ABSTRACT
The concept that human disease can be inherited has been recognized for many
centuries. In the 19th century, the emergence of hemophilia in the offspring of
British Queen Victoria was one of the most notable early examples of a familial
disease trait. The subsequent appearance of the disease in Royal Houses of
Spain, Russia, and Prussia illustrated how inherited disease transmission can
occur as well as the impact it can have on successive generations of affected
individuals. In the 21st century, inherited cancer susceptibility has become one
of the most well-recognized familial traits. Research focused on the molecular
basis of inherited cancer predisposition promises to not only enhance our ability
to tailor care for individuals with familial cancer syndromes but also to shed light
on the biologic underpinnings of sporadic cancer.
