Family history and colorectal cancer survival in women.
OBJECTIVE
Family history of colorectal cancer may be a phenotype for numerous genetic mutations which increase colorectal cancer risk and may affect survival after diagnosis. We examined the relationship between self-reported first-degree family history of colorectal cancer and survival.


METHODS
We identified female Wisconsin residents ages 20-74 with a new diagnosis of invasive colorectal cancer from two population-based case-control studies; 1,469 women were interviewed. Follow-up averaged 7.9 years. We performed multivariable Cox proportional hazards regressions to calculate adjusted hazard rate ratios [HR] and corresponding 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] for risk of death by family history.


RESULTS
Of 1,391 cases with available first-degree family history, 481 were deceased, 268 due to colorectal cancer. In multivariable analyses, cases with any family history (N=262) had a statistically non-significant lower risk of death (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.62, 1.20) compared to no family history (N=1,129). Cases with two or more affected family members (N=46) showed significantly lower risk of death when compared to women with no family history (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13, 0.92).


CONCLUSIONS
Although individuals with a colorectal cancer family history are diagnosed with the disease more often than the general population, these data suggest that survival from colorectal cancer may not be worse.
Kirchhoff
Anne C
AC
Department of Health Services, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, P. O. Box 357230, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Newcomb
Polly A
PA
Trentham-Dietz
Amy
A
Nichols
Hazel B
HB
Hampton
John M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult