Is leukemia hereditary? Role of genetics, risk factors, and prevention

Is leukemia hereditary?
Leukemia does not tend to run in families and therefore is not usually hereditary. Some people inherit genetic features that increase their risk, but this does not mean they will develop the condition.
Scientists know that genetic changes play a role in the development of leukemia, but not all genetic features are hereditary.
Sometimes, a person is born with a genetic feature they have not inherited from their biological parents. This feature developed after conception but before birth. Such features may increase the risk of leukemia.
Environmental and lifestyle factors can also affect someone’s genes and increase their risk. These factors include exposure to toxic chemicals and smoking. These types of genetic changes occur during a person’s lifetime, and doctors call them acquired genetic changes.
While scientists have identified both acquired and inherited genetic features that occur with leukemia, they have not identified any hereditary gene that causes the disease.
In most cases, it is not possible to know why leukemia occurs.
This article will explore the links between leukemia, family history, and genetics. We also discuss the risk factors and tips for preventing this condition.
However, leukemia-related DNA changes usually develop after conception rather than being inherited from a parent’s genes. Exposure to radiation, chemicals, infections, and other environmental factors contribute to genetic changes that result in atypical DNA.
Genetic features
Leukemia is a genetic disease that results from changes in a person’s genes. People can inherit genetic risk factors, or their genes can change because of environmental triggers.
The authors of a 2019 study found that certain gene mutations, specifically FLT3-ITD and NRAS mutations, frequently appear in people with AML-M5, a type of AML that forms in immature white blood cells.
Family history
Inherited forms of leukemia appear to be rare.
However, some subtypes of the following leukemias may be due to inherited genetic features:
AML
CLL
MDS
There may be another inherited condition in the family with the same genetic change, such as a platelet deficiency or immune condition.
Age
One form of leukemia, ALL, is more common among children and teenagers than adults.
The risk of developing ALL is higher during childhood but falls as people enter their 20s. It rises again after the age of 50 years.
The risk of developing most cancers increases with age. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 9 out of 10 people with CLL are aged 50 years or older.
Sex
Males are slightly more likely to have CLL than females. ALL also occurs more often in males than females.
Race
The ACS notes that leukemia is more common in white Americans than in Black Americans. However, research suggests Black people may face poorer prognoses due to disparities in access to care, diagnosis, and treatment.
Benzene is a chemical present in many products, including gasoline, glue, cleaning supplies, cigarettes, detergents, and dyes. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), benzene is in the top 20 most produced chemicals in the United States.
What kind of leukemia is hereditary?
In rare cases, people inherit genetic traits that increase their risk of leukemia, but it does not mean they will develop it. Scientists have found genetic links to various types of this disease. However, most genetic changes that increase the risk happen during a person’s lifetime.
Who is more likely to get leukemia?
Most cases of leukemia do not have an obvious cause, but exposure to high levels of radiation and certain toxins can increase the risk. It can also occur in people with a history of radiation therapy and chemotherapy and in those with certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome and Fanconi anemia.
Is there genetic testing for leukemia?
Genetic testing can show doctors which kind of genetic changes are present in cancer cells, and this can help identify the type of leukemia. However, it cannot show if someone is likely to inherit or pass on the disease. In most cases, the genetic changes that occur with leukemia are not hereditary.
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