FAMILIAL-COUTO · Investigating familial cancer using the Swedish familial cancer database

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Project objective

Familial aggregation of cancer may be due to environmental factors shared by family members or due to shared genes. Observation of familial aggregation has been important for the understanding of cancer aetiology, for clinical decisions and counselling and for identification of cancer-related genes. Difficulties remain in obtaining large numbers of cases and in securing unbiased risk estimates. Thus familial risks in many rare cancers are practically unknown. Also estimation of risks at sites other than the index site has been cumbersome. Furthermore, eventual recessive pattern are hard to be identified. Clinical observation probably works for dominant; however, for recessive conditions, it is less sensitive. Using the Swedish Family-Cancer Database, the world's largest source of information on familial cancer, this project will investigate the outstanding questions on familial cancer. It aims to optimize methods of analysis of familial cancer considering an aging population. This project will allow also quantify age-group specific familial risk in main histological tumour type, investigating similar and different cancer sites. Attributable risks of familial cancers will be defined. New familial cancer cluster will be identified. Population-based risk estimates will be derived for known and new cancer syndromes. This project would also model the family data for the understanding of carcinogenic risk factors and mechanisms. Such a project has worldwide public health implications. This research would allow us to provide advice on the optimal use of large family databases. Estimated age-specific risk is useful for clinical counselling and prevention. Characterization of familial cancer clusters will give guidance to the global gene identification work. Population attributable fractions will be calculated to show the impact of familial cancer compared to other causes, in particular would clarify the contribution of environmental and inherited factors.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE · STOCKHOLMCoordinatorSweden

Links

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