A hereditary cancer syndrome (familial/family cancer syndrome, inherited cancer syndrome, cancer predisposition syndrome, cancer syndrome, etc.) is a genetic disorder in which inherited genetic mutations in one or more genes predispose the affected individuals to the development of cancer and may also cause early onset of these cancers. Hereditary cancer syndromes often show not only a high lifetime risk of developing cancer, but also the development of multiple independent primary tumors.[1]
Many of these syndromes are caused by mutations in tumor suppressor genes, genes that are involved in protecting the cell from turning cancerous. Other genes that may be affected are DNA repair genes, oncogenes and genes involved in the production of blood vessels (angiogenesis).[2] Common examples of inherited cancer syndromes are hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (Lynch syndrome).[3][4]
- ^ Allgayer, Heike; Redher, Helga; Fulda, Simone (2009). Hereditary Tumors: From Genes to Clinical Consequences. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. ISBN 9783527320288.
- ^ Hodgson S (January 2008). "Mechanisms of inherited cancer susceptibility". J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 9 (1): 1–4. doi:10.1631/jzus.B073001. PMC 2170461. PMID 18196605.
- ^ Clark AS, Domchek SM (April 2011). "Clinical management of hereditary breast cancer syndromes". J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 16 (1): 17–25. doi:10.1007/s10911-011-9200-x. PMID 21360002. S2CID 21417924.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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