Principal Investigator

• W. Marston Linehan, MD
  National Cancer Institute

Associate Investigators

• Berton Zbar, MD
• Joan E. Bailey-Wilson, PhD
• Laura Schmidt, PhD
• Michael Dean, PhD
• Bert Gold, PhD
• Carol Kasten-Sportes, MD
• Lindsay Middelton, RN, CGC

Participating Institutions

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• University of California
• Georgetown University
• Johns Hopkins University
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Duke University Medical Center

Synopsis

Genes have been identified for several rare autosomal dominant disorders characterized by an increased risk for the development of renal cell carcinoma. A form of renal cell carcinoma called “sporadic” (or isolated) renal carcinoma is characterized by late onset of disease (50’s to 70’s), single tumor in only one kidney, and a very low (but not zero) rate of familial aggregation. In addition, some families exist that do not fit the known inherited syndromes but that have a family history of renal cell carcinoma. A recent report from Iceland suggests that genetic factors may play an important role in the development of sporadic renal carcinoma.

This study plans to pursue multiple approaches to map renal carcinoma susceptibility gene(s) and to evaluate genes in the region of interest by tests for association with the disease. The human haplotype map will be utilized (once it is developed) in a genome wide search for a haplotype associated with susceptibility to renal carcinoma. Investigators plan to obtain blood / DNA samples from a panel of 1000 patients with renal cell carcinoma and 1000 matched control individuals through collaboration with the Cancer Genetics Network.

This study is currently on hold until future CGN funding has been finalized.

View the protocol summary report.