Dr. Joseph Fraumeni, Jr. Speech at the Hockey Hall of Fame

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome. Our hopes are to educate, raise awareness and find better screening programs and treatments. LFS is a rare inherited genetic cancer disorder that greatly increases one’s risk of developing cancer during their lifetime. People with LFS can develop multiple cancers and tumors often in childhood or as young adults. In 1969 Dr. Joseph Fraumeni noticed groups of families with a higher number of childhood cancers and adult early onset cancers. With the help of Dr. Frederick Li, they found increased numbers of genetic sarcomas, genetic leukemias, genetic adrenal cancer and genetic breast cancer in these families than would normally be expected. This “familial cancer syndrome” ultimately became known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. In 1990 researchers found that LFS is most often caused by a gene mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene.