Who We See at the Pediatric Cancer Predisposition Program

Ten to 50 percent of pediatric cancer and tumors occur as the result of an inherited gene change. Children with a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome are at increased risk of getting cancer or tumors throughout their lifetime.

Our clinic helps families learn the role of genetics in causing cancer so we can screen for and monitor it in childhood.

Certain types of tumors or cancers are more likely linked to genetics and may call for an exam in the clinic.

>> Bone Marrow Failure Disorders That We Treat

Cancer/Tumors in Children That May Need Genetic Testing

  • Adrenocortical carcinoma
  • Aggressive fibromatosis
  • Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor
  • Basal cell carcinoma
  • Carcinoid tumor
  • Cancers of adulthood that are extremely rare in the pediatric age group (i.e., colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pheochromocytoma, basal cell carcinoma)
  • Cerebellar gangliocytoma
  • Choroid plexus carcinoma
  • Desmoid tumor
  • Endolymphatic sac tumors
  • Gangliocytoma
  • GIST
  • Gonadoblastoma
  • Gynandroblastoma
  • Hemangioblastoma
  • Hepatoblastoma
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
  • Low hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Malignant melanoma
  • Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
  • Malignant schwannoma
  • Medullary thyroid carcinoma
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Melanoma
  • Meningioma
  • Myxoma
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor)
  • Optic pathway/optic nerve glioma
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor
  • Parathyroid carcinoma
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Pineoblastoma
  • Pituitary adenoma
  • Pituitary blastoma
  • Pleuropulmonary blastoma
  • Retinoblastoma
  • Renal carcinoma
  • Renal sarcoma
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • Skin carcinoma
  • Spinal ependymoma
  • Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma
  • Testicular Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor
  • Thyroid carcinoma
  • Vestibular schwannoma

Sometimes other factors increase the risk of a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome, such as:

  • Having more than one form of cancer under the age of 20.
  • A strong family history of cancers.
  • An adult form of cancer occurring at a younger age than normal.

We suggest making an appointment at the Pediatric Cancer Predisposition Program in these cases:

  • History of a rare childhood cancer or brain tumor with a strong hereditary link.
  • History of pediatric cancer plus a family history of cancer.
  • Multifocal/bilateral cancer, or multiple primary tumors.
  • Early-onset tumor not normally seen in kids (adult-type cancer in a child).
  • Strong family history of cancer or related types of cancer in a number of close relatives.
  • A child with cancer and a history of developmental delay, autism, birth defects, or dysmorphic features.
  • A child with a known family history of a cancer predisposition syndrome or a cancer gene mutation.

We also provide ongoing care for children with diagnosed inherited cancer syndromes.

Genetic Conditions We Treat