Association between family cancer history and risk of pancreatic cancer.
Family history of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an established risk factor for the disease. However, associations of pancreatic cancer with other familial cancers are less clear. We analyzed data from the Queensland Pancreatic Cancer Study (QPCS), an Australian population-based case-control study, to investigate associations between family history of various cancer types and risk of pancreatic cancer.



Our study included 591 pancreatic cancer patients and 646 controls, all of whom self-reported the histories of cancer in their first-degree relatives. We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Based on our results, we conducted a systematic literature review using the Medline (OVID) database to identify articles pertaining to the association between family history of melanoma and risk of pancreatic cancer. A meta-analysis including associations in five published studies, unpublished results from a study co-author and the QPCS results was then performed using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model.



Cases were more likely than controls to report a family history of pancreatic cancer (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.16-4.19) and melanoma (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.03-2.95), but not of breast, ovarian, respiratory, other gastrointestinal or prostate cancer. Meta-analysis of melanoma family history and pancreatic cancer risk yielded an OR of 1.22 (95% CI 1.00-1.51).



Our results yield further evidence of increased risk of pancreatic cancer in those with family histories of the disease. We also provide suggestive evidence of an association between family history of melanoma and risk of pancreatic cancer.
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia. Electronic address: Annaka.Schulte@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
Annaka
A
Schulte
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; School of Population Health, Level 2, Population Health Building, 887 Mayne Road, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Nirmala
N
Pandeya
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Jonathan
J
Fawcett
School of Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
Lin
L
Fritschi
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Kerenaftali
K
Klein
Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St, New Haven, CT 06510, United States.
Harvey A
HA
Risch
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Penelope M
PM
Webb
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
David C
DC
Whiteman
Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; School of Population Health, Level 2, Population Health Building, 887 Mayne Road, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Rachel E
RE
Neale
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
Case-control studies; Family cancer history; Melanoma; Pancreatic neoplasms; Risk factors