Active clinical trials for "Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary"

This study will look at genetic changes which occur in the development of male and female breast cancer and other cancer. It will use a new technology called DNA microarray hybridization that looks at a wide array of genes to identify disease-associated patterns in the human genome (complete set of human genes). Numerous studies have linked particular genes to a given disease, but there is very little information on patterns of gene expression (production of proteins from genetic coding) in the entire human genome. Pinpointing genetic abnormalities in disease may help classify different forms of cancer and perhaps lead to new avenues of treatment or prevention. A primary goal of this study will be to create a database of gene expression for human cancers and other disorders that will provide the basis for finding genetic abnormalities in disease. Tumors specimens used in this study will be taken from tissues biopsied from patients with breast, colon cancer, sarcomas or melanoma as part of their routine care. Patients in the study will be among those receiving care at the: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden (breast cancer); Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (breast cancer); Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland (melanoma), Johns Hopkins Univ. (colon cancer), Memorial Sloan Kettering (sarcoma). Patients in the study will have a family history taken and will complete a questionnaire. Some patients will be asked to have a blood test. Breast cancer patients will have a mammogram if one has not been done within the last year.

This study will evaluate the impact InheRET™, an online family history gathering and risk assessment reporting tool, has on facilitating National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN) guideline compliant referrals for cancer genetic counseling/genetic evaluation by decreasing and/or removing the barriers of 1) time-consuming in-clinic 3-generation family history collection, and 2) interpretation of the family and personal history in light of current NCCN guidelines. Identifying individuals at increased risk for cancer has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in multiple clinical settings. Investigators hypothesize that InheRET will prove to be accurate, efficient, and accessible, and that its use will improve identification of individuals at risk for inherited susceptibility to cancer. The investigators propose also that using this tool will result in a reduction of inappropriate genetic counseling referrals and reduce unnecessary genetic testing in both primary and specialty care settings. InheRET will allow health care providers to focus resources on individuals at higher risk for developing cancer.

The purpose of this study is to identify affected individuals in families with prostate cancer and to use this information to identify genetic markers closely-linked to the disease gene.

The study aims to update current knowledge about the epidemiology of pituitary tumours (PiT), based on the wide body of scientific literature on new familial and/or syndromic forms. Although inherited predisposition is increasingly recognized, its clinical relevance in unselected series of PiT patients has not been specifically addressed. In addition, it is likely that further recognition of peculiar associations between PiT and other endocrine and/or non-endocrine neoplasia will further increase the spectrum of syndromic forms. Since the identification of inherited forms of PiT may have significant clinical implications in terms of patients management and familial screening, we aim to collect any relevant information in order to estimate their prevalence in a large unselected series of PiT patients and provide new clues for a modern clinical approach to these patients.

In order to best meet the needs of all those affected by the genetic risk of cancer in our region, it is important to identify the factors likely to influence the course leading to the GENEPY surveillance network. The aim of this study is to evaluatie the adhesion to the network of care of people at genetic risk of cancer in Midi-Pyrénées (GENEPY).