MACGN Recruits for Pilot Study of Prostate Cancer Gene Discovery

The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Genetics Network is currently conducting the Pilot Study of Prostate Cancer Gene Discovery.As the number of prostate cancer cases continues to rise, the goal is to learn more about the combined hereditary and environmental factors that may increase a man’s risk for this disease.

In January of this year, the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network began active recruitment for this important project along with four additional national Cancer Genetics Network sites: (1) University of California, Irvine; (2) Carolina-Georgia Center including Duke University Medical Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Emory University; (3) Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center; and (4) University of Pennsylvania. The centers will enroll about 900 families with varying degrees of risk for prostate cancer over the next several months. Thus far, efforts have identified a number of interested families. The search continues for men with a personal diagnosis of prostate cancer at age 65 or younger who have relatives with prostate cancer.

Enrolled individuals must be able to provide a blood sample and be willing to contact family members. Participants are asked to complete a brief questionnaire on prostate cancer screening and risk factors and consent to the release of medical records to verify cancer diagnoses.

MACGN is joining forces with the Johns Hopkins Hereditary Prostate Cancer Registry to learn more about this disease. The hope for this pilot project is to discover important information that may lead to additional prostate cancer gene studies and ultimately improve methods of early detection, prevention, and care of persons with prostate cancer.

Betty May, MS

Michelle McCullough, BS