Clinical Research Directory

Clinical Genetics Branch Eligibility Screening Survey

Background: Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) researchers study individuals and populations at high genetic risk of cancer in order to improve our understanding of cancer and to improve cancer care. There are currently 6 open clinical genetics studies at the CGB eligible for this screening process. * 02C0052: Etiologic Investigation of Cancer Susceptibility in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes: A Natural History Study (Cancer in Bone Marrow Failure) * 11C0255: Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Genetic Studies of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (Li Fraumeni Syndrome Study) * 11C0034: DICER1-Related Pleuropulmonary Blastoma Cancer Predisposition Syndrome: A Natural History Study (Pleuropulmonary Blastoma) * 02C0211: Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Melanoma (Melanoma-Prone Families) * 10CN188: Genetic Clues to Chordoma Etiology: A Protocol to Identify Sporadic Chordoma Patients for Studies of Cancer-susceptibility Genes (Sporadic Chordoma Study) The following studies have their own study-specific screeners. If you are interested in these studies, please click the links below to fill out the relevant study screener: * 001109: Defining the Natural History of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Fanconi anemia (SCC Screening in FA): https://service.cancer.gov/fanconi * 20C0107: Clinical, Genetic, and Epidemiologic Study of Children and Adults with RASopathies (RASopathies Study): https://service.cancer.gov/myras Objective: To find people to participate in active CGB cancer research studies. Eligibility: People of any age who meet the eligibility criteria for one of the open CGB cancer research studies. You can learn more about the CGB cancer research studies by clicking on the links to the study-specific websites above. This typically involves a personal or family history of certain cancers that are being studied by researchers at CGB. Design: Participants will fill out a screening questionnaire to determine if they are eligible to participate in one or more CGB clinical genetics studies. The survey asks about personal health history, including cancer; family history; and genetic testing results and takes 15 to 20 minutes. Each study has its own eligibility criteria. Survey respondents will select which study (or studies) that are interested in participating in, and the relevant study team(s) will review the screener to determine eligibility to participate in the study. Participants who are determined to be eligible for a study based on their screener will be contacted by the respective study team to learn more about the study and to consent to enroll in the study if they choose to do so. Participants who consent to enroll in a study may be asked to provide medical records; samples such as blood, saliva, or other tissues; and to participate in activities such as phone interviews or surveys. They may be invited for evaluations at the clinical center. Every study activity is voluntary. None of the studies provide treatments. Participants may be contacted to consider enrolling in future studies.

Characterization of Patients With Uncommon Presentations and/or Uncommon Diseases Associated With the Cardiovascular System

Background: \- Researchers are interested in studying individuals who have known or suspected metabolic, inflammatory or genetic diseases that may put them at a high risk for heart diseases or diseases of their blood vessels. Depending on the condition being studied, both affected and nonaffected individuals may be asked to provide blood and other samples and may undergo tests to evaluate the heart, blood vessels and lung function. The testing is tailored to the individual and/or condition being studied. Nonaffected individuals may include relatives of affected individuals and healthy nonrelated volunteers. Objectives: \- To study individuals who have or are at risk for cardiovascular diseases, and in some cases their unaffected relatives and healthy volunteers. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 1 and 100 years of age. Participants may be healthy volunteers, individuals with cardiovascular diseases, or unaffected relatives of individuals with cardiovascular diseases. Design: * Participants will have some or all of the following tests, as directed by the study researchers: * Photography of the face and full body * Body measurements * Radiography, including chest or limb x-rays * Metabolic stress testing to study heart and muscle function * Echocardiography to study heart function * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, including cardiovascular MRI, angiography, and contrast MRI, to study heart function and performance * Computed tomography (CT) angiogram to obtain images of the heart and lungs * Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to study possible fat infiltration of the heart * Six-minute walk test to study heart, lung, and muscle function and performance * Vascular ultrasound to study blood vessel walls * Blood, tissue, and other specimens will be collected for research and testing, and will be taken either as part of the clinical study or during surgical procedures. * Follow-up studies may be performed under separate research protocols.

Li-Fraumeni & TP53 (LiFT UP): Understanding and Progress

The purpose of this research study is to learn more about variants in the TP53 gene both associated with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS), a hereditary cancer risk condition, and TP53 variants found in the blood for other reasons (e.g. ACE/CHIP and mosaicism).

Clinical and Genetic Studies of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

Background: \- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a genetic condition that increases the risk for some types of cancer. LFS may lead to cancer of the bone or connective tissue, breast, and brain. It may also increase the risk for certain types of leukemia and other cancers. The only known cause of LFS is a change (called a mutation ) in a gene known as TP53. However, not all people with LFS have a TP53 mutation. Researchers want to study other possible genetic causes of LFS, and factors that may increase or decrease cancer risk in people with the syndrome. Objectives: * To learn more about the types of cancers that occur in individuals with LFS. * To study the role of the TP53 gene in the development of cancer. * To look for other possible genes that cause LFS * To study the effect of LFS diagnosis on families. * To determine if environmental factors or other genes can change a person s cancer risk associated with LFS. Eligibility: * Individuals with a family or personal medical history of cancers consistent with LFS. * Individuals with a family or personal medical history of cancers that does not meet the diagnosis of LFS, but the history is suggestive for LFS (meets the diagnosis for the so-called Li-Fraumeni like syndrome) * Individuals with certain rare cancers * Individuals with a family or personal history of a TP53 gene mutation, with or without related cancer(s). Design: * Participants will fill out a medical history questionnaire and a family history questionnaire. * Blood samples will be collected for DNA and for storage. Cheek cell samples may be collected if blood cannot be obtained for DNA. Participants can choose to have or not have cancer screening with blood tests, imaging studies, and other exams. * Participants will complete questionnaires about their worries about cancer, stress levels, and coping strategies. Diet and physical activity questionnaires will also be given. Other psychological tests may be given as needed. * Participants will be monitored for several years, with regular followup visits to the National Institutes of Health, if indicated. Any changes in health or cancer status will be recorded.

Familial Investigations of Childhood Cancer Predisposition

NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility criteria for this study as shown in the Eligibility Section, you may enroll regardless of the results of your clinical genetic testing. While it is well recognized that hereditary factors contribute to the development of a subset of human cancers, the cause for many cancers remains unknown. The application of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has expanded knowledge in the field of hereditary cancer predisposition. Currently, more than 100 cancer predisposing genes have been identified, and it is now estimated that approximately 10% of all cancer patients have an underlying genetic predisposition. The purpose of this protocol is to identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants. For this study, the investigators will establish a Data Registry linked to a Repository of biological samples. Health information, blood samples and occasionally leftover tumor samples will be collected from individuals with familial cancer. The investigators will use NGS approaches to find changes in genes that may be important in the development of familial cancer. The information gained from this study may provide new and better ways to diagnose and care for people with hereditary cancer. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: * Establish a registry of families with clustering of cancer in which clinical data are linked to a repository of cryopreserved blood cells, germline DNA, and tumor tissues from the proband and other family members. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: * Identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants in families with clustering of cancer for which the underlying genetic basis is unknown.

Screening With Whole Body MRI For Detection Of Primary Tumors In Children And Adults With Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) And Other Cancer Predisposition Syndromes

This study is evaluating Whole Body MRI as a possible screening tool to diagnose cancer for people with LFS and other inherited cancer predisposition syndromes.

Registry of Li Fraumeni and Li Fraumeni Like Syndromes

ReLF is a retrospective and prospective registry, finalized for care and research purposes. It is articulated in main sections - strongly related and mutually dependent on each other - corresponding to different data domains: personal information, clinical data, genetic data, genealogical data, surgeries, etc. This approach has been developed to corroborate and integrate data from different resources and aspects of the diseases and to correlate genetic background and phenotypic outcomes, in order to better investigate diseases pathophysiology. Due to legal requirements, institutional directives and organizational issues, we are unable to include individuals residing outside Italy in the registry at this time. We are currently engaged in the preparation of a recruitment process for individuals residing outside Italy.

Willingness to Participate in a Trial Comparing Standard Genetic Counseling Versus Personalized Genetic Counseling

This study evaluates patients willingness to participate in a trial comparing standard genetic counseling versus personalized genetic counseling. Collecting information from patients may help researchers learn why patients may or may not take part in the future study that compares standard genetic counseling to personalized genetic counseling.

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome/TP53 Biobank

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) and Li-Fraumeni-like (LFL) Syndrome are cancer predisposition syndromes due to germline aberrations in the TP53 gene. Patients with classical LFS have a lifetime malignancy risk between 80-90%, with 21% of those cancers occurring by the age of 15 years. There are established guidelines for screening patients with LFS that have led to earlier detection and treatment of cancer in this population. There are a number of important issues facing patients identified to have germline TP53 variations. First, with the advent of massively parallel sequencing, increasing numbers of patients are now being identified with a wide range of clinical phenotypes associated with germline TP53 mutations, and the natural history of these patients is less well understood. Second, surveillance for malignancy in LFS and other TP53-associated syndromes involves frequent laboratory and radiologic studies that are imperfect measures of disease onset; therefore, more specific, less invasive biomarker-driven screening methods are needed. Finally, studies to date have not yet identified whether tumors which form in LFS or other germline TP53-associated tumors have unique aberrations or signatures that could be exploited in precision medicine treatment of these patients. In order to study these important issues in LFS, this protocol will establish a TP53 Clinical Database and Biobank. The Investigator plans to use this biobank to study genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with LFS and other germline TP53-associated syndromes, mechanisms of tumor formation, and novel methods of cancer screening in this high risk population.

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Imaging Study

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is a cancer predisposition disorder in which most affected individuals develop cancer during their lifetime. The majority of LFS patients carry a mutation in a gene called TP53, whose normal function is to control cell growth and prevent cells with damaged DNA from becoming cancerous. There is currently no way to determine when, where or what type of tumour will develop. This project will use novel techniques utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine how sensitive they are at detecting very small tumors and how specific they are in terms of distinguishing malignant tumors from benign tumors.

Genetic Bases of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Mexican Patients

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of lesions derived from cells with the ability to produce hormones that may arise from multiple different organs. Their clinical behavior is quite variable, encompassing both benign lesions and aggressive tumors that invade surrounding and/or distant structures. NENs may also cause serious morbidity due to hormone oversecretion. NENs are among the most frequently inherited human tumors, presenting either isolated or as part of syndromes in which a single patient or family develops multiple tumors. There are also non-inherited changes in the genetic information of the tumor cells that are potential targets for treatment. Both inherited and non-inherited DNA defects can be identified using modern routine genetic tests which, unfortunately, are not widely available in Mexico. This project seeks to uncover the genetic defects causing NENs in a large cohort of Mexican patients, using three different methods for genetic testing. Adult individuals with various types of NENs from two reference hospitals in Mexico City will be invited to participate. After completing informed consent, blood and, if possible, tissue samples will be obtained from all participants. Clinical details, laboratory results, imaging studies, and histopathological data at disease presentation will be retrieved. An initial screening will be performed by analyzing changes in the sequence of multiple genes that have been associated with the occurrence of NENs. In cases with negative screening, a specific method to assess changes in the number of copies of the same genes will also be employed. Finally, sequences of all DNA regions encoding information required to make proteins will be obtained in selected cases. Analyses will be carried out in blood and, if available, also in tumor tissue samples from study participants. Screening of additional family members will be offered. This project will accurately describe the repertoire of specific defects causing NENs in the study population, and will likely uncover and characterize novel genetic associations. The results will contribute for a better understanding of the alterations within and outside known driver genes that shape syndromic presentations, tumor behaviors, and inheritance patterns in individuals with NENs. These data will contribute to improve the information on the molecular bases of NENs, including alterations that can be used as therapeutic targets.

Arsenic Trioxide Combined With Chemotherapy for the Treatment of p53-mutated Pediatric Cancer

This prospective, single-arm, multi-center clinical trial aims to explore and evaluate the efficacy and safety of arsenic trioxide combined with chemotherapy for pediatric cancer with p53 mutation.