Top Inherited Genes Linked to Cancer Risk

While T790M is a powerful lung-specific risk, other genes hold the top spots for broader hereditary cancer syndromes across multiple organs.

The top 3

1. The BRCA1 & BRCA2 Dominance: These genes remain the most well-known high-penetrance mutations, significantly increasing lifetime risks for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
2. The Moderate-Penetrance Heavyweights: Genes like ATM, PALB2, and CHEK2 increase cancer risk two to fivefold, playing a critical role in clinical genetic counseling and family screening.
3. The Specificity of Lung Drivers: Unlike BRCA, which affects multiple tissues, the EGFR T790M mutation shows a powerful, exclusive association with lung cancer, sparing other organs.

Sources

• Cancer Research UK
• Memorial Sloan Kettering

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