Darmkanker en de relatie tot ander kankers.*

- People diagnosed with colon cancer, especially at a younger age, may face a higher risk of developing certain other cancers, results of a UK study suggest. Researchers say that inherited susceptibility genes--particularly those that cause an inherited form of colon cancer--could largely explain the connections. Their study of a UK cancer database found that among more than 127,000 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the risk of later developing cancers of the small intestine, uterus, ovaries and eye was higher than expected overall. Men and women had different risks, and the odds of later cancer development tended to be higher in younger colon cancer patients, according to findings published in the May issue of the journal Gut. For instance, Dr. H. S. Evans and colleagues at Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine in London found, the overall risk of a subsequent cancer was elevated in men diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 60--although the increase was not statistically significant. For men diagnosed with the cancer at age 60 or older, the risk of later cancers was lower than expected, according to the report. Similarly, women diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 65 faced an overall increased risk of other cancers, while older women had a lower-than-expected risk, the investigators found. Younger women with colon cancer had increased odds of developing uterine or ovarian cancer, as well as a subsequent colon cancer. Older women, while having a lower risk of subsequent cancers overall, were nonetheless at increased risk of ovarian cancer and cancer of the small intestine. Among men, younger colorectal cancer patients faced an increased risk of subsequent colorectal cancers. They also had a higher risk of developing cancer of the eye, the report indicates. Bron: Gut 2002;50:647-652. 

    Printen