Many cancers, particularly those that arise in childhood, have a hereditary component. In this Perspectives article, the authors provide their views on how the increased adoption of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, which produce vast genetic data that is not necessarily limited to known cancer-susceptibility loci, and cancer surveillance strategies are influencing the clinical management of familial cancer. Important ethical issues relating to genetic counselling and disclosure of genetic information on disease susceptibility are discussed, and strategies for approaching these ethical dilemmas are proposed.
- Nardin Samuel
- Anita Villani
- David Malkin
