Gene Mutation ATM and Cancer Risk
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Gene Mutation ATM and Cancer Risk

Gene Mutation ATM and Cancer Risk
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Updated on August 23, 2022
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What Is the ATM Gene?

ATM is a gene that normally helps repair damaged DNA.

If you have an irregularity, or a mutation, in this gene, it doesn’t work like it should.

If You Carry an ATM Mutation, What Cancers Are You at Risk For?

People who inherit two abnormal copies of ATM, one from each of their parents, develop ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) — a rare disease that causes neurological problems and a less effective immune system. A-T also increases your risk for certain cancers, such as:

  • Lymphoma
  • Leukemia
  • Stomach cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Larynx cancer
  • Parotid gland cancer

If you have A-T, your overall risk of getting some type of cancer is as high as 40 percent. (1)

People with only one ATM mutation may also have an increased risk of developing cancers, such as: (2,3)

  • Breast cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Lung cancer

How Does ATM Increase Your Risk of Cancer?

A normal ATM gene makes a protein that helps control how cells grow and divide. This protein also aids in repairing damaged DNA or helping to get rid of cells if they can’t be fixed. (3,4)

Can You Be Tested for ATM?

Yes, genetic testing can help you find out if you have an ATM mutation.

Usually, your doctor will ask you to provide a blood sample to be analyzed in the lab.

Your healthcare provider might recommend testing if you have a family history of A-T or an ATM mutation, if you have symptoms of A-T, if you develop certain ATM-related cancers, or if you have other risk factors.

If you decide to undergo genetic testing, you might want to speak with a genetic counselor, who can help you understand your family history, your results, and your cancer risks. (1,2)

Why Is It Important to Know if You Are at Risk for ATM?

Knowing you have an ATM mutation can provide you with important information about your cancer risk and identify family members who may be at risk, too.

Studies show women who carry a mutation in the ATM gene have a 20 to 60 percent increased risk for breast cancer. (5)

A-T is a recessive genetic disorder, which means you need to inherit the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each carrier parent. If you and your partner both carry the mutation, you have a 25 percent chance of your child having A-T with each pregnancy. (6)

The risk of having a child who becomes a carrier like his or her parents is 50 percent with each pregnancy. (6)

History of the ATM Gene: When Was It Discovered?

In 1995, an international team of scientists isolated the ATM gene and identified mutations that cause A-T. (7)

What Do You Do if You Test Positive for ATM?

If you test positive for an ATM gene mutation, your doctor will probably recommend that you get screened for cancer at an earlier age and more often than someone without the mutation.

For instance, guidelines suggest women with ATM abnormalities should undergo screening for breast cancer beginning at age 40 and may want to consider a risk-reducing mastectomy (surgical removal of the breasts).

Talk to your healthcare provider about all your screening and prevention options. (2)

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Conor Steuer, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Conor E. Steuer, MD, is medical oncologist specializing in the care of aerodigestive cancers, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies and an assistant professor in the department of hematology and medical oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He joined the clinical staff at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute as a practicing physician in July 2015. He currently serves as chair of the Lung and Aerodigestive Malignancies Working Group and is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Winship.

Dr. Steuer received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine in 2009. He completed his postdoctoral training as a fellow in the department of hematology and medical oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine, where he was chief fellow in his final year.

He has been active in research including in clinical trial development, database analyses, and investigation of molecular biomarkers. He is interested in investigating the molecular biology and genomics of thoracic and head and neck tumors in order to be able to further the care of these patient populations. Additionally, he has taken an interest in utilizing national databases to perform clinical outcomes research, as well as further investigate rare forms of thoracic cancers.

Steuer's work has been published in many leading journals, such as Cancer, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, and Lung Cancer, and has been presented at multiple international conferences.

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Julie Lynn Marks

Author

Julie Marks is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health, lifestyle, and science topics. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, her work has been featured in WebMD, SELF, Healthline, A&E, Psych Central, Verywell Health, and more. Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being. She is passionate about healthy living and delivering important medical information through her writing.

Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News. She is a Telly award winner and Freddie award finalist. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, traveling, and cheering on the UCF Knights.

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EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Additional Sources
  1. Ataxia Telangiectasia. American Society of Clinical Oncology. January 2022.
  2. ATM: Overview. FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. February 5, 2022.
  3. ATM Gene. MedlinePlus. January 1, 2013.
  4. Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change. American Cancer Society. December 16, 2021.
  5. ATM Gene. UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
  6. Ataxia Telangiectasia. NORD: National Organization for Rare Disorders.
  7. Gene Found for Fatal Childhood Disease, Ataxia-Telangiectasia. NIH National Human Genome Research Institute. May 10, 2010.