Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

The risk of a second primary cancer in PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS)

  • Linda A.J. Hendricks
  • , Katja C.J. Verbeek
  • , Janneke H.M. Schuurs-Hoeijmakers
  • , Mirjam M. de Jong
  • , Thera P. Links
  • , Hilde Brems
  • , Mio Aerden
  • , Joan Brunet
  • , Roser Lleuger-Pujol
  • , Robert Hüneburg
  • , Stefan Aretz
  • , Chrystelle Colas
  • , Marie Charlotte Villy
  • , Emma R. Woodward
  • , D. Gareth Evans
  • , Daniëlle G.M. Bosch
  • , Stephany H. Donze
  • , Lenka Foretová
  • , Ana Blatnik
  • , Edward M. Leter
  • Marc Tischkowitz, Arne Jahn, Robin de Putter, Juliette Dupont, Siri Briskemyr, Verena Steinke-Lange, Margherita Baldassarri, Violetta C. Anastasiadou, Arvīds Irmejs, Carla Oliveira, Rachel S. van der Post, Arjen R. Mensenkamp, Bianca Tesi, Ninni Mu, Patrick R. Benusiglio, Anna Gerasimenko, Giovanni Innella, Daniela Turchetti, Claude Houdayer, Maud Branchaud, Hildegunn Høberg Vetti, Marianne Tveit Haavind, Judith Balmaña, Maite Torres, Maurizio Genuardi, Arianna Panfili, Kjersti Jørgensen, Lovise Mæhle, Nicoline Hoogerbrugge, Janet R. Vos*
*Corresponding author for this work
  • Radboud University Medical Center
  • University Medical Centre Groningen
  • KU Leuven
  • University Hospitals Leuven
  • Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER)
  • University Hospital Bonn
  • University of Bonn
  • Institut Curie (Paris)
  • Equipe Labellisée Par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer
  • University of Manchester
  • Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute
  • Institute of Oncology Ljubljana
  • Maastricht University
  • University of Cambridge
  • The Carl Gustav Carus Hospital
  • Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Center (Dresden)
  • German Cancer Research Center
  • National Center for Tumour Diseases (NCT); partner site Dresden
  • Ghent University Hospital
  • Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria
  • University Hospital of North Norway
  • Klinikum der Universität München
  • University of Siena
  • Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese
  • Nicosia Cyprus and Archbishop Makarios III Children's Hospital
  • Riga Stradins University
  • Paula Stradina Clinical University Hospital
  • University of Porto
  • Karolinska University Hospital
  • Karolinska Institutet
  • Sorbonne Université
  • University of Bologna
  • University Hospital S. Orsola
  • Université de Rouen Normandie
  • University of Bergen
  • VID Specialized University
  • Hospital Vall d'Hebron & ARADyAL research network
  • Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
  • Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation IRCCS
  • University of Oslo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
64 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: 

Patients with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) have high hereditary cancer risks for breast, endometrial, and thyroid cancer. Patients develop multiple primary cancers, but these risks remain uncertain. We aimed to provide the second primary cancer risk. 

Methods: 

This European cohort study assessed second primary cancer risks with Kaplan-Meier analyses using data from medical files, registries and/or patient questionnaires. 

Results:

Overall, 279 adult PHTS patients with (a history of) cancer were included (80% female). Among females, 106 (54%) developed a PHTS-related second primary cancer after a PHTS-related first primary cancer, whereas 10 (29%) males developed a PHTS-related second primary cancer after a PHTS-related first primary cancer. The 5- and 10-year PHTS-related second primary cancer risks were 24.5% (95% CI = 18.1-32.5) and 45.7% (95% CI = 36.9-55.4) in females and 14.5% (95% CI = 5.7-34.1) and 19.8% (95% CI = 8.6-41.9) in males, respectively. Furthermore, 5- and 10-year risks for a second primary breast cancer after a first primary breast cancer were 23.3% (95% CI = 14.9-35.2) and 45.6% (95% CI = 33.0-60.2) in females, respectively. 

Conclusion: 

This study demonstrated that PHTS patients have high second primary cancer risks, which is driven by breast cancer in females. Hence, identifying patients with PHTS before or at first primary cancer diagnosis is essential to enable potential early detection or prevention of a second primary cancer through surveillance or risk-reducing surgery.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101467
JournalGenetics in Medicine
Volume27
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The risk of a second primary cancer in PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this