Spanish registry and screening program for families at high risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Abstract

192 Background: 5-10% of pancreatic cancer (PC) cases show familial aggregation. 20% of these correspond to syndromes: Peutz Jeghers, hereditary pancreatitis, familial multiple melanoma, breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and others. Familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) is defined as: ≥2 first degree relatives with PC and with no other known syndromes. FPC seems to have autosomal dominant inheritance, but the genetic cause is unknown. Methods: The objectives are: 1) To develop the first FPC Spanish Registry, connecting different groups interested in this disease 2) To study inheritance, phenotypic and molecular characteristics of the FPC, and families with early PC 3) To establish a strategy for early detection of PC in high-risk individuals and to implement it 4) To characterize preneoplastic lesions and diagnosed PC by monitoring high-risk individuals. 16 Spanish hospitals are participating. This study has two components: 1) Cohort to identify families with FPC and hereditary PC. Sources for the families are the PanGen-ES Study, a case-control study of PC which identifies families through a questionnaire on family history of cancer, and Genetic Counseling Units, 2) Cohort of high-risk families. The latter will be followed up by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and CT ± abdominal magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, circulating tumor cells (CTC) in peripheral blood will be determined. Results: The assessment of family history of the 421 cases included in the PanGen Study has identified 32 (7.6%) families with FPC and 52 patients with PC ≤ 50 years (12.4%). In addition, the 190 families presenting PC aggregation with other neoplasms are being further evaluated. At this time we have obtained clinical data and blood samples to carry out molecular studies of 23 individuals: 17 belonging to 3 families with FPC, and 6 members of 2 families with an HBOC with some cases of pancreatic cancer. 18 relatives at risk began a follow-up with EUS and CT, with no detection of any suspicious pancreatic lesion; also CTC have not been detected. Conclusions: This initiative will permit to know more about FPC and will serve to evaluate protocols and PC markers in screening the high-risk population, and promote connections with other international groups.