A new study by researchers at the University of Utah found that people with a family history of cancerous brain tumors appear to be at higher risk of developing the same kind of tumors compared to people with no such family history.
The researchers reviewed the medical records of 1,401 people from Utah with primary brain tumors -- either glioblastomas or astrocytomas -- along with family medical histories to find the association. Glioblastomas are a fast-growing type of tumor that occur most often in adults. Astrocytomas are tumors in the brain or spinal cord that are generally less aggressive than glioblastomas.The study found that people whose immediate relatives suffered from glioblastomas had twice the risk of contracting the same kind of brain cancer, and those with immediate relatives who had astrocytomas were almost four times as likely to develop that type of cancer compared with those with no family history.
"Our study suggests that people with a family history of brain tumors should make their doctor aware of this and tell them about any other risk factors they have,” said lead author Deborah Blumenthal, MD, of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel, and the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
“Hopefully, studies like these will eventually help us to identify genes that may be responsible for these types of brain tumors,” said Blumenthal. She said an estimated 20,500 cases of new primary brain tumors were diagnosed in the United States in 2005, half of which were gliomas, or cancerous brain tumors.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Utah Department of Health, the University of Utah and the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute. The study will be published in the September 23, 2008, issue of Neurology, published by the American Academy of Neurology.
Citation:
Blumenthal B, Cannon-Albright L, Familiality in brain tumors, Neurology; 71:1015
A new study by researchers at the University of Utah found that people with a family history of cancerous brain tumors appear to be at higher risk of developing the same kind of tumors compared to people with no such family history.
The researchers reviewed the medical records of 1,401 people from Utah with primary brain tumors -- either glioblastomas or astrocytomas -- along with family medical histories to find the association. Glioblastomas are a fast-growing type of tumor that occur most often in adults. Astrocytomas are tumors in the brain or spinal cord that are generally less aggressive than glioblastomas.The study found that people whose immediate relatives suffered from glioblastomas had twice the risk of contracting the same kind of brain cancer, and those with immediate relatives who had astrocytomas were almost four times as likely to develop that type of cancer compared with those with no family history.
"Our study suggests that people with a family history of brain tumors should make their doctor aware of this and tell them about any other risk factors they have,” said lead author Deborah Blumenthal, MD, of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel, and the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
“Hopefully, studies like these will eventually help us to identify genes that may be responsible for these types of brain tumors,” said Blumenthal. She said an estimated 20,500 cases of new primary brain tumors were diagnosed in the United States in 2005, half of which were gliomas, or cancerous brain tumors.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Utah Department of Health, the University of Utah and the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute. The study will be published in the September 23, 2008, issue of Neurology, published by the American Academy of Neurology.
Citation:
Blumenthal B, Cannon-Albright L, Familiality in brain tumors, Neurology; 71:1015