Many parents ask, "Is kidney cancer hereditary?" when planning a family, especially for those undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilization) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). The short answer is that most kidney cancers are not inherited; only about 5–8% of cases run in families (Hereditary Kidney Cancer Syndromes - NCI). However, knowing if kidney cancer runs in your family is important for making informed decisions about IVF and genetic testing.
Hereditary vs. Sporadic Kidney Cancer
Most kidney cancers are sporadic, meaning they occur by chance and are not passed down genetically. Kidney cancer appearing in multiple generations of a family is considered hereditary. Hereditary kidney cancer is uncommon and usually caused by a specific gene mutation passed down in the family (Hereditary Kidney Cancer Syndromes - NCI).
Genetic Syndromes Linked to Kidney Cancer
In rare cases, kidney cancer runs in families due to an inherited syndrome. Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) are two examples, involving mutations that greatly increase kidney tumor risk (Hereditary Kidney Cancer Syndromes - NCI). Identifying such a syndrome is vital, since it means your children could inherit that mutation. Discussing these concerns with clinicians and genetic counselors can often identify families at risk and allow further testing.
