Clinical, Genetic, and Epidemiologic Study of Children and Adults With RASopathies

April 12, 2024 updated by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Background:

RASopathies are a group of conditions caused by a genetic change. People with a RASopathy may have developmental issues, cognitive disability, poor growth, and birth defects. They may also have an increased risk for developing cancer. Researchers want to learn more.

Objective: To learn more about RASopathies, how genes and environmental factors contribute to cancer development in people with RASopathies, and the best way to find these cancers and other conditions early or prevent them.

Eligibility:

People of any age who have or may have a RASopathy, and their family members.

Design:

Participants will complete questionnaires about their personal and family medical history. Their medical records will be reviewed.

Participants will give blood and urine samples. They will give a saliva or cheek cell sample. Some samples will be used for genetic testing.

Participants may have a skin biopsy.

Participants may have a physical exam by the RASopathies study team. They may also have exams by additional specialists, such as dentists; urologists; ear, nose, and throat doctors; and neurologists.

Participants may have computed tomography of the face and mouth. They may have an ultrasound of the abdomen. They may have a bone density scan. They may have skeletal and/or spine x-rays. They may have magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, low back, chest, and/or heart. They may be photographed.

Participants may have other tests, such as sleep, brain and heart electrical activity, speech and swallow, metabolism, hearing, eye, and colon function tests.

Participants may sign separate consent forms for some tests.

Participation will last indefinitely. Participants may be contacted once in a while by phone or mail. They may have follow-up visits.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Study Description:<TAB>

The RASopathies are a clinically defined group of disorders caused by pathogenic germline variants in genes encoding components of the Ras/mitogen-activated-protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) pathway. These disorders have overlapping clinical features due to Ras/MAPK dysfunction, including a predisposition to the development of certain malignancies. The aims of this prospective longitudinal cohort study are to determine the incidence of malignancy in patients with RASopathies and determine the underlying differences in those who develop tumors as compared to those who do not, in order to inform cancer screening recommendations. In addition, this longitudinal cohort study will provide a better understanding of non-tumor RASopathy manifestations.

Objectives:

Primary Objectives:

  • To establish a longitudinal cohort of participants with a clinical diagnosis of a RASopathy and/or a pathogenic germline variation in a Ras/MAPK pathway gene (excluding NF1).
  • To study the lifetime rates of cancer development in participants with a RASopathy.
  • To longitudinally characterize germline RASopathy-related tumor and non-tumor clinical manifestations.

Secondary Objectives:

  • To create a biospecimen repository of carefully annotated tissue samples for use in subsequent etiologically oriented translational research projects.
  • To describe novel phenotypes associated with germline Ras/MAPK pathway genetic variation.

Endpoints:<TAB>

  • Number of participants meeting enrollment criteria for inclusion in the RASopathy cohort.
  • Development of RASopathy-associated neoplasms in patients with RASopathies other than neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
  • Longitudinal standardized quantitative evaluations of specific RASopathy manifestations.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

500

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • Recruiting
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
        • Contact:
          • For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact National Cancer Institute Referral Office
          • Phone Number: 888-624-1937
      • Rockville, Maryland, United States, 20850
        • Recruiting
        • National Cancer Institute - Shady Grove

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A cohort of individuals with RASopathies (Costello syndrome, Noonan syndrome, cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Legius syndrome, capillary arteriovenous malformation syndrome, and others, excluding neurofibromatosis type 1, and their relatives (parents, siblings, grandparents, other affected individuals). Individuals with germline pathogenic variants in Ras/MAPK pathway genes (excluding NF1) with or without a clinically diagnosed RASopathy.

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Carriers: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be eligible to participate in this study:

  • Individuals with a clinical diagnosis of a RASopathy, including Costello syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines, Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Legius syndrome, capillary arteriovenous malformation syndrome, or others, are eligible. Published clinical diagnostic criteria exist for most of the clinical RASopathy syndromes and differ by syndrome. It will be uncommon for individuals to have a clinical diagnosis and not have had molecular genetic testing. All individuals considered by the study team to be at risk for a RASopathy who have not had prior genetic testing will have this completed as part of the study. The rare individuals with a clinical diagnosis of a RASopathy who are not found to carry a corresponding pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in a known RASopathy gene will be considered for exome analysis for identification of potentially novel RASopathy germline variation.
  • Individuals with a germline variant (P/LP or a variant of uncertain significance but predicted bioinformatically to be damaging) in a RASopathy-associated gene are eligible. These include but are not limited to: BRAF, CBL, HRAS, KRAS, LZTR1, MAP2K1,

MAP2K2, MAP3K8, MRAS, NRAS, PPP1CB, PTPN11, RAF1, RASA1, RASA2, RIT1, RRAS, SHOC2, SOS1, SPRED1. From herein, we refer to 1) individuals with germline pathogenic variation in a RAS pathway gene AND 2) individuals with a clinical RASopathy diagnosis but in whom a genetic variant has not yet been identified as "carriers." The first member of a family to be identified is termed a "proband."

  • Individuals with NF1 only are not eligible for the study. However, individuals with a dual diagnosis of both NF1 and another RASopathy (via genetic testing and/or clinical diagnosis) are eligible for the study.
  • All types and amounts of prior therapies are allowed.
  • There is no age restriction.
  • There is no restriction related to organ and marrow function.
  • Each carrier (or their appropriate surrogate if the carrier is unable) must sign an IRB-approved document of informed consent to demonstrate their understanding of the investigational nature and the risk of this study before any protocol-related studies are

performed.

Controls: Family members of carriers are eligible for enrollment. Genetic testing in a CLIA-certified lab will be offered to these blood-related family members to establish whether or not a variant may be segregating in a family with incomplete penetrance. As most of the RASopathy syndromes are sporadic, extensive testing and enrollment of extended family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles) will likely not be necessary in many pedigrees. Family members who have undergone genetic testing for the proband s RAS variant and do not harbor it (or non-blood-related family members) are controls. Carriers and controls in this study are referred to as "participants," "individuals," or "patients."

  • All types and amounts of prior therapies are allowed.
  • There is no age restriction.
  • There is no restriction related to organ and marrow function.
  • Each control (or their appropriate surrogate if the control is unable) must sign an IRB-approved document of informed consent to demonstrate their understanding of the investigational nature and the risk of this study before any protocol-related studies are

performed.

Research Eligibility Evaluation: This is solely a function of meeting the inclusion criteria described above and not fulfilling any of the exclusion criteria below.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Carriers: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  • Individuals with only a diagnosis of NF1, or a newly identified germline pathogenic germline variant in NF1, and first-degree relatives of these patients are ineligible. However, individuals with a dual diagnosis of both NF1 and another RASopathy (via genetic testing and/or clinical diagnosis) are eligible for the study.
  • Individuals who, in the opinion of the investigator, are not able to return for follow-up visits or obtain required follow-up studies will be excluded from participation in the NIH Clinical Center Cohort.

Controls: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

--Individuals who, in the opinion of the investigator, are not able to return for follow-up visits or obtain required follow-up studies will be excluded from participation in the NIH Clinical Center Cohort.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Family-Based
  • Time Perspectives: Other

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
NCI RASopathies Clinical Center Cohort
includes Proband, Other carriers in family, Family Controls
NCI RASopathies Field Cohort
includes Proband, Other carriers in family, Family Controls

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
RASopathy Syndromes
Time Frame: ongoing
To establish a longitudinal cohort of participants with a clinical diagnosis of a RASopathy and/or a pathogenic germline variation in a Ras/MAPK pathway gene (excluding NF1).
ongoing
Clinical Phenotype
Time Frame: ongoing
To study the lifetime rates of cancer development in participants with a RASopathy and their unaffected family members.
ongoing
Genetic and Environmental Interactions
Time Frame: ongoing
To longitudinally characterize germline RASopathy-related tumor and non-tumor clinical manifestations.
ongoing

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Biospecimen Repository
Time Frame: ongoing
To create a biospecimen repository of carefully annotated tissue samples for use in subsequent etiologically oriented translational research projects.
ongoing
Novel Phenotype
Time Frame: ongoing
To describe novel phenotypes associated with germline Ras/MAPK pathway genetic variation.
ongoing

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Douglas R Stewart, M.D., National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 25, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

May 17, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

April 15, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 12, 2024

Last Verified

April 9, 2024

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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