Recent Progress in the Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

   PDF

2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Genetics of Common Tumors

      • H. T. Lynch, J. F. Lynch

      Pages 3-17

   3. Pitfalls and Prospects in Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer

      • N. E. Morton

      Pages 18-26

3. Studies on Genetic Epidemiology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 27-27

      PDF

   2. Familial Susceptibility to Breast Cancer

      • N. Andrieu, F. Clavel, F. Demenais

      Pages 29-35

   3. Linkage Mapping of Cancer Susceptibility Genes

      • D. T. Bishop, L. A. Cannon-Albright, M. H. Skolnick

      Pages 36-48

   4. Genetic Epidemiology of Retinoblastoma

      • C. Bonaïti-Pellié, F. Clerget-Darpoux, M.-C. Babron

      Pages 49-56

   5. Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer and Predisposing Lesions

      • L. A. Cannon-Albright, D. T. Bishop, D. E. Goldgar, M. H. Skolnick

      Pages 57-65

   6. Search for Genetic Factors in the Etiology of Breast Cancer

      • P. Devilee

      Pages 66-77

   7. Molecular, Cytogenetic and Linkage Analysis of Chromosome 11p Regions Involved in Wilms’ Tumour and Associated Congenital Diseases

      • M. Mannens, J. Hoovers, E. M. Bleeker-Wagemakers, J. Bliek, B. Redeker, R. John et al.

      Pages 78-88

   8. Analysis of Association in Nuclear Families

      • S. A. Seuchter, M. Knapp, M. P. Baur

      Pages 89-94

   9. Ascertainment Problems in Family Data: Methodological Aspects

      • J. Stene

      Pages 95-101

   10. Polygenic vs Monogenic Inheritance of Dysplastic Nevi and Malignant Melanoma: Yesterday’s Debate or the Answer of Tomorrow?

       • Heiko Traupe

       Pages 102-113

   11. Genetic Epidemiology and the Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma Syndrome

       • H. T. Lynch, R. M. Fusaro

       Pages 114-131

4. Computer Applications

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 133-133

      PDF

   2. Computer Simulation Methods in Human Linkage Analysis

      • J. Ott

      Pages 135-139

   3. Computer Programs for Linkage Analysis

      • J. Ott

      Pages 140-144

   4. A Comprehensive Pedigree Analysis Tool: FAP (Family Analysis Package)

      • M. Neugebauer, M. P. Baur

      Pages 145-154

5. Back Matter

   Pages 155-164

   PDF

The discipline of genetic epidemiology pertains to the vertical transmission of the susceptibility (predisposition) to a complex disease in a structured population. This statement meets halfway 1 the broad definitiongiven by N. E. Morton and S. c. Chung in 1978 2 and the concise one given by M. -C. King et al. in 1984. 1t pinpoints the fundamental genetic hypothesis, namely, the existence of an inherited condition that predisposes an individual to a specific disease, and the corresponding subject ofinvestigation, the family. Thus, the genetic epidemiological situation consists of three basic elements: (l) the genealogical structure, (2) the mode of inherit­ ance (i. e. , the "genetic model") for the trait of interest, and (3) the observable phenotypes of susceptibility. It is clear that genetic epidemiology is a research field posi­ tioned at the intersection of molecular genetics, population gen­ etics, and clinical genetics. Perhaps the genealogical tree should be its central element: it evidences something forgotten in mole­ cular genetics, namely the relationships, and associations with probabilistic and statistical concepts from population genetics. It offers a structure and a "history" for those clinicians studying familial diseases who are searching for genetic determinants of susceptibility. The genetic epidemiologist begins his analysis with a point on this genealogical tree, namely the proband, and attempts to carry out (nonrandom) "ascertainment sampling" by using a strategy that depends on the form and dimension (extended pedigrees versus nuclear families) of the tree.

• Biostatistik
• Cancer genetics
• Chromosom
• Genetik
• Medizinische Informatik
• Onkologische Epidemiologie
• Retinoblastom
• biostatistics
• cancer
• cancer epidemiology
• computer science
• epidemiology
• genetic epidemiology
• genetics

• Department of Preventive Medicine/Public Health, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, USA

  Henry T. Lynch

• Institut für Epidemiologie und Biometrie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

  Petre Tautu

Policies and ethics