Risk Management & Treatment > Cancer Treatment > By Cancer Type > Prostate > Genes linked to hereditary prostate cancer
Inherited mutations and cancer
Genes linked to hereditary cancer
About 1 out of 10 cancers is caused by an . The genes listed below have been linked to an increased risk for hereditary cancer. Note: this is not a complete list.
* More research is needed to confirm a link between cancer and an in these genes.
Genetic testing results may affect cancer treatment and prognosis
- In addition to increasing lifetime risk for cancer, , (and possibly other genes) have been linked to more aggressive, disease.
- People with mCRPC who test positive for an may benefit from targeted or to treat their cancer.
FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations.
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once registered, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Our moderated, private Facebook group allows you to connect with other community members 24/7.
- Check out our virtual and in-person support meeting calendar.
- Join one of our Zoom community group meetings.
updated: 08/06/2022
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has guidelines regarding which cancer patients should undergo genetic counseling and testing. Men with the following factors should speak with a genetics expert about genetic testing:
- A tumor test result that suggests an (for example, a , or mutation in the tumor that may indicate an in one of those genes).
- A blood relative who tested positive for an in a gene linked to cancer.
- cancer diagnosed at any age.
- Intraductal/cribriform cells found by pathology.
- Cancer that is categorized as very high or high risk based on pathology.
- A diagnosis of male breast cancer.
- Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish ancestry.
- One or more first-, second- or third-degree relatives with breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger, or ovarian, pancreatic, male breast cancer, cancer or intraductal/cribriform cancer at any age.
- Two or more close relatives diagnosed with breast or cancer at any age.
updated: 03/01/2023
Below are clinical trials that include genetic counseling and testing.
- 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.
- NCT02620852: WISDOM Study: Women Informed to Screen Depending on Measures of Risk offers women age 40-74 the opportunity to undergo risk assessment and genetic testing in order to determine the best breast screening options based on their situation.
- NCT04476654: Improving Uptake of Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment in African American Women-Video. This study looks at the usefulness of intervention with a culturally-tailored video to improve uptake of genetic counseling in Black women who are at increased risk of .
- NCT05694559: Connecting Black Families in Houston, Texas to Genetic Counseling, Genetic Testing, and Cascade Testing by Using a Simple Genetic Risk Screening Tool and Telegenetics. This study will provide genetic testing to 150 Black individuals and families and provide genetic counseling and risk reduction resources to individuals with a mutation linked to increased cancer risk.
Other genetic counseling or testing studies may be found here.
updated: 05/28/2023