Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Clustering of colorectal cancer in families of probands under 40 years of age

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Although sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) is relatively uncommon in the young, it may constitute an elevated genetic risk for CRC in these individuals. PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine extent of colorectal cancer in families of probands under 40 years of age. METHODS: Medical records of all consecutive patients, 40 years of age or younger at the time of CRC surgery, during the time period 1986 to 1994 were examined. Cases of familial adenomatous polyposis and ulcerative colitis were excluded.Via interviews of surviving probands or nearest relatives, dates of birth and death, causes of death, and diagnosis of cancer were recorded on all first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and offspring), second-degree relatives (grandparents, aunts, and uncles), and any other relatives. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients, 40 years of age or less at time of CRC resection, were identified. Of these, 45 probands/families were reached by phone, and 45 detailed family histories were obtained. Age range of these 45 probands was 19 to 40 (mean, 33.1) years. In 25 families there was no history of CRC in first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree relatives. Eight of 45 probands (17.8 percent) had at least one first-degree relative with CRC, and three of these eight families fulfilled the Amsterdam criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In all three families, inheritance of CRC appeared to segregate with the maternal side of the family. In addition, 5 of 43 non-HNPCC probands had at least one first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree relative less than 40 years of age, at time of CRC diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Ascertainment of a detailed family history in early age of onset CRC patients identifies frequent familial clustering of CRC and HNPCC in 17.8 percent of cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sanfelippo PM, Beahrs OH. Carcinoma of the colon in patients under forty years of age. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1974;138:169–70.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pitluk H, Poticha SM. Carcinoma of the colon and rectum in patients less than 40 years of age. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1983;157:335–7.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Behbehani A, Sakwa M, Ehrlichman R,et al. Colorectal carcinoma in patients under age 40. Ann Surg 1985;202:610–4.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Palmer ML, Herrera L, Petrelli NJ. Colorectal adenocarcinoma in patients less than 40 years of age. Dis Colon Rectum 1991;34:343–6.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Recalde M, Holyoke ED, Elias EG. Carcinoma of the colon, rectum and anal canal in young patients. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1974;139:909–13.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Woolf CM. A genetic study of carcinoma of the large intestine. Am J Hum Genet 1958;10:42–7.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Macklin MT. Inheritance of cancer of the stomach and large intestine in man. J Natl Cancer Inst 1960;24:551–71.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lovett E. Family studies in cancer of the colon and rectum. Br J Surg 1976;63:13–8.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Duncan JL, Kyle J. Family incidence of carcinoma of the colon and rectum in north-east Scotland. Gut 1982;23:169–71.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Maire P, Morichau-Beauchant M, Drucker J, Barboteau M-A, Barbier J, Matuchansky C. Prévalence familiale du cancer du colon et du rectum: resultats d'une enquete “cas-témoins” de 3 ans. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 1984;8:22–7.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ponz de Leon M, Antonioli A, Ascari A, Zanghieri G, Sacchetti C. Incidence and familial occurrence of colorectal cancer and polyps in a health-care district of northern Italy. Cancer 1987;60:2848–59.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rozen P, Fireman Z, Figer A, Legum C, Ron E, Lynch HT. Family history of colorectal cancer as a marker of potential malignancy within a screening program. Cancer 1987;60:248–54.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Guillem JG, Neugut AI, Forde KA, Waye JD, Treat MR. Colonic neoplasms in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of colon cancer patients. Am J Gastroenterol 1988;83:271–3.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Grossman S, Milos ML. Colonoscopic screening of persons with suspected risk factors for colon cancer. I. Family history. Gastroenterology 1988;94:395–400.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bonelli L, Martines H, Conio M, Bruzzi P, Aste H. Family history of colorectal cancer as a risk factor for benign and malignant tumours of the large bowel: a case control study. Int J Cancer 1988;41:513–7.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bishop DT, Thomas HJ. The genetics of colorectal cancer. Cancer Surv 1990;9:585–604.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sondergaard JO, Bulow S, Lynge E. Cancer incidence among parents of patients with colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer 1991;47:202–6.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Guillem JG, Forde KA, Treat MR, Neugut AI, O'Toole KM, Diamond BE. Colonoscopic screening for neoplasms in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of colon cancer patients: a controlled, prospective study. Dis Colon Rectum 1992;35:523–9.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fuchs CS, Giovannucci EL, Colditz GA, Hunter DJ, Speizer FE, Willett WC. A prospective study of family history and the risk of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 1994;331:1669–74.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hall NR, Finan PJ, Ward B, Turner G, Bishop DT. Genetic suspectibility to colorectal cancer in patients under 45 years of age. Br J Surg 1994;81:1485–9.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Slattery ML, Kerber RA. Family history of cancer and colon risk: the Utah Population Database. J Natl Cancer Inst 1994;86:1618–26.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cannon-Albright LA, Thomas A, Goldgar DE,et al. Familiality of cancer in Utah. Cancer Res 1994;54:2378–85.

    Google Scholar 

  23. St. John DJ, McDermott FT, Hopper JL, Debney EA, Johnson WR, Hughes ES. Cancer risk in relatives of patients with common colorectal cancer. Ann Intern Med 1993;118:785–90.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Stephenson BM, Finan PJ, Gascoyne J, Garbett F, Murday VA, Bishop DT. Frequency of familial colorectal cancer. Br J Surg 1991;78:1162–6.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Winawer SJ, Zauber AG, Gerdes H,et al. Risk of colorectal cancer in families of patients with adenomatous polyps. N Engl J Med 1996;334:82–7.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mecklin JP. Frequency of hereditary colorectal carcinoma. Gastroenterology 1987;93:1021–5.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lynch HT, Fitzgibbons R Jr, Marcus J, McGill J, Voorhees GJ, Lynch JF. Colorectal cancer in a nuclear family: familial or hereditary. Dis Colon Rectum 1985;28:310–6.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Eddy DM, Nugent FW, Eddy JF,et al. Screening for colon cancer in a high-risk population: results of a mathematical model. Gastroenterology 1987;92:682–92.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Burt RW. Inheritance-general issues. In: Cohen AM, Winawer SJ, Friedman MA, Gunderson LL, eds. Cancer of the colon, rectum and anus. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995:51–9.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Westlake PJ, Bryant HE, Huchcroft SA, Sutherland LR. Frequency of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal caner in southern Alberta. Dig Dis Sci 1991;36:1441–7.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lynch HT, Lynch JF. Inheritance—Lynch Syndrome I and II. In: Cohen AM, Winawer SJ, Friedman MA, Gunderson LL, eds. Cancer of the colon, rectum and anus. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995;73–7.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Vasen HF, Mecklin J-P, Khan PM, Lynch HT. The International Collaborative Group on Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (ICG-HNPCC). Dis Colon Rectum 1991;34:424–5.

    Google Scholar 

  33. D'Emilia JC, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Petrelli NJ. The clinical and genetic manifestation of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma. Am J Surg 1995;169:368–72.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, 10021, New York, New York

    José G. Guillem M.D., M.P.H., Andrew L. Bastar B.A., Jeremy Ng B.A., Jennifer L. Huhn B.S. & Alfred M. Cohen M.D.

Authors
  1. José G. Guillem M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew L. Bastar B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeremy Ng B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jennifer L. Huhn B.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alfred M. Cohen M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Dr. Guillem is recipient of a Career Development Award from the American Cancer Society and a research grant from The New York District Council of Carpenters Benefits Fund.

About this article

Cite this article

Guillem, J.G., Bastar, A.L., Ng, J. et al. Clustering of colorectal cancer in families of probands under 40 years of age. Dis Colon Rectum 39, 1004–1007 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02054690

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02054690

Key words

Search

Navigation