Positive impact of genetic test on the management and outcome of patients with paraganglioma and/or pheochromocytoma

Alexandre Buffet, Laurè Ne Ben Aim, Sophie Leboulleux, Delphine Drui, Delphine Vezzosi, Rossella Libé, Christiane Ajzenberg, Daniele Bernardeschi, Bertrand Cariou, Frédéric Chabolle, Olivier Chabre, Vincent Darrouzet, Brigitte Delemer, Rachel Desailloud, Bernard Goichot, Annabelle Esvant, Lucile Offredo, Philippe Herman, Sandrine Laboureau, Herve LefebvrePeggy Pierre, Isabelle Raingeard, Yves Reznik, Jean Louis Sadoul, Julien Hadoux, Antoine Tabarin, Igor Tauveron, Delphine Zenaty, Judith Favier, Jérôme Bertherat, Eric Baudin, Laurence Amar, Anne Paule Gimenez-Roqueplo

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    Abstract

    Context: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are characterized by a strong genetic component, with up to 40% of patients carrying a germline mutation in a PPGL susceptibility gene. International guidelines recommend that genetic screening be proposed to all patients with PPGL. Objective: Our objective was to evaluate how a positive genetic test impacts the management and outcome of patients with SDHx or VHL-related PPGL. Design: We performed a multicentric retrospective study involving 221 propositi carrying an SDHB, SDHD, SDHC, or VHL germline mutation. Patients were divided into two groups: Genetic patients, who were informed of their genetic status within the year following the first PPGL diagnosis, and historic patients, who only benefited from the genetic test several years after initial PPGL diagnosis. Results: Genetic patients had better follow-up than historic patients, with a greater number of examinations and a reduced number of patients lost to follow-up (9.6% vs 72%, respectively). During follow-up, smaller (18.7 vs 27.6 mm; P = 0.0128) new PPGLs and metastases as well as lower metastatic spread were observed in genetic patients. Of note, these differences were reversed in the historic cohort after genetic testing. Genetic patients who developed metachronous metastases had a better 5-year survival rate than historic patients (P = 0.0127). Conclusion: Altogether, our data suggest that early knowledge of genetic status had a positive impact on the management and clinical outcome of patients with a germline SDHx or VHL mutation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1109-1118
    Number of pages10
    JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
    Volume104
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2019

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