Coordinated prospective follow-up of Lynch syndrome is able to detect the majority of incident cancers

Abstract

Background: Lynch syndrome is one of the most common genetic predispositions to many cancers, most of which do not have a consensus recommendation for screening.

Aims: We studied in our region the value of a systematized and coordinated follow-up program for patients with Lynch syndrome on all organs at risk.

Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort evaluation was performed, from January 2016 to June 2021.

Results: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were prospectively included (104 women (58%), median age 44 years, range 35-56 years) with a median follow-up of 4 years (range 2.5-5 years), corresponding to a total of 652 patient-years. The overall cancer incidence rate was 13.80 per 1000 patient-years. Seven of nine cancers (78%) were detected during the follow-up program, with all cancers identified at an early stage. The detection rate of adenomas during colonoscopies was 24%.

Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that coordinated prospective follow-up of Lynch syndrome is capable of detecting the majority of incident cancers, particularly for locations not covered by an international follow-up recommendation. However, these results need to be confirmed by larger-scale studies.

Keywords: Cancer genetics; Cancer prevention; Lynch syndrome.