Genetics in urogenital cancer

Genetic factors appear to be operative in a significant number of patients, producing inherited predispositions to the development of various types of genitourinary cancers. These high-risk patients can anticipate their tumors to occur at younger ages and to be multifocal or bilateral in paired organs. They can expect the recurrence of new and similar lesions with the passage of time, despite earlier apparant curative treatment. Early and continuing periodic surveillance with appropriate diagnostic techniques throughout their lifetime is essential to a successful outcome. Genetic predisposition is often admixed with adverse environmental exposure to carcinogenic factors, making definition of cancer etiology difficult. A failure to appreciate the hereditary aspects of urogenital cancer has delayed our knowledge and prevented obvious therapeutic and control advances in this area. More thorough study of medical histories and family backgrounds in our patients must be carefully compiled and reported to enhance our comprehension of genetics in urogenital cancer.