Pancreatic Cancer Genetics

Columbia University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Pancreatic Cancer

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01102569

AAAC6344

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of the three most common BReast CAncer gene 1 (BRCA1) and BReast CAncer gene 2 (BRCA2) genetic mutations that are commonly found in Ashkenazi Jewish patients with pancreatic cancer. Testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in relatives of hereditary pancreatic cancer patients may have a significant impact; allowing for early screening, treatment, and resection of pre-malignant tissue or malignant lesions.

Full description

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death from malignancy in the United States. Up to 15% of pancreatic cancers have a hereditary component. Several gene mutations and cancer syndromes have been identified that are frequently found in greater frequency in individuals with pancreatic cancer, including the breast ovary cancer syndrome (BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations). No studies adequately describe the epidemiology of inherited pancreatic cancer and genetic risk factors that may modify the penetrance of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. The primary aim of this study is to determine the frequency of BRCA1 (185delAG,5382insC) and BRCA2 (6174delT) mutations in Ashkenazi Jewish pancreatic cancer patients. Secondary endpoints will include determining the individual frequency of these mutations and other disease-modifying mutations, death from any cause, disease-free survival, and stage of disease at time of presentation, differences in tissue pathology, risk factors, treatment decisions and development of metachronous malignancies.

The investigator plans to study about 100 patients, which will enable the true frequency of the mutation to be estimated. Although the impact of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations will be initially studied in the Ashkenazi population, these data will be widely applicable to other pancreatic cancer patients carrying BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. Testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in relatives of hereditary pancreatic cancer patients may allow early screening, treatment, and resection of pre-malignant tissue or malignant lesions.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Patients are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
• Patients have been Columbia Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program Registry and Tissue Bank for High-Risk Individuals (IRB-AAAA6154).

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to provide informed consent.
• Under the age of 18 years old.

Trial design

100 participants in 1 patient group

Pancreatic cancer and Ashkenazi decent

Description:

Patients with pancreatic cancer will be asked to join the study if they identify themselves as being of Ashkenazi descent, as well as patients at a high-risk of pancreas cancer based on family history, and will be followed from the time of diagnosis.