Improve the chances for prognosis and therapy of hereditary gastrointestinal diseases

Hereditary, non-polypose colon carcinoma, adenomatous polyposis syndromes or gastric carcinomas: These are hereditary tumor forms that can occur at any age and with varying degrees of clinical variability - even within a family.

The identification and correct classification of hereditary tumours is crucial in order to be able to offer patients, persons at risk and symptom-free carriers personalised and special medical care at an early stage. Efficient cancer prevention is often possible through intensified preventive and early detection measures. Genetic diagnostics can support this with groundbreaking information. In addition, gastroenterological diseases can be subtyped with knowledge of the disease-causing mutations. For example, the pancreatitis type can be classified as idiopathic or hereditary. The hereditary form can already be detected before the outbreak of the disease. If inflammations of the pancreas are known in two or more family members, such a disease is often genetically caused. Repeated relapses also indicate a genetic cause.

And: With knowledge of the underlying genetic change and the hereditary pattern, risk carriers within a family can be identified at an early stage. Patients and their relatives receive valuable information on the risk of recurrence if they wish to have children.