Investigation of 11p15.5 Methylation Defects Associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann Spectrum and Embryonic Tumor Risk in Lateralized Overgrowth Patients

Simple Summary Lateralized overgrowth may be isolated or accompany syndromes. Recently, international BWS consensus proposed that the patients with isolated lateralized overgrowth and epigenetic change related to this syndrome should be evaluated within the Beckwith-Wiedemann spectrum. The risk of cancer is high in patients with lateralized overgrowth, some patients also may be admitted presenting with a tumor. The aim of this study was to classify patients with lateralized overgrowth into isolated, atypical, and classic phenotypes according to consensus scoring, to investigate epigenetic alterations on chromosome 11p15.5, and to raise awareness for early detection and prevention of cancer. The Beckwith-Wiedemann spectrum (BWSp) ranges from isolated lateralized overgrowth (ILO) to classic phenotypes. In this broad clinical spectrum, an epigenetic alteration on chromosome 11p15.5 can be detected. The risk for embryonal tumors is high, especially in patients with lateralized overgrowth (LO). The aim of this study is to investigate epigenetic alterations in 11p15.5 and tumor risk in 87 children with LO. The methylation level of 11p15.5 was examined in the blood of all patients and in skin samples or buccal swabs from 40 patients with negative blood tests; 63.2% of patients were compatible with the ILO phenotype, 18.4% were atypical, and 18.4% were classic. The molecular diagnosis rate was 81.2% for the atypical and classic phenotypes, and 10.9% for the ILO phenotype. In patients with epigenetic alterations, LO was statistically significantly more severe than in test negatives. Tumors developed in six (6.9%) of the total 87 patients with LO; four belonged to the atypical or classical phenotype (12.5%) and two to ILO (3.5%). Three of the four patients with atypical/classical phenotypes had pUPD11, one had IC1-GOM alteration, and two ILO patients were negative. We conclude that LO patients should be monitored for tumor risk even if their epigenetic tests are negative.

Automated summary

This study investigated the epigenetic alterations on chromosome 11p15.5 and tumor risk in patients with lateralized overgrowth. Patients were classified into isolated, atypical, and classic phenotypes. It was found that tumor risk can still exist even if epigenetic tests are negative.