Hereditary cancer]

A significant proportion of all cancers is inherited or develops in genetically susceptible individuals. An updated overview and tabulations are given on inherited cancer, including the monogenic cancer syndromes, cancer caused mainly by predisposition in heterozygous carriers for autosomal recessive syndromes, and the same of different types of cancers occurring in families exhibiting irregular autosomal dominant inheritance. Environmental factors act in concert with genetically susceptible genes to cause cancer. A mechanism for the initiation and progression of cancer on the cellular level is outlined. The identification of an ever-increasing number of cancer-susceptible genes enables the development of new genetic tests. Some advantages and problems associated with predictive genetic testing for cancer are discussed.