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Prevalence of familial pancreatic cancer in Germany
Author(s) -
Bartsch Detlef K.,
Kress Ralf,
SinaFrey Mercedes,
Grützmann Robert,
Gerdes Berthold,
Pilarsky Christian,
Heise Joachim W.,
Schulte KlausMartin,
ColomboBenkmann Mario,
Schleicher Cristina,
Witzigmann Helmut,
Pridöhl Olaf,
Ghadimi Michael B.,
Horstmann Olaf,
von Bernstorff Wolfgang,
Jochimsen Lisa,
Schmidt Jan,
Eisold Sven,
EstévézSchwarz Lope,
Hahn Stephan A.,
Schulmann Karsten,
Böck Wolfgang,
Gress Thomas M.,
Zügel Nikolaus,
Breitschaft Karl,
Prenzel Klaus,
Messmann Helmut,
Endlicher Esther,
Schneider Margarete,
Ziegler Andreas,
Schmiegel Wolff,
Schäfer Helmut,
Rothmund Matthias,
Rieder Harald
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.20210
Subject(s) - medicine , pancreatic cancer , family history , odds ratio , adenocarcinoma , pancreatic disease , cancer , pancreatitis , gastroenterology , prospective cohort study , family aggregation , pancreas , oncology , disease
Based on several case‐control studies, it has been estimated that familial aggregation and genetic susceptibility play a role in up to 10% of patients with pancreatic cancer, although conclusive epidemiologic data are still lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of familial pancreatic cancer and differences to its sporadic form in a prospective multicenter trial. A total of 479 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were prospectively evaluated regarding medical and family history, treatment and pathology of the tumour. A family history for pancreatic cancer was confirmed whenever possible by reviewing the tumour specimens and medical reports. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating odds ratios, regression analysis with a logit‐model and the Kaplan‐Meier method. Twenty‐three of 479 (prevalence 4.8%, 95% CI 3.1–7.1) patients reported at least 1 first‐degree relative with pancreatic cancer. The familial aggregation could be confirmed by histology in 5 of 23 patients (1.1%, 95% CI 0.3–2.4), by medical records in 9 of 23 patients (1.9%, 95% CI 0.9–3.5) and by standardized interviews of first‐degree relatives in 17 of 23 patients (3.5%, 95% CI 2.1–5.6), respectively. There were no statistical significant differences between familial and sporadic pancreatic cancer cases regarding sex ratio, age of onset, presence of diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis, tumour histology and stage, prognosis after palliative or curative treatment as well as associated tumours in index patients and families, respectively. The prevalence of familial pancreatic cancer in Germany is at most 3.5% (range 1.1–3.5%) depending on the mode of confirmation of the pancreatic carcinoma in relatives. This prevalence is lower than so far postulated in the literature. There were no significant clinical differences between the familial and sporadic form of pancreatic cancer. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.