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Population-based genomic detection of childhood cancer predisposition using newborn dried blood spots

delete2026-08-12
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OA
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L
Lisa Diller *
S
Sara Cherkerzian
A
Abigail E. Cinelli
D
David Housman
R
Riaz Gillani
K
Kayla V. Hamilton
J
Jennifer M. Yeh
A
Arindam Bhattacharjee
R
Richard B. Parad
DOI:10.1038/s41467-026-76296-8delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Population-based genomic newborn screening identifying newborns at risk for early-onset cancers has not been evaluated. Here, within a Michigan birth cohort (1987–2020), we identify all children developing a solid or central nervous system malignancy by age 8 years (n = 1948). We perform targeted sequencing of 11 cancer predisposition genes using archived newborn dried blood spot DNA. We find pathogenic or likely-pathogenic germline variants (P/LP) in 6.8% of cases (n = 132): RB1 (n = 69), TP53 (n = 24), SMARCB1 (n = 8), WT1 (n = 7), RET (n = 6), SUFU (n = 6), PTCH1 (n = 4), DICER1 (n = 4), APC (n = 3) and PHOX2B (n = 1). We show approximately 1/27,000 newborns develop an early-onset malignancy with an associated pathogenic or likely-pathogenic variant. Germline variant prevalence is 100% in medullary thyroid carcinoma, 40% in retinoblastoma, and 11–30% across five additional diagnoses, with strong gene–tumor specificity (p < 0.001). P/LP variants are rare in comparison datasets from healthy newborns and gnomAD. Our data support newborn screening for selected cancer-risk genes. Prospective genomic newborn screening in large populations with extended follow-ups are necessary to assess the impact of the inclusion of cancer genes on outcomes. Here, the authors show that newborn screening for germline cancer risk, using a limited panel of cancer predisposition genes, would identify the approximately 1/27,000 babies who will develop a cancer in the first eight years of life due to a cancer predisposition syndrome, including nearly all children who go on to develop bilateral retinoblastoma.
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Journal

Nature Communications cover
Nature Communications
IF:
15.7
Papers:
9.2W
Citations:
91.2W

Organization

D
dana-farber cancer center
Scholars:
15
Papers: 5
Citations: 0
H
harvard medical school
Scholars:
4.6K
Papers: 2.1K
Citations: 2
B
Boston Children's Hospital
Scholars:
1.3K
Papers: 645
Citations: 3.3W
M
massachusetts institute of technology
Scholars:
3.3K
Papers: 1.2K
Citations: 0
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