Expert commission focuses on inherited digestive cancer

An expert commission on inherited digestive cancer under the Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association has been established to focus on  precise diagnosis and scientific prevention. 

Digestive cancers such as colorectal, gastric and pancreatic have certain genetic factors. 

About 30 percent of colorectal cancer patients have a high inheritance.

Among gastric and pancreatic cancers, about 10 percent of patients have a family history.

Dr Xu Ye from the Shanghai Cancer Center and director of the new commission said domestic doctors were aware of the inheritance factor in digestive cancers. It has also been the subject of research.

“There are different genetic features and clinical pathological characters in different regions of the country," he said. "It is important to establish an expert commission to lead the research and work out a unified clinical standard."

Xu said his hospital started consultation outpatient services for inheritance of colorectal cancer in 2007. The clinic receives some 300 patients every year and has been able to identity people with cancer-related genes and early-stage cancer through genetic screening and clinical practice.

“More than 90 percent of patients can be identified in early stages for prevention and control,” he said.

Ti Gong