Breakage Syndromes Flashcards
What are chromosome instability disorders
They are a collection of Mendelian autosomal recessive disorders majority of which have defects in genes associated with DNA repair.
Instability: the predisposition of the chromosomes to undergo rearrangement or to display abnormal chromosomal behaviour
Additionally they all,have in common: predisposition to cancer, immune deficiency, growth retardation, premature ageing.
What are the classic breakage syndromes
Fanconi anaemia.
Bloom syndrome.
Ataxia telangiectasia.
What are the mutagen hyper-sensitivity syndromes
Nijmegen breakage syndrome.
Immunodeficiency; centromere can instability; facial anomalies (ICF).
Seckel syndrome.
What ‘non-breakage’ syndromes have been reported with an occasional observation of chromosomal instability.
Xeroderma pigmentosum.
Cockayne syndrome.
Rothmund- Thompson syndrome
What disorders are classed as cohesinopathies and why are they called that
Roberts syndrome.
Cornelia de Lange syndrome.
Variegated aneuploidy syndrome.
Warsaw breakage syndrome.
Premature sister chromatid separation.
Genes that underly these disorders code for cohesins/associated with cohesins. They contribute to the control of sister chromatid segregation at cell division.
What are the features of fanconi anaemia
70% people have major congenital anomalies:
Pre & postnatal growth retardation. Skeletal anomalies including hypoplasia of the radius & absent or low thumbs. Hypogonadism. Hyper pigmentation.
generalised, progressive bone marrow failure (starts with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and progresses to pancytopenia) progression to AML.
30% people have no major anomalies:
Skin pigmentary abnormalities. Micropthalmia. Growth below the 5th centile.
Discuss fanconi anaemia and cancer
Fanconi is associated with generalised and progressive bone marrow failure.
This is strongly associated with a susceptibility to haematological malignancies, in particular AML 10%. These patients have a POOR PROGNOSIS. With survival at ~6months.
Average age of death is 16yrs from marrow aplasia (sepsis) or from malignancies.
Also susceptibility to solid tumours: head & neck, skin, GI tract, genital tract (25-30%)
What causes fanconi anaemia
Genetically heterogeneous disease with 15 different complementation groups listed on OMIM.
FANCA: most common 2/3 cases.
FANCC & FANCG: 10% each.
Other 12 : 10% total.
Are any of the FANC genes of particular interest
FANCD1 (BRCA2): biallelic deletions are particularly severe form of FA with very high cancer risk: early onset AML & solid tumour.
FANCA: pts homozygous for null mutations have earlier onset anaemia and higher incidence of leukaemia compared to mutations that alter the protein.
FANCG: more severe cytopenias and high incidence of leukaemia.
How do you test for Fanconi
Screen 80-100 metaphase (PHA stimulated and exposed to agent) for breakages. Compare against a normal controls (ideally sex and age matched).
Count average breaks/cell across all cells and absolute breaks/cell. This count and the high numbers of cells should increase the likelihood of detecting mosaics.
What happens to FA patient chromosomes
They have an increase in chromosome breakages, both spontaneously and when exposed to DNA cross linking agents
What are the two DNA cross-linking agents used to test for FA
Mitomycin C MMC.
Diepoxybutane DEB.
What samples can you use to test for FA
Adults: blood (or fibroblasts if still suspect FA on a normal blood result).
Prenatal: AF, CVS.
Known mutation: sequencing.
What are the features of Bloom’s syndrome
IUGR. postnatal growth retardation & short stature. Sun sensitive skin rash. Erythematous rash across cheek and nose. Hypo- &mhyper pigmentation. Immunodeficiency. Infertility in males. Females can sometimes conceive. Facies: triangular shaped face, prominent nose and ears.
Marked predisposition to malignancy, especially acute leuks. Wilms, carcinomas, GI tract and breast reported.
What age do BS develop cancer
Leukaemia: 22yrs.
Solid tumours: 35 yrs.
How do you test for Blooms
Harlequin staining of 20 metaphase looking for sister chromatid exchange.
Normal: 6-10/ cell
BS: >50/cell
Compare results to laboratories record of a range of normal controls tested using the same method.
What causes Blooms
BLM gene 15q26.1. DNA helicase RecQ protein like 3.
Helicase winds and unwinds replicating DNA. Absence likely destablises other enzymes at replication causing replication fork to stall. Results in instability and increased recombination.
What referrals should you consider breakage syndromes
TAR syndrome. Limb reduction. VACTERAL syndrome. Microcephaly with severe IUGR.
How do correcting events occur
Due to the increased rate of chromosome recombination. An intragenic recombination event between two mutations that result in a functionally normal allele and one with a double mutation.
What are the features of ataxia telangiectasia
Progressive cerebellar ataxia in infancy/ early childhood (diminished, absent deep reflexes, flexor, plantar responses). Failure to thrive. Truncated ataxia progressing to peripheral ataxia. Ocular motor apraxia. Slurred speech/ can’t swallow or eat well. Recurrent infections.ocular telangiectasias. Immunodeficiency.