CRITERIA OF HEREDITARY PREDISPOSITION TO HEREDITARY NONPOLYPOSIS COLORECTAL CANCERS

Clinical and histological characteristics of non polypoid colorectal c ancers with an hereditary predisposition are presented. The various kn own genetic syndromes (hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancers, Ly nch syndrome type I and type II, Torre-Muir's syndrome, hereditary fla t adenoma syndrome) are discussed to find a possible correlation betwe en this nosological classification and their molecular substratum. The main problem today, is to correctly define the population of heredita ry predisposed patients to colon cancer, in order to seek and identify the major responsible gene. Any physician, specialist or not, should be encouraged to give the details of the cancer familial context of hi s patients, in order to aid the oncologist geneticist in his task.