Family history of esophageal cancer increases the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

A population-based case-control was performed to explore familial aggregation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Family history of cancer was assessed by a structured questionnaire, and from which 2 cohorts of relatives of cases and controls were reconstructed. Unconditional logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were applied for case-control design and reconstructed cohort design, respectively. We observed a close to doubled risk of ESCC associated with a positive family history of esophageal cancer among first degree relatives (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42–2.41), after adjusting age, sex, family size and other confounders. The excess risks of ESCC increased with the increasing of first-degree relatives affected by esophageal cancer (p < 0.001). In particular, those individuals whose both parents with esophageal cancer had an 8-fold excess risk of ESCC (95% CI: 1.74–36.32). The reconstructed cohort analysis showed that the cumulative risk of esophageal cancer to age 75 was 12.2% in the first-degree relatives of cases and 7.0% in those of controls (hazard ratio = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.54–2.37). Our results suggest family history of esophageal cancer significantly increases the risk for ESCC. Future studies are needed to understand how the shared genetic susceptibility and/or environmental exposures contribute to the observed excess risk.

Poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma - a population-based case-control study in China

“…According to data from the local Cancer Registry, there are approximately 640 esophageal cancer cases in the 40‐ to 85‐year‐old age group annually (the crude rate in Taixing was 60.67 per 100,000). The study subjects were restricted to local inhabitants (Chinese Han race) aged 40–85 years who had lived in Taixing for at least 5 years prior to the diagnosis date for cases or the interview date for controls …”

Epidemiology, etiology, and prevention of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China

“…The risk of ESCC increased with increasing number of affected relatives. In particular, cases of both parents being affected render an eightfold risk of ESCC for their offspring 48 . Previous epidemiological studies conducted in endemic areas (including mainly Linxian and Shanxi) in China demonstrated that individuals with a family history of esophageal cancer present a higher risk of such cancer 49,50 .…”

Novel candidate genes may be possible predisposing factors revealed by whole exome sequencing in familial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…To be more specific, offspring of two parents with ESCC has an eight-fold greater likelihood of developing ESCC than offspring of parents without ESCC. 14 Currently, genetic analyses of diseases, such as cancer, have focused on the detection of rare variants that may contribute to individual susceptibility to common complex diseases. 15 It is a matter of debate whether several DNA sequence variants with high penetrance are the major contributors to disease.…”