Rayan Mroueh1, Tomas Tanskanen2, Aaro Haapaniemi1, Tuula Salo3,4, Nea Malila2, Antti Mäkitie1,5,6, Janne Pitkäniemi2,7,8. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 2. Finnish Cancer Registry, Institute for Statistical and Epidemiological Cancer and Research, Helsinki, Finland. 3. Cancer and Translational Medicine Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 4. Medical Research Unit, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki and Haartman Institute, Helsinki, Finland. 5. Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 6. Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. 8. Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reported patterns of familial aggregation of head and neck cancer (HNC) vary greatly, with many studies hampered by the limited number of subjects. METHODS: Altogether 923 early-onset (≤40 years old) HNC probands, their first-degree relatives, spouses, and siblings' offspring were ascertained. Cumulative risk and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated. RESULTS: Of all early-onset HNC families, only 21 (2.3%) had familial HNC cancers at any age and less than five familial early onset HNC cancers among first-degree relatives. The cumulative risk of HNC for siblings by age 60 (0.52%) was at population level (0.33%). No increased familial risk of early-onset HNC could be discerned in family members (SIR 2.68, 95% CI 0.32-9.68 for first-degree relatives). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the cumulative and relative familial risk of early-onset HNC is modest in the Finnish population and, at most, only a minor proportion of early-onset HNCs are due solely to inherited genetic mutations.
BACKGROUND: Reported patterns of familial aggregation of head and neck cancer (HNC) vary greatly, with many studies hampered by the limited number of subjects. METHODS: Altogether 923 early-onset (≤40 years old) HNC probands, their first-degree relatives, spouses, and siblings' offspring were ascertained. Cumulative risk and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated. RESULTS: Of all early-onset HNC families, only 21 (2.3%) had familial HNC cancers at any age and less than five familial early onset HNC cancers among first-degree relatives. The cumulative risk of HNC for siblings by age 60 (0.52%) was at population level (0.33%). No increased familial risk of early-onset HNC could be discerned in family members (SIR 2.68, 95% CI 0.32-9.68 for first-degree relatives). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the cumulative and relative familial risk of early-onset HNC is modest in the Finnish population and, at most, only a minor proportion of early-onset HNCs are due solely to inherited genetic mutations.