Bioethics and the Law in Familial Cancer, a Practical Approach

Azua-Romeo  Javier

doi:10.4236/ojpathology.2012.22009

Azua-Romeo Javier^*

Abstract: Hereditary cancers are the result of germline mutations in specific genes that increase susceptibility to cancer. This susceptibility is spread among family members according to different patterns of inheritance. Inherited susceptibility to cancer, does not imply the certainty of developing it in all cases. In this sense many questions have come out in recent years, not only in the medical sense but also in the field of bioethics and the law.

Keywords: Cancer; Hereditary; Ethics; Law

Cite this paper: A. Javier, "Bioethics and the Law in Familial Cancer, a Practical Approach," Open Journal of Pathology, Vol. 2 No. 2, 2012, pp. 42-44. doi: 10.4236/ojpathology.2012.22009.

References

[1] K. Offit and P. Thom, “Ethicolegal Aspects of Cancer Genetics,” Cancer Treatment Research, Vol. 155, 2010, pp. 1-14. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-6033-7_1

[2] S. L. Manne, N. J. Meropol, D. S. Weinberg, H. Vig, Z. A.-K. Catts, C. Manning, E. Ross, K. Shannon and D. C. Chung, “Facilitating Informed Decisions Regarding Microsatellite Instability Testing among High-Risk Individuals Diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer,” Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol. 28, No. 8, 2010, pp. 1366-1372. doi:10.1200/JCO.2009.25.0399

[3] M. Aronson, “Genetic Counselling for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer: Ethical, Legal and Psychosocial Issues,” Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2009, pp. 669-685. doi:10.1016/j.soc.2009.07.001

[4] J. Kountouras, C. Zavos and D. Chatzopoulos, “New Concepts of Molecular Biology on Gastric Carcinogenesis,” Hepato-Gastroenterology, Vol. 52, No. 64, 2005, pp. 1305-1312.

[5] A. Romiti, A. Zullo, S. Tomao, C. Hassan, I Sarcina, V. D. Francesco, E. Ierardi, F. Tomao, A. Vecchione and S. Morini, “Gastric Mucosa Alterations in First-Degree Relatives of Gastric Cancer Patients,” Anticancer Reseach, Vol.25, No. 3c, 2005, pp. 2567-2572.

[6] D. G. Huntsman, F. Carneiro and F. R. Lewis, et al., “Early Gastric Cancer in Young, Asymptomatic Carriers of Germ-Line E-Cadherin Mutations,” The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 344, No. 25, 2001, pp. 1904-1909.

[7] F. R. Lewis, J. D. Mellinger and A. Hayashi, et al., “Prophylactic Total Gastrectomy for Familial Gastric Cancer,” Surgery, Vol. 130, No. 4, 2001, pp. 612-617. doi:10.1067/msy.2001.117099

[8] C. Caldas, F. Carneiro and H. Lynch, et al., “Familial Gastric Cancer: Overview and Guidelines for Management,” Journal of Medical Genetics, Vol. 36, No. 12, 1999, pp. 873-880.

[9] G. Suriano, S. Yew and P. Ferreira, et al., “Characterization of a Recurrent Germ Line Mutation of the E-Cadherin gene: Implications for Genetic Testing and Clinical Management,” Clinical Cancer Research, Vol. 11, No. 15, 2005, pp. 5401-5409. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-05-0247