A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) has identified a specific location on a human chromosome that can be linked to familial cases of colon cancer, the kind of colon cancer that tends to run in families.

Research published this month in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" (PNAS article #2286) identifies a specific stretch of DNA on chromosome 9 that houses a "susceptibility" gene.

"Previous studies have shown that colon cancer risk can be inherited," said principal investigator Sanford Markowitz, a professor of cancer genetics at Case and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator who also treats patients at University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center. "By analyzing blood samples from 53 families, in which at least one member of the family had a colon cancer or pre-cancerous colon polyp, we were able to find a common link. This moves us much closer to developing a blood test that will identify people who are susceptible to colon cancer well before the cancer ever develops."

Georgia Wiesner, director of the Center for Human Genetics at Case and UHC and lead author of the study, said at least 200 genes exist on this particular location on chromosome 9.

"Future research will focus on finding the one responsible gene," Wiesner said. "The research team is looking for more sibling pairs and family members for the crucial next phase of the study, the actual identification of the disease-causing gene."

In addition to Markowitz and Wiesner, the research team includes Robert Elston of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at Case and Joseph Willis of the department of pathology at Case and UHC. The study received significant support from the National Cancer Institute, the National Colon Cancer Research Alliance of the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Anyone interested in participating in the next phase of the "Sibling Study" should contact the Ireland Cancer Center Information Service at UHC at 1-800-641-2422.

Return to the online edition of the 10-30-03 Campus News.