Wednesday, February 13, 2013, Cleveland: Cleveland Clinic researchers have found that colorectal cancer outcomes could be improved with regular genetic screening for Lynch syndrome, the most common hereditary, adult-onset cause of colorectal cancer, as published in the online version of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Lynch syndrome is the most common genetic cause of colon cancer in adults. The study found that a universal screening program of all colorectal cancers surgically removed at Cleveland Clinic resulted in increased identification of Lynch syndrome patients by successfully referring individuals whose tumors screen positive to genetics professionals. Identification of Lynch syndrome will lead to significantly improved outcomes for colorectal cancer patients and their family members.
Most colorectal cancers are sporadic, and are not due to inherited genetic causes. More than 140 million Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. With one out of 35 colorectal cancer cases resulting from Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition that predisposes to a wide variety of cancers at earlier ages, a clinical recommendation was established in 2009 to screen all colorectal patients for Lynch syndrome. With four million Americans having Lynch syndrome each year, and most going unrecognized, a systematic manner of screening for this condition presented a challenge. Furthermore, another challenge is ensuring that all individuals whose tumors screen positive for potential Lynch syndrome are referred to genetics professionals.
By identifying Lynch syndrome patients, measures can be taken to thwart the development of additional cancers in the patient, as well as increase surveillance in the patient. Once Lynch syndrome has been identified in a patient, his/her family members can be referred to genetics professionals to determine if they too have inherited the same condition. As patients who carry the Lynch gene un
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| Contact: Laura Ambro ambrol@ccf.org 216-636-5876 Cleveland Clinic Source:Eurekalert |
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