Hereditary Renal-Cell Carcinoma Associated with a Chromosomal Translocation

MANY forms of human cancer tend to occur in families.1 Environmental causes of familial cancer often cannot be identified, and, by exclusion, a hereditary mechanism is postulated on the basis of pedigree analysis. However, published chromosomal studies of families with cancer have not identified specific inherited karyotypic abnormalities.We shall describe a family with renal-cell carcinoma and a constitutional chromosomal translocation. The cancer arose in 10 members (five men and five women) of three consecutive generations. The cancers produced symptoms in the proband and six relatives and was diagnosed in three other persons by screening of asymptomatic family members. The . . .