Family history and risk of stomach cancer in Warsaw, Poland

In a population-based case-control study of stomach cancer conducted in War saw, Poland, 464 cases and 480 controls were interviewed to evaluate the ro le of family history and other risk factors. A greater than threefold incre ase in risk was associated with a history of stomach cancer in a first degr ee relative (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.0-6.2), but no excess risk was seen with other forms of cancer. The risk associated with familial occurrence was not significantly modified by gender, age or ABO blood type, and did not vary with Lauren histologic classification. Our findings add to evidence for a f amilial predisposition to both diffuse and intestinal types of gastric canc er, Further studies are needed to identify the susceptibility genes and env ironmental exposures that may account for the familial tendency to stomach cancer. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.