Familial cancers

What is the hereditary basis of some cancers?

Individuals inherit one mutant copy of a gene from a parent. One additional mutation in the second copy of the gene will eliminate the protein encoded by this gene in the cell. Because the first mutation is inherited, the individual is predisposed (more likely to get) the cancer. For many of the inherited predispositions, the mutant gene has been identified and its function in controlling cell proliferation has been determined.

Hereditary cancer syndromes and the defective gene
Cancer Syndrome	Mutant gene that predisposes
Retinoblasoma	RB
Li-Fraumeni	P53
FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis)	APC
Breast, ovarian	BRCA 1,2
Neurofibromatosis	NF1
Melanoma	P15,16
Basal cell nevus	Patched
HNPCC	hMSH2, hMLH1

	Cell Differentiation
	Mutations Affecting Cellular Processes
	Accumulation of Mutations in Cancer
	Cell Proliferation
	Genomic Instability
	Familial Cancers