Hereditary colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer: comprehensive review

Abstract

Certain cancers of the digestive system — including colorectal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers — can run in families due to inherited changes in specific genes. This comprehensive review describes the most important of these hereditary conditions, how they are recognized, and what they mean for affected individuals and their relatives. People who carry these genetic changes may face substantially higher lifetime cancer risks, but early identification opens the door to tailored screening, preventive surgery, and testing of family members who may also be at risk. Managing these syndromes well requires coordinated care from specialists across multiple disciplines, ideally in centers with dedicated expertise in hereditary cancer.