Skip to main content
Log in

Family history of colorectal cancer in a Sweden county

  • Published:
Familial Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatosis polyposis (FAP) are well-known high-risk cancer syndromes. Hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC) with at least three relatives with colorectal cancer and a dominant pattern of inheritance but with no specifications for age at onset and two close relatives with colorectal cancer (TCR) are other forms of familial clustering known to carry an increased risk of the disease. The frequency of the total burden of familial colorectal cancer is not well known. We therefore investigated the family history of 400/411 (97%) eligible patients with recently diagnosed colorectal cancer in Västmanland county, Sweden, during a 3-year period. Records or death certificates confirmed the diagnoses of relatives. Five patients (1.2%, 95% CI 0.15–2.2) were diagnosed as having HNPCC, eight (1.9%, 95% CI 0.6–3.2) as having HCRC and thirty-four (8.3%, 95% CI 5.6–11.0) were identified as having TCR. In total, 47 patients (11.4%, 95% CI 8.3–14.5) were found to have a contributing familial background. The implication is thus that every ninth patient with colorectal cancer represents a highly or intermediately increased risk of the disease among relatives. We conclude that the low frequency of individuals identified by family history alone makes the establishment of surveillance programs feasible.

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

Access this article

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. Fuchs CS, Giovannucci EL, Colditz GA et al. A prospective study of family history and the risk of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 1994; 331(25): 1669–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lovett E. Family studies in cancer of the colon and rectum. Br J Surg 1976; 63(1): 13–18.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. St John DJ, McDermott FT, Hopper JL et al. Cancer risk in relatives of patients with common colorectal cancer. Ann Intern Med 1993; 118(10): 785–90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sondergaard JO, Bulow S, Lynge E. Cancer incidence among parents of patients with colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer 1991; 47(2): 202–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bulow S, Faurschou Nielsen T, Bulow C et al. The incidence rate of familial adenomatous polyposis. Results from the Danish Polyposis Register. Int J Colorectal Dis 1996; 11(2): 88–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Aaltonen LA, Peltomaki P, Leach FS et al. Clues to the pathogenesis of familial colorectal cancer. Science 1993; 260(5109): 812–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vasen HF, Watson P, Mecklin JP, Lynch HT. New clinical criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, Lynch syndrome) proposed by the International Collaborative group on HNPCC. Gastroenterology 1999; 116(6): 1453–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Johns LE, Houlston RS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of familial colorectal cancer risk. Am J Gastroenterol 2001; 96(10): 2992–3003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Johns LE, Kee F, Collins BJ et al. Colorectal cancer mortality in first-degree relatives of early-onset colorectal cancer cases. Dis Colon Rectum 2002; 45(5): 681–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hall NR, Bishop DT, Stephenson BM, Finan PJ. Hereditary susceptibility to colorectal cancer. Relatives of early onset cases are particularly at risk. Dis Colon Rectum 1996; 39(7): 739–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Evans DG, Walsh S, Jeacock J et al. Incidence of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer in a population-based study of 1137 consecutive cases of colorectal cancer. Br J Surg 1997; 84(9): 1281–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ponz de Leon M, Sassatelli R, Sacchetti C et al. Familial aggregation of tumors in the three-year experience of a population-based colorectal cancer registry. Cancer Res 1989; 49(15): 4344–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Järvinen HJ, Aarnio M, Mustonen H et al. Controlled 15-year trial on screening for colorectal cancer in families with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology 2000; 118(5): 829–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Järvinen HJ, Mecklin JP, Sistonen P. Screening reduces colorectal cancer rate in families with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology 1995; 108(5): 1405–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Dunlop MG. Screening for large bowel neoplasms in individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer. Br J Surg 1992; 79(6): 488–94.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rex DK, Johnson DA, Lieberman DA et al. Colorectal cancer prevention 2000: screening recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology. Am J Gastroenterol 2000; 95(4): 868–77.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kee F, Collins BJ. How prevalent is cancer family syndrome? Gut 1991; 32(5): 509–12.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Peel DJ, Ziogas A, Fox EA et al. Characterization of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer families from a population-based series of cases. J Natl Cancer Inst 2000; 92(18): 1517–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Katballe N, Christensen M, Wikman FP et al. Frequency of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer in Danish colorectal cancer patients. Gut 2002; 50(1): 43–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Aaltonen LA, Salovaara R, Kristo P et al. Incidence of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and the feasibility of molecular screening for the disease. N Engl J Med 1998; 338(21): 1481–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Salovaara R, Loukola A, Kristo P et al. Population-based molecular detection of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 2000; 18(11): 2193–200.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Samowitz WS, Curtin K, Lin HH et al. The colon cancer burden of genetically defined hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer. Gastroenterology 2001; 121(4): 830–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ravnik-Glavac M, Potocnik U, Glavac D. Incidence of germline hMLH1 and hMSH2 mutations (HNPCC patients) among newly diagnosed colorectal cancers in a Slovenian population. J Med Genet 2000; 37(7): 533–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. St John DB, Crockford GP. HNPCC or common colorectal cancer? Criteria for diagnosis. Gastroenterology 1992; 102(4): A402.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Stephenson BM, Finan PJ, Gascoyne J et al. Frequency of familial colorectal cancer. Br J Surg 1991; 78(10): 1162–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lynch HT, Follett KL, Lynch PM et al. Family history in an oncology clinic. Implications for cancer genetics. JAMA 1979; 242(12): 1268–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Mecklin JP, Järvinen HJ. Clinical features of colorectal carcinoma in cancer family syndrome. Dis Colon Rectum 1986; 29(3): 160–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lynch HT, Smyrk TC, Watson P et al. Genetics, natural history, tumor spectrum, and pathology of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer: an updated review. Gastroenterology 1993; 104(5): 1535–49.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Cannon-Albright LA, Thomas TC, Bishop DT et al. Characteristics of familial colon cancer in a large population data base. Cancer 1989; 64(9): 1971–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kee F, Collins BJ. Families at risk of colorectal cancer: who are they? Gut 1992; 33(6): 787–90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Singh JP, Maini VK, Bhatnagar A. Large-bowel malignancy. Epidemiology and gut motility studies in South Asia. Dis Colon Rectum 1984; 27(1): 10–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Rudzki Z, Stachura J. Preliminary report on pathology of colorectal cancer in Poland in 1995 and 1975: is it still the same disease? Int J Colorectal Dis 1999; 14(6): 277–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Huang J, Seow A, Shi CY, Lee HP. Colorectal carcinoma among ethnic Chinese in Singapore: trends in incidence rate by anatomic subsite from 1968 to 1992. Cancer 1999; 85(12): 2519–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Katballe N, Juul S, Christensen M et al. Patient accuracy of reporting on hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer-related malignancy in family members. Br J Surg 2001; 88(9): 1228–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Aitken J, Bain C, Ward M et al. How accurate is self-reported family history of colorectal cancer? Am J Epidemiol 1995; 141(9): 863–71.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Ruo L, Cellini C, La-Calle JP et al. Limitations of family cancer history assessment at initial surgical consultation. Dis Colon Rectum 2001; 44(1): 98–103; discussion 103–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Beck NE, Tomlinson IP, Homfray T et al. Genetic testing is important in families with a history suggestive of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer even if the Amsterdam criteria are not fulfilled. Br J Surg 1997; 84(2): 233–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Church J, McGannon E. Family history of colorectal cancer: how often and how accurately is it recorded? Dis Colon Rectum 2000; 43(11): 1540–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Scholefield JH, Johnson AG, Shorthouse AJ. Current surgical practice in screening for colorectal cancer based on family history criteria. Br J Surg 1998; 85(11): 1543–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Olsson, L., Lindblom, A. Family history of colorectal cancer in a Sweden county. Familial Cancer 2, 87–93 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025734200635

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025734200635

Navigation