The FORESIGHT Clinic: overseeing risk evaluation and surveillance of intestinal and gastric hereditary tumours
Surveillance of intestinal and gastric hereditary tumours
Dr Éanna Ryan, Research Registrars, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Dr Ben Creavin, Research Registrar, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin and Prof Des Winter, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin
A cancer syndrome is a genetic condition in which an inherited mutation predisposes affected individuals to cancer development, often at a young age.1 Approximately 5-10% of all colorectal cancer (CRC) arises in this setting; while up to a third exhibit a moderate, familial pattern of inheritance, without an identified mutation.2 These patients benefit from increased surveillance, different adjuvant treatments, and preventative surgery.3-5 It has been recommended that individuals with known or suspected inherited cancer should be co-ordinated in specialised clinics.6 The appropriate management of such individuals through the use of registries and dedicated clinics results in a reduction in cancer incidence and mortality.7
The FORESIGHT Clinic
Genetic testing has grown from a niche specialty for rare disorders to one that has more routine clinical applications.8 Advances in technology have resulted in widely available, inexpensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) genetic screening panels for cancer syndromes. As a result, access to genetic testing is no longer the limiting factor in the management of these individuals. Ascertainment of family history, determination of cancer risk, education and counselling, provision for molecular testing (where appropriate), and specified follow-up for individuals based on their risk in a specialised environment is critical for these individuals. It is for these reasons that the FORESIGHT Clinic has been established at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Elm Park, Dublin 4.
This specialised clinic involves a focused patient management programme incorporating a cancer syndrome registry, specialist nurses, dedicated gastroenterology and surgical consultants, as well as access to counselling, genetic testing and psychological support. In this review we have divided the most common CRC predisposition syndromes into two main groups, Lynch syndrome (formerly hereditary non-polyposis coli [HNPCC]) and the polyposis syndromes (see Figure 1 and Table 1). These individuals may present via three separate channels:
• An individual with a family or personal history warranting risk assessment
• An individual with a CRC that has tumoural- or patient-related characteristics warranting further investigation
• An individual with a known syndrome requiring life-long surveillance, risk reduction therapy and perhaps prophylactic surgery.
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Assessment of high-risk patients
It is important to be aware that an individual with a significant family history of cancer may have a varying degree of risk depending on the underlying diagnosis. In some instances genetic testing may be necessary, with subsequent close endoscopic surveillance and/or prophylactic surgery. However, in other cases the patient may be found to carry no additional risk and may require no other follow up save that recommended for the general population. Therefore, the principal role of a specialised clinic should be to determine risk and to outline specified follow-up for that individual. The principle tool of risk assessment should be a comprehensive family history. The American Society of Clinical Oncology has recommended a minimum family history set (see Table 2).9 However, in busy clinical practice detailed histories are often difficult to obtain.10,11 This has led to the promotion of other methods to guide patient management. The Amsterdam II and Revised Bethesda criteria have been used to assess risk of Lynch syndrome (see Table 3).12-14 More recently, computer-based calculators have also become available.15-17
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Genetic testing
Where a CRC syndrome is suspected genetic and/or tumour analysis should begin with an affected patient or “proband”.18 Testing of relatives can be performed afterwards if a mutation is discovered. It is important that patients are made aware of their rights and that the implications of all possible results should be explained prior to testing.19 Testing may only take place with a person’s consent, in accordance with the Data Protection Acts. The perceived harmful effects of a positive test result, such as social stigmatisation and disadvantages relating to employment or health insurance, should be carefully discussed.20 Under Part 4 of the 2005 Disability Act, the results of a genetic test can’t be used in relation to insurance, a mortgage, a personal pension or employment in Ireland. However, there have been anecdotal reports that disclosure of genetic testing results is frequently made on proposal forms to insurance companies. Individuals should be explicitly instructed not to disclose this information. In the event of a genetic test result coming into the possession of an insurer, the genetic test result cannot be taken account by the insurer in any form.
The major difficulty in genetic testing may arise with result interpretation. A positive finding is helpful and patients can be counselled according to their risk. Relatives without a previously identified specific mutation (ie. a true negative) can be considered to have no increased risk and reassured accordingly. Problems may arise in patients with a suspected syndrome but in which no known mutation is found. If enough clinical suspicion exists to order genetic screening, a negative result must be interpreted with caution due to limitations of current technology and knowledge of the genes involved in heritable CRC.19 The use of NGS may also lead to a high rate of findings of variants of unknown significance (VUS).21,22 This is a mutation in which the extent of its role in cancer development is unknown. Therefore, a VUS has no established management recommendations. The absence of a living affected relative or access to suitable tumour tissue may also be problematic, as are circumstances where, following counselling, a relative declines testing.
Surveillance of high-risk patients
For patients with a suspected polyposis syndrome but no identified mutation, colonoscopic surveillance should commence as for patients with a known mutation. Findings at colonoscopy may be used to guide the rate of surveillance and if no polyps are detected over time, it may be prudent to increase the interval between scopes, as the patient gets older.23 Definitive guidance as to the optimal surveillance for patients without a recognised mutation or for those with VUS is lacking. These patients are often falsely reassured by a negative result and remain at risk despite failure to detect a specific mutation.24
Lynch syndrome
Lynch syndrome accounts for approximately 1-3% of all CRC.25 It is due to autosomal dominant mutations in the mismatch repair (MMR) genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2.12,26-32 More recently, mutations in the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) gene have been implicated.33,34 Defective MMR genes results in CRC with microsatellite instability (MSI) and is characteristic of Lynch syndrome.35 Lynch syndrome patients carry an increased predisposition to CRC, endometrial, gastric, ovarian, hepatobiliary tract, urinary tract, brain and skin cancers, and these cancers often occur at a younger age.25,36-38 Lifetime incidence of CRC is reported between 35-80%.39,40 There is also an increased incidence of metachronous and synchronous colon cancers.31
Relying solely on age and family history based criteria inaccurately identifies eligibility for Lynch syndrome testing in 25%-70% of cases.12-14 Many institutions now advocate universal tumour screening via either polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for MSI or immunohistochemistry (IHC) for deficient MMR genes.41,42 The majority of MSI, however, occurs sporadically and is due to MLH1 promoter hypermethylation.43,44 The BRAF V600E mutation is present in approximately 60-70% of these sporadic cases.42 Therefore, if MLH1 loss is found; the tumour may be tested for either BRAF mutation or direct testing of MLH1 promoter hypermethylation to help distinguish between Lynch syndrome and sporadic CRC.25
A patient with hypermethylated MLH1 and/or a BRAF mutation is very unlikely to be Lynch syndrome.45 Patients with absent MLH1 and wild type BRAF, and those with absent MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2 should be offered testing.
Surveillance and management of lynch syndrome mutation carriers
There is no role for prophylactic colectomy in Lynch syndrome.4,46 Prophylactic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be considered in women who have completed childbearing or after age 40 years as it significantly reduces the risk of both endometrial and ovarian cancer.4,46 Recommended surveillance includes annual colonoscopy starting at age 25 (or five years prior to the youngest affected family member if < 30 years) and two-yearly upper endoscopy starting at 30 in families with gastric cancer or at high ethnic risk.
While some guidelines recommend annual per vaginal examination, pelvic ultrasound, Ca-125 analysis, and urinalysis, there is currently no evidence for benefit.4,47 The CAPP2 trial showed a significant reduction in CRC and other cancers among Lynch syndrome patients who received aspirin.48,49
Management of patients with cancer due to Lynch syndrome
The European Hereditary Tumour Group recommends total colectomy due to risk of recurrence following segmental colectomy.4 A recent meta-analysis found metachronous CRC occurred more frequently after segmental colectomy (23.5% versus 6.8%) but there was no survival difference.5 There is also evidence that total colectomy is associated with equivalent quality of life despite poorer functional outcomes.50 Nevertheless, segmental colectomy is often performed if the diagnosis is not recognised prior to operation, and may be appropriate in patients with known Lynch syndrome who have significant comorbidities, metastatic disease or poor anal muscle tone.51
Patients who present with an index rectal cancer should be considered for proctocolectomy. Recommended surveillance includes annual endoscopy of residual colon and/or rectum.51-53
Intestinal polyposis syndromes
Familial adenomatous polyposis
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disorder occurring due to APC mutations.54 Patients frequently present in their thirties with adenomatous polyp burdens of >100, predominantly in the left colon.55 Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (AFAP) is similarly associated with APC. Patients present somewhat later and <100 polyps are usually seen with a more proximal distribution.56 MYH-Associated Polyposis (MAP) is an autosomal recessive condition due to biallelic MUTYH mutations.57 It is most commonly characterised by 20-99 adenomatous polyps.58
Syndromes associated with multiple hamartomas
Peutz-Jeghers’ syndrome is characterised by multiple gastrointestinal (GI) hamartomas and muco-cutaneous hyper-pigmentation. Mutations in STK11 are seen in 50-70% of cases. Patients have increased risk of developing several GI cancers over their lifetime.59 Germline mutations in SMAD 4 and BMPR1A occur in approximately 50% of patients with juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS).60 The finding of GI hamartomas in patients with a strong family history of GI cancers should prompt this disorder to be suspected. Cowden syndrome is related to germline mutations in the PTEN gene. Colonic hamartomas are seen, however, adenomas and hyperplastic polyps may also be identified.61 Cowden syndrome is more frequently associated with other cancer types such as breast, endometrial, thyroid and renal cancers.62
Serrated polyp syndrome
Serrated (formerly known as hyperplastic) polyp syndrome (SPS) is a rare condition with no known specific germline mutation.63 Currently there is no known specific germline mutation associated with SPS. However, if adenomas are also present, testing for MUYTH mutation should be considered as overlap with MAP has been described.64
Surveillance of patients with polyposis syndromes
Due to the extreme polyp burden, the primary role of endoscopy in classical FAP is limited to monitoring polyp progression.65 Endoscopy should begin at puberty or earlier if symptoms occur. Initially a yearly flexible sigmoidoscopy is adequate. Yearly colonoscopy becomes mandatory once polyps develop. Polyps associated with AFAP usually occur later in life than classical FAP.66 Full colonoscopy is the required due to the more proximal location of the polyps. Surveillance starts at puberty and must continue every 1-2 years depending on polyp burden however, due to the comparative late onset of polyps in contrast to FAP, surveillance can justifiably be delayed until later in the teenage years.67 Surveillance in the less common polyposis syndromes (MAP, hamartomatous syndromes, SPS) is mainly centred on polyp burden at initial colonoscopy.68 In the case of JPS, known mutation carriers should undergo an initial colonoscopy at puberty. Surveillance in others should commence in the mid-late teens. Colonoscopy should be repeated every 1-2 years until polyps develop. If polyps can be controlled endoscopically, yearly colonoscopy is appropriate.
Surgical management of polyposis syndromes
Development of CRC in FAP is inevitable without prophylactic surgery. Urgent surgery should be considered in those with intolerable symptoms of polyposis, rapidly expanding polyp numbers, increasing number of polyps > 1cm, evidence of high-grade dysplasia, and poor compliance with yearly surveillance.69 The best procedure for risk reduction is proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. It may be reasonable in patients with low polyp burden in the rectum (<20) to undergo total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (TAC/IRA) as it has better functional outcomes.69 However, there is data that demonstrates that even with ideal surveillance, advanced rectal cancers can develop in FAP patients who undergo rectal-preserving surgery.70 Ultimately the decision should be made on a case-by-case basis. If the rectum is left in situ, six month-yearly proctoscopy is required to provide surveillance. Pouch surveillance can be performed every 1-3 years depending on polyp growth.
In contrast, AFAP does not unavoidably lead to cancer but risk does increase with age. The mean age of cancer diagnosis with AFAP has been reported as 58 years, with a 69% risk of CRC development by 80 years.56 The more proximal poly burden with relative rectal sparing makes TAC/IRA a good option. However, patients with a low polyp burden may be managed endoscopically. In the less common polyposis syndromes consideration for surgery generally follows the same guidelines as for AFA
Conclusion
Recent technological advancements have resulted in easily available and affordable genetic screens. Colorectal specialists and gastroenterologists, rather than medical geneticists, now have the opportunity to become the main providers of care for patients with or suspected to have CRC syndromes. It is important that other medical practitioners are aware as to the heritable nature of CRC. While there has been a strong recommendation for the management of these patients to be co-ordinated through specialised clinics and cancer registries this has yet to occur in Ireland.6 Dedicated clinics are required to develop management guidelines and to improve patient outcomes. It is for these reasons, that the FORESIGHT Clinic has been established at St Vincent’s University Hospital.
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