Yuko Kawasaki

Approximately 5% of all colorectal cancers have a strong genetic component and are classified as hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC). Some of the unique features commonly seen in HCRC cases include early age of onset, synchronous/metachronous cancer occurrence, and multiple cancers in other organs. These characteristics require different management approaches, including diagnosis, treatment or surveillance, from those used in the management of sporadic colorectal cancer. Accurate diagnosis of HCRC is essential because it enables targeted surveillance and risk reduction strategies that improve patient outcomes. Recent genetic advances revealed several causative genes for polyposis and non-polyposis syndromes. The Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) first published guidelines for the management of HCRC in 2012, with subsequent revisions every 4 years. The 2024 update to the JSCCR guidelines for HCRC was developed by meticulously reviewing evidence from systematic reviews and the consensus of the JSCCR HCRC Guidelines Committee, which includes representatives from patient advocacy groups for FAP and Lynch syndrome. These guidelines provide an up-to-date summary of HCRC, along with clinical recommendations for managing FAP and Lynch syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) and juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) are autosomal dominant diseases associated with high cancer risk. In Japan, knowledge about the prevalence and incidence of PJS and JPS is lacking despite being crucial for providing appropriate medical support. We aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of these diseases. METHODS: In 2022, a nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the number of patients with PJS or JPS by sex and the number of newly confirmed cases from 2019 to 2021. The target facilities included gastroenterology, pediatrics, and pediatric surgery departments, which were stratified into seven classes on the basis of the total number of beds. We randomly selected target facilities using different extraction rates in each class, resulting in 1748/2912 facilities (extraction rate: 60%) as the final sample. We calculated the estimated number of patients using the response and extraction rates. RESULTS: A total of 1077 facilities responded to the survey. The estimated numbers of patients with PJS and JPS were 701 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 581-820) and 188 (95% CI: 147-230), respectively. The 3-year period prevalences of PJS and JPS were 0.6/100000 and 0.15/100000, whereas the incidences in 2021 were 0.07/100000 and 0.02/100000, respectively. Male patients constituted 53.5% and 59.6% in the PJS and JPS groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We determined the prevalence and incidence of PJS and JPS in Japan for the first time. Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information, including the clinical differences and outcomes in Japan.