Learn about gene changes called mutations, how inherited mutations can lead to cancer, what types of cancer may be hereditary and how parents can pass gene mutations to their children.
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, NBN, PALB2, PTEN, STK11, TP5 |
| Colorectal | APC, CHEK2, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, PMS2, PTEN, TP53 |
| Endometrial | EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, PTEN, STK11, TP53 |
| Fallopian tube, ovarian and primary peritoneal | BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, STK11 |
| Gastric | APC, CDH1, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, STK11 |
| Melanoma | BRCA2, CDK4, CDKN2A, PTEN |
| Pancreatic | ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDKN2A, MLH1, PALB2, STK11, TP53 |
| Prostate | BRCA1, BRCA2, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, NBN, PMS2, TP53 |
- Mutations in different genes increase the risk for different types of cancers.
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) refers to mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, which increase the risk for breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and other cancers.
- Lynch syndrome refers to mutations in EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, which increase the risk for colorectal, endometrial and other cancers.
Last updated May 23, 2020