Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors Related to Esophageal Cancer

Purpose

RATIONALE: Gathering information about genes, cigarette smoking, and diet may help doctors learn more about risk factors that may cause esophageal cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying genetic and environmental risk factors related to esophageal cancer.

Condition

  • Esophageal Cancer

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 100 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Criteria


DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Meets 1 of the following criteria:

- Diagnosis of esophageal cancer (patient)

- Newly diagnosed disease

- Receiving care at Massachusetts General Hospital, Thoracic Oncology Center

- Friend or spouse of patient (healthy participants)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- No concurrent psychiatric incapacity or dementia

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- Not specified

Study Design

Phase
Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Case-Control
Time Perspective
Retrospective

More Details

Status
Unknown status
Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Contact

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: - Examine the role of several genetically-determined factors in combination with cigarette smoking and diet in the etiology and prevention of esophageal cancer. - Identify polymorphisms in metabolizing enzymes (e.g., phase I or II metabolism [GSTM1, GSTT1,CYP1A1, CYP3A5, mEH, NQO1, GSTP1], DNA repair [XRCC1, ERCC2], free-radical formation [MPO, MnSOD], inflammatory genes [ IL1-beta], metastatic potential [MMP1], and cell cycle or tumor suppression [p21, p53]) and related path genes of susceptibility for esophageal cancer. OUTLINE: Blood and tumor tissue samples are collected. DNA purified from these samples is analyzed using DNA-based assays to determine polymorphisms in various related gene pathways. Patients complete questionnaires concerning environmental, smoking and diet habits. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 1,000 tissue samples from patients and healthy participants (750 patients and 250 healthy participants) will be accrued for this study.