Germline mutations in cancer susceptibility genes: an overview for nurses
1Division of Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Population Science, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. dmacdonald@coh.org
Objective:
To provide an overview of hereditary cancer susceptibility genes and associated cancer risks.
Data Sources:
Peer reviewed published research studies and review articles.
Conclusions:
Identifying deleterious mutations in cancer susceptibility genes allows for clarification of cancer risk in individual family members and risk-level appropriate screening, and risk management recommendations. Evolving knowledge of the role of germline mutations provides an unprecedented opportunity to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and morality.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
To provide individuals/families with accurate cancer risk management information and guidance, oncology nurses must be familiar with scientific discoveries related to cancer susceptibility genes.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer
