Publications by authors named "Melanie O'Loughlin"

Objective: To assess the effect of belzutifan, a first-in-class oral hypoxia-inducible factor 2α inhibitor, on retinal hemangioblastoma (RH) outcomes.

Subjects/methods: This is a single-centre retrospective cohort study of patients with confirmed von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHLS) and RH. Subjects were taking oral belzutifan for renal cell carcinoma, central nervous system hemangioblastoma, or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

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Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by a germline pathogenic variant, or epigenetic silencing, of a mismatch repair (MMR) gene, leading to a wide cancer spectrum with gene-specific penetrance. Ascertainment, assessment and testing of LS individuals is complex. A Canadian national guideline is needed to ensure equitable access to patient care across the country.

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Introduction: Uninformative germline genetic testing presents a challenge to clinical management for patients suspected to have Lynch syndrome, a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline variants in the mismatch repair (MMR) genes or EPCAM.

Methods: Among a consecutive series of MMR-deficient Lynch syndrome spectrum cancers identified through immunohistochemistry-based tumor screening, we investigated the clinical utility of tumor sequencing for the molecular diagnosis and management of suspected Lynch syndrome families. MLH1-deficient colorectal cancers were prescreened for BRAF V600E before referral for genetic counseling.

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