Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Li-Frau·me·ni syndrome 'lē-frau̇-'mē-nē- n a rare familial syndrome that is characterized esp. by a high risk of developing early breast cancer and sarcomas of soft tissue

Li Frederick P. (b 1940)

American epidemiologist. Li held the concurrent positions of professor of clinical cancer epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute. His research centered on the identification of persons at high risk of cancer and the genetic and environmental causes of cancer susceptibility.

Fraumeni Joseph F., Jr. (b 1933)

American epidemiologist. Fraumeni enjoyed a long association with the National Cancer Institute, eventually becoming director of the institute's Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program. At the same time he served as attending physician at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health. His research focused on the epidemiology of cancer and the environmental and genetic determinants of the disease.

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an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome with early onset of tumors, multiple tumors in individuals, and multiple affected family members; the most common tumors include soft tissue sarcomas and osteosarcomas, breast cancer, brain tumors, leukemia, and adrenocortical carcinoma. Most cases are caused by mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene.