Cancers Linked to Inherited Mutations

Cancers caused by an inherited mutation are called hereditary cancers. The remaining cancers - those not caused by an inherited mutation - are called sporadic cancers. Most cancers are sporadic, but overall, about 10-20% of cancers are believed to be caused by an inherited mutation. 

Some common cancer types and associated inherited mutations are listed in the table below. 

Type of cancer	List of gene mutations
Breast	ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDH1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, RAD51C, RAD51D, STK11, TP53
Colorectal	APC, CHEK2, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, PMS2, PTEN, TP53
Endometrial	BRCA1*, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, PTEN, STK11, TP53
Fallopian tube, ovarian and primary peritoneal	BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6,  PALB2, PMS2, RAD51C, RAD51D
Gastric	APC, CDH1, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH**, STK11
Melanoma	BRCA2, CDK4, CDKN2A, PTEN
Pancreatic	ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDKN2A, MLH1, PALB2, STK11, TP53
Prostate	BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, EPCAM**, HOXB13, MLH1**, MSH2**, MSH6**, PMS2**, TP53**

*Although the increased risk is small, BRCA1 mutations have been linked to a rare and aggressive type of endometrial cancer. 

**More research is needed to learn the risk for people with mutations in this gene.