title: Detecting gene-environment interactions using a case-control design.
abstract: We assessed the sample size required for detecting gene-environment (G x E) interactions in a case-control study of complex diseases. The results suggest that large numbers of cases and controls will be required to detect G x E interaction for some odds ratio and exposure frequency combinations. These and other results suggest that alternative study designs may be needed to detect G x E interaction particularly with rare genes or uncommon environmental exposures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Korczak
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lubin
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004777:Environment; D005787:Gene Frequency; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D018401:Sample Size