Abstract
Purpose::
To determine if patients with uveal melanoma and their first degree relatives have higher risk for developing common cancers such as breast, prostate and colon than the general population
Methods::
A detailed three generation family histories for cancers were available from all uveal melanoma patients seen at the department of Ophthalmology, OSU, during the last three years. These family history forms were retrospectively reviewed to identify the frequency of different cancers in patients with uveal melanomas and their relatives. For uveal melanoma patients and their first degree relatives we compared the observed number of cancer cases to the number of cancer cases we would expect in the general population (based on probabilities published in the SEER registry).We used a Rate Ratio (RR) measure analogous to the Standardized Mortality Rate (SMR) to asses such probability.
Results::
Extended family histories were available for 130 uveal melanoma patients. Out of those two (2/130, 1.5%) had family history of a first degree relative with UM. In addition 33 (25%) reported a moderate to strong family history of cancer. For female patients with uveal melanoma, breast cancer was observed with a RR of 1.67 (p = 0.076) when compared to the frequency expected in the general population. The RR of first degree relatives of a UM to have a breast cancer was 1.03 (p=0.43). For male patients with UM and their first degree relatives there was no relationship between UM and prostate cancer. However we observed a RR of 2.84 (p = 0.006) for UM patients to have colon cancer. The first degree relatives of these patients also demonstrated increased frequency of colon cancer RR 2.26 (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions::
Our results indicate that a small, but significant, number of uveal melanoma patients and their families are at higher risk for development of other cancers most significantly colon cancer. Identification of uveal melanoma patients who are at an increase risk for development of other cancer will be crucial for proper management of the patient and their families. Moreover, identification of specific genetic changes associated with increase risk for uveal melanomas will provide further insight into the molecular pathogenesis of this cancer.
Keywords: tumors • melanoma • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence