WAGR Syndrome
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Patients with an unusual complex of congenital developmental abnormalities, such as aniridia (see the image below), genitourinary (GU) malformations, and mental retardation, are at high risk (>30%) of having a Wilms tumor. At birth, the association is aniridia, GU malformations, and mental retardation (AGR) syndrome. With the discovery of a Wilms tumor in these patients, the association is referred to as WAGR syndrome. These syndromes result from the loss of chromosomal material from the short arm of chromosome 11.
Aniridia, GU malformations, and mental retardation are usually detected in the perinatal period, and patients with these conditions require careful long-term follow-up, both because of the consequences of the congenital defects and because of the potential development of a Wilms tumor. Early tumor detection has improved the long-term disease-free survival of children with WAGR syndrome.
See Wilms Tumor: A Pediatric Oncology Success Story, a Critical Images slideshow, to help identify the clinical features, staging evaluation, prognostic factors, and therapeutic options for this tumor.
WAGR syndrome affects the development of seemingly disparate areas of the body, including the kidney, the GU system, the iris of the eye, and the CNS. The deletion of varying lengths of chromosomal material along the short arm of chromosome 11 is the underlying defect, and developmental abnormalities are related to the contiguous loss of neighboring genes.
The constitutional loss of one allele of the Wilms tumor gene (WT1) results in GU anomalies and forms the first of 2 genetic events in the development of a Wilms tumor. [1] The product of the WT1 gene has zinc finger arrays that bind to specific DNA sequences, whereas the amino terminus appears to regulate transcription. Alterations to the remaining allele result in the development of a Wilms tumor, usually in early childhood. Meanwhile, the deletion of one copy of the PAX6 gene is responsible for aniridia. PAX6 plays a role in CNS development as well and may be responsible for the mental retardation seen in a reported 75% of children with WAGR syndrome. [2]
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is also located in the region of chromosomal loss associated with WAGR syndrome. [3] Loss of function of the BDNF gene in some patients with WAGR syndrome may produce obesity and hyperphagia. [4, 5] See the image below.
United States
The incidence of WAGR syndrome has not been determined. Wilms tumor occurs in approximately 8 per 1 million white children in the United States; the incidence is somewhat higher in blacks. Only 2% of patients with Wilms tumor have an associated genetic disorder. In a US study of 3442 patients with Wilms tumor, only 26 (0.76%) presented with aniridia. [6] Wilms tumor occurs in more than 30% of patients with 11p13 deletions.
The overall survival rate of patients with Wilms tumor is excellent and is related to the histologic features of the tumor (favorable vs unfavorable) and the stage of the disease, as follows:
In stage I, the disease is localized to the kidney.
In stage II, the disease extends through the capsule of the kidney.
In stage III, the disease extends to ipsilateral structures or beyond the line connecting the poles.
In stage IV, the distinct metastases are present.
In stage V, bilateral kidney involvement is present.
In the third National Wilms Tumor Study (NWTS), the survival rate ranged from 95% for stage I to almost 80% for stage IV. [6] Patients with stage V tumors, some of whom had WAGR syndrome, had an overall survival rate of approximately 87%.
Aniridia results in decreased visual acuity, although the amount of vision loss varies. Aniridia has been associated with the development of glaucoma, probably due to the structural abnormalities of the anterior chamber of the eye. Cataracts have also been reported in these patients. Over time, scanning nystagmus develops in infants who are visually impaired. Other ocular abnormalities seen in these patients include corneal pannus and optic nerve hypoplasia.
A wide variety of GU abnormalities are associated with WAGR syndrome; these include cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and renal and ureteral malformations. Streak ovaries and bicornuate uterus have been reported in females with AGR syndrome. The presence of pseudohermaphroditism should alert the clinician to the possibility of Denys-Drash syndrome, a distinct diagnosis resulting from constitutional WT1 mutations.
The cognitive function of patients with WAGR syndrome widely varies. The appearance of retardation is correlated with the amount and position of genetic material lost from chromosome 11. Cognitive testing must be performed carefully and is more difficult to evaluate in children with vision loss.
Wilms tumor occurs in approximately 8 per 1 million white children in the United States; the incidence is somewhat higher in blacks.
Aniridia and/or GU abnormalities are usually detected while the baby is in the newborn nursery, and the diagnosis of AGR syndrome is considered at that time.
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Han JC, Thurm A, Golden Williams C, et al. Association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) haploinsufficiency with lower adaptive behaviour and reduced cognitive functioning in WAGR/11p13 deletion syndrome. Cortex. 2013 Feb 19. [Medline]. [Full Text].
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Rodriguez-Lopez R, Perez JM, Balsera AM, et al. The modifier effect of the BDNF gene in the phenotype of the WAGRO syndrome. Gene. 2013 Mar 10. 516(2):285-90. [Medline].
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Call KM, Glaser T, Ito CY. Isolation and characterization of a zinc finger polypeptide gene at the human chromosome 11 Wilms tumor locus. Cell. Feb 1990. 60:509-520.
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Haber DA, Oshn RL, Buckler AJ. Alternative splicing and alternative structure of the Wilms tumor gene WT1. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1991. 88:9618-9622.
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Takada Y, Sakai Y, Matsushita Y, Ohkubo K, Koga Y, Akamine S, et al. Sustained endocrine profiles of a girl with WAGR syndrome. BMC Med Genet. 2017 Oct 23. 18 (1):117. [Medline].
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Dahan K, Kamal M, Noel LH, et al. Small glomeruli in WAGR syndrome (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies and mental retardation) syndrome. Am J Kidney Dis. June 2007. 49:522-527.
Steven K Bergstrom, MD Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center of Oakland
Steven K Bergstrom, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, Children’s Oncology Group, American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Society for Experimental Hematology, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Timothy P Cripe, MD, PhD, FAAP Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Gordon Teter Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Professor of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine
Timothy P Cripe, MD, PhD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Cancer Research, American Pediatric Society, American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Society for Pediatric Research, Children’s Oncology Group
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Max J Coppes, MD, PhD, MBA Executive Vice President, Chief Medical and Academic Officer, Renown Heath
Max J Coppes, MD, PhD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Healthcare Executives, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Stephan A Grupp, MD, PhD Director, Stem Cell Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Stephan A Grupp, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, Society for Pediatric Research, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
WAGR Syndrome
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