If you have lymphoma, you may wonder if your family is also at risk. Genetics can affect lymphoma risk, but most lymphoma is not passed from parent to child.
Is lymphoma hereditary or genetic?
Lymphomas are cancers that start in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphoma is generally not considered hereditary or an inherited cancer. This means that, most often, people are not born with DNA mutations that cause lymphoma.
Lymphoma is caused by genetic changes. But these are changes that happen to your DNA over the course of your life.
Does lymphoma run in families?
Lymphoma is generally not considered an inherited cancer. Only a small number of cases are linked to known inherited conditions.
Still, lymphoma can occur more often in some families. Having a close relative with lymphoma may raise your risk. However, family history is only one risk factor.
How much does family history raise lymphoma risk?
Researchers have studied lymphoma risk among first-degree relatives. These are a person's parents, siblings, and children.
Studies found that family history can raise the risk of some blood cancers:
Relatives of people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma had about 1.7 times the risk compared with people without that family history.
Relatives of people with Hodgkin lymphoma had about 3.1 times the risk.
Relatives of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) had about 8.5 times the risk.
These numbers describe relative risk, which compares risk between two groups. It does not tell you your exact chance of developing cancer.
The type of lymphoma may also matter. Some types occur more often within the same family. These include follicular lymphoma and large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).
Even with a family history, the overall chance of developing lymphoma may remain low.
Why can lymphoma occur in the same family?
Researchers have found common gene changes linked to lymphoma risk. Most of these changes raise a person's risk by only a small amount.
Researchers find some of these changes through genome-wide association studies. These studies compare DNA from many people. They look for gene changes found more often in people with lymphoma.
Family members may also share parts of their environment. They may have similar exposures or infections. This means a family pattern may result from several genetic and environmental factors.
Rare inherited conditions can raise lymphoma risk
Common gene changes usually have a small effect on lymphoma risk. However, rare inherited changes can have a greater effect.
Some rare inherited conditions affect the immune system or DNA repair. DNA repair is how cells fix damage to their genetic material.
Researchers have also found rare germline variants in some families with lymphoma. A germline variant is a gene change present from birth. It can be passed from parent to child.
These inherited conditions are uncommon. If several relatives have had cancer, genetic counseling may help you understand whether testing is useful.
Should family members be screened for lymphoma?
Routine lymphoma screening is not recommended for most family members. There is no standard screening test shown to help people with a family history of lymphoma.
Share your family cancer history with your healthcare team. This is especially important if several close relatives had cancer or were diagnosed at a young age.
For most families, one lymphoma diagnosis does not mean relatives need genetic testing or extra screening.
Your family history can help guide care
Most lymphoma is not directly inherited. However, genes and family history can affect risk for some people. Knowing your family cancer history can help you and your healthcare team decide whether genetic counseling should be considered.
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Sources:
Familial lymphoma and genetic predisposition: an updated review
Germline variants discovered in lymphoma patients undergoing tumor profiling: a case series
Risk of lymphoid malignancy associated with cancer predisposition genes
Genetic predisposition to lymphomas: Overview of rare syndromes and inherited familial variants
Familial predisposition and genetic risk factors for lymphoma
Lymphoblastic lymphoma in two young siblings (coincidence or genetics?): two case reports
