Is gallbladder cancer inherited?

What is the familial incidence of gallbladder cancer?

Risk factors for gallbladder cancer include regional genetic predisposition, ethnicity, increasing age, female gender, chronic inflammation, congenital developmental abnormalities, low socio-economic status, low frequency of cholecystectomy for gallbladder diseases, and exposure to certain chemicals. There is a prominent global variability of gallbladder cancer incidence, which roughly correlates with the prevalence of cholelithiasis. The highest incidence is found among native Indian populations. All of these populations have a high genetic prevalence of gallstones and/or chronic Salmonella infection. As far as a hereditary (familial) syndrome associated with the disease, maternal transmission appeared to be favored. Gall bladder cancer was associated with pancreatic cancer (standardized incidence ratios 2.39; 95% CI 1.23-4.18). —Donald R. Fleming, MD