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Realizing the promise of cancer predisposition genes

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A Corrigendum to this article was published on 04 June 2014

Abstract

Genes in which germline mutations confer highly or moderately increased risks of cancer are called cancer predisposition genes. More than 100 of these genes have been identified, providing important scientific insights in many areas, particularly the mechanisms of cancer causation. Moreover, clinical utilization of cancer predisposition genes has had a substantial impact on diagnosis, optimized management and prevention of cancer. The recent transformative advances in DNA sequencing hold the promise of many more cancer predisposition gene discoveries, and greater and broader clinical applications. However, there is also considerable potential for incorrect inferences and inappropriate clinical applications. Realizing the promise of cancer predisposition genes for science and medicine will thus require careful navigation.

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Figure 1: Chromosomal locations of 114 cancer predisposition genes.
Figure 2: Timeline of cancer predisposition gene (CPG) discovery.
Figure 3: Overlap between somatically mutated cancer genes and cancer predisposition genes (CPGs).

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Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to many colleagues with whom I have discussed discovery, characterization and clinical translation of CPGs over the past 15 years in particular M. Stratton, H. Hanson and C. Turnbull. I am indebted to A. Strydom for editorial assistance, S. Hanks for construction of Fig. 1 and S. Mahamdallie, B. De Souza, C. Turnbull and E. Ruark for input into the Supplementary Information.

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Rahman, N. Realizing the promise of cancer predisposition genes. Nature 505, 302–308 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12981

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