A method for estimating cancer risk in p53 mutation carriers.
Germline mutations of the tumor-suppressor gene p53 have been described in families with multiple neoplasms as Li-Fraumeni syndrome families, or in subjects with second malignant tumor. In order to evaluate the increase in risk of cancer due to these mutations, a family study is being carried out. In families with a proband who developed a cancer before age 16, we select those with at least one cancer before age 45 among first- and second-degree relatives of the proband. All family members are screened for p53 germline mutations if the proband is a carrier of a mutation. We present here a method to estimate the probability that a carrier of a p53 germline mutation develops a given malignant tumor at a given age. This method uses the principle of maximum likelihood estimation. It takes into account the fact that individuals are related within a family, that some of them are not genotyped for p53, and that families have been selected on the criterion of existence of cancer. Simulated data allowed us to validate the method.
Le Bihan
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Unité de Recherches d'Epidémiologie Génétique (U 155 INSERM), Paris, France.
Bonaiti-Pellie
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors