Principal Investigator

• Randall W. Burt, MD
  Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

Participating Institutions

• Huntsman Cancer Institute at Utah
• University of Colorado
• Univiversity of California, Irvine
• Johns Hopkins University
• Duke University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Texas, MD Anderson
• Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit

Synopsis

This research seeks to identify new colon cancer susceptibility loci (regions) by focusing chiefly on study of sibling pairs in which there is a history of colon cancer. The study has been expanded, however, to invite families to participate where there are other patterns of close relatives with the cancer.

First-degree relatives of individuals who have colon cancer are at 2- to 3-fold increased risk of developing the cancer, studies indicate, even when no known predisposing syndrome exists among the family members. This finding suggests that there are other susceptibility genes for the cancer. Kindred studies and a recent twin study further suggest that up to one-third of colon cancer cases may be inherited. This new study focuses on siblings because they are likely to inherit the same genetic loci, and thus, offer a targeted approach to looking for the purported susceptibility gene or genes.

The study is recruiting 800 sibling pairs in which one of each sibling pair has been diagnosed with colon cancer or closely related family members who have cancer. There can be no indication that the colon cancer is associated with an inherited syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Study participants provide a blood sample and answer a questionnaire.

This study is being conducted jointly with the NCI-funded Colon Cancer Family Registries (CFRs), and in collaboration with NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) Program.

This study closed to accrual as of January 2005. The data is currently being prepared for publication.

View the protocol summary report.