Segregation analysis of inheritance of adenomas, colorectal cancer (CRC), a
nd multiple primary malignant tumors (MPMT) revealed their low penetrance:
from 3.2 to 29% for homozygotes and from 2.0 to 14.4% for heterozygotes. Th
is cast a doubt on the monogenic type of their inheritance, although it for
mally corresponded to the quasi-dominant type, i.e., only a fraction of the
heterozygotes was expressed. Therefore, the multifactorial model of inheri
tance was tested, which seemed more adequate, because genetic heterogeneity
of adenomas, CRC, and MPMT was suggested from the data on genetic correlat
ions between various clinical forms. Predisposition to various clinical for
ms of adenomas, CRC, and MPMT was shown to be specific, i.e., the ratio bet
ween genetic and environmental predisposition-determining factors reflected
pathogenetic differences between these diseases. However, analysis of vari
ance which revealed genetic (pathogenetic) distinctions between adenomas, C
RC, and MPMT is insufficient to confirm complete nosologic identity of each
of these clinical forms.