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Do you pay little attention to your nails? However, a benign abnormality can help in the diagnosis of a rare hereditary disease, which increases the risk of certain cancers.
Could our nails signal the future appearance of cancer? Yes, according to the latest study by American researchers, which explains that a benign change in the nails could lead to the diagnosis of a rare hereditary disease, itself linked to certain skin, eye or kidney cancers.
A tumor predisposition syndrome called BAP1
For this work, presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology in Dallas (United States), the scientists recruited a cohort of 47 people from 35 families, all suffering from BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome.
This BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome is caused by mutations in the BAP1 gene. In the absence of mutation, this gene acts as a “tumor suppressor”. Once transferred, he no longer fulfills this role correctly.
A remark from a patient about his nails at the origin of the study
The cohort underwent dermatological screening at the start of the study and then once a year. While studying the data collected, the scientists took note of a remark made by one of the participants.
“While being asked about the health of his nails during a basic genetic evaluation, one very astute patient reported that he had noticed subtle changes in his nails. His comment prompted us to systematically evaluate other participants for nail changes and make this new discovery.” explains Alexandra Lebensohn, co-senior author of this study and genetic advisor at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the NIH.
A tumor anomaly discovered: onychopapilloma
Based on this information, the researchers carried out a nail biopsy of this participant, which made it possible to identify the presence of a benign tumor anomaly: an onychopapilloma. It causes a change in color and thickening of the nail accompanied by a white or red colored band along its entire length.
By analyzing the entire cohort, 88% of participants had this anomaly, on several nails.
A way to detect a tumor predisposition
For researchers, the presence of this anomaly on several nails should be of concern, because onychopapillomas are rare in the general population. “We believe that the presence of nail changes suggestive of onychopapillomas should prompt consideration of a diagnosis of BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome.” concludes Dr. Edward Cowen, chief of dermatology consulting services at the NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Slide: What pathologies does the color of your nails reveal?