Combined-modality treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer in a woman with Bloom-like syndrome: A case report and review of the literature.

We report the case of a 46-year-old woman with Bloom-like syndrome affected with locally advanced cervical cancer. She was treated with induction chemotherapy and radical radiation therapy concurrent with chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel). She was able to complete treatment, but grade III toxicities were observed. The limited relevant literature is presented. We conclude that the management of patients with DNA repair deficiency is challenging for the team in charge because of the potentially high sensitivity to treatment and the lack of clear recommendations in the literature. The main objective remains to deliver the optimal treatment while reducing toxicities.

Xeroderma pigmentosum: case report / Xeroderma pigmentoso: relato de caso

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the disease and treatment and to alert health professionals for the identification of signs and symptoms and the need for an early diagnosis in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Case description: An 8-year-old male patient was referred to the Joana de Gusmão Hospital (HIJG) in 2021 for evaluation and specialized care. Previously, the child was followed in his place of origin by oncologic and palliative care, where he was submitted to surgeries and chemotherapy. He was admitted to the HIJG using vismodegib, acitrein, tramadol, and solar protective measures. On physical examination, there were tumors and disseminated macular verrucous and ulcerated lesions. The imaging examination showed solid and expansive lesions on the face, and atelectasis and fibroscarring changes in the lung. The histopathological report proved the existence of melanocanthoma, carcinoma, and pyogenic granuloma. After the evaluation of the case, no surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy was performed. It was decided to maintain the palliative treatment and to continue the use of tramadol for pain, and vismodegib and acitretin were used to control carcinomas and prophylactic measures. Comments: The XP is a rare disease of autosomal recessive inheritance whose mechanism comes from failure in the DNA repair by exposure to ultraviolet rays, resulting in lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. They start as sunburns and can progress to melanosis, areas with altered pigmentation, premature aging, poikiloderma, and areas of high risk for neoplasms.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a patologia e o tratamento realizado e alertar profissionais de saúde sobre os sinais e sintomas e sobre a necessidade de diagnóstico precoce em pacientes com xeroderma pigmentoso (XP). Descrição do caso: Paciente do sexo masculino, oito anos, foi encaminhado ao Hospital Joana de Gusmão (HIJG) em 2021, com dianóstico de XP, para avaliação e atendimento especializado. Anteriomente, encontrava-se em serviço de oncologia e de cuidados paliativos em sua cidade de origem, mas já realizara cirurgias e quimioterapias previamente. Foi internado no HIJG em uso de vismodegibe, acitretina, tramadol e medidas de proteção solar. Ao exame físico, apresentou lesões maculares, verrucosas, ulceradas e tumores pelo corpo. Os exames de imagem revelaram lesões sólidas e expansivas na face e atelectasias e alterações fibrocicroscópicas no pulmão. O laudo histopatológico comprovou a existência de melanocantoma, carcinoma e granuloma piogênico. Após a avaliação do caso, optou-se por não realizar cirurgias, quimioterapia nem radioterapia. Decidiu-se manter o tratamento paliativo, continuando o uso de tramadol para dor, vismodegibe e acitretina para o controle de carcinomas e profilaxia à exposição ao sol. Comentários: O XP é uma doença rara de herança autossômica recessiva, cujo mecanismo provém de falha no reparo do DNA pela exposição à luz ultravioleta, resultando em lesões de pele e mucosas. Inicia-se como queimaduras solares e pode avançar para melanoses, áreas com pigmentação alterada, envelhecimento precoce, poiquilodermia e áreas de alto risco neoplásico.

Clinical measurement of cellular DNA damage hypersensitivity in patients with DNA repair defects.

BACKGROUND: DNA repair deficiency disorders are rare inherited diseases arising from pathogenic (disease-causing) variants in genes involved in DNA repair. There are no standardized diagnostic assays for the investigation of pathological significance of unknown variants in DNA repair genes. We hypothesized that our assays for measuring in vitro patient blood cell hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents can be used to establish the pathological significance of unknown variants in DNA repair genes. Six patients with variants in the DNA repair genes PRKDC (two siblings), DCLRE1C (two siblings), NBN, and MSH6 were included. Here, we used the cell division assay (CDA) and the γ-H2AX assay, which were both developed and clinically validated by us, to measure patient cell hypersensitivity in response to ionizing radiation, mitomycin C, cytarabine and doxorubicin. RESULTS: Radiation hypersensitivity was detected in the two patients with variants in the PRKDC gene (p < 0.0001 for both at 3.5 Gy), and the two patients with DCLRE1C variants (p < 0.0001 at 3.5 Gy for sibling 1 and p < 0.0001 at 1 Gy for sibling 2). The cells from the patients with the PRKDC variant were also deficient in removing γ-H2AX (p < 0.001). The cells from the patient with variants in the NBN gene were hypersensitive to mitomycin C (p = 0.0008) and deficient in both induction and removal of γ-H2AX in response to radiation. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the CDA and the γ-H2AX assay is useful in investigating the significance of unknown variants in some DNA repair genes.

Trichothiodystrophy: a case report of childhood glaucoma associated with non-acquired systemic disease / Tricotiodistrofia: relato de caso de glaucoma infantil associado a doença sistémica não adquirida

ABSTRACT Trichothiodystrophy belongs to a group of rare genetic diseases characterized by DNA repair anomalies. Ocular manifestations can occur in 50% of cases, including cataract, refractive errors, strabismus, microcornea, microphthalmia, dry eye, and pigmentary macular changes. We report a case of childhood glaucoma in a patient with trichothiodystrophy who underwent trabeculectomy in the left eye. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical report of childhood glaucoma associated with trichothiodystrophy.

RESUMO A tricotiodistrofia pertence a um grupo de doenças genéticas raras caracterizadas por anomalias da reparação do DNA. Manifestações oculares podem ocorrer em 50% dos casos, incluindo catarata, erros refrativos, estrabismo, microcórnea, microftalmia, olho seco e alterações maculares pigmentares. Relatamos um caso de glaucoma infantil em um paciente com tricotiodistrofia submetido à trabeculectomia no olho esquerdo. No nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro caso descrito de glaucoma infantil associado à tricotiodistrofia.

Clinical features related to xeroderma pigmentosum in a Brazilian patient diagnosed at advanced age.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by extreme sensitivity due to solar radiation and deficiency in excision repair DNA. Those factors promote a set of skin abnormalities such as keratosis, hyperpigmentation, tumors in areas exposed to sunlight, and ocular and, eventually, neurological disorders. In the present review, we summarize the main clinical features related to a case of xeroderma pigmentosum in a man who was not diagnosed until he was 45 years old.

Exome sequencing revealed a novel deletion in the ERCC8 gene in an Iranian family with Cockayne syndrome.

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is one the rare DNA-repair deficiency disorders with autosomal recessive inheritance. Failure to thrive and microcephaly are the major criteria of diagnosis. Owing to genetic heterogeneity of CS, whole exome sequencing is promising way to determine the genetic basis of the disease. Here, we present c.1053delT in ERCC8 gene in an Iranian family with symptom of CS using whole exome sequencing. The deletion was novel and was not previously reported elsewhere.

Epigenetic reduction of DNA repair in progression to gastrointestinal cancer.

Deficiencies in DNA repair due to inherited germ-line mutations in DNA repair genes cause increased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. In sporadic GI cancers, mutations in DNA repair genes are relatively rare. However, epigenetic alterations that reduce expression of DNA repair genes are frequent in sporadic GI cancers. These epigenetic reductions are also found in field defects that give rise to cancers. Reduced DNA repair likely allows excessive DNA damages to accumulate in somatic cells. Then either inaccurate translesion synthesis past the un-repaired DNA damages or error-prone DNA repair can cause mutations. Erroneous DNA repair can also cause epigenetic alterations (i.e., epimutations, transmitted through multiple replication cycles). Some of these mutations and epimutations may cause progression to cancer. Thus, deficient or absent DNA repair is likely an important underlying cause of cancer. Whole genome sequencing of GI cancers show that between thousands to hundreds of thousands of mutations occur in these cancers. Epimutations that reduce DNA repair gene expression and occur early in progression to GI cancers are a likely source of this high genomic instability. Cancer cells deficient in DNA repair are more vulnerable than normal cells to inactivation by DNA damaging agents. Thus, some of the most clinically effective chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment are DNA damaging agents, and their effectiveness often depends on deficient DNA repair in cancer cells. Recently, at least 18 DNA repair proteins, each active in one of six DNA repair pathways, were found to be subject to epigenetic reduction of expression in GI cancers. Different DNA repair pathways repair different types of DNA damage. Evaluation of which DNA repair pathway(s) are deficient in particular types of GI cancer and/or particular patients may prove useful in guiding choice of therapeutic agents in cancer therapy.

De Sanctis-Cacchione Syndrome in a female infant - Case report / Sindrome de De Sanctis-Cacchione em lactente do sexo feminino - Relato de caso

The De Sanctis-Cacchione Syndrome is the rarest and most severe kind of xeroderma pigmentosum, characterized by microcephaly, hypogonadism, neurological disorders, mental and growth retardation, with very few cases published. The clinical findings compatible with De Sanctis-Cacchione Syndrome and the therapeutic approach used to treat a one year and nine months old child, with previous diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum, are reported.

A síndrome de de Sanctis-Cacchione é a forma mais rara e grave do xeroderma pigmentoso e é caracterizada por microcefalia, hipogonadismo, alterações neurológicas e retardo mental e de crescimento, com poucos casos publicados. Relatam-se os achados clínicos compatíveis com essa síndrome e a terapêutica instituída em uma lactente de um ano e nove meses, com diagnóstico prévio de xeroderma pigmentoso.

The potential for poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors in cancer therapy.

The modulation of DNA repair pathways for therapeutic benefit in cancer has now become a reality with the development of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). PARP is involved in single-strand DNA breaks, which in the presence of defective homologous recombination repair lead to double-strand DNA breaks, the most lethal form of DNA damage. These agents therefore may be the drugs of choice for BRCA mutant breast and ovarian cancers. PARPi result in synergistic antitumor effects when combined with cisplatin, temozolomide, topoisomerase inhibitors and ionizing radiation. The indications for PARPi lie beyond BRCA mutations and may include genomic and functional defects in DNA repair and damage response pathways. Several PARPi are in the clinical development phase at this time and, given the recent failure of a phase III clinical trial of iniparib in triple-negative breast cancer, the identification of structural and functional differences between these inhibitors becomes critical. Acquired resistance to PARPi is being noted and represents an important limitation in this field. A concise review of the literature in this field is presented.