Lynch syndrome

Meaning of Lynch syndrome: Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition caused by a DNA repair gene mutation that raises lifetime risk of colorectal and other cancers.

Definition of Lynch syndrome

Lynch syndrome is an inherited disorder caused by a mutation in one of several genes responsible for repairing errors that occur when DNA is copied. When these repair genes do not function normally, errors accumulate in a cell's DNA over time, increasing the likelihood that certain cells will eventually become cancerous.

People with Lynch syndrome have a substantially increased lifetime risk of colorectal cancer compared with the general population, and colorectal cancer associated with Lynch syndrome tends to develop at a younger age than colorectal cancer that occurs without an inherited cause. The condition also raises the risk of several other cancers, including cancer of the uterus, ovary, stomach, and urinary tract.

Because Lynch syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, a child of an affected parent has a substantial chance of inheriting the same gene mutation, which is why genetic counseling and testing are often offered to close relatives of someone diagnosed with the condition.