Risk Factors of Astrocytoma

Executive Summary

Understanding risk factors related to the disease and discussing the concerns with the expertise helps keep the patient more informed. They know about their life and health. while, juvenile malignancies are mostly known to doctors, genetics contributed to the development of cerebral astrocytoma, mainly among children, while, neurofibromatosis is a significant risk for the development of astrocytoma among children. Additionally, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Tuberous sclerosis complex, Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Turcot syndrome, and Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome (CMMRDS) are the genetic disorders concerned with increased risk of astrocytoma.

Anything that raises a person’s chances of acquiring a tumor is a risk factor, although risk factors of Astrocytoma can impact the formation of a tumor, most of them do not cause it. Some people who have several risk factors never acquire a tumor, whereas others who have none do.

While most juvenile malignancies are unknown to doctors and researchers ​1​. While there is some indication that genetics may play a role in developing cerebral astrocytoma. Additionally, it is mostly in a small number of children ​2​.

The following factors may increase a child’s risk factors of getting astrocytoma:

Neurofibromatosis

While, Neurofibromatosis is an inherited condition that results in a neurofibroma. It is a form of noncancerous tumor, while Recklinghausen’s disease, or von Recklinghausen’s disease, is another name for neurofibromatosis.

Other genetic disorders of Astrocytoma

The genetic disorders connected with an increased risk of having a CNS tumor or astrocytoma on a less frequent basis ​3,4​ Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Tuberous sclerosis complex, Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Turcot syndrome, and Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome (CMMRDS) are the genetic disorders concerned with increased risk of astrocytoma.

  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a cancer predisposition syndrome. It is associated with high risks for a diverse spectrum of childhood- and adult-onset malignancies. Additionally, the lifetime risk of cancer in individuals with LFS is ≥70% for men and ≥90% for women.
  • Tuberous sclerosis complex, TSC is a genetic condition and hence, this means that the cancer risk and other features of TSC can be passed from generation to generation in a family. Two genes are associated with TSC. Hence, they are TSC1 and TSC2. Moreover, a mutation (alteration) in either of these genes gives a person an increased risk of developing kidney cancer and other symptoms of TSC
  • Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, also known as NBCCS is a genetic condition. The cancer risk is in a family. Additionally, the major gene associated with NBCCS is called PTCH, a mutation (alteration) in the PTCH gene gives a person an increased risk of basal cell skin cancer and other symptoms of NBCCS.

References

Perinatal and familial risk factors for brain tumors in childhood through young adulthood. (2015, February 1). American Association for Cancer Research. https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/75/3/576/606450/Perinatal-and-Familial-Risk-Factors-for-Brain

Reilly, K. M. (2009). Brain tumor susceptibility: The role of genetic factors and uses of mouse models to unravel risk. Brain Pathology, 19(1), 121-131. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3639.2008.00236.x

Risk factors associated with malignant transformation of astrocytoma: Competing risk regression analysis Tunthanathip T, Sangkhathat S, Kanjanapradit K – Asian J Neurosurg. (2021, October 1). Asian Journal of Neurosurgery : Free full text articles from Asian J Neurosurg. https://www.asianjns.org/article.asp?issn=1793-5482;year=2021;volume=16;issue=4;spage=777;epage=784;aulast=TunthanathipRisk factors for childhood and adult primary brain tumors. (2019, July 12). OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/neuro-oncology/article/21/11/1357/5532012