FAMILY HISTORY OF PROSTATE-CANCER - A MULTICENTER CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN CANADA

In a population-based case-control study of prostate cancer conducted in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver between 1989 and 1993, a total of 6 40 newly incident cases and 639 aged-matched population controls were interviewed as to their family history of prostate cancer as well as n utritional and other lifestyle and environmental factors. In total, 94 cases (15%) reported at least one blood relative with a family histor y, as compared with 32 (5%) of controls, giving a relative risk of 3.3 2 (95% confidence interval 2.18-5.05). The association was very consis tent across all 3 centers, and was similar for each specific type of r elative considered (fathers or brothers). Thus, this study provides fu rther evidence of familial aggregation of prostate cancer, and suggest s the possibility that part or all of such clustering could be related to inherited genetic patterns; if so, the availability of screening p rocedures for the disease offers the possibility of useful early inter vention in individuals with such inherited susceptibility. (C) 1997 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.