BACKGROUND: An elevated risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has been associated with a family history of NHL and several other malignancies, but the magnitude of risks and mechanisms are uncertain. METHODS: We used self-reported family history data from a recent multicenter U.S.-based case-control studies of NHL to evaluate familial aggregation of NHL with various hematolymphoproliferative and other cancers. Estimates of familial aggregation were obtained as hazard ratios (HR) that compare incidence of different cancers in first-degree relatives of NHL cases with that in the first-degree relatives of NHL controls. Limitations of the study included low participation rates (76% for cases and 52% for controls) and potential differential accuracy of recall. RESULTS: Risk of NHL was elevated in relatives of NHL cases [HR, 2.9; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.95-8.53]; the aggregation seems to be stronger for siblings (HR, 7.6; 95% CI, 0.98-58.8) and for male relatives (HR, 6.2; 95% CI, 0.77-50.0). Risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma seems to be also elevated among relatives of early-onset (<50 years) NHL cases (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 0.88-11.6). Evaluation of family history of other cancers provided modest evidence for an increased risk of melanoma of the skin (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.08-7.75), pancreatic cancer (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.96-4.43), stomach cancer (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.91-3.63), and prostate cancer (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.87-1.99). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previous findings of familial aggregation of NHL, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a few other cancers. The pattern of male-specific and sibling-specific familial aggregation of NHL we observed, if confirmed, may shed new light on the possible mechanisms that underlie familial aggregation of the disease.
BACKGROUND: An elevated risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has been associated with a family history of NHL and several other malignancies, but the magnitude of risks and mechanisms are uncertain. METHODS: We used self-reported family history data from a recent multicenter U.S.-based case-control studies of NHL to evaluate familial aggregation of NHL with various hematolymphoproliferative and other cancers. Estimates of familial aggregation were obtained as hazard ratios (HR) that compare incidence of different cancers in first-degree relatives of NHL cases with that in the first-degree relatives of NHL controls. Limitations of the study included low participation rates (76% for cases and 52% for controls) and potential differential accuracy of recall. RESULTS: Risk of NHL was elevated in relatives of NHL cases [HR, 2.9; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.95-8.53]; the aggregation seems to be stronger for siblings (HR, 7.6; 95% CI, 0.98-58.8) and for male relatives (HR, 6.2; 95% CI, 0.77-50.0). Risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma seems to be also elevated among relatives of early-onset (<50 years) NHL cases (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 0.88-11.6). Evaluation of family history of other cancers provided modest evidence for an increased risk of melanoma of the skin (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.08-7.75), pancreatic cancer (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.96-4.43), stomach cancer (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.91-3.63), and prostate cancer (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.87-1.99). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previous findings of familial aggregation of NHL, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a few other cancers. The pattern of male-specific and sibling-specific familial aggregation of NHL we observed, if confirmed, may shed new light on the possible mechanisms that underlie familial aggregation of the disease.
Authors: Sophia S Wang; Susan L Slager; Paul Brennan; Elizabeth A Holly; Silvia De Sanjose; Leslie Bernstein; Paolo Boffetta; James R Cerhan; Marc Maynadie; John J Spinelli; Brian C H Chiu; Pier Luigi Cocco; Fiona Mensah; Yawei Zhang; Alexandra Nieters; Luigino Dal Maso; Paige M Bracci; Adele Seniori Costantini; Paolo Vineis; Richard K Severson; Eve Roman; Wendy Cozen; Dennis Weisenburger; Scott Davis; Silvia Franceschi; Carlo La Vecchia; Lenka Foretova; Nikolaus Becker; Anthony Staines; Martine Vornanen; Tongzhang Zheng; Patricia Hartge Journal: Blood Date: 2006-12-21 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: Mark P Purdue; Qing Lan; Sophia S Wang; Anne Kricker; Idan Menashe; Tong-Zhang Zheng; Patricia Hartge; Andrew E Grulich; Yawei Zhang; Lindsay M Morton; Claire M Vajdic; Theodore R Holford; Richard K Severson; Brian P Leaderer; James R Cerhan; Meredith Yeager; Wendy Cozen; Kevin Jacobs; Scott Davis; Nathaniel Rothman; Stephen J Chanock; Nilanjan Chatterjee; Bruce K Armstrong Journal: Carcinogenesis Date: 2008-11-24 Impact factor: 4.944
Authors: Sophia S Wang; Scott Davis; Patricia Hartge; Wendy Cozen; Richard K Severson; James R Cerhan; Nathaniel Rothman Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr Date: 2008
Authors: Linda E Kelemen; Sophia S Wang; Unhee Lim; Wendy Cozen; Maryjean Schenk; Patricia Hartge; Yan Li; Nathaniel Rothman; Scott Davis; Stephen J Chanock; Mary H Ward; James R Cerhan Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2008-01-17 Impact factor: 2.506