RE: Lung cancer mortality from radon versus mortality from other cancers

["Rad health" <healthrad@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Eric,



I think that is an interesting point.  Most of the radon case-control 

studies collect that information and some look at it after the primary 

papers are published.  I wonder if in fact the finding you describe could be 

attributed to the deletion of a tumor suppressor gene?



There is also the role of family genetics, see:





Int J Epidemiol 1997 Apr;26(2):256-63





Family history of cancer and risk of lung cancer in lifetime non-smokers and 

long-term ex-smokers.



Brownson RC, Alavanja MC, Caporaso N, Berger E, Chang JC.



School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, MO 63108-3342, USA.





FROM MO RADON STUDY:



BACKGROUND: Genetic factors appear to play a role in the aetiology of lung 

cancer. METHODS: To examine the association between family history of cancer 

(all types) and risk of lung cancer among non-smokers, we conducted a 

case-control study. Cases (n = 618) were identified through the Missouri 

Cancer Registry for the period 1986 through 1991, and included 432 lifetime 

non-smokers and 186 ex-smokers who had stopped at least 15 years prior to 

diagnosis or had smoked for less than one pack-year. Controls (n = 1402) 

were selected through drivers licence and Medicare files. RESULTS: The risk 

of lung cancer increased directly in relation to the number of family 

members affected with cancer. The odds ratio (OR) associated with five or 

more first-degree relatives with cancer was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 

[CI] 1.2-6.1), with a significant linear trend in risk according to the 

number of relatives affected (P = 0.03). Increased lung cancer risk was 

associated with two or more affected siblings (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-1.9) 

and with two or more affected offspring (OR = 3.2: 95% CI: 1.3-8.1). Risk 

was slightly elevated for family history of lung cancer (OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 

1.0-1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified a slight increase in risk of 

lung cancer in relation to five or more relatives with cancer. Preventive 

implications of this increased risk are unclear because the attributable 

fraction is low in comparison to a variety of other factors.



Don Smith







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