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Review
. 2015 Jun;52(6):361-74.
doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103094. Epub 2015 May 15.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: updated clinical guidelines with an emphasis on germline CDH1 mutation carriers

Affiliations
Review

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: updated clinical guidelines with an emphasis on germline CDH1 mutation carriers

Rachel S van der Post et al. J Med Genet. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Germline CDH1 mutations confer a high lifetime risk of developing diffuse gastric (DGC) and lobular breast cancer (LBC). A multidisciplinary workshop was organised to discuss genetic testing, surgery, surveillance strategies, pathology reporting and the patient's perspective on multiple aspects, including diet post gastrectomy. The updated guidelines include revised CDH1 testing criteria (taking into account first-degree and second-degree relatives): (1) families with two or more patients with gastric cancer at any age, one confirmed DGC; (2) individuals with DGC before the age of 40 and (3) families with diagnoses of both DGC and LBC (one diagnosis before the age of 50). Additionally, CDH1 testing could be considered in patients with bilateral or familial LBC before the age of 50, patients with DGC and cleft lip/palate, and those with precursor lesions for signet ring cell carcinoma. Given the high mortality associated with invasive disease, prophylactic total gastrectomy at a centre of expertise is advised for individuals with pathogenic CDH1 mutations. Breast cancer surveillance with annual breast MRI starting at age 30 for women with a CDH1 mutation is recommended. Standardised endoscopic surveillance in experienced centres is recommended for those opting not to have gastrectomy at the current time, those with CDH1 variants of uncertain significance and those that fulfil hereditary DGC criteria without germline CDH1 mutations. Expert histopathological confirmation of (early) signet ring cell carcinoma is recommended. The impact of gastrectomy and mastectomy should not be underestimated; these can have severe consequences on a psychological, physiological and metabolic level. Nutritional problems should be carefully monitored.

Keywords: Cancer: breast; Cancer: gastric; Clinical genetics; Diagnostics; Stomach and duodenum.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Algorithm for management starting from clinical hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) testing criteria, genetic testing, role of endoscopy and gastrectomy. GC, gastric cancer; DGC, diffuse gastric cancer; LBC, lobular breast cancer; MLPA, multiplex-ligation probe amplification.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pale areas in gastric mucosa of a patient with a germline CDH1 mutation harbouring signet ring cell focus during white light endoscopy (A) and narrow band imaging (B). H&E stain of biopsy specimen with signet ring cells (C). Scar area after biopsy during previous endoscopy (D).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mucosal signet ring cell carcinoma (pT1a) H&E (A), periodic acid–Schiff-diastase (B), E-cadherin (C) and cytokeratin staining (D) (original magnifications ×200).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Precursor signet ring cell lesions: pagetoid spreading of signet ring cells (A) and in situ signet ring cell carcinoma (B) (H&E, original magnifications ×400).

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