Germline Genetic Variants in Cancer Predisposition Genes in Patients From Latin America and the Caribbean.

Abstract

The importance of having region-specific data when planning health interventions has become evident in recent years. Nonetheless, several world regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), still face significant challenges. These regions need to develop strategies specifically designed to consider the inherent characteristics of their population composite and sociodemographic characteristics. More than 20% of the global cancer incidence arises in LAC. Yet, treatment, prevention, and follow-up guidelines in the area are frequently based on studies that mainly include patients from North America, Europe, and Asia. As personalized approaches become ubiquitous in medical practice, the amount of information emerging from LAC has risen considerably. In this review, we seek to present a comprehensive summary of the frequency of germline genetic variants in hereditary cancer syndromes in patients from LAC. The data highlight relevant differences in variants associated with LAC patients, including founder and recurrent variants, while showcasing potential features that might be relevant in oncology practices.