Tumors themselves are not inherited, but abnormal genes and chromosomes from people with tumors may be passed on to the next generation, putting the next generation at significantly higher risk of developing cancer.
Familial aggregation of gastric cancer exists
The most classic example of the relationship between stomach cancer and genetics is the Napoleon family, where Napoleon’s father, brother, and 3 sisters all died of stomach cancer. after the 1990s, numerous studies confirmed a clear genetic correlation between the development of stomach cancer. 3 large families of stomach cancer in New Zealand Maori, first identified in 1998, followed by 18 families of European ancestry, 1 family of African Americans, and 1 family of African Americans. The first 3 families of gastric cancer in New Zealand Māori, first identified in 1998, followed by 1 family of European ancestry, 1 family of African Americans, 5 families in Korea, and 1 family in Japan, all provide evidence for familial gastric cancer.
These hereditary tumor susceptibility syndromes may predispose to gastric cancer
When it comes to the hereditary nature of tumors, it’s important to mention hereditary tumor susceptibility syndromes. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines state that several of the following hereditary tumor syndromes are associated with an increased risk of developing gastric cancer.
- Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: CDH1 gene mutations have been identified in 30% to 50% of members of families with diffuse gastric cancer. The risk of developing gastric cancer by age 80 is 67% for men and 83% for women who carry the CDH1 gene mutation.
- Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer): The risk of gastric cancer in these patients is 1% to 13% and is higher in Asian populations than in Western populations.
- Juvenile polyposis syndrome: These patients have a 21% risk of gastric cancer in the presence of upper gastrointestinal tract involvement, primarily seen in SMAD4 mutation carriers.
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (melanotic polyposis): The risk of gastric cancer in this group of patients is 29%.
- Familial adenomatous polyposis: The risk of gastric cancer in this group of patients is 1% to 2%.
Patients with the above hereditary tumor susceptibility syndromes usually require early assessment of genetic risk for gastric cancer and screening for gastric cancer; for example, biopsies via gastrointestinal endoscopy are generally recommended every 6 to 12 months for those who carry the CDH1 gene mutation, and prophylactic gastrectomy is considered in consultation with physicians for CDH1 gene mutation carriers aged 18 to 40 years; patients with Lynch syndrome may be considered for Esophagogastroscopy and extensive duodenoscopy were performed.
In conclusion, there is a familial clustering of gastric cancer. When multiple gastric cancer patients are in the family, their members are more likely to develop gastric cancer, and many patients with hereditary tumor susceptibility syndromes are also at significantly higher risk of developing gastric cancer. Therefore, if multiple members of the family are diagnosed with gastric cancer or hereditary tumor susceptibility syndrome, it is important to talk to your doctor and follow his or her recommendations for gastric cancer genetic risk assessment and gastric cancer screening.