Colorectal polyps in carriers of the APC I1307K polymorphism.
OBJECTIVE
The probability of colorectal cancer is moderately increased among carriers of the APC I1307K polymorphism. However, it is not known if endoscopic surveillance of this high-risk group is warranted. The prevalence of polyps and adenomas in specimens of colorectal cancer who are carriers and noncarriers of the APC I1307K polymorphism is compared.


METHODS
Prevalence of adenomatous polyps in the pathology specimens of the study participants, stratified by their APC I1307K polymorphism status, was studied in 900 consecutive cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in northern Israel between 1998 and 2002, within the framework of a population-based, case-controlled study (MECC Study).


RESULTS
The APC I1307K mutation was detected in 78 colorectal cancer cases (8.7 percent) of the study population. Prevalence was higher among Ashkenazi Jews (11.2 percent) than among non-Ashkenazi Jews (2.7 percent) or Arabs (3.1 percent). After adjustment for age, APC I1307K carriers were significantly more likely than noncarriers to have polyps in their surgical specimen (51.3 percent vs. 32.6 percent, P = 0.002). Adenomas with a tubular component (either tubular adenomas or tubulovillous adenomas), but not villous adenomas, were significantly more frequent among carriers (37.2 percent vs. 23.6 percent, P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Together with former evidence of I1307K being a risk factor for colorectal cancer, these data suggest that colonoscopic surveillance for colorectal adenomas and cancer may be warranted in I1307K carriers, even in the absence of other identifiable risk factors.
Rennert
Gad
G
Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, CHS National Cancer Control Center, Carmel Medical Center and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. rennert@tx.technion.ac.il
Almog
Ronit
R
Tomsho
Lynn P
LP
Low
Marcelo
M
Pinchev
Mila
M
Chaiter
Yoram
Y
Bonner
Joseph D
JD
Rennert
Hedy S
HS
Greenson
Joel K
JK
Gruber
Stephen B
SB
D000236:Adenoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017491:Genes, APC; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors