A recent study by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis has shed light on the inherited genetic errors that are responsible for 12 cancer types. They have pinpointed the gene culprits or the mutations responsible for cancer susceptibility.
Besides breast and ovarian cancers, which are known as the commonest inheritable cancers (having the potential to be passed on to the next generation), stomach cancer stood out during the study as the next most common inheritable cancer. The other inheritable forms of cancers includes prostate, lung, brain, head and neck, uterus, kidney and blood.
Lifestyle has a major role to play in cancer, whether it is sporadic or hereditary. In sporadic form of cancer, lifestyle or environment is responsible for the initiation of cancer, while genetics plays a limited, non-dominating role. On the other hand, in the hereditary form of cancer, genetics plays the key role in cancer initiation, incidence of which may be modified depending on lifestyle practices. Individuals who carry the faulty genes in their body are at higher risk of developing cancer, or "hereditary cancers". The faulty genes can be obtained from the parents (inherited) or developed during embryo formation (denovo).
Individuals carrying faulty genes have up to 50 per cent tendency of passing on these genes to the next generation, making them susceptible to cancer. So, individuals with a family history of cancer should be evaluated for the possibility of faulty genetic make-up and should undergo genetic counselling and gene testing as warranted.
Cancer screening is driven by guidelines and depends on the type of faulty gene/cancer syndrome and the related risk for various cancer types. A combination of complete physical examination and various diagnostic modalities, including blood, urine and stool tests, imaging tests like mammogram, ultrasound and MRI as well as procedures like colonoscopy, endoscopy, PAP smear and eye examination are recommended at different intervals depending on the age of the individual.
Amit Verma
Consultant, molecular oncologist and cancer geneticist, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
Consultant, molecular oncologist and cancer geneticist, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
