Familial Cancer: Genetically Determined?
W. Weber, J. Ott, A. Gencik, H. Muller
Anticancer Research , 3(2), 133--142 (1983 Mar-Apr)
Abstract
Many cancers, in both children and adults, cluster in families.
Collection and statistical analysis of pedigree data suggest that
genetic mechanisms play an important role in most cancer types. This
is illustrated in colorectal, breast, lung, ovarian, and childhood
cancer. Pedigree data are consistent with the hypothesis that cancer
is sometimes inherited in an autosomal dominant Mendelian fashion.
These rare hereditary cancers might not be different
pathogenetically from those arising sporadically. A two-stage model
for carcinogenesis provides a framework for the understanding of
both forms of cancer. The establishment of registries for familial
cancer would be most helpful for cancer risk determinations,
surveillance and management programs, identification of new
cancer-prone genotypes and etiological family studies.
