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Colorectal cancer risk greater among relatives of patients with serrated polyposis
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Relatives of patients with serrated polyposis may be at greater risk for colorectal or pancreatic cancer, according to recent results.
Researchers retrospectively analyzed 1,639 first- and second-degree relatives of 100 patients with serrated polyposis from genetic clinics throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The number of cancer incidences within the cohort was determined and compared against the general population.
Colorectal cancer was observed in 102 cases (Standardized Incidence Ratio=2.25, 95% CI, 1.75-2.93). Both first- (54 cases, SIR=5.16, 95% CI, 3.70-7.30) and second-degree (48 cases, SIR=1.38, 95% CI, 1.01-1.91) relatives were found to be at an increased risk for the illness. Participants were at greater risk for colorectal cancer when the index case was diagnosed at an age younger than 50 years, but this was not considered statistically significant (P=.07). The cancer risk was not affected by the number of serrated polyps diagnosed in a relative’s index case.
The cumulative risk for colorectal cancer among first-degree relatives, aged 70 years, was 15% for men (95% CI, 11-21%) and 12% for women (95% CI, 8-16%). When the index case was diagnosed with serrated polyposis at younger than 50 years, the risk for first-degree relatives was 24% for men (95% CI, 15-39%) and 19% for women (95% CI, 11-30%).
Investigators found six cases of pancreatic cancer among first-degree relatives, who were found to be at a significantly increased risk for the illness (SIR=3.64, 95% CI, 1.70-9.21). The cumulative risk at age 70 years for first-degree relatives was estimated at 2% for men (95% CI, 1-6%) and 1.5% for women (95% CI, 0.7-4%). The risk of stomach, brain, prostate or female breast cancer was not increased.
“This study has observed that relatives of serrated polyposis patients are at significantly increased risks of colorectal and pancreatic cancer,” the researchers wrote. “These findings add to the accumulating evidence that serrated polyposis has an inherited component. Relatives of patients with serrated polyposis could benefit from appropriate colonoscopic surveillance.”
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