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Heriditary pattern of cancer
N Chandrasekaran1, R E Amalraj, M Datta
1Tuberculosis Research Centre Madras, India.
Indian Journal of Cancer
|June 1, 1994
Summary
A family history of cancer is common, especially among female patients, with maternal relatives showing higher cancer incidence. This suggests a potential genetic link in cancer development across generations.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Family history is a significant risk factor for various cancers.
- Understanding familial cancer patterns can aid in risk assessment and early detection strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of cancer in blood relatives of cancer patients.
- To explore potential differences in familial cancer patterns between male and female patients.
- To examine if specific cancer types show a familial predisposition.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 3,912 cancer patients from outpatient departments.
- Patients were interviewed to gather information on cancer history among first, second, and third-generation relatives.
- Data analysis focused on the proportion of positive family histories and specific cancer types.
Main Results:
- 154 out of 3,912 patients (approximately 3.9%) reported a family history of cancer.
- Female patients were more likely to have maternal relatives with cancer (61%) compared to paternal relatives (33%).
- Male patients showed similar rates of maternal (45%) and paternal (47%) relatives with cancer.
- Specific familial links were observed for breast, stomach, and cervical cancers.
Conclusions:
- A positive family history of cancer is present in a notable proportion of cancer patients.
- The study indicates a potential gender-specific pattern in familial cancer inheritance, with a stronger maternal link in females.
- Familial clustering of specific cancer types like breast, stomach, and cervix warrants further investigation into genetic predispositions.