Hereditary and Familial Disorders Linking Cancer Proneness with Abnormal Carcinogen Response and Faulty DNA Metabolism

Insight into cancer, one of the principal scourges of modern man, has increased slowly but steadily over the years. Epidemiologists concur that most human malignancies are caused, at least in part, by environmental determinants over which an individual can exercise some control; in principle then, the disease is preventable to some extent (Doll and Peto, 1981). In practice, however, the goal of cancer prevention by large-scale efforts to minimize exposure to the causal agents would seem to be unattainable, as judged by societal experience with two major ‘life-style’ factors, habitual tobacco usage and sunbathing. Although an ultimate aim is to develop other more socially acceptable prevention strategies, there exists in the interim a requirement for improved diagnostic techniques and more rational treatment protocols. Each of these approaches to cancer control will almost certainly necessitate clearer understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease.