It is estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of individuals with cancer developed the disease due to hereditary-familial causes. For some types of cancer (breast, colon, stomach, kidney, melanoma, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pancreas), genes have been identified whose alteration may predispose to tumor development; many studies are underway for other types of cancer.
Identifying and treating tumors with a familial origin is a challenge that requires special resources and skills. The Hereditary Tumors Unit follows the patient step by step, from cancer genetic counseling to the possible analysis of DNA, up to the implementation of personalized diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic procedures. In the Unit, endocrinologists, oncologists, geneticists and surgeons work together to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to hereditary cancer and preventive cancer care.
Five teams are present in the Unit:
- hereditary endocrine / neuroendocrine tumors (the group is also present at the IOV clinic in Castelfranco Veneto);
- Heredo-familial colorectal cancer;
- Heredo-familial cancers of the breast and ovary (the group is also present at the IOV clinic in Castelfranco Veneto);
- hereditary melanoma;
- hereditary kidney cancer.
Another mission of the Unit is to assist patients with oncoendocrinology related problems, in particular:
- endocrine complications of cancer therapy;
- osteoncology;
- tumors of the endocrine glands;
- prenatal genetic diagnosis.
