| Abstract: | Cancer syndromes are characteristic associations of specific malignancies with various congenital anomalies. In addition to
such diseases, an increased prevalence in general of chromosomal instability, malformations, immunodeficiencies, altered growth
and development, and reproductive loss has been observed in both childhood leukemias and solid tumors. The overlap among these
congenital disorders suggests their common prenatal, possibly genetic origin and thus the existence of a nonspecific genetic
instability leading to various clinical manifestations of disturbancies in cell division. Seeking for related features in
family members of a patient with malignancy may be of clinical value in detecting predisposition to cancer.
Hungarian Science Foundation (OTKA T-032027) and Hungarian Ministry of Health (ETT 332/2003). |
