title: Hereditary cancer syndromes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the biological basis, clinical implications, identification, and medical management of syndromes associated with increased risk of common adult cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent studies and data available from molecular and clinical analysis of genes responsible for autosomal-dominant inheritance of cancer risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several hereditary cancer syndromes have been identified for which there are increasingly effective diagnostic and management options. Specific hereditary susceptibility syndromes have been characterized that increase the risk of malignancies of the breast, ovary, colon, endometrium, and endocrine organs. Following a summary of the biological basis of hereditary cancer risk in adults, the identification of such syndromes by clinical and laboratory means is reviewed. Finally, management options for individuals with these syndromes are summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advances in gene discovery have allowed the diagnosis of recently characterized hereditary cancer syndromes to enhance medical management for individuals with inherited susceptibility to common cancers.
authors.affiliation: Myriad Genetic Laboratories and University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome