Familial cancer history in patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri.
OBJECTIVE
Several cancers show the tendency to aggregate in families. But the contribution of heredity to the causation of sporadic malignancies, like cervical cancer is unclear.


METHODS
Seven hundred and thirty-seven women with operative treated cervical cancer (CX) were searched for familiar history of malignant tumours. Positive familial history was stated, if one first degree relative was affected by malignant tumour. The site of malignant tumour was stated and the mean age was compared.


RESULTS
Twenty-two percent of the women had malignancies at different sites in first degree relatives. In about one-half the mother, in 30% the father and in 11% more than one first degree relative was affected. Overall, first degree relatives of 21 patients (13%) had malignancies of the lungs or the oro-pharynx. Thirty-seven women had malignant tumours of the lower genital tract and 11 had invasive cervical cancer. Mean age of patients with positive familial history was the same as those without (43 versus 42 years) it. But, women whose first degree female relatives had cervical cancer were significantly younger than those with extragenital malignancies (37 versus 45 years). The mean 5-year survival rate was higher in patients with a positive familial cancer history (85.6% versus 74.6%; P=1.7).


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest, that a small number of patients have a familial susceptibility for cervical cancer and probably for HPV-associated neoplasms. Further studies establishing the immune status and the search for genetic polymorphisms of these patients are required.
Horn
Lars-Christian
LC
Institute of Pathology, Leipzig University, Liebigstrasse 26, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. hornl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Raptis
Georgios
G
Fischer
Uta
U
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010388:Pelvis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery