CRC in families - some new research

Hi - if this is of any interest to anyone.

The 7th June 2008 issue of New Scientist reports research from the Dana Farber Cancer Institue in Boston which tracked 1000 people having chemo for same stage CRC between l999 and 2001.

Surprisingly, the study found a lower rate of recurrence (30%) in patients whose parent or sibling had also had CRC, compared with a recurrence rate of 40% for patients without a close family relative with CRC.

The explanation put forward is:

"The team suggests genes enhancing chemotherapy may be inherited with those that make cancer more likely. If they can identify them, the same proteins might be used to improve chemotherapy for everyone."

The original research was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 299, page 2515.