No one single gene explains all familial prostate cancer. Risks of prostate cancer may be associated with the X chromosome and others with several noncancerous gene changes interacting together.

Increased risk for prostate cancer is seen in male family members that fit the Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer syndrome pattern. Click here to view a family tree that shows a possible Familial Prostate Cancer Syndrome pattern.

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Syndrome (HBOS) is a rare hereditary cancer syndrome associated with:

• Prostate cancer
• Female or male breast cancer (DCIS or invasive)
• Ovarian and fallopian tube cancer
• Other cancer such as primary peritoneal, pancreatic cancer and skin cancer are sometimes seen