Cancer Control Research
5R01CA070917-04
Bondy, Melissa L.
GENETIC AND MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GLIOMAS
AbstractDESCRIPTION: (Adapted from Investigator's Abstract) There is substantial
evidence that genetic events are associated with the etiology of brain
tumors. The purpose of this study is to characterize the cancer risk in
large number of kindreds of glioma patients using combined epidemiologic and
statistical techniques and incorporating molecular genetic markers. The
investigators will continue to accrue families to obtain a sufficiently
large sample size to have precise estimates of the heritable component of
gliomas. Several types of analyses will be performed on the data set.
First, a descriptive analysis to detect overall cancer excess or excess of
specific sites by computing Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs). The SIRs
will determine whether excess cancer exists in first-degree relatives of
glioma patients, by specific site, or by specific proband or relative
characteristics. The next type of analysis is hypothesis testing using
segregation analysis (with the computer program, Statistical Analysis for
Genetic Epidemiology - SAGE) to determine the genetic model and parameter
estimates that characterize the mode of inheritance of gliomas and identify
specific kindreds showing evidence for a major gene to include in linkage
analysis. Through linkage analysis the investigators will determine if
mutations at distinct cancer predisposing loci are etiologically relevant,
and inherited from an antecedent relative. The candidate gene analysis will
be conducted by Dr. Peter O'Connell from The University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio. With a larger sample the investigators will
be able to confirm their finding that patients with multifocal glioma,
gliomas as a secondary malignancy, and a family history, constitute a
genetically predisposed subgroup. This study will be the first
comprehensive evaluation of familial aggregation in families of unselected
glioma patients. In addition, they are collecting blood from each new
patient and their specimen repository will be available to study future
candidate genes to integrate with the family data.
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