Question

How can one reconcile the following statements : “Cancer is a genetic disease” and “Most

cancers are sporadic (not inherited)”.

Answer 1

• Cancer is a genetic disease if a mutation in the genes responsible for suppressing the development of tumors exists in both somatic and germ cells, due to which it can be inherited.
• Cancer is a sporadic disease if the mutation of genes responsible for the suppression of tumor development is formed only in somatic cells under the influence of environmental factors.