Is nasopharyngeal carcinoma hereditary?

Is nasopharyngeal carcinoma hereditary? It is difficult to draw a simple conclusion on this question. A large number of medical practices have found that genetic factors do play a certain role in the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. To find out whether nasopharyngeal carcinoma is hereditary, we must first know the cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. How is nasopharyngeal carcinoma caused? It is transformed from normal cells. The division of cancer cells is like a wild horse that is "unbridled" and difficult to control.

When the number of cancer cells in human cells exceeds 1 million, some symptoms of cancer will occur. So how do normal cells mutate into cancer cells? For example, viruses, radiation, and chemicals act on the DNA in the cells, causing changes in its structure or function, which in turn leads to changes in metabolism and cell proliferation, and then become cancer cells. DNA is the basic substance of heredity. Once DNA changes, it will be passed on to the next generation. In this sense, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is related to heredity.

So, since nasopharyngeal cancer is related to heredity, can we conclude that the next generation of nasopharyngeal cancer patients will all develop cancer? The answer is no. Why?

Because human cells are divided into two major categories: somatic cells and germ cells, such as muscle cells, bone cells, and nerve cells, there is no direct connection between the previous generation and the next generation. Only germ cells, sperm and egg cells, are the cells that communicate the genetic information between parents and children. When the DNA in the germ cells of the father and mother become cancerous, all cells in their children's bodies acquire this changed genetic information and may become cancerous. This is a "hereditary" cancer.

If the DNA of somatic cells changes in the acquired environment and becomes cancer cells, the daughter cells generated by the division of this cell will still be cancer cells. It will not affect the cancerous transformation of the DNA in the germ cells, so this type of cancer cell will not be inherited by children. This is a "non-hereditary" cancer.

Therefore, not all nasopharyngeal cancer is hereditary. People with a family history of nasopharyngeal cancer should realize that although they may develop nasopharyngeal cancer due to heredity, it does not mean that they will definitely get nasopharyngeal cancer, and they should avoid unnecessary fear. On the other hand, they should pay more attention to cancer prevention and strive for early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment.