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Compared with the general population, carriers of germline mutations in RB1 who survive retinoblastoma (i.e., hereditary retinoblastoma survivors) are at increased risk of early-onset second cancers, particularly sarcomas, brain tumors, and melanoma. However, their risks for the epithelial cancers that commonly occur after age 50 years are not known. In a paper appeared in J Natl Cancer Inst. 96(5):357-63, Mar 3 2004; Fletcher and co-workers demonstrate that survivors who are not exposed to high-dose radiotherapy have a high lifetime risk of developing a late-onset epithelial cancer. Most of the excess cancer risks might be preventable by limiting exposures to DNA damaging agents (radiotherapy, tobacco, and UV light). Read the paper and the accompanying editorial, both freely available. |
