Hereditary cancers are cancers that are caused by an inherited genetic mutation passed down from parent to child and comprise at least 10 per cent of all cancer cases. Those born with such a genetic mutation have a higher chance of developing certain types of cancer. With better identification and monitoring of these individuals there is a greater chance of identifying their cancers earlier and treating these cancers before they become serious.

Objectives

• Identify all carriers of hereditary cancer syndromes in Ontario through , specialized cancer clinics, genetics laboratories and tumour profiling trials.
• Engage the community through patient partnerships, healthcare institution collaborations and advocacy groups.
• Review and update surveillance guidelines for carriers of hereditary cancer syndromes in collaboration with patients and advocates.
• Enable genomics and gene discovery for carriers of hereditary cancer syndromes. Information gleaned here will be transferable to other non-hereditary forms of cancer.

Patients with hereditary cancer syndromes are scattered across Ontario, negatively impacting some patients’ ability to access care (such as cancer screening and treatment) and creates a barrier for researchers. OHCRN will facilitate enrollment into various clinical trials, access to precision therapy, and provide an opportunity for Ontario patients to access the highest standard of care, regardless of their geographical location in the province. Information from individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes can also be used to understand the biology, prevention, early detection and treatment of all cancers.