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    Abstract:
    Abstract Background Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease usually characterized by bone marrow failure and congenital malformations. The risk of development of malignancies in the oral cavity of FA patients, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), increases significantly after a hematopoietic stem cells transplant (HSCT), and may also be linked with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in the oral cavity. We investigated the prevalence and the HPV genotypes in oral mucosa of Brazilian FA patients. Methods and results Oral swabs of 49 FA patients were collected. The median age of patients was 20 years (range 5‐44) and 57% were over 18 years. Oral lesions were present in 20% of all patients, being 90% leukoplakia. HPV DNA was detected in 28% (14/49) of patients, and one of them also reported genital HPV lesions. Sixty‐seven percent of all patients had undergone HSCT, including 12 patients (86%) of those with HPV results. Multiple HPV types were detected in 78% and 71% of HPV samples by Sanger sequencing and reverse hybridization methods, respectively. The most prevalent HPV types detected were 6, 11, 18, and 68. Conclusions HPV prevalence in the oral mucosa of the assessed FA patients was higher than reported in the general population. Additional studies with collection of sequential samples are needed to know the natural history of the presence of multiple HPV types in these individuals and its association with the development of tumors, to evaluate the implementation of preventive measures, such as vaccination, and to guide early treatment.
    Keywords:
    Oral mucosa
    Bone marrow failure
    Fanconi's anemia (FA) is a genetic syndrome that leads to bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, and a predisposition to cancer in affected individuals (Fanconi, 1927, 1967). FA's clinical features and genetic basis, as well as the conventional approaches to treating FA patients, are detailed in Chapters 17–19. The purpose of this review is to summarize both the rationale and the progress of gene therapy strategies aimed at correcting the hemopoietic defect of FA, usually manifesting as aplastic bone marrow failure.
    Bone marrow failure
    Savior sibling
    Aplastic anemia
    Fanconi anemia is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by multiple congenital abnormalities, bone marrow failure, and cancer susceptibility. The mean age of onset of anemia is 8 years, and the mean survival is 16 years. Death usually results from complications of bone marrow failure. Considerable progress in Fanconi anemia research has resulted from the recent identification and cloning of three Fanconi anemia genes. The current review describes the structure and function of the Fanconi anemia genes and describes the role of the encoded Fanconi anemia proteins in a cellular pathway controlling chromosome stability.
    Bone marrow failure
    Savior sibling
    Read the full review for this Faculty Opinions recommended article: Bone marrow failure in Fanconi anemia is triggered by an exacerbated p53/p21 DNA damage response that impairs hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
    Bone marrow failure
    Aplastic anemia
    Patients with bone marrow failure and undiagnosed underlying Fanconi anemia may experience major toxicity if given standard-dose conditioning regimens for hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Due to clinical variability and/or potential emergence of genetic reversion with hematopoietic somatic mosaicism, a straightforward Fanconi anemia diagnosis can be difficult to make, and diagnostic strategies combining different assays in addition to classical breakage tests in blood may be needed.We evaluated Fanconi anemia diagnosis on blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts from a cohort of 87 bone marrow failure patients (55 children and 32 adults) with no obvious full clinical picture of Fanconi anemia, by performing a combination of chromosomal breakage tests, FANCD2-monoubiquitination assays, a new flow cytometry-based mitomycin C sensitivity test in fibroblasts, and, when Fanconi anemia was diagnosed, complementation group and mutation analyses. The mitomycin C sensitivity test in fibroblasts was validated on control Fanconi anemia and non-Fanconi anemia samples, including other chromosomal instability disorders.When this diagnosis strategy was applied to the cohort of bone marrow failure patients, 7 Fanconi anemia patients were found (3 children and 4 adults). Classical chromosomal breakage tests in blood detected 4, but analyses on fibroblasts were necessary to diagnose 3 more patients with hematopoietic somatic mosaicism. Importantly, Fanconi anemia was excluded in all the other patients who were fully evaluated.In this large cohort of patients with bone marrow failure our results confirmed that when any clinical/biological suspicion of Fanconi anemia remains after chromosome breakage tests in blood, based on physical examination, history or inconclusive results, then further evaluation including fibroblast analysis should be made. For that purpose, the flow-based mitomycin C sensitivity test here described proved to be a reliable alternative method to evaluate Fanconi anemia phenotype in fibroblasts. This global strategy allowed early and accurate confirmation or rejection of Fanconi anemia diagnosis with immediate clinical impact for those who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
    Bone marrow failure
    FANCD2
    Savior sibling
    Citations (90)
    Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic disorder characterized by sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, multiple congenital anomalies, progressive bone marrow failure, and an increased prevalence of malignancy. The nature of chromosomal instability in FA is better understood today than in the past, but the molecular pathogenesis of bone marrow failure in this disease has not been clarified. Although there is documented evidence that FA hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) have inherent defects that reduce their survival, the potential influence of auxiliary cells on the ability of the FA bone marrow microenvironment to maintain and support HSC in unknown. Historically, FA has not been represented as a disease that affects the lymphoid compartment. In this article we review the results of studies that suggest that the FA immune system is dysfunctional and may contribute to the pathogenesis of both FA bone marrow failure and neoplastic disease.
    Bone marrow failure
    Pathogenesis
    Chromosome instability
    Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disorder of progressive bone marrow failure in patients with congenital malformations. FA is different from acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in terms of the natural course and treatment options. As the frequency of FA is unknown in Korea, we conducted screening tests using DNA clastogenic agents, diepoxybutane (DEB) and mitomicin C (MMC) in southwestern Korea. Forty-three children with AA or other bone marrow failure syndromes and siblings of known FA were evaluated. Six patients with AA (6/24=25.0%) and a 2-month-old patient with myelodysplastic syndrome were found to have increased chromosomal breakage to both DEB and MMC, confirming the diagnosis of FA. No overlap in chromosomal breakage to both agents was found between the FA group and non-FA group. The frequency of FA in this study, much higher than those of previous studies in Korea which did not incorporate the above tests, was similar to that of other countries. DEB and MMC tests were readily feasible and useful in screening FA in patients with AA as well as other bone marrow failure syndromes. A nation-wide screening and registry for FA should be initiated since FA requires different therapeutic and management options from idiopathic AA.
    Bone marrow failure
    Aplastic anemia
    Citations (14)
    Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic disease mainly characterized by progressive bone marrow failure (BMF), congenital abnormalities, and increased predisposition to cancer (1,2). Although most patients with FA develop BMF generally during childhood, the molecular mechanism underlying BMF has remained elusive for a long time and is still a matter of debate.
    Bone marrow failure
    Master regulator
    Citations (5)
    Abstract Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder characterized by congenital malformations, progressive bone marrow failure, and predisposition to cancer, particularly hematological malignancies and solid tumors of the head and neck. The main role of FA proteins is in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). FA results from pathogenic variants in at least sixteen distinct genes, causing genomic instability. Although the highly variable phenotype makes accurate diagnosis on the basis of clinical manifestations difficult in some patients, diagnosis based on a profound sensitivity to DNA‐crosslinking agents can be used to identify the pre‐anemia patient as well as patients with aplastic anemia or leukemia who may or may not have the physical stigmata associated with the syndrome. Diepoxybutane (DEB) analysis is the preferred test for FA because other agents have higher rates of false‐positive and false‐negative results. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
    Bone marrow failure
    Aplastic anemia
    Fanconi anemia is a hereditary syndrome of bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, and a predisposition to malignancy. Most patients die from bone marrow failure. Cells from patients display a heightened sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents with increased chromosomal breakage and increased cytotoxicity. Bone marrow from patients with Fanconi anemia have decreased numbers of hematopoietic progenitors when grown in culture. Transfer of the normal Fanconi anemia cDNA into cells from patients corrects the laboratory abnormalities, suggesting that gene transfer may prevent or reverse the bone marrow failure. Advances in gene transfer into human hematopoietic cells make this approach seem feasible. However, decreased numbers of stem cell targets may represent a significant obstacle. In addition, new insights on potential toxicities related to gene transfer have heightened a cautious approach. Fanconi anemia represents a prototype disorder for gene therapy and highlights the difficulties in adapting this technology to human disease.
    Bone marrow failure
    Savior sibling
    Genetic disorder
    Citations (8)