Diseases with associated cancers
Diseases Associated with Specific Cancers
Certain diseases and conditions increase the risk of specific cancers due to genetic, environmental, or pathological mechanisms. Below are important associations to remember:
- Down Syndrome: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
- Xeroderma Pigmentosum: Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin.
- Chronic Active Gastritis / Pernicious Anaemia: Gastric adenocarcinoma.
- Tuberous Sclerosis: Astrocytoma, cardiac rhabdomyoma.
- Barrett’s Oesophagus: Oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
- Cirrhosis: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Ulcerative Colitis: Colorectal cancer.
- Acanthosis Nigricans: Stomach, lung, breast, and uterine cancers.
- AIDS: Kaposi’s sarcoma, malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
- Paget’s Disease of Bone: Osteosarcoma.
- Plummer-Vinson Syndrome: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oesophagus.
Explanation of Associations
- Genetic Disorders: Chromosomal abnormalities (e.g., Down syndrome) or defective DNA repair (e.g., xeroderma pigmentosum) predispose to malignancy.
- Chronic Inflammation: Persistent inflammation (e.g., ulcerative colitis, gastritis) increases malignancy risk.
- Precursor Lesions: Dysplastic changes (e.g., Barrett’s oesophagus, Plummer-Vinson syndrome) can evolve into cancer.
- Immunodeficiency: AIDS reduces immune surveillance → virus-associated cancers like Kaposi’s sarcoma and NHL.
- Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders: Acanthosis nigricans may indicate underlying gastric or other internal malignancy.
Management and Prevention
- Regular Screening: Colonoscopy for ulcerative colitis, endoscopy for Barrett’s oesophagus.
- Vaccination: HPV (cervical cancer), HBV (hepatocellular carcinoma).
- Risk Reduction: Treat H. pylori in chronic gastritis, manage HIV in AIDS patients, address modifiable risk factors.
References