TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantitating familial cancer risk
T2 - A resource for clinical oncologists
AU - Offit, Kenneth
AU - Brown, Karen
PY - 1994/8
Y1 - 1994/8
N2 - Purpose: Because a family history of cancer constitutes an important risk factor, estimation and communication of cancer risk can facilitate efforts toward early detection and prevention. This review provides a resource for health professionals called to draw upon a multidisciplinary literature to provide quantitative risk estimates to families with cancer. Design: Descriptive population-derived, epidemiologic, genetic, genetic epidemiologic, and molecular studies are critically reviewed in the context of cancer genetic counseling. Results: Data are presented that document the increased lifetime relative risk to relatives of individuals with cancers of the breast, ovary, colon, prostate, or other sites. In general, risk ratios are poorly suited for clinical counseling. Age-specific absolute risks are presented for first-degree relatives of individuals affected by cancers of the breast, ovary and colon. The derivation of Mendelian and Bayesian risk estimates in the setting of well-defined cancer family syndromes, and the growing role of DNA testing in more accurately assessing these risks, are discussed. Such carrier testing requires careful psychologic and ethical considerations. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary cancer genetic counseling is an emerging resource available to physicians who care for families with common adult malignancies.
AB - Purpose: Because a family history of cancer constitutes an important risk factor, estimation and communication of cancer risk can facilitate efforts toward early detection and prevention. This review provides a resource for health professionals called to draw upon a multidisciplinary literature to provide quantitative risk estimates to families with cancer. Design: Descriptive population-derived, epidemiologic, genetic, genetic epidemiologic, and molecular studies are critically reviewed in the context of cancer genetic counseling. Results: Data are presented that document the increased lifetime relative risk to relatives of individuals with cancers of the breast, ovary, colon, prostate, or other sites. In general, risk ratios are poorly suited for clinical counseling. Age-specific absolute risks are presented for first-degree relatives of individuals affected by cancers of the breast, ovary and colon. The derivation of Mendelian and Bayesian risk estimates in the setting of well-defined cancer family syndromes, and the growing role of DNA testing in more accurately assessing these risks, are discussed. Such carrier testing requires careful psychologic and ethical considerations. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary cancer genetic counseling is an emerging resource available to physicians who care for families with common adult malignancies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027956481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1200/JCO.1994.12.8.1724
DO - 10.1200/JCO.1994.12.8.1724
M3 - Review article
C2 - 8040684
AN - SCOPUS:0027956481
SN - 0732-183X
VL - 12
SP - 1724
EP - 1736
JO - Journal of Clinical Oncology
JF - Journal of Clinical Oncology
IS - 8
ER -