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10-6-03

NEW RESEARCH STUDY AT THE HARVARD PARTNERS CENTER FOR GENETICS AND GENOMICS (HPCGG)!

Please contact Amy Roberts, MD 617-525-5768 or e-mail aeroberts@partners.org for additional information.

 

PARTNERS HUMAN RESEARCH COMMITTEE DETAILED PROTOCOL

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE


Historical background

In 1883 Kobylinski was the first to report a patient with clinical features compatible with what is now called Noonan syndrome (NS). Early cases reported both males and females with the common features of a webbed neck, small stature with low set ears, and micrognathia. It was later determined that a subset of this group included females with pubertal delay. When karyotype analysis was developed, this subset was found to have a single copy of the X chromosome or what is now called Turner syndrome. Those remaining with normal chromosomes were labeled as having "Turner Phenotype". In 1963, Noonan and Ehmke reported nine patients- six males and three females with short stature and characteristic facies including hypertelorism, ptosis, low set ears, undescended testes, chest deformities, valvular pulmonary stenosis, and normal chromosome analysis. Soon after, the term "Turner Phenotype" was replaced with the eponym used today- Noonan Syndrome (Noonan, 1994).

The incidence of Noonan syndrome has been estimated to be from one in 1000-2500 for severely affected individuals to one in 100 for mildly affected individuals (Mendez, 1985). There appears to be no racial predilection and cases have been reported worldwide. Among children with congenital heart disease, Noonan syndrome is one of the most common genetic syndromes.

Noonan syndrome is considered an autosomal dominant disorder. There are a number of families with three generations of affected individuals. However, there is evidence for an autosomal recessive form of the disorder (van der Burgt, 2000). Because males with Noonan syndrome frequently have undescended testes and associated infertility problems, it is more common to observe mother to child transmission than father to child. Like other autosomal dominant disorders, there is extensive variability in expression. Also, the phenotype changes from childhood to adulthood. As a result, mildly affected adults are not always diagnosed or may be diagnosed in retrospect with the birth of a more severely affected child.

In the newborn, Noonan syndrome is difficult to diagnose by facial appearance as features can be subtle. The forehead is often sloping and broad, ears thick and posteriorly rotated, or eyes widely spaced and down slanting. There may be a deep philtrum, recessed chin, or marked edema with excess nuchal skin. From infancy to age two, the head often appears relatively large with flat malar eminences, prominent and round eyes, depressed nasal bridge, and/or a short neck. In childhood, chest deformities become more prominent, coarse facial features and a triangular face develops, the eyes become less prominent, and ptosis may be seen. The neck appears longer and webbing and low hairline more obvious. In teenage and young adulthood, the triangular face is more prominent and the nose has a pinched root and thin, high bridge. The older adult has prominent nasolabial folds, a high anterior hairline, and transparent, wrinkled skin (Noonan 1994).

Many children have mild motor delay and at least a third have some degree of mental retardation or learning disabilities. Conductive hearing loss is frequent. Common eye manifestations include hypertelorism, ptosis, epicanthal folds, refractive errors, strabismus, amblyopia, and colobomas. Weight and length are usually normal at birth but short stature is present in 80% with height often less than weight (Noonan, 1994). Bone maturity is delayed at least two years so active linear growth continues into the early twenties. The more common potential orthopedic problems include chest deformity (pectus carinatum or excavatum), scoliosis, and talipes equinovarus. Hypotonia is common and generally improves over time. Over half of males diagnosed with Noonan syndrome have unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism. Reported associated neurologic problems include recurrent seizures, peripheral neuropathy, spina bifida occulta, subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysm, and syringomyelia. About half of patients have a cardiac problem most commonly a dysplastic, often stenotic pulmonary valve but virtually every type of cardiac defect has been described. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs in 20-30% of patients and frequently involves both the right and left ventricles. A variety of bleeding disorders have been described in association with the syndrome including factor XI deficiency, Von Willebrand's disease, thrombocytopenia, and platelet function defects. Lymphatic abnormalities have been found in one fifth of patients (Noonan, 1994)
Previous pre-clinical or clinical studies leading up to, and supporting the proposed research

From a genetic point of view, NS was a poorly understood condition until recently. Because of the superficial resemblance to patients with Turner syndrome, an abnormality of the X chromosome has been suspected. Because some patients meet the diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type 1 and NS, it has been postulated that the genetic defect may be linked to the NF-1 locus on chromosome 17. There has been no evidence of an abnormality in either the X chromosome or chromosome 17 to date.

A locus at chromosomal band 12q24 (NS1) was established in a study of two large families inheriting NS (Jamieson et al 1994, Brady et al 1997; Legius et al 1998). Genetic heterogeneity was also documented on the basis of linkage exclusion (Jamieson et al 1994).

During studies of genetic interaction between Egfr encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor , and PTPN11 encoding the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 (src homology region 2-domain phosphatase-2), Chen et al (2000) discovered that both Egfr and SHP-2 are components of a growth factor signaling pathway required for semilunar valvulogenesis. SHP-2 exists in an inactive or an active conformation, with the N-SH2 domain acting as a molecular switch. PTPN11 had previously been localized to 12q24.1-24.3 (Dechert 1995).

Because of its localization and its role in valvulogenesis, PTPN11 was considered an excellent candidate gene for Noonan syndrome.

Recently, PTPN11 was identified as the NS1 disease gene (Tartaglia et al 2001). This group (which included our Principal Investigator, Raju Kucherlapati PhD) first conducted mutation screening with two moderately sized families in which the NS phenotype cosegregated with particular haplotypes. The analysis was then done on 22 unrelated patients with NS (some sporadic, some familial) and mutations were found in 50% of individuals. The mutations cosegregated with the NS phenotype within the families and was not detected in any of the 200 control samples tested. The eight residues affected by NS-causing mutations are all located in and around the interactive surfaces of the N-SH2 PTP domains. An energetics based structural analysis of two of the mutations indicated that they may lead to a significant shift in equilibrium favoring the active conformation of SHP-2.

Tartaglia (2002), again working with our Principal Investigator, Dr. Kucherlapati, recently published a study of the molecular spectrum, genotype-phenotype correlation, and phenotypic heterogeneity of PTPN11 mutations in a group of 119 unrelated patients with the clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome. Mutations were found in 54 patients (45%). There was a higher prevalence of mutations found among familial (59%) than sporadic (37%) cases of NS (P<.02). Several of the mutations detected were recurrent. As was seen in their prior study, the group found that the majority of mutations altered amino acid residues located in or around the interacting surfaces of the N-SH2 and PTP domains. Pulmonic stenosis was a more prevalent feature among those with a detectable mutation than among those without a detectable mutation (70.6% vs 46.2%, P<.01). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was less prevalent among those with detectable mutations than among those without detectable mutations (5.9% vs. 26.2%, P<.005). They found no difference between the two groups in the prevalence of other congenital heart defects, short stature, pectus deformity, cryptorchidism, or developmental delay.

Kosaki et al (2002) examined twenty one patients with a clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome. PTPN11 mutations were found in one third of the patients. Three of the mutation positive patients had pulmonary valve disease, none had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Six of the fourteen mutation negative patients had "cardiac defects" not more specifically defined.

One published abstract describes a small study that screened PTPN11 gene mutations in 23 patients with non-syndromic, nondysplastic pulmonary valve stenosis. None had a detectable mutation (Sarkozy 2002).



Rationale behind the proposed research, and the potential benefits to patients and/or society

1. A more complete assessment of the range of PTPN11 lesions causing NS and related disorders

The current estimate is that PTPN11 mutations account for approximately 50% of cases of Noonan syndrome. Studying more patients with a clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome will help to better define this prevalence. Additionally, different mutations may be described. Characterization of the mutations and their role in SHP-2 function will aid in understanding the pathogenesis of the Noonan syndrome phenotype. It is our hope that this will be applicable to other cardiac or craniofacial malformation models.

There are advantages to patients who have a genotypic (vs a phenotypic diagnosis). Patients with detectable mutations will be counseled as to the 50% chance of recurrence with each of their children. Prenatal testing would be available. Affected children could be diagnosed prenatally or in infancy which would enable early evaluations for heart, skeletal, eye, hematologic, and developmental problems thus maximizing their potential for intervention and treatment.

2. Examination of genotype phenotype correlations

As more patients are tested, particular mutation prevalences can be better estimated. The most common mutations can be compared phenotypically to look for clues in the role of the mutation in pathogenesis. Additionally, by phenotypically characterizing the group without a detectable mutation, comparisons can be made between the two groups (mutation negative and mutation positive) to look for phenotypic differences. This may help in developing pre-test probabilities for future testing. Detailed characterization of the mutation negative group may lead to further studies to look for additional candidate genes.

3. Evaluation of patients with "Noonan-like" phenotype who have some of the features of Noonan syndrome but do not meet strict diagnostic criteria.

It is likely that a proportion of these patients will have PTPN11 mutations. The diagnostic criteria were developed from a series of significantly affected individuals. It is possible that by liberalizing the inclusion criteria and testing people who have some, but not all of the features of NS, more mildly affected patients with PTPN11 mutations will be identified.

There are advantages to patients who have a genotypic (vs a phenotypic diagnosis). Patients with detectable mutations could be counseled as to the 50% chance of recurrence with each of their children. Prenatal testing would be available. Affected children could be diagnosed prenatally or in infancy which would enable early evaluations for heart, skeletal, eye, hematologic, and developmental problems thus maximizing their potential for intervention and treatment.

4. Further delineate the role of PTPN11 mutations in cardiac malformations and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

It is not uncommon for a gene responsible for a multiple anomaly syndrome to be associated with one of the sentinel defects occurring in isolation. There are children with pulmonic stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who do not appear to have other features of Noonan syndrome. Examining these patients and testing them for PTPN11 mutations may broaden our understanding of the variability of expression in NS.

There are advantages to patients who have a genotypic (vs. a purely phenotypic diagnosis). Patients with detectable mutations could be counseled as to the 50% chance of recurrence with each of their children. Prenatal testing would be available. Affected children could be diagnosed prenatally or in infancy which would enable early evaluations for heart, skeletal, eye, hematologic, and developmental problems thus maximizing their potential for intervention and treatment.
New mutations identified in patients who appear to only have cardiac disease could be used as models for the pathogenesis of valvular malformations and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

SPECIFIC AIMS
Specify objectives and hypotheses to be tested in the research project

PRIMARY AIMS
Noonan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1/1000 to 1/2500 (Mendez, 1985). Noonan syndrome is characterized by short stature; congenital heart defect; broad or webbed neck; unusual chest shape with superior pectus carinatum and inferior pectus excavatum, and apparently low-set nipples; developmental delay of variable degree; cryptorchidism; and characteristic facies. Varied coagulation defects and lymphatic dysplasias are frequently observed. Congenital heart defects occur in 50-80% of individuals. Renal abnormalities are present in 11% of patients with Noonan syndrome. The diagnosis of Noonan syndrome is currently made based on physical features. Recently, mutations in the gene PTPN11 (chromosomal locus 12q24.1) have been identified in approximately 50% of patients (Tartaglia 2001, Tartaglia 2002).

I. NOONAN SYNDROME
A. CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS
It has been estimated that 50-80% of patients with Noonan syndrome have an abnormal echocardiogram (Allanson, 1987). Pulmonary valve stenosis, often with dysplasia, is the most common cardiac anomaly with a prevalence of 20-50% of affected individuals. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is found in 20-30% of affected individuals. It may present at birth, in infancy, or in childhood (Ishizawa 1996). Initial studies have shown that PTPN11 mutations are more frequently associated with pulmonary valve disease than hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Tartaglia 2002).

HYPOTHESIS 1: Pulmonary valve disease is more prevalent among patients with Noonan syndrome and a PTPN11 mutation than among patients with Noonan syndrome without a PTPN11 mutation.

HYPOTHESIS 2: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is less prevalent among patients with Noonan syndrome and a PTPN11 mutation than among patients with Noonan syndrome without a detectable PTPN11 mutation.

B. COAGULATION
There is an estimated 40-50% prevalence of coagulation abnormalities among patients with a clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome. Prior PTPN11 mutation studies have not looked at this feature of Noonan syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and type of PTPN11 mutations among patients with Noonan syndrome and coagulation abnormalities will be estimated.

C. GENITOURINARY ANOMALIES
Renal abnormalities are present in 11% of individuals with NS. To date, the relationship between
PTPN11 mutation status and the presence of renal malformation has not been evaluated.

Over half of males with NS have one or both testes undescended. Tartaglia, 2002, found no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of cryptorchidism in the PTPN11 mutation positive and negative groups.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and type of PTPN11 mutations among patients with Noonan syndrome and renal abnormalities will be estimated.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and type of PTPN11 mutations among patients with Noonan syndrome and cryptorchidism will be estimated.


II. CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS AND PTPN11

A. PULMONARY VALVE DISEASE
PTPN11 encodes the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 which has been shown to be a component of the growth factor signaling pathway required for semilunar valvulogenesis (Chen 2000). It is not uncommon for a gene responsible for a multiple anomaly syndrome to be associated with one of the sentinel defects occurring in isolation. One published abstract describes a small study that screened 23 patients with non-syndromic, nondysplastic pulmonary valve stenosis for PTPN11 gene mutations. None had a detectable mutation (Sarkozy 2002).

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and type of PTPN11 mutations among patients with pulmonary valve disease, both dysplastic and non dysplastic will be estimated.

B. HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY
Approximately 20% of patients with Noonan syndrome have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Burch 1993). In Tartaglia's 2002 analysis of 119 patients with Noonan syndrome, 54 subjects had an identifiable mutation, and of those 5.8% had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is not uncommon for a gene responsible for a multiple anomaly syndrome to be associated with one of the sentinel defects occurring in isolation. It has not been determined if patients with isolated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have detectable PTPN11 mutations.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and type of PTPN11 mutations among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will be estimated.

SECONDARY AIMS

I. NOONAN-LIKE PHENOTYPE
There are a number of patients who demonstrate a Noonan-like phenotype. These patients meet some but not all of the diagnostic criteria for NS and do not have any other identifiable disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and type of PTPN11 mutations among patients who meet some but not all of the diagnostic criteria for Noonan syndrome and do not fit the diagnostic criteria for any other syndrome will be estimated.

II. NOONAN SYNDROME GENOTYPE-PHENOTYPE ANALYSIS
As with other autosomal dominant disorders, the phenotypic spectrum of Noonan syndrome is quite variable. It is possible that some of the phenotypic characteristics are linked to a particular genotypic aberration. One prior study examined part of this question and found no significant difference between the two groups (mutation positive and mutation negative) regarding the features of short stature, pectus deformity, cryptorchidism, and developmental delay (Tartaglia 2002).

OBJECTIVE We will examine particular diagnostic criteria (typical facial features, congenital heart disease, renal malformation, or coagulopathy) with regard to mutation status to determine if any of the features are more prevalent in the mutation positive group than in the mutation negative group.

Along similar lines, within the mutation positive group, we will determine if a specific mutation is more or less likely to correlate with a particular phenotypic feature. No prior studies have examined this question.


SUBJECT SELECTION
Inclusion/exclusion criteria

A. Clinical diagnosis of NS (Based on scoring system developed by van der Burgt et al, 1994)
Facial features of Noonan syndrome: broad forehead, hypertelorism, down-slanting palpebral fissures, a highly arched palate, and low set poteriorly rotated ears. Judged to be Typical (3 or more) or Suggestive (2 or more)
Major Criteria Typical facial features, pulmonary valve stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, typical ECG, height <3%, pectus carinatum/excavatum, first degree relative with NS, or all three of: mental retardation, cryptorchidism, and lymphatic dysplasia.
Minor criteria Suggestive face, other cardiac defect, height less than the 10%, broad thorax, first degree relative with features suggestive of NS, or one of the following: mental retardation, cryptorchidism, or lymphatic dysplasia.
INCLUSION:
Typical facial features and one other major or two minor criteria or
Suggestive facial features and two major or three other minor criteria

B. Noonan-like Phenotype
INCLUSION Suggestive facial features and one major or one minor criteria (as defined above for Noonan Syndrome)

C. Isolated Pulmonary Valve Disease
INCLUSION Isolated pulmonary valve stenosis (with or without dysplastic leaflets) seen on echocardiography or catheterization, no syndromic diagnosis, and no genetic abnormality. Significant pulmonary stenosis is defined as a pulmonary Doppler velocity >300cm/s or previous intervention (surgical valvotomy or balloon valvuloplasty) (Burch 1993).

D. Isolated Cardiomyopathy
INCLUSION Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a maximal end diastolic wall thickness >2 SD above the mean for a given age in a child, or >1.5 cm for an adult measured during echocardiography), no syndromic diagnosis, and no genetic abnormality (Burch 1993).

E. Exclusion:
1. Identified genetic abnormality
2. Prior participation in Noonan syndrome research study

Source of subjects and recruitment methods

a. BWH/MGH and CH Genetics and Cardiology Staff: attending physicians will be notified by letter (appended) about the study and inclusion criteria. They can discuss the option of being part of a research study with appropriate patients and refer those who are interested.
b. A second method of recruitment will involve an invitation to participate in the research study by an introductory set of letters (appended) signed by the patient's geneticist or cardiologist and by the research group. Patient names will be generated by the subspecialty physicians.
c. Testing for NS will be posted (appended) on "GeneTests", a web site that lists labs offering clinical and research testing for a wide variety of genetic disorders. This will enable recruitment of subjects nationwide and worldwide via interested physicians.
d. A description of the research study (appended) will be posted on the Noonan Syndrome Support Group website.
e. A description of the research study (appended) including basic inclusion criteria and contact information will be posted at the ASHG and ACMG national meetings for review by geneticists and genetic counselors from across the country.
f. A letter will be sent to geneticists and cardiologists outside of the Partners and CH system to explain the study and provide contact information for interested physicians and families. They, too, will be sent a letter of introduction that can be forwarded to appropriate patients.

SUBJECT ENROLLMENT
a. Methods of enrollment, including procedures for patient registration and/or randomization
i. BWH, MGH, and CH patients: Once a clinician has identified an interested patient, an appointment will be scheduled for the patient in the GCRC at MGH, BWH, or CH with Amy Roberts, MD. Patients will be given information about the study, potential outcomes, benefits, and risks of genetic testing.
ii. Outside institutions: Once a physician has requested information about the study, he or she will be sent a consent form, specimen requirements, and a medical history and physical examination questionnaire.

b. Procedures for obtaining informed consent (including timing of consent process)
At the time of the initial visit and after information about the study, potential outcomes, benefits, and risks of genetic testing have been reviewed, informed consent will be obtained either by Dr. Roberts for the MGH/BWH/CH patients or by the requesting physician at outside clinics.

c. Treatment assignment, and randomization (if applicable)
NA

STUDY PROCEDURES
a. Study visits and parameters to be measured
At the time of the initial visit, a complete history and physical examination will be completed by Amy Roberts, MD, Co-investigator, for the BWH/MGH/CH patients, or a local geneticist for outside patients.
Separate consent will be obtained to photograph the patient. Separate consent will be obtained to review relevant parts of the medical record: lab results, genetic testing results, radiology reports, and echocardiography reports. Any patient with Noonan syndrome who has not already had an echocardiogram, renal ultrasound, karyotype or coagulopathy studies (aPTT/PT and factor levels) will have those completed. Patients with isolated pulmonary valve disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will have a karyotype completed if this has not been done already. The purpose of the karyotype analyses is to eliminate other causes for the patient's phenotype. A blood sample will be sent to the GCRC core laboratory for DNA extraction. The DNA will then be sent to the Harvard Partners Laboratory for Molecular Medicine (a CLIA approved facility) where each of the 15 exons in the PTPN11 gene will then undergo PCR-amplification. Then, the amplified DNA will be sequenced in both forward and reverse direction on ABI 3700 Automated Sequencer. Mutation analysis will be done using Mutation Explorer software.
A record of different mutations will be kept and tallied.
Genotype phenotype correlations will be made. PTPN11 mutation rates will be estimated for each subgroup: clinical diagnosis of NS; "Noonan-like" phenotype; and isolated idiopathic pulmonary valve stenosis or cardiomyopathy.
Patients who expressed an interest in learning the results of their testing will be notified by Dr Amy Roberts, Co-investigator, or a genetic counselor. Results given over the phone will be followed by a letter to the patient (and copied to the referring physician) that summarizes the conversation and recommendations.
Patients found to have a PTPN11 mutation will be scheduled for a genetics clinic visit to further discuss the results. A clinical appointment can be made in one of the genetics clinics: Dr Joan Stoler (MGH Site Responsible Investigator), Dr Peter Tishler (BWH Site Responsible Investigator), or Dr Mira Irons (CH Site Responsible Investigator).

b. Drugs to be used: NA
c. Devices to be used: NA
d. Procedures/Surgical interventions: NA

Data to be collected and when the data is to be collected
The current protocol does not include collection of data at any time after the initial evaluation and acquisition of blood samples. See appended Questionnaire to review information that will be collected at the time of the visit. PTPN11 mutation testing results will also be collected.

BIOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS
a. Specific data variables being collected for the study
See attached Patient Intake Form. Also, we will record PTPN11 mutation results.
b. Study endpoints
Satisfaction of patient recruitment goals
c. Statistical methods
The same two-sided continuity corrected chi-square test with a 0.05 two-sided significance level will be used to test the hypotheses related to the prevalence of PVD and HC in patients with and without PTPN11 mutation. The prevalence of PTPN11 mutations in Noonan syndrome patients with a coagulation abnormality, renal anomaly, cryptorchidism; in patients with a Noonan-like phenotype; and in patients with isolated pulmonary valve disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will be also estimated in a descriptive analysis.
d. Power analysis
Preliminary data indicate that the prevalence of pulmonary valve disease in Noonan syndrome patients with a PTPN11 mutation might be around 70%, and in patients without a PTPN11 mutation about 46%. Under these assumptions, a two group continuity corrected chi-square test with a 0.050 two-sided significance level will have 81% power to detect the difference between two groups when the sample size in each group is 75.
The sample size of 150 patients will give us 88% power to detect a difference between 6% and 26% (which is expected from the preliminary data on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). The same two-sided continuity corrected chi-square test with a 0.05 two-sided significance level is assumed.

RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS
a. Complications of surgical and nonsurgical procedures
There are minor risks and discomforts associated with blood sampling. This includes a small amount of pain and possibly a small bruise at the needle site. Occasionally, a person feels faint when their blood is drawn. Very rarely, an infection may develop which can be treated.
b. Drug side effects and toxicities: NA
c. Device complications/malfunctions: NA
d. Psychosocial (nonmedical) risks
As with any study involving genetic research, this study could cause psychological distress as well as economic and social harm to the patients involved. This could involve issues of confidentiality relating to the disclosure of information in questionnaires or to other family members. Psychological stress is likely to be of minimal concern in this study because the test involves diagnosis of a clinical phenotype that confirms a pre-existing diagnosis and is not usually life threatening.

Efforts will be made to eliminate as much as possible the inappropriate disclosure of personal information. The first efforts are standard efforts to maintain confidentiality. The second effort is to establish anonymity for patients who indicate this preference on their consent form.

Identifying information will be separated from the clinical information questionnaire upon receipt in the research lab to establish confidentiality. The questionnaire will be labeled with a linking code unless the patient has requested anonymization (see below). As is standard in any testing lab, identifying information will be removed from the blood sample and it will be given an accession number to establish confidentiality.

Patients who do not wish to have the results of their testing and who consent to storage of a DNA sample only if it is anonymized will have their blood sample and clinical information questionnaire anonymized with a code number without linking information. A copy of the consent form will be kept in a locked file at the Partners Laboratory of Molecular Medicine.

For the non-anonymized samples, identifying information, linking confidentiality code lists, and a copy of the consent will be kept in a locked file cabinet at the Harvard Partners Laboratory for Molecular Medicine. Only the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators will have access to this file. For the anonymized samples, consent forms will be kept in a separate file in a locked file cabinet at the Harvard Partners Laboratory for Molecular Medicine.

Because the PTPN11 test is clinically available, the results will be entered into the patient's medical record (if the testing has been completed without anonymization). No information will be given to other family members without permission from the patient.

A copy of the informed consent form will not be placed in the medical record.

Radiation risks: NA

POTENTIAL BENEFITS
a. Potential benefits to participating individuals
There may be no direct benefits for certain participants.
Patients with detectable mutations would have a specific genotypic diagnosis. They will be counseled as to the 50% chance of recurrence with each of their children. Prenatal testing would be available. Affected children could be diagnosed prenatally or in infancy which would enable early evaluations for heart, skeletal, eye, hematologic, and developmental problems thus maximizing their potential for intervention and treatment.
Knowing the cause of one's diagnosis may provide personal satisfaction and enable the individual to cope better with his or her medical problems.

b. Potential benefits to society
Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a large number of patients will broaden our knowledge of the spectrum of PTPN11 mutations that lead to Noonan syndrome and the phenotypes associated with these mutations.

It is hoped that the results of this study may provide a benefit to others in the future including members of an affected patient's family since the gene mutation has a 50% chance of being passed on. Positive test results that lead to identification of other gene mutation carriers and characterization of their phenotype within a family, will broaden our understanding of the variability of expression in NS.

New mutations identified in patients who only have cardiac disease can be used as models for the pathogenesis of valvular malformations and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

By phenotypically characterizing the group without a detectable mutation, comparisons can be made between the two groups (mutation negative and mutation positive) to look for phenotypic differences. This may help in developing pre-test probabilities for future testing. The mutation negative group could be used for future research looking for additional NS candidate genes.

Characterization of the mutations and their role in SHP-2 function will aid in understanding the pathogenesis of Noonan syndrome and related disorders phenotypes.


MONITORING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
a. Independent monitoring of source data
b. Safety monitoring
c. Outcomes monitoring
d. Adverse event reporting

REFERENCES

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Burch M, Sharland M, Shinebourne E, Smith G, Patton M, McKenna W. Cardiologic abnormalities in Noonan syndrome: phenotype diagnosis and echocardiographic assessment of 118 patients. JACC. 1993; 22(4):1189-92.

Chen B, Bronson RT, Klaman LD, Hampton TG, Wang J, Green PJ, Magnuson T, Douglas PS, Morgan JP, Neel BG. Mice mutant for Egfr and Shp2 have defective cardiac semilunar valvulogenesis. Nat Genet. 2000; 24:296-299.

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Sarkozy A, Conti E, Digilio MC, Seripa D, Marino B, Matera MG, Esposito G, Fazio VM, Pizzuti A, Dallapiccola B. PTPN11 gene mutations in syndromic and nonsyndromic pulmonary valve stenosis. Am J Hum Genet. 2002

Sharland M, Patton MA, Talbot S, Chitolie a, Bevan DH. Coagulation-factor deficiencies and abnormal bleeding in Noonan's syndrome. The Lancet. 1992; 339:19-21.

Tartaglia M, Mehler EL, Goldberg R, Zampino G, Brunner HG, Kremer H, van der Burgt I, Crosby AH, Ion A, Jeffrey S, Kalidas K, Patton MA, Kucherlapati RS, Gelb BD. Mutations in PTPN11, encoding the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2, cause Noonan syndrome. Nat Genet. 2001; 465-468.

Tartaglia M, Kalidas K, Shaw A, Song X, Musat DL, van der Burgt I, Brunner HG, Bertola DR, Crosby A, Ion A, Kucherlapati RS, Jeffrey S, Patton MA, Gelb BD. PTPN11 Mutations in Noonan Syndrome: Molecular spectrum, genotype-phenotype correlation, and phenotypic heterogeneity. Am J Hum Genet. 2002; 70:1555-1563.

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