Featured Term:
Cancer-predisposition genes
Genes that are vulnerable to cancer-causing variants or changes (mutations). In some cases, a cancer-predisposition gene is inherited or passed from generation to generation. Several dozen cancer-predisposition genes have been identified, and about 5 to 10% of all cancers result directly from those that are inherited from a parent. For example, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are inherited cancer predisposition genes, and mutations on them increase the risk for developing certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and prostate.