Hereditary cancer syndromes are inherited disorders caused by gene mutations that put individuals with the gene at a higher risk of developing cancer. These cancers may present at an early stage, and patients are often at risk for multiple independent primary tumors. Because of the cancer risks posed by this syndrome, more and more people are paying attention to the importance of genetic testing to identify possible inherited cancer risks in their families.
Heritable cancer syndromes are currently known to account for 5% to 10% of all cancers. As scientific research progresses, more and more syndromes are being identified and understood.
Hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic disorder that makes an individual more susceptible to developing cancer when mutations in one or more genes are inherited. Mutations often occur in tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair genes, or oncogenes. The most common inherited cancer syndromes include hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (Lynch syndrome), which have attracted widespread attention in society.
According to statistics, certain cancers such as breast and colon cancer are more heritable, which requires genetic testing.
Hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome is mainly caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women and increases the risk of prostate cancer in men. Mutations in these genes are closely related to the occurrence of breast and ovarian cancer. In addition, Lynch syndrome is caused by mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, which increases the risk of colon cancer and other cancers.
With the advancement of science and technology, the accuracy of genetic testing has gradually improved, and family doctors can help identify individuals at risk of hereditary cancer through testing. So if you have multiple cases of cancer in your family, or if some family members were diagnosed with cancer at a young age, genetic testing would be a wise choice.
After understanding hereditary cancer, do we have enough knowledge to protect ourselves and our families and take preventive measures?