The pathophysiology of bilateral and multifocal Wilms tumors: What we can learn from the study of predisposition syndromes

Nils Welter, Jack Brzezinski, Amy Treece, Murali Chintagumpala, Matthew D Young, Daniela Perotti, Kathleen Kieran, Marjolijn C J Jongmans*, Andrew J Murphy*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Approximately 5% of patients with Wilms tumor present with synchronous bilateral disease. The development of synchronous bilateral Wilms tumor (BWT) is highly suggestive of a genetic or epigenetic predisposition. Patients with known germline predisposition to Wilms tumor (WT1 variants, Beckwith Wiedemann spectrum, TRIM28 variants) have a higher incidence of BWT. This Children's Oncology Group (COG)-International Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP-) HARMONICA initiative review for pediatric renal tumors details germline genetic and epigenetic predisposition to BWT development, with an emphasis on alterations in 11p15.5 (ICR1 gain of methylation, paternal uniparental disomy, and postzygotic somatic mosaicism), WT1, TRIM28, and REST. Molecular mechanisms that result in BWT are often also present in multifocal Wilms tumor (multiple separate tumors in one or both kidneys). We identify priority areas for international collaborative research to better understand how predisposing genetic or epigenetic factors associate with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, oncologic outcomes, and long-term renal function outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere29984
JournalPediatric Blood & Cancer
Volume70 Suppl 2
Issue numberS2
Early online date12 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • 11p15.5
  • bilateral Wilms tumor
  • genetic predisposition
  • mosaicism
  • TRIM28
  • WT1

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