Fast Five Quiz: How Much Do You Know About the Genetics of Breast Cancer?

Maurie Markman, MD

December 29, 2020

Inherited cancer syndromes are caused by genetic mutations that increase a patient's risk of developing cancer. LFS is a rare genetic cancer syndrome associated with mutations of tumor-suppressor gene TP53, which is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Together, male and female patients with LFS have an estimated 50% risk of developing cancer by age 40 years and a 90% risk by age 60 years.

Female patients with LFS have almost a 100% lifetime risk of developing cancer. They also have a 56% risk of developing breast cancer by age 45 years, and a > 90% risk by age 60 years; most breast cancers are diagnosed in patients younger than age 40 years. Moreover, patients with this syndrome also have rates of bilateral breast cancer approaching 25%. LFS is also associated with cancers of other sites, including the brain and lungs.

The remaining conditions, Lynch syndrome, Cowden disease, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, are rare genetic syndromes that are also associated with increased cancer risk but have a lower lifetime risk than that of LFS.

Learn more about risk factors for the development of breast cancer.

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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Maurie Markman. Fast Five Quiz: How Much Do You Know About the Genetics of Breast Cancer? - Medscape - Dec 29, 2020.

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