BOOK REVIEW

There are quite a number of books on the market now covering the relatively new clinical discipline of Cancer Genetics. The role of genes in the process of disease aetiology and pathology deserves attention in many diseases in most disciplines. Cancer is one of the first of the common diseases where genetic testing has become fairly accessible. However only in a small minority of cancers is a single high-risk gene responsible for a striking cancer predisposition usually suspected because of a strong family history. More commonly there is clearly a substantial genetic influence on susceptibility but the risks are less striking (weaker family history) and the risk conferred by these lower risk genetic variants and the relationship between genes and environment becomes even more difficult to measure than in the high-risk single gene examples.

On that potentially confusing background, this book is very readable in both size and content and sets out the “stall” of cancer genetics as a clinical speciality in a very accessible form. The editors have constructed their content logically and instructed their contributors well. This is a text book that someone with no experience in the field could read and gain a very sound grounding in the principles and practice that is modern day cancer genetics. There are fairly comprehensive chapters covering the more common situations in clinical practice (familial breast, ovary and familial colorectal cancers) early on. Later in the book chapters on rare syndromes cover most of the situations likely to be encountered in the clinic. A chapter on less common familial cancers covers a wide range of cancers and is well referenced. Even a clinician quite experienced in the field might gain some clarity from the chapters later in the book particularly.

It is also a useful quick reference text that will suit trainees in most disciplines where cancer might be diagnosed—paediatrics, medicine, surgery, neurology, endocrinology, etc. The emphasis of the format is plenty of tables and bullet points—this will be appealing to SpRs and busy consultants and nurses because they are very adaptable for preparing a quick lecture! It is a paperback published in 2005 and as such is about as up to date as books can be and more affordable than many hard backed text books.