‘lt’s all in the famil

Some types of cancer may be hereditary, scientists say

BOSTON (UPI) -
Scientists for the first
time have traced a
hereditary human
cancer to a

chromosome defect,

enabling doctors to
identify individuals
who face a high risk of
developing the disease,
the New England
Journal. of Medicine
reported Thursday.

Several types of cancer
are known to occur in
families with predictable
frequency, which suggests
they fay be passed from one
generation to another like
other hereditary traits such
as hair or eye color.

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Doctors at the Beth Israé]
Hospital in Boston, studying
a family with a history of a
rare form of kidney cancer,

found specific sections of’

two chromosomes —- the
‘molecules that determine
heredity, were defective.

Most of the individuals
who had the chromosome
defect developed the rare
cancer, said Dr. Robert S.
Brown, one of seven
physicians conducting the
research.

The defect was first
discovered when one
member of the unidentified
family, a 37-year-old male,
entered Beth Israel for
treatment of the kidney
cancer.

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Microscopic analysis
turned up the chromosomal
translocatioh in him and
most oth@r living. members
of his family.

From medical records and

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and the return of everyone to school and work. (Ian Smith photo)

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amniocentesis which is
chromosomal analysis in an
unborn baby.

“We ought to look for
(chromosomal) ab-
normalities in people with

from the genetic makeup of ~ familial histories,” he said.

the living relatives, the
doctors were able to
determine which dead family
members also had the defect
and link it to the kidney
cancer.

“Now we can visualize the
defect,” Brown said in an
interview. “And the only
other advantage of studying
this situation is that we can
pick up carriers of the
defect.”

Since individuals with the
chromosome defect will pass
it on to half of their off-—
spring, Brown recommends

Four members of the
family with the genetic
defect are under 35 and have

not yet developed kidney
cancer.

“They are under
psychological and emotional
ressurec,” Brown = said.
‘They see cancer in their
future,”

Doctors will monitor the
four individuals closely, he
said. If cancer is detected, it
can be treated carly when
chances for cure are
greatest.

ure... Scott Leeson, who is normally very busy renting small boats and fishing gear in Horseshoe Bay, reflécts on the advent of fall

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