NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Jul 28 - Family history contributes differently to the risks of colon cancer and rectal cancer, suggesting these malignancies may have different causative factors, according to an analysis of data from the Icelandic Cancer Registry and a genealogy database.
Dr. Tryggvi Stefansson, from Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik and colleagues determined the risk of colon and rectal cancer in 23,272 first-degree relatives of 2,770 colorectal cancer patients. The findings are reported in the International Journal of Cancer for July 15.
The researchers found that first-degree relatives had a 40% overall increased risk of both colon cancer and rectal cancer. However, further analysis revealed some differences between the two malignancies.
Siblings of colon cancer patients were at elevated risk for the malignancy themselves, whereas parents and offspring of patients were not. For rectal cancer, only brothers of patients were at increased risk.
"Our results confirm that family history of colorectal cancer is a risk factor for the disease," but also reveal differences between colon and rectal cancer. These differences suggest the different etiological factors are involved in the two malignancies, the authors conclude, and the findings may also "have implications for colon and rectal cancer screening programs."
Last Updated: 2006-07-27 11:48:13 -0400 (Reuters Health)
Int J Cancer 2006;119:304-308.
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