Identifying Related Cancer Types in Patients with Multiple Cancers
Author Information
Author(s): Bajdik Chris D, Abanto Zenaida U, Spinelli John J, Brooks-Wilson Angela, Gallagher Richard P
Primary Institution: BC Cancer Research Centre
Hypothesis
What types of cancer occur more often than expected in people who are diagnosed with multiple primary cancers?
Conclusion
The analysis suggests that several pairs of primary cancers might be related by a shared etiological factor.
Supporting Evidence
- Among both men and women, esophageal cancer with melanoma and kidney cancer with oral cancer are observed more than twice as often as expected.
- The analysis included 28,159 people with records of multiple primary cancers.
- The method used is more appropriate when multiple diagnoses are unlikely to be due to treatment or diagnostic procedures.
Takeaway
Some people can get more than one type of cancer, and this study found that certain cancers are more likely to occur together than we would expect by chance.
Methodology
The study analyzed cancer diagnosis records from British Columbia between 1970 and 2004 to determine the probability of specific cancer types occurring together.
Limitations
The method may be affected by undiagnosed cancers and the completeness of cancer registration data.
Participant Demographics
The study included records of individuals diagnosed with multiple primary invasive cancers in British Columbia.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI calculated for observed/expected ratios.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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