Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Program
The Pediatric Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia uses the latest advances in oncology and genetics to provide care and counseling to children with genetic predisposition to cancer. The program is one of the few of its kind in the U.S.
The program also houses the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS)/isolated hemihypertophy team, a sub-group within the Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Program that works with families of children with BWS and isolated hemihypertrophy, diseases that genetically predispose children to cancer.
Syndromes that predispose people to cancer
About 12,500 children under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S., and it is estimated that between 1 percent and 5 percent of these cancers have a hereditary basis. Genetic syndromes that predispose people to cancer, include:
- Ataxia telangiectasia
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome/isolated hemihypertrophy
- Familial adenomatous polyposis
- Juvenile polyposis
- Li-Fraumeni cancer syndrome
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2
- Neurofibromatosis, types 1 and 2
- Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS)
- Pheochromocytoma
- PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome
- Retinoblastoma
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
- Wilms tumor-related syndromes
- X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome
Services for patients and families
The program's team of specialists:
- Reviews information about the diagnosis, course and management of a genetic condition associated with increased cancer risk
- Assists families in ordering cancer screening tests and interpreting the results
- Reviews family cancer histories to identify other family members who are potentially at risk of cancer and have a genetic predisposition to cancer
- Offers genetic counseling about the risk of occurrence of cancer in future offspring
- Explains and coordinates genetic testing and reviews results with families
- Provides access to and enrollment in ongoing research on cancer genetics
- Provides educational materials on cancer genetics, genetic testing and cancer predisposition syndromes
- Offers psychosocial support services
Benefits to referring physicians
The team works closely with primary care physicians, who are often the first to spot signs of a genetic predisposition to cancer in families. For these physicians, the team:
- Provides a comprehensive, detailed written review of a consultation
- Collaborates in the medical management of patients
- Recommends patient referrals to additional specialists, as needed
- Explains and interprets genetic testing results
- Provides educational materials on cancer genetics, genetic testing and cancer predisposition syndromes
Contact Us
- 215-590-3025
