Inherited Mutations and Hereditary Cancer
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damage and gene mutations
Genes are made up of . Gene mutations are caused by damage to our . Cells have tools to repair damage. If it cannot be repaired, the body has ways to remove the damaged cell so that it cannot divide and create more damaged cells. This system isn't always perfect, and damage and gene mutations can build up in cells. Over time, this can lead to cancer.
- Cancers in people who do not have an are called "sporadic" cancers.
- Cancers in people who do have an are called "hereditary" cancers.
Acquired mutations and sporadic cancers
"Acquired" mutations happen after a person is born. They are caused by “wear and tear” on genes over time. Cell damage can build up over a person's lifetime leading to cancer. Some causes of acquired mutations include:
- aging
- exposure to hormones
- exposure to toxins in your environment
- certain viruses
Inherited mutations and hereditary cancers
Most genes come in pairs—one copy comes from each parent. Sometimes, a parent may pass a damaged gene with a mutation to one or more of their children. The children with this mutation can pass it to each of their children. A gene mutation that is passed from a parent to their child is called an "." Depending on which gene has the damage, inherited mutations can increase your risk for certain diseases like cancer.
People with inherited mutations are born with one already damaged gene in all of the cells in their body. This means people with inherited mutations require fewer steps for their cells to develop cancer. An inherited gene mutation does not always cause cancer. If you inherit a mutation from one parent, you still have a normal copy of the same gene from your other parent.
damage repair genes
Certain genes are important for repairing damage. These genes are sometimes referred to as " damage repair" or "DDR" genes.
- In normal cells, mutations in damage repair genes increase the chance that the cell will become cancer. This is why inherited mutations in genes that repair damage increase the risk for cancer.
- In cells that are already cancerous, mutations in damage repair genes can keep the cells from repairing damage caused by treatment. This means that cancer cells with mutations in these genes may be more sensitive to certain treatments.
Key Facts about Hereditary Cancer
- Anyone can carry an . Mothers or fathers can pass an to their children.
- People are born with inherited mutations. Over their lifetime they may develop additional mutations.
- Most cancers are not caused by an , but are due to mutations that occur over time as a result of aging, environmental exposures, certain viruses, or normal “wear and tear” on cells.
- About 1 out of 10 cancers will be caused by an .