FAMILIAL ASPECTS OF PROSTATE-CANCER - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Purpose: We evaluated the importance of positive family history, age a t diagnosis and history of vasectomy in predicting the risk for prosta te cancer in the brothers of prostate cancer patients. Materials and M ethods: A total of 1,084 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer resp onded by interview to a family history survey, which included detailed information on the diagnosis of any cancer in the parents of the prob and, diagnosis of prostate cancer in male relatives and age at onset o f prostate cancer in the proband. A history of vasectomy was also obta ined from the proband. The control cases consisted of 935 spouses of t he probands who were administered the same questionnaire in an identic al fashion. Results: Prostate cancer was not significantly associated with other types of cancer in proband parents. The presence of prostat e cancer in the father, grandfather or uncle of the proband significan tly increased the risk of prostate cancer in proband brothers. Early a ge at onset in the proband was also associated with an increased risk to the proband brothers. Conclusions: Men with a family history of pro state cancer are at a significantly increased risk for prostate cancer , especially if the affected relative had early onset of cancer. Prost ate cancer does not seem to be associated with a higher incidence of o ther cancers in family members.