Collaboration to Promote Research and Improve Clinical Care in the Evolving Field of Childhood Cancer Predisposition

Abstract

Abstract Germline pathogenic variants in cancer susceptibility genes are identified in up to 18% of all children with cancer. Because pediatric cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS) themselves are rare and underrecognized, there are limited data to guide the diagnosis and management of affected children and at-risk relatives. Furthermore, the care of affected children requires distinct considerations given the early onset of cancers, lifelong risks of additional cancers, and potential late effects of therapy. Herein, we discuss efforts to leverage existing infrastructure, organize experts, and develop a new consortium to optimize care and advance research for children with CPS. A 2016 workshop organized by the American Association for Cancer Research united many experts in childhood cancer predisposition and resulted in publication of multiple consensus guidelines for tumor surveillance. More recently, several of these authors established the Consortium for Childhood Cancer Predisposition (C3P), a multi-institutional collaboration that provides a structure for systematic research in cancer predisposition, screening, and prevention in children. The Consortium intends to work with other cooperative groups to merge longitudinal data from children with CPS throughout the continuum of the cancer risk period, as well as cancer treatment and survivorship care, to optimize overall outcomes.