title: Incidence of cancer in first-degree relatives of basal cell carcinoma patients.
abstract: There is evidence to suggest that genetic factors play an important role in the development of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), and that skin neoplasms might be a sign for a genetic predisposition to cancer. We investigated whether the incidence of visceral and skin malignancies among first-degree relatives of BCC-patients was increased. Postal questionnaires were sent to 249 BCC-patients, who were divided into two groups (young = BCC under the age of 51 years and older = BCC over the age of 50 years), and asked them about cancer in their first-degree relatives. The reported numbers of cancer among the relatives were compared with the expected numbers based on sex and age-specific population-based incidence rates. The accuracy of the reported diagnoses was verified. A total of 157 BCC-patients reported 277 malignancies in 1,272 relatives. The incidence of the following cancers was higher than expected in relatives from young BCC-patients: bone and soft tissue (O/E = 3.91; 95% CI: 1.43-8.66), skin (O/E = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.30-3.29) and digestive tract (O/E = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.10-2.23). In relatives of older BCC-patients, only the incidence of digestive tract cancer was higher than expected (O/E = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.08-1.89). Diagnoses that were verified turned out to be accurate in 87% of the cases. This study suggests that the risk of certain cancers, particularly that of the digestive tract, in first-degree relatives of BCC-patients is increased. These findings may indicate a genetic predisposition to both skin and visceral malignancies in this patient group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands. m.vanrossum@derma.umcn.nl
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wopereis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soerjomataram
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schalkwijk
authors.forename: P C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: L A L M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kiemeney
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hoogerbrugge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010375:Pedigree; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*