The future of surveillance in the context of cancer predisposition: Through the murky looking glass

Abstract

At least 10% of children with cancer harbor a disease-associated pathogenic variant in a known cancer predisposition gene. It is widely accepted that pathogenic variants affecting other genes, epigenetic factors, or abnormalities in additional gene products may contribute to the etiology of many more childhood cancers. Effective preventive measures exist for only a few cancer types associated with predisposing conditions, but the development and implementation of surveillance protocols aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality in at-risk children through the early detection of cancer has emerged as an important clinical tool. The articles in this Clinical Cancer Research series present international consensus generated recommendations for surveillance for a wide spectrum of cancer predisposition syndromes affecting children. In this article, we explore the challenges and opportunities for researchers and practitioners in the many fields affiliated with pediatric cancer, and we offer insights into what the future might hold as we continue our efforts to mitigate the impact of cancer susceptibility on children, their families and society.