Diffuse Gastric and Lobular Breast Cancer Syndrome (DGLBCS)
is caused by a genetic alteration passed down through generations within families. The only causal factors described to date are mutations in the genes CDH1 ( E-cadherin), which occur up to ~40% of families, and CTNNA1 (alpha-catenin) gene mutations that so far explain ~2% of the families. Both E-cadherin and alpha-catenin are crucial proteins for the establishment of cell-cell adhesion, both functioning in the same junctional complex.
Individuals inheriting a single copy of the mutant gene are at increased risk of developing cancer. The particular subtypes of cancer appearing in these families, namely diffuse-type stomach cancer and lobular-type breast cancer, are rare forms of disease, frequently diagnosed at early ages, and difficult to treat successfully.
Every four years, the International Gastric Linkage Consortium (IGCLC) convenes to update the HDGC clinical management guidelines, which provide critical information for medical care providers and for those patients and families at risk. The next IGCLC Guidelines Updates will occur in 2024 in Portugal.
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If you enjoyed this blog post, and others during Hereditary Cancer Week then join us in Las Vegas from October 26-28, 2023 for the 2023 CGA-IGC Annual Meeting.
Join as a CGA-IGC member and benefit from a reduced registration rate!
We are happy to inform you that the 2023 CGA-IGC Annual Meeting has been approved by the NSGC for 21.67 CEU contact hours! This is the highest number of contact hours obtained for an in-person annual meeting by the CGA-IGC. We look forward to offering a top-notch scientific program to contribute to the continuing education of all our genetic counselors and researchers at CGA-IGC 2023!