While many patients with colorectal are diagnosed when they are older than 50, about 10 percent of patients are diagnosed at younger ages. So what is the frequency of cancer susceptibility gene mutations among patients with colorectal cancer who are diagnosed younger than 50?
A new study published online by JAMA Oncology by Heather Hampel, M.S., C.G.C., of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, and coauthors studied 450 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 51 hospitals in the Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiative from 2013 through June 2016.
Researchers reported finding 75 gene mutations in 72 patients (16 percent), according to the article.
"Given the high frequency and wide spectrum of mutations, genetic counseling and testing with a multigene panel could be considered for all patients with early-onset CRC [colorectal cancer]," the study concludes.
For more details and to read the study findings, please visit the For The Media website.
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(JAMA Oncol. Published online December 15, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.5194; available pre-embargo at the For The Media website.)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
Journal
JAMA Oncology