Genetic Risks for Childhood Cancer Complications in Switzerland (GECCOS)

University Hospitals (UH)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Late Effect; Genetic Predisposition; Childhood Cancer

Treatments: Other: Procedure: Medical Chart Review; Other: Procedure: Biospecimen Collection

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04702321

GECCOS

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objectives of the GECCOS project are to identify genetic variants associated with complications of childhood cancer using genotype-phenotype association studies. Germline genetic samples and data of the "Germline DNA Biobank for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Switzerland" (BISKIDS) which is included in the Geneva Biobank for Hematology and Oncology in Pediatrics (BaHOP) will be used with clinical data of Swiss childhood cancer patients collected at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine in Bern.

Full description

Background and rationale :

Around 300 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year in Switzerland. A wide range of acute and chronic complications have been linked to cancer and its treatments. Cancer treatments, though highly curative, have a high incidence of adverse events, not only acutely but also chronically. Depending on the type and dose of treatments, the complications vary. There are important inter-individual differences in the type and severity of complications associated with similar cancer treatments. Genetic variation was identified to affect some complications and is suspected to play an important role in many of these differences.

The GECCOS project on analysis of genetic risks for complications associated with childhood cancers fills the gap to analyze germline genetic data with clinical information on short- and long-term complications. This has not been done on a nationwide scale in Switzerland yet. The GECCOS project will improve knowledge on germline genetic risks for complications and further personalize care during acute treatment and follow-up of childhood cancer patients.

Objectives:

Primary objectives:

1. Identify genetic variants associated with complications after childhood cancer leading to specific organ dysfunctions and second primary neoplasms.
2. Evaluate the functional importance of genetic variants for complications after childhood cancer through in silico and in vitro studies.

Secondary objective:

Assess genetic variants and their impact on multiple outcomes as a result of specific treatment exposures.

Enrollment: 6,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 21 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR) since 1976; AND
2. consented to the BaHOP (host biobank for the BISKIDS Biobanking project); AND
3. diagnosed with cancer according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, version 3, ICCC-3, or Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) before age 21 years.

Exclusion criteria

1. Lacking written consent signed by participant and/ or their legal representative to participate in the BaHOP (where applicable); OR
2. died after study participation and declined use of their samples and data after their death in the original consent for BaHOP (as indicated on the BaHOP consent).

Trial design

6,000 participants in 1 patient group

Patient cohort

Description:

Patients with clinical data and biospecimens

Treatment:

Other: Procedure: Biospecimen Collection

Other: Procedure: Medical Chart Review