Genetic Predisposition to Cancer Flashcards
Mutations cause faulty proteins, what are the possibilities?
- Functional protein
- Non-functional or missing protein
- Protein with reduced function
What does cancer arise from?
Gene mutations
Describe the cell cycle?
What are oncogenes?
Oncogenes = regulate cell growth
- A mutation of oncogenes leads to accelerated cell division, and ultimately maybe cancer
What are tumour suppresor genes?
Tumour suppressor genes = normal genes that slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes or tell cells when to die
- 1st mutation makes you susceptible to cancer
- 2nd mutation leads to cancer
Describe the pathogenesis of cancer, using colon cancer as an example?
What is the main mechanism for familial cancer?
Faulty DNA mismatch repair
Is familial cancer autosomal dominant or recessive?
Is autosomal dominant inheritance:
- Each child has 50% chance of inheriting mutation
- No skipped generations
- Equally transmitted by men and woman
What is Lynch syndrome/HNPCC?
Is a mutation in mismatch repair genes:
- Excess of colorectal, endometrial, urinary tract, ovarian and gastric cancer
- Adenoma-carcinoma sequence for polyp formation
What cancers does Lynch syndrome/HNPCC increase risks of?
Excess of colorectal, endometrial, urinary tract, ovarian and gastric cancer
What are clinical features of lynch syndrome/HNPCC?
- Early but variable age of diagnosis
- Tumour site in proximal colon predominates
What investigations are done for lynch syndrome/HNPCC?
- Genetic testing
- IHC for mismatch repair gene proteins
- Or microsatellite instability testing (MSI)
What is Lynch syndrome also known as?
Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
When should you suspect hereditary cancer syndrome?
- Cancer in 2 or more close relatives
- Early age of diagnosis
- Multiple primary tumours
- Bilateral or multiple rare cancers
Describe the cancer genetics process at the clinic?
- Detailed family history
- Verbally reported pedigree and then revised pedigree based on pathology reports
- Confirm diagnosis of cancer
- Risk estimation
- Genetic centres can classify people as gene carrier who is high, medium or low risk (low risk being similar to population average)
- Interventions
- Awareness of symptoms/signs
- Lifestyle – diet, smoking, exercised
- Prevention – oestrogen, aspirin
- Screening
- Prophylactic surgery
- Genetic testing
- Consider in high risk