The study will involve 25 researchers at seven study centers across the nation. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. Some 50,000 Americans die of it each year, with 130,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Researchers plan to use the registry to explore the genetic causes of colon cancer, look for new genetic markers for the disease and better characterize the risk from the genes already known.
Researchers also plan to look into the effects of the environment on cancer risk, especially diet.
Then, they will look at the interplay of the two factors. The families who face the highest risk will be offered genetic counseling and screening. Besides questionnaires, the participants will donate blood and tumor samples, which will be used in the future to screen for the high risk genes as well as to search for new genes that may cause cancer.