Genetic predisposition and prediction protocol for epithelial neoplasms in disease-free individuals: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Epithelial neoplasm is an important global health-care problem, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for increased life survival. Prediction of occurrence of malignancy in a disease-free individual by any means will be a great breakthrough for healthy living. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims and objectives were to predict the genetic predisposition and propose a prediction protocol for epithelial malignancy of various systems in our body, in a disease-free individual. METHODS: We have searched databases both manually and electronically, published in English language in Cochrane group, Google search, MEDLINE and PubMed from 2000 to 2019. We have included all the published, peer-reviewed, narrative reviews; randomized controlled trials; case–control studies; and cohort studies and excluded the abstract-only articles and duplicates. Specific words such as “etiological factors,” “pathology and mutations,” “signs and symptoms,” “genetics and IHC marker,” and “treatment outcome” were used for the search. A total of 1032 citations were taken, and only 141 citations met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. RESULTS: After analyzing various articles, the etiological factors, clinical signs and symptoms, genes and the pathology involved and the commonly used blood and tissue markers were analyzed. A basic investigation strategy using immunohistochemistry markers was established. CONCLUSION: The set of proposed biomarkers should be studied in future to predict genetic predisposition in disease-free individuals.