Familial cancer syndromes and clusters. 1994

J M Birch
University of Manchester, CRC Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, UK.

The study of rare families in which a variety of cancers occur, usually at an early age and with patterns consistent with a common hereditary mechanism, has contributed much to our understanding of the process of carcinogenesis. So far, genes identified as having a role in cancer predisposition in these families have also been important in the histogenesis of sporadic cancers. In the two most clearly defined cancer family syndromes, the Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Lynch syndrome II, the genes involved predispose to diverse but specific constellations of cancers. Genes associated with site-specific familial cancer clusters may also give rise to increased susceptibility to other cancers, and site-specific clusters may represent one end of a spectrum. A consistent feature of familial cancer syndromes is the variable expression within and between families. A challenge for the future will be to determine other factors which may interact with the principal genes involved, giving rise to this variability.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D009456 Neurofibromatosis 1 An autosomal dominant inherited disorder (with a high frequency of spontaneous mutations) that features developmental changes in the nervous system, muscles, bones, and skin, most notably in tissue derived from the embryonic NEURAL CREST. Multiple hyperpigmented skin lesions and subcutaneous tumors are the hallmark of this disease. Peripheral and central nervous system neoplasms occur frequently, especially OPTIC NERVE GLIOMA and NEUROFIBROSARCOMA. NF1 is caused by mutations which inactivate the NF1 gene (GENES, NEUROFIBROMATOSIS 1) on chromosome 17q. The incidence of learning disabilities is also elevated in this condition. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1014-18) There is overlap of clinical features with NOONAN SYNDROME in a syndrome called neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome. Both the PTPN11 and NF1 gene products are involved in the SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION pathway of Ras (RAS PROTEINS). Peripheral Neurofibromatosis,Recklinghausen Disease of Nerve,von Recklinghausen Disease,Cafe-au-Lait Spots with Pulmonic Stenosis,Molluscum Fibrosum,NF1 (Neurofibromatosis 1),Neurofibromatosis I,Neurofibromatosis Type 1,Neurofibromatosis Type I,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral Type,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral, NF 1,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral, NF1,Neurofibromatosis, Type 1,Neurofibromatosis, Type I,Pulmonic Stenosis with Cafe-au-Lait Spots,Recklinghausen Disease, Nerve,Recklinghausen's Disease of Nerve,Recklinghausens Disease of Nerve,Watson Syndrome,von Recklinghausen's Disease,Cafe au Lait Spots with Pulmonic Stenosis,Neurofibromatoses, Peripheral,Neurofibromatoses, Type I,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral,Peripheral Neurofibromatoses,Pulmonic Stenosis with Cafe au Lait Spots,Syndrome, Watson,Type 1 Neurofibromatosis,Type 1, Neurofibromatosis,Type I Neurofibromatoses,Type I, Neurofibromatosis,von Recklinghausens Disease
D009857 Oncogenes Genes whose gain-of-function alterations lead to NEOPLASTIC CELL TRANSFORMATION. They include, for example, genes for activators or stimulators of CELL PROLIFERATION such as growth factors, growth factor receptors, protein kinases, signal transducers, nuclear phosphoproteins, and transcription factors. A prefix of "v-" before oncogene symbols indicates oncogenes captured and transmitted by RETROVIRUSES; the prefix "c-" before the gene symbol of an oncogene indicates it is the cellular homolog (PROTO-ONCOGENES) of a v-oncogene. Transforming Genes,Oncogene,Transforming Gene,Gene, Transforming,Genes, Transforming
D010375 Pedigree The record of descent or ancestry, particularly of a particular condition or trait, indicating individual family members, their relationships, and their status with respect to the trait or condition. Family Tree,Genealogical Tree,Genealogic Tree,Genetic Identity,Identity, Genetic,Family Trees,Genealogic Trees,Genealogical Trees,Genetic Identities,Identities, Genetic,Tree, Family,Tree, Genealogic,Tree, Genealogical,Trees, Family,Trees, Genealogic,Trees, Genealogical
D003123 Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis A group of autosomal-dominant inherited diseases in which COLON CANCER arises in discrete adenomas. Unlike FAMILIAL POLYPOSIS COLI with hundreds of polyps, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal neoplasms occur much later, in the fourth and fifth decades. HNPCC has been associated with germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. It has been subdivided into Lynch syndrome I or site-specific colonic cancer, and LYNCH SYNDROME II which includes extracolonic cancer. Colon Cancer, Familial Nonpolyposis, Type 1,Colorectal Cancer, Hereditary Nonpolyposis, Type 1,Familial Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer Type 1,Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer,Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Type 1,Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Neoplasms,Lynch Syndrome,Colon Cancer, Familial Nonpolyposis,Colorectal Cancer Hereditary Nonpolyposis,Familial Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer,Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer,Lynch Cancer Family Syndrome I,Lynch Syndrome I,Syndrome, Lynch
D005192 Family Health The health status of the family as a unit including the impact of the health of one member of the family on the family as a unit and on individual family members; also, the impact of family organization or disorganization on the health status of its members. Health, Family
D005260 Female Females
D006623 von Hippel-Lindau Disease An autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in a tumor suppressor gene. This syndrome is characterized by abnormal growth of small blood vessels leading to a host of neoplasms. They include HEMANGIOBLASTOMA in the RETINA; CEREBELLUM; and SPINAL CORD; PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA; pancreatic tumors; and renal cell carcinoma (see CARCINOMA, RENAL CELL). Common clinical signs include HYPERTENSION and neurological dysfunctions. Cerebelloretinal Angiomatosis, Familial,Lindau Disease,Angiomatosis Retinae,Familial Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatosis,Hippel-Lindau Disease,Lindau's Disease,VHL Syndrome,von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome,Angiomatoses, Familial Cerebello-Retinal,Angiomatoses, Familial Cerebelloretinal,Angiomatosis, Familial Cerebello-Retinal,Angiomatosis, Familial Cerebelloretinal,Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatoses, Familial,Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatosis, Familial,Cerebelloretinal Angiomatoses, Familial,Familial Cerebello Retinal Angiomatosis,Familial Cerebello-Retinal Angiomatoses,Familial Cerebelloretinal Angiomatoses,Familial Cerebelloretinal Angiomatosis,Hippel Lindau Disease,Lindau's Diseases,Lindaus Disease,VHL Syndromes,von Hippel Lindau Disease,von Hippel Lindau Syndrome
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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