Germline Mutations in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and a Family History of Cancer

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer

Treatments: Genetic: polymorphism analysis; Other: laboratory biomarker analysis; Genetic: gene expression analysis; Genetic: mutation analysis; Other: flow cytometry; Genetic: polymerase chain reaction

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00482872

VU-VICC-HN-0402

P30CA068485 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

CDR0000546713

VICC-IRB-040030

Details and patient eligibility

About

RATIONALE: Studying gene mutations in samples of DNA from patients with head and neck cancer and a family history of cancer may help doctors learn more about the development of cancer in families.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying germline mutations in patients with head and neck cancer and a family history of cancer.

Full description

OBJECTIVES:

• Measure the incidence of p16^INK4a germline mutations in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and a family history of cancer.
• Determine biologic activity of identified p16^INK4a germline mutations.

OUTLINE: DNA specimens are collected for genetic and mutation analysis and examined by PCR and flow cytometry. The activity of cells with p16 mutations is determined by cell cycle arrest functional assay.

Enrollment: 400 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 120 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck

• Must have ≥ 1 first-degree relative with any of the following cancers:

  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • SCC of the head and neck
  • Lymphoma (controls)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified