MedGen

Cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer among people of European ancestry (Stacey et al., 2009). The primary environmental risk factor for BCC is sun exposure, but genetics also has a substantial role. Some of the sequence variants that confer susceptibility seem to operate through their association with fair-pigmentation traits common among Europeans, resulting in reduced protection from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Other sequence variants have no obvious role in pigmentation or UV susceptibility but instead seem to operate in the contexts of growth and differentiation of the basal layers of the skin (Stacey et al., 2008; Epstein, 2008; Gudbjartsson et al., 2008; Rafnar et al., 2009). See ASIP (600201), TYR (606933), and SHEP5 (227240) for examples of basal cell carcinoma associated with fair skin or sensitivity to sun. Basal cell carcinoma occurs as a feature of multiple syndromes, including basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS; 109400), Bazex syndrome (301845), Rombo syndrome (180730), Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (605041), Muir-Torre syndrome (158320), and xeroderma pigmentosum (see 278700). Abnormalities in the Hedgehog signaling pathway are found in basal cell carcinomas; see SHH (600725) and SMOH (601500). Genetic Heterogeneity of Susceptibility to Basal Cell Carcinoma Susceptibility to basal cell carcinoma is a genetically heterogeneous trait. The BCC1 locus maps to chromosome 1p36. Also see BCC2 (613058) on 1q42; BCC3 (613059) on 5p15; BCC4 (613061) on 12q13; BCC5 (613062) on 9p21; and BCC6 (613063) on 7q32. Variation in the 3-prime untranslated region of TP53 (191170) increases susceptibility to basal cell carcinoma (BCC7; 614740). Somatic mutation contributing to the formation of basal cell carcinoma has been identified in the RASA1 (139150), PTCH1 (601309), and PTCH2 (603673) genes. [from OMIM]

Medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor in children. It accounts for 16% of all pediatric brain tumors, and 40% of all cerebellar tumors in childhood are medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma occurs bimodally, with peak incidences between 3 and 4 years and 8 and 9 years of age. Approximately 10 to 15% of medulloblastomas are diagnosed in infancy. Medulloblastoma accounts for less than 1% of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in adults, with highest incidence in adults 20 to 34 years of age. In 1 to 2% of patients, medulloblastoma is associated with Gorlin syndrome (109400), a nevoid basal carcinoma syndrome. Medulloblastoma also occurs in up to 40% of patients with Turcot syndrome (see 276300). Medulloblastoma is thought to arise from neural stem cell precursors in the granular cell layer of the cerebellum. Standard treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, and, depending on the age of the patient, radiation therapy (Crawford et al., 2007). Millard and De Braganca (2016) reviewed the histopathologic variants and molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma. Pretreatment prognosis of medulloblastoma has been refined by histopathologic subclassification into the following variants: large-cell medulloblastoma, anaplastic medulloblastoma, desmoplastic/nodular medulloblastoma, and medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity (MBEN). The latter 2 groups have been shown to have a significantly superior prognosis as compared to the large cell and anaplastic groups in young children. At the molecular level, medulloblastomas have been categorized into the following subgroups: wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), group 3, and group 4. Each subgroup is characterized by a unique set of genetics and gene expression as well as demographic and clinical features. [from OMIM]