GENETIC DEMOGRAPHY OF MEDULLARY-THYROID CARCINOMA IN FRANCE

Since 1983, the ''Groupe d'etude des tumeurs a calcitonine'' (GETC) ha s established a national registry of the patients with medullary thyro id carcinoma (isolated or part of multiple endocrine neoplasia). The c ollaboration between the GETC and the ''Institut National d'Etudes Dem ographiques'' (INED) led to this geographical and genealogical study. The probands and their ancestors tend to be more often located in the Northern and Northwestern regions of France. Very few genealogical lin ks are found between the families. These results suggest that there ma y be multiple independent and probably ancient founder effects.