Inherited Susceptibility to Common Cancers

This review deals with germ-line genes that increase susceptibility to five major types of cancer: breast, lung, pancreatic, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Often familial, often appearing at a young age, and often with atypical features, these cancers are caused by mutations in a germ-line gene and frequently with a second mutation in a gene in a somatic cell. The review ends with a discussion of clinical implications, especially for genetic counseling.