Large germline copy number variations as predisposing factor in childhood neoplasms.

AIMS: Constitutive genetic factors are believed to predispose to cancer in children. This study investigated the role of rare germline copy number variations (CNVs) in pediatric cancer predisposition. PATIENTS & METHODS: A total of 54 patients who developed cancer in infancy were screened by array-CGH for germline CNVs. RESULTS: In total, 12 rare CNVs were detected, including a Xq27.2 triplication, and two >1.8 Mb deletions: one of them at 13q31, containing only RNA genes, and another at 3q26.33-q27.1, in a patient with congenital malformations. Detected rare CNVs are significantly larger than those identified in controls, and encompass genes never implicated in cancer predisposition. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that constitutive CNVs contribute to the etiology of pediatric neoplasms, revealing new candidate genes for tumorigenesis.