[Li-Fraumeni syndrome]

Abstract

The Li-Fraumeni syndrome was initially recognized through clinical observations at the bed side, which was followed by epidemiological studies. Children suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma were shown to have two or more of six forms of cancer in their parents, grandparents and other relatives, indicating cancer family syndrome. This syndrome has been shown to involve tumor suppressor gene p53 mutations in the germ-line. The patients in the family most often have a proband with soft tissue sarcoma or osteosarcoma, and relatives with breast cancer, brain tumor, leukemia and adrenocortical cancer. Members of the family also appear to be at risk for developing second independent malignancies during their life span. Recommendations on predictive testing for germ line p53 mutations among cancer-prone individuals have been made by the subcommittees, which were sponsored by National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Human Genome Research.