/71 (90.1%) resided in metropolitan areas. Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between mortality and stage ( = 0.029), need for chemotherapy ( = 0.047), and female sex ( = 0.019). There was no significant correlation between mortality and need for radiation, race, or age at diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis generated a predictive equation of mortality dependent on the stage of PPB, need for chemotherapy, and sex. This equation has an 82% accuracy, 81% sensitivity, and an 18% false positive rate.
CONCLUSION
PPB is a rare disease. Distinguishing PPB from benign cystic lung malformations in infancy is important to avoid progression to Type II and III PPB. Advanced stages of PPB have a greater need for systemic chemotherapy and radiation with a poor prognosis.
PubMed: 38912026
DOI: 10.4103/jiaps.jiaps_235_23 -
Medical Archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and... Feb 2021Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare, but aggressive tumor in the pediatric population. PPB is a dysontogenetic neoplasm of childhood that involves the lungs and/or...
INTRODUCTION
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare, but aggressive tumor in the pediatric population. PPB is a dysontogenetic neoplasm of childhood that involves the lungs and/or pleura. Young relatives of children with PPB have an increased incidence of neoplasias and dysplasias. According to tumor tissue histopathology, PPB evolves from a cystic to solid state over time. PPBs can be sub-classified as type I (purely cystic), type II (having both cystic and solid elements), and type III (completely solid). Type II and type III tumors may be associated with metastasis, with the brain being the most common metastatic site. Due to the primitive nature of cells in the tumor mass, PPBs are very aggressive tumors that are resistant to therapy. The prognosis depends on the histopathology content and tumor type. Respiratory problems are the main complaint and diagnosis can be made only after additional examinations. Genetic relations through family members are associated with mutations in the DICER1 gene; between 60-80% of patients with PPBs are positive for DICER1 mutations. Mosaicism has also been reported.
AIM
The aim was to present a case of a 4 month-old infant with type II PPB, who had a negative result for DICER1 mutation in next generation sequencing. To detail the clinical presentation of this patient, we present radiographic and ultrasound findings and results of histopathological analysis, as well as genetic and scintigraphic findings and chemotherapy treatment.
CASE REPORT
Here we describe the genetic analysis of a patient with PPB who was negative for mutations in DICER1 and who had no relatives with disease. This patient underwent radical resection of the tumor and began therapy, but subsequently died after developing leukopenia and sepsis.
CONCLUSION
This case provides an example of a patient with PPB who was negative for DICER1 mutation upon genetic analysis and emphasizes the potential for disease that does not involve mutation of this gene.
Topics: Fatal Outcome; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Infant; Lung Neoplasms; Mutation; Prognosis; Pulmonary Blastoma; Ribonuclease III
PubMed: 34012202
DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2021.75.61-65 -
Targeting mutant dicer tumorigenesis in pleuropulmonary blastoma via inhibition of RNA polymerase I.Translational Research : the Journal of... Aug 2023DICER1 mutations predispose to increased risk for various cancers, particularly pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB), the commonest lung malignancy of childhood. There is a...
DICER1 mutations predispose to increased risk for various cancers, particularly pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB), the commonest lung malignancy of childhood. There is a paucity of directly actionable molecular targets as these tumors are driven by loss-of-function mutations of DICER1. Therapeutic development for PPB is further limited by a lack of biologically and physiologically-representative disease models. Given recent evidence of Dicer's role as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor regulating RNA polymerase I (Pol I), Pol I inhibition could abrogate mutant Dicer-mediated accumulation of stalled polymerases to trigger apoptosis. Hence, we developed a novel subpleural orthotopic PPB patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model that retained both RNase IIIa and IIIb hotspot mutations and recapitulated the cardiorespiratory physiology of intra-thoracic disease, and with it evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of first-in-class Pol I inhibitor CX-5461. In PDX tumors, CX-5461 significantly reduced H3K9 di-methylation and increased nuclear p53 expression, within 24 hours' exposure. Following treatment at the maximum tolerated dosing regimen (12 doses, 30 mg/kg), tumors were smaller and less hemorrhagic than controls, with significantly decreased cellular proliferation, and increased apoptosis. As demonstrated in a novel intrathoracic tumor model of PPB, Pol I inhibition with CX-5461 could be a tolerable and clinically-feasible therapeutic strategy for mutant Dicer tumors, inducing antitumor effects by decreasing H3K9 methylation and enhancing p53-mediated apoptosis.
Topics: Humans; RNA Polymerase I; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Pulmonary Blastoma; Carcinogenesis; Ribonuclease III; DEAD-box RNA Helicases
PubMed: 36921796
DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2023.03.001 -
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Apr 2023Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is the most common lung cancer of infancy and early childhood and is associated with germline DICER1 variants. Type I and Ir PPB are...
PURPOSE
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is the most common lung cancer of infancy and early childhood and is associated with germline DICER1 variants. Type I and Ir PPB are cystic lesions treated surgically, with a subset of children with type I receiving chemotherapy. Type II and III are more aggressive lesions, treated with surgery, intensive chemotherapy and potentially radiation. We sought to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with PPB and known germline DICER1 variants.
METHODS
Children with a diagnosis of PPB or germline DICER1 pathogenic variant without history of PPB or other DICER1-related neoplasm (DICER1+ only) were enrolled in the International PPB/DICER1 Registry. Parent reports for participants aged 2-17 years for the PedsQL v.4 and PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale v.3 were collected. Fatigue, physical, and psychosocial function scores were compared.
RESULTS
Analysis included 84 participants (PPB type Ir = 20, type I = 15, type II/III = 27, DICER1+ only = 22). Total fatigue scores of participants with type I and II/III PPB were lower compared to DICER1+ only, with effect size larger in type II/III (-0.82 vs. -0.40). Total psychosocial and physical functioning scores were lower in participants with type I and type II/III PPB compared to DICER1+ only, with larger effects noted in type II/III. Female sex was suggestive of worse HRQoL for both type I/Ir and type II/III cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate the importance of regular HRQoL assessment in patients with a history of PPB as well as the importance and feasibility of studying HRQoL in children with rare tumors.
Topics: Child; Humans; Child, Preschool; Female; Adolescent; Quality of Life; Pulmonary Blastoma; Lung Neoplasms; Ribonuclease III; Registries; DEAD-box RNA Helicases
PubMed: 36424733
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30077