title: Biomarkers of inherited susceptibility and cancer.
abstract: The etiology of cancer is likely to involve the effects of inherited genotypes at various points in the multistage process of carcinogenesis. For example, inherited genotypes could influence propensity to be exposed to carcinogens, generation of somatic mutations that initiate tumours, determination of a tumour's natural history or clinical prognosis and response to chemoprevention and treatment. Classes of inherited genotypes involved in multistage carcinogenesis are defined here to help focus the role inherited genotypes may have in the etiology and prevention of cancer. Knowledge of inherited genotype may assist in elucidating the nature and timing of specific genetic events in carcinogenesis, identify exposures that correlate with specific steps in carcinogenesis, lead to the development of risk assessment models and target relevant biochemical pathways for the development of preventive or therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6021, USA. trebbeck@cceb.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rebbeck
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers