Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Cancer

This is a clinical, epidemiologic, genetic, and laboratory study of individuals and families at high risk of cancer and selected tumors to investigate the genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures which may alter cancer risk. Families with multiple members who have an unusual pattern or number of cancers or tumors are evaluated clinically. This evaluation is specific for the type of cancer or tumor predominant in the family in order to determine the affection status of each individual for genetic epidemiologic studies. Genetic and environmental risk factor information specific for the tumor type is obtained. Individuals with, or at high risk of, cancer because of their personal, familial, or environmental histories are identified by healthcare worker referral or by personal inquiry. Relevant etiologic risk factor information is documented through review of pathology specimens and medical, vital, and genealogical records. Selected individuals and family members are asked to complete questionnaires and to undergo clinical evaluations specific for the tumor of interest. They are also asked to donate biologic specimens to be used in the search for cancer etiology and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. No therapy beyond counseling and education for cancer prevention, risk reduction, and early detection will be given. Genetic testing for tumor susceptibility gene(s) mutations and risk notification will be offered to study participants for whom a specific mutation predictive of disease has been identified in his/her family. This testing will only be offered when reasonable individual cancer risk estimates can be delivered, and only to those participants who choose to know their individual genetic status after appropriate education and counseling. The testing will be conducted exclusively in Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-licensed laboratories. Genetic testing and risk notification are entirely optional and do not affect participation in other aspects of the protocol. A separate consent procedure and consent form will be used for genetic testing and risk notification related to these specific genes. Once enrolled, study participants are monitored prospectively for the development of outcomes of interest, typically by means of periodic mail or telephone contact. In selected instances, subjects may return to the Clinical Center periodically for study-specific follow-up examinations. Although we do not offer specific anti-cancer therapy as part of this protocol, we provide assistance to insure that study participants who require treatment for tumor-related problems that develop during the course of the study are referred to appropriate healthcare providers. We remain available to study participants and their healthcare providers for advice and consultation related to the management of familial cancer/tumor predisposition.

Sex

All

* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

On referral, persons of any age will be considered for the inclusion in the study because of either:

A family or personal history of neoplasia of an unusual type, pattern, or number; OR,

known or suspected factor(s) predisposing to neoplasia, either genetic and/or congenital factors (birth defects, metabolic phenotype, chromosomal anomalies or Mendelian traits associated with tumors), environmental exposure (medications, occupation, radiation, diet, infectious agents, etc.), or unusual demographic features (very young age of onset, multiple tumors, etc.).

Personal and family medical history must be verified through questionnaires, interviews, and review of pathology slides and medical records. For familial neoplasms, two or more living affected cases among family members are required. The types of familial tumors that we are currently actively accruing include:

Familial Cancers: bladder, brain, chordoma, lung, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCC)

Familial Benign Neoplasms: meningiomas, neurofibromatosis 2 (bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis)

The types of familial tumors under active accrual and study are predominantly investigator-and hypothesis-driven. This approach permits GEB investigators to remain alert to the opportunities afforded by clusters of rare tumors in families and individuals, and to be more responsive to the dynamic research priorities in cancer genetics.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Referred individuals and families for whom reported diagnoses cannot be verified.

Inability to provide informed consent.

Eligible for familial melanoma, lymphoproliferative, breast-ovarian cancer, or testicular cancer protocols.

• BACKGROUNDPathak A, Seipel K, Pemov A, Dewan R, Brown C, Ravichandran S, Luke BT, Malasky M, Suman S, Yeager M; NCI DCEG Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory; NCI DCEG Cancer Sequencing Working Group; Gatti RA, Caporaso NE, Mulvihill JJ, Goldin LR, Pabst T, McMaster ML, Stewart DR. Whole exome sequencing reveals a C-terminal germline variant in CEBPA-associated acute myeloid leukemia: 45-year follow up of a large family. Haematologica. 2016 Jul;101(7):846-52. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2015.130799. Epub 2015 Dec 31. PMID 26721895
• BACKGROUNDPathak A, Pemov A, McMaster ML, Dewan R, Ravichandran S, Pak E, Dutra A, Lee HJ, Vogt A, Zhang X, Yeager M, Anderson S, Kirby M; NCI DCEG Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory; NCI DCEG Cancer Sequencing Working Group; Caporaso N, Greene MH, Goldin LR, Stewart DR. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia due to a germline CBL Y371C mutation: 35-year follow-up of a large family. Hum Genet. 2015 Jul;134(7):775-87. doi: 10.1007/s00439-015-1550-9. Epub 2015 May 5. PMID 25939664
• DERIVEDKorde LA, Mueller CM, Loud JT, Struewing JP, Nichols K, Greene MH, Mai PL. No evidence of excess breast cancer risk among mutation-negative women from BRCA mutation-positive families. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011 Jan;125(1):169-73. doi: 10.1007/s10549-010-0923-y. Epub 2010 May 11. PMID 20458532
• DERIVEDKoehly LM, Peters JA, Kenen R, Hoskins LM, Ersig AL, Kuhn NR, Loud JT, Greene MH. Characteristics of health information gatherers, disseminators, and blockers within families at risk of hereditary cancer: implications for family health communication interventions. Am J Public Health. 2009 Dec;99(12):2203-9. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.154096. Epub 2009 Oct 15. PMID 19833996