Genotype/phenotype of familial pancreatic cancer.
It is estimated that 5% to 10% of pancreatic cancer cases are attributable to hereditary factors. We believe that the number of cases that are genetic in etiology are even greater, however, based not on a classic autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance but rather when one takes into account low-penetrant inherited susceptibility factors. There is also a growing recognition that the development of pancreatic cancer in pancreatic cancer-prone families is dependent not only on genetic variables but on nongenetic factors. The aim of this article is to review the challenges in identifying pancreatic cancer-prone families and how environmental factors interact with genetic factors in these families.
Brand
Randall E
RE
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, and Section of Gastroenterology, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, 2100 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, IL 60026, USA. rbrand@enh.org
Lynch
Henry T
HT
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype