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The genetics of inherited cancers 

The genetics of inherited cancers
Chapter:
The genetics of inherited cancers
Author(s):

Rosalind A. Eeles

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780198746690.003.0047
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date: 28 February 2021

All cancer can be termed ‘genetic’ as the disease is caused by somatic cell mutations (alterations in the DNA code), which result in abnormal cellular growth and/or proliferation. Most of these mutations are sporadic (only occurring in the cancer cell), but some are due to the inheritance of a germline mutation in a cancer predisposition gene. Cancer predisposition genes can be rare and confer a high cancer risk (about 10-fold lifetime relative risk), or common and confer a low to moderately increased risk (from just over onefold, up to two- to threefold). They have been shown to be involved in causing some of most common cancers as well as some rare cancers. Cancer genetics will become part of mainstream clinical pathways for cancer care in the coming years and is likely to contribute to healthcare that is tailored to individual patients.

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