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Read about different genes that are linked to hereditary cancer, their associated risks and guidelines for screening, preventing and treating cancers in people with inherited mutations in these genes.
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Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Testing > Hereditary Cancer Genes and Risk > By Gene Mutation > STK11 > Cancer Risk

1
Overview
2
Cancer Risk
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Risk Management
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Cancer Treatment
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Other Considerations

Cancer risk associated with an inherited mutation

If you have tested positive for a mutation, we recommend consulting with a genetics expert who can assess your personal and family history of cancer, and can help you decide on a plan to manage your risk.

People with an inherited  have a greatly increased risk of developing several types of cancer. Note that when we use the term "men" and "women" we are referring to the sex you were assigned at birth.

Risks for women

Women who have an inherited mutation in have an increased lifetime risk for these cancers:

  • Breast cancer: The lifetime risk for a women with a  mutation is about 32 - 54 percent compared to 12.5 percent for an average risk woman. 
  • Ovarian cancer: Women with a  mutation have an increased risk for a rare type of ovarian cancer called a Sertoli cell tumor.  
  • Endometrial cancer: The lifetime risk for a women with a  mutation is about 10 percent compared to 3 percent for an average risk woman. 
  • Cervical cancer: The lifetime risk for a women with a  mutation is about 10 percent compared to less than 1 percent for an average risk woman. 

Risks for men

Men who have a mutation in have about a 10% lifetime risk of developing a rare type of testicular cancer called a Sertoli cell tumor compared to less than 1% for men in the general population.

Risks for all people 

All people who have an inherited mutation in are at increased risk of developing these cancers. 

  • Colorectal cancer: The lifetime risk for people with an  mutation is about 40 percent compared to 4 percent for an average risk person. 
  • Pancreatic cancer: The lifetime risk is 10 - 35 percent compared to 1.5 percent for an average risk person. 
  • Stomach (gastric) cancer: The lifetime risk is about 30 percent compared to less than 1 percent for the average risk person.
  • Small intestine cancer: The lifetime risk is 15 percent compared to less than 1 percent for the average risk person.
  • Lung cancer: The lifetime risk is 10 - 15 percent. 

Graph of lifetime risk for breast cancer in women with an <button x-data class='glossary-tip tt-stk11' x-tooltip='<p>STK11 is a gene found on chromosome 19.&nbsp;Mutations in STK11 are associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare disorder that leads to increased risk of noncancerous growths and increased risk of certain cancers.&nbsp;</p> <p>People with STK11 mutations are at a greatly increased risk of:</p> <p>breast cancer in women (up to 50% lifetime risk)<br /> colon cancer (up to 39% lifetime risk)<br /> pancreatic cancer (up to 36% lifetime risk)<br /> stomach cancer (up to 29% lifetime risk)<br /> ovarian cancer (up to 21% lifetime risk)<br /> lung cancer (up to 17% lifetime risk)<br /> small intestine cancer (up to 13% lifetime risk)<br /> cervical cancer (up to 10% lifetime risk)<br /> uterine cancer (up to 9% lifetime risk)</p> <p>See also Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome&nbsp;</p> ' >STK11</button> mutation     Graph of lifetime ovarian cancer risk in women with an <button x-data class='glossary-tip tt-stk11' x-tooltip='<p>STK11 is a gene found on chromosome 19.&nbsp;Mutations in STK11 are associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare disorder that leads to increased risk of noncancerous growths and increased risk of certain cancers.&nbsp;</p> <p>People with STK11 mutations are at a greatly increased risk of:</p> <p>breast cancer in women (up to 50% lifetime risk)<br /> colon cancer (up to 39% lifetime risk)<br /> pancreatic cancer (up to 36% lifetime risk)<br /> stomach cancer (up to 29% lifetime risk)<br /> ovarian cancer (up to 21% lifetime risk)<br /> lung cancer (up to 17% lifetime risk)<br /> small intestine cancer (up to 13% lifetime risk)<br /> cervical cancer (up to 10% lifetime risk)<br /> uterine cancer (up to 9% lifetime risk)</p> <p>See also Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome&nbsp;</p> ' >STK11</button> mutation

Graph of lifetime risk for colorectal cancer in people with an <button x-data class='glossary-tip tt-stk11' x-tooltip='<p>STK11 is a gene found on chromosome 19.&nbsp;Mutations in STK11 are associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare disorder that leads to increased risk of noncancerous growths and increased risk of certain cancers.&nbsp;</p> <p>People with STK11 mutations are at a greatly increased risk of:</p> <p>breast cancer in women (up to 50% lifetime risk)<br /> colon cancer (up to 39% lifetime risk)<br /> pancreatic cancer (up to 36% lifetime risk)<br /> stomach cancer (up to 29% lifetime risk)<br /> ovarian cancer (up to 21% lifetime risk)<br /> lung cancer (up to 17% lifetime risk)<br /> small intestine cancer (up to 13% lifetime risk)<br /> cervical cancer (up to 10% lifetime risk)<br /> uterine cancer (up to 9% lifetime risk)</p> <p>See also Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome&nbsp;</p> ' >STK11</button> mutation     Graph of lifetime risk for pancreatic cancer in people with an <button x-data class='glossary-tip tt-stk11' x-tooltip='<p>STK11 is a gene found on chromosome 19.&nbsp;Mutations in STK11 are associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare disorder that leads to increased risk of noncancerous growths and increased risk of certain cancers.&nbsp;</p> <p>People with STK11 mutations are at a greatly increased risk of:</p> <p>breast cancer in women (up to 50% lifetime risk)<br /> colon cancer (up to 39% lifetime risk)<br /> pancreatic cancer (up to 36% lifetime risk)<br /> stomach cancer (up to 29% lifetime risk)<br /> ovarian cancer (up to 21% lifetime risk)<br /> lung cancer (up to 17% lifetime risk)<br /> small intestine cancer (up to 13% lifetime risk)<br /> cervical cancer (up to 10% lifetime risk)<br /> uterine cancer (up to 9% lifetime risk)</p> <p>See also Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome&nbsp;</p> ' >STK11</button> mutation

Graph of lifetime risk of stomach cancer risk of a person with <button x-data class='glossary-tip tt-stk11' x-tooltip='<p>STK11 is a gene found on chromosome 19.&nbsp;Mutations in STK11 are associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare disorder that leads to increased risk of noncancerous growths and increased risk of certain cancers.&nbsp;</p> <p>People with STK11 mutations are at a greatly increased risk of:</p> <p>breast cancer in women (up to 50% lifetime risk)<br /> colon cancer (up to 39% lifetime risk)<br /> pancreatic cancer (up to 36% lifetime risk)<br /> stomach cancer (up to 29% lifetime risk)<br /> ovarian cancer (up to 21% lifetime risk)<br /> lung cancer (up to 17% lifetime risk)<br /> small intestine cancer (up to 13% lifetime risk)<br /> cervical cancer (up to 10% lifetime risk)<br /> uterine cancer (up to 9% lifetime risk)</p> <p>See also Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome&nbsp;</p> ' >STK11</button> mutation

It is important to note that cancer risks are estimates over the course of a person's lifetime. Your lifetime risk and risk over the next five years will vary depending on:

  • current age
  • sex assigned at birth
  • specific mutation
  • personal and family health history
  • diet, exercise, lifestyle and other factors
Last updated February 27, 2023

Get Support
Get Support

FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations. 

updated: 08/06/2022

Related Resources
Related Resources

updated: 03/18/2022

Open Clinical Trials
Open Clinical Trials

NCT02665195: Registry Of MultiPlex Testing (PROMPT). PROMPT is an online research registry. The goal of PROMPT is to help researchers to better understand the risks that are linked to mutations in less well-studied genes. People with inherited mutations can enroll in PROMPT to help researchers learn more about cancer risks. 

updated: 02/05/2022

Open Clinical Trials
Open Clinical Trials

updated: 03/13/2022