Cancer Susceptibility and Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes

The study of rare human genetic cancer susceptibility syndromes has led to a broader view of cancer pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment in the general population. The systematic study of rare cancer-prone families has elucidated a complex network of cancer proteins and tumor suppressors, many of which function in DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoint control, and telomere maintenance. For example, the Li-Fraumeni syndrome has illustrated how study of a rare familial cluster of pediatric sarcomas and breast cancer can provide a wider view of clinical genetics for both inherited and sporadic cancers. The primary focus of this AACR Special Conference will be the cooperation of cancer susceptibility proteins in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. We will also discuss how mechanisms of control of mRNA/Protein Translation, when dysregulated, can lead to tumorigenesis. We will focus on new cancer susceptibility syndromes and how these syndromes have elucidated new cell regulatory pathways. Finally, we will consider how these syndromes have led to novel cancer diagnostic tools and chemoprevention approaches.