cases do not have a mutation, we feel that at this point we cannot recommend that all patients receive genetic counselling unless there are other indications, such as a family history or indications of a genetic syndrome,”
Dr John M. Maris, MD, professor of paediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, in Philadelphia, who was not involved in the study but was asked to comment, said:
“This is a very important study that further refines our understanding of why children develop cancer in the first place, but also why survivors may be at increased risk for a subsequent new malignancy.
The fact that 11.5% of survivors may be at a significantly increased risk is sobering, but even more worrisome is that this study may be the proverbial tip of the iceberg, as they have not yet analyzed the majority of the genome, so we will be looking forward to follow-up reports from this group.”