SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is a genetic condition that elevates the likelihood of developing various cancers. Colorectal cancer, affecting the colon (large intestine) and rectum, is the most common. However, individuals with Lynch syndrome are also at greater risk for cancers of the stomach, small intestine, liver, bile ducts, urinary tract, brain, and skin. Furthermore, women with Lynch syndrome face a heightened risk of ovarian and endometrial (uterine lining) cancers. This increased risk of female reproductive cancers contributes to a higher overall cancer risk for women with Lynch syndrome compared to men. Cancer development in individuals with Lynch syndrome typically occurs during their 40s or 50s.

Individuals with Lynch syndrome may sometimes develop non-cancerous growths called colon polyps. While these polyps may appear at an earlier age in those with Lynch syndrome, they do not occur in greater numbers than in the general population.

Inheritance:

The increased cancer risk associated with Lynch syndrome follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means that inheriting just one altered copy of a Lynch syndrome gene in each cell is enough to increase the risk of cancer. It's crucial to understand that carrying a variant gene means an increased risk, but not everyone who inherits such a variant will necessarily develop cancer.