Final answer:
Individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome are primarily at increased risk for blood and immune system cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia, due to their compromised immune system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) are at an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, particularly those affecting the blood and immune system. Among these, the most common are lymphomas, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as a heightened risk of developing leukemia, specifically acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
WAS is a rare genetic disorder that impacts the immune system and increases susceptibility to infections, autoimmune disorders, and malignancies. Due to the defective WAS protein, which is crucial for proper immune cell function, patients with WAS can present with a broad range of symptoms, including easy bruising, bloody diarrhea, and recurrent infections. The defective immune function facilitates the development of cancers that originate from the immune cells, such as lymphomas and leukemias.
People with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome have a predisposed risk of developing certain cancers, especially those associated with blood and immune system, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia. These risks are due to the genetic abnormalities in WAS protein affecting immune system regulation and surveillance.