Autism and cancer risk

Abstract

A literature review was conducted on the genetic and developmental bases of autism in relation to genes and pathways associated with cancer risk. Convergent lines of evidence from four types of analysis: (1) recent theoretical studies on the causes of autism, (2) epidemiological studies, (3) genetic analyses linking autism with mutations in tumor suppressor genes and other cancer-associated genes and pathways, and (4) contrasts with schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease indicate that autism may involve altered cancer risk. This evidence should motivate further epidemiological studies, and it provides useful insights into the nature of the genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors underlying the etiologies of autism, other neurological conditions, and carcinogenesis.

The health status of adults on the autism spectrum

“…Obesity increases the risk for many chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer (Guh, Zhang et al 2009), and in our study population, adults with ASD did have elevated rates of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, but marginally lower rates of cancer. A recent review of the genetic and developmental bases of autism in relation to genes and pathways associated with cancer risk concluded that cancer risk may be altered in autism (Crespi 2011). Further epidemiologic research in large populations is needed to elucidate the association between autism and chronic conditions including cancer and identify explanatory factors for our observed associations.…”

Risk of Cancer in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Autistic Disorder

“…30 The genetic deficits of tuberous sclerosis have been found to be associated with signal transduction to regulate cell growth and survival. 31 The etiology of tuberous sclerosis is mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 genes. These are tumor-suppressor genes, and their gene products form a heterodimer, the TSC1-TSC2 complex, to regulate as the sensor and integrator of cell growth, and lead to the formation of hamartomas in multiple organs, including brain, kidney, skin, and lung.…”

An Evolutionary Biology Approach to Understanding Neurological Disorders

“…This is thought to occur due to the genetic and molecular connections between cancer and these complex human diseases (Tabares-Seisdedos et al, 2011). Of greater concern, is a higher incidence of certain cancers in patients with ASD (Crespi, 2011). This is likewise due to shared molecular pathways (Crespi, 2011), and ASD also shares genetic connections with SCZ and Alzheimer disease (Crespi et al, 2010;Sokol et al, 2011).…”

“…Of greater concern, is a higher incidence of certain cancers in patients with ASD (Crespi, 2011). This is likewise due to shared molecular pathways (Crespi, 2011), and ASD also shares genetic connections with SCZ and Alzheimer disease (Crespi et al, 2010;Sokol et al, 2011). Indeed, some lines of evidence suggest that ASD and SCZ involve diametric etiology (Crespi et al, 2010).…”