Hereditary colorectal cancer: More common than you think

It is estimated that over 20% of all colorectal cancers (CRCs) have a familial component, and up to 6% of cases are due to a known high-risk hereditary syndrome.1 It is imperative that healthcare providers keep abreast of the genetics of CRC, as one in five CRC patients walking through their office door may need referral for genetic counseling. Despite the well-documented benefits of increased screening and risk reducing interventions in hereditary CRC syndromes, many remain undiagnosed. Reviewed here are novel and proven strategies to identify patients at risk for hereditary CRC syndromes, with a focus on Lynch syndrome (LS) and universal tumor testing of all CRCs, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP).
Source: Current Problems in Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research