Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Medical Genetics logoLink to Journal of Medical Genetics
. 1994 Aug;31(8):618–621. doi: 10.1136/jmg.31.8.618

Neoplastic diseases in families of breast cancer patients.

H Tulinius 1, G H Olafsdottir 1, H Sigvaldason 1, L Tryggvadottir 1, K Bjarnadottir 1
PMCID: PMC1050023  PMID: 7815419

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To investigate whether the risk of cancer at all sites, and at individual sites other than breast, prostate, ovaries, and endometrium, is increased among relatives of breast cancer patients compared with the general population. DESIGN--A cohort of family members of breast cancer patients was established. The probands were chosen by year of birth or time of diagnosis. Any influence of knowledge of the cancer experience of the relatives has been avoided. The risk estimates are based on expected numbers computed from age and time specific incidence rates for the Icelandic population. SETTING--Iceland. SUBJECTS--The population of Iceland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Relative risks by degree of relatedness and age of proband. RESULTS--The relative risk of cancer at all sites is raised for males and females. This is more than expected based on the known familial risk of breast cancer, prostate, and ovarian cancer. The excess risk of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer is confirmed, but not that of cancer of the endometrium. The risk of cancer of the pancreas in both sexes and the stomach and kidneys in females is significantly raised. No evidence was found for decreased risk for any cancer type. CONCLUSIONS--The risk of cancer at all sites in relatives of breast cancer patients is increased. In addition to the risk of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer, the risk of pancreas cancer and cancer of the stomach and kidneys in females is raised, but the last mentioned observations need further confirmation.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bjarnason O., Day N., Snaedal G., Tulinius H. The effect of year of birth on the breast cancer age-incidence curve in Iceland. Int J Cancer. 1974 May 15;13(5):689–696. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910130513. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bürki N., Buser M., Emmons L. R., Gencik A., Häner M., Torhorst J. K., Weber W., Müller H. Malignancies in families of women with medullary, tubular and invasive ductal breast cancer. Eur J Cancer. 1990 Mar;26(3):295–303. doi: 10.1016/0277-5379(90)90225-i. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Lynch H. T., Krush A. J., Guirgis H. Genetic factors in families with combined gastrointestinal and breast cancer. Am J Gastroenterol. 1973 Jan;59(1):31–40. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. MacMahon B., Cole P., Lin T. M., Lowe C. R., Mirra A. P., Ravnihar B., Salber E. J., Valaoras V. G., Yuasa S. Age at first birth and breast cancer risk. Bull World Health Organ. 1970;43(2):209–221. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Tryggvadottir L., Tulinius H., Robertson J. M. Familial and sporadic breast cancer cases in Iceland: a comparison related to ABO blood groups and risk of bilateral breast cancer. Int J Cancer. 1988 Oct 15;42(4):499–501. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910420405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Tulinius H., Bjarnason O., Sigvaldason H., Bjarnadottir G., Olafsdottir G. Tumours in Iceland. 10. Malignant tumours of the female breast. A histological classification, laterality, survival and epidemiological considerations. APMIS. 1988 Mar;96(3):229–238. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1988.tb05296.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Tulinius H., Day N. E., Bjarnason O., Geirsson G., Johannesson G., Liceaga de Gonzalez M. A., Sigvaldason H., Bjarnadottir G., Grimsdottir K. Familial breast cancer in Iceland. Int J Cancer. 1982 Apr 15;29(4):365–371. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910290402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Tulinius H., Egilsson V., Olafsdóttir G. H., Sigvaldason H. Risk of prostate, ovarian, and endometrial cancer among relatives of women with breast cancer. BMJ. 1992 Oct 10;305(6858):855–857. doi: 10.1136/bmj.305.6858.855. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Tulinius H., Sigvaldason H., Hrafnkelsson J., Olafsdóttir G., Tryggvadóttir L., Sigurösson K. Reproductive factors and breast cancer risk in Iceland. A second cohort study. Int J Cancer. 1990 Dec 15;46(6):972–975. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910460604. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Tulinius H., Sigvaldason H., Olafsdóttir G. Left and right sided breast cancer. Pathol Res Pract. 1990 Feb;186(1):92–94. doi: 10.1016/S0344-0338(11)81015-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Tulinius H., Sigvaldason H., Olafsdóttir G., Tryggvadóttir L. Epidemiology of breast cancer in families in Iceland. J Med Genet. 1992 Mar;29(3):158–164. doi: 10.1136/jmg.29.3.158. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Medical Genetics are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES