What is Fanconi Anaemia?
FA is a rare, cancer-predisposing disorder affecting about 150 or more families in the UK (the true extent is unknown) manifested by:
- A variable presence of congenital anomalies in up to 70% of cases (e.g., thumb and kidney abnormalities)
- Progressive bone marrow failure in childhood usually leading to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (80% chance)
- A predisposition to acute myeloid leukaemia (10% chance), and in particular, oropharyngeal/anogenital squamous cell carcinoma in early adulthood (over 50% in post-bone marrow transplant survivors).
The Fanconi 'Pathway'
There are around 23 genetic subgroups, also known as complementation groups, reflecting 23 different proteins that can be potentially affected in the Fanconi pathway, a DNA housekeeping mechanism.
Some of these genetic subgroups have additional issues such as subgroup FA-D1, where affected children are at high risk of brain medulloblastoma and renal Wilm’s tumour. Some FA genetic subgroup carriers are also at increased risk of malignancy. BRCA2, one of the ‘breast cancer genes’ is actually part of the Fanconi pathway. A FA-D1 affected child is where both parents are carrier for BRCA2 with resultant increased breast cancer risk for the mother.
For more information see our Fanconi Anaemia Information Sheet.
The UK and Ireland Fanconi Anaemia Standards of Care document (2008) provides information aimed at doctors and clinicians. Copies are also available in hard copy on request either for you or for your doctor or consultant. As the condition is very rare, knowledge in the medical profession is scant. The Standards of Care document was produced to ensure consistency of patient care across the UK and Ireland. However, for the most up-to-date information you are recommended to refer to the US Fanconi Cancer Foundation’s recently-revised handbook entitled: Fanconi Anemia Clinical Care Guidelines, 5th Edition, 2020. This is updated in the online edition on a regular basis.
A more comprehensive 2018 overview of Fanconi Anemia can be found in “Fanconi Anemia Synonym: Fanconi Pancytopenia” by Parinda A Mehta, MD and Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD.