Ascertainment of Peripheral Blood or Saliva Samples for Genetic Epidemiology Studies of Familial Cancers

The purpose of this study is to better understand the genetic causes of cancer and the inherited tendency to develop cancer. To accomplish this, blood specimens and/or saliva samples and/or tumor and normal tissue blocks from patients and families of patients with cancer will be collected. Blood specimens will be frozen and stored for analysis at a later date. Tumor tissue and normal tissue will be stored for analysis at a later date. In order to perform this study, patients and members of their families will be asked to provide blood samples and/or saliva samples. Individuals will be asked to provide a history of cancer in their relatives at the time the blood sample is given. No relatives will be contacted before they have been asked by a family member if they wish to participate in this study. If they do wish to participate, the relatives should indicate this by returning the "Family Member Consent for Contact Form" After we receive this form, arrangements may be made for the family member to send in a blood and/or saliva sample or to come in person to provide the sample to us. Except for family history, no medical information provided by one member of a family will be discussed with other family members. At the end of this form, we will also ask for your permission to be contacted in the future to discuss information about your health, additional research with your samples and/or certain research findings possibly related to your sample.

Sex

All

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients accepted for referral to the Cancer Family Clinic of the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are eligible for participation in this study. Such patients should have a history of cancers of the breast, ovary, colon, prostate, uterus, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, soft tissue sarcoma, endocrine neoplasms, or other malignancies presenting in first degree relatives or in successive generations as part of a suspected cancer family syndrome.
* Family members of probands including parents, sisters, brothers, half-brothers and sisters, sons, daughters, grandparents, as well as aunts and uncles are also eligible.
* This study involves research which presents no greater than minimal risk to children. The assent of any minor should be obtained before the patient is entered into this study.