title: Cancer in families with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: In recent reports, researchers described an increased incidence of cancer in patients with systemic sclerosis (SScl). For this article, the authors investigated the frequencies of cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with SScl in a case-control family study. Information was obtained by personal interview of the probands. Fifty-three subjects with cancer were reported among 814 relatives of patients, compared with 17 subjects among 860 relatives of age- and sex-matched control subjects (age and sex adjusted odds ratio = 3.79, 95% confidence interval = 2.16-6.66, P < 0.001). Forty-six patients (27.7%) had one or more relatives with cancer, compared with 15 control subjects (9%). Within the limitations of the methods used, the researchers found an increased risk for cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with SScl. This suggests that a common genetic or environmental factor may be involved in the development of both cancer and SScl.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Sakkas
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Akritidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics