Oesophageal cancer: Commonly familial, possibly heritable.
23 Background: Oesophageal cancer (OC) accounts for 400 deaths in Ireland per year. Prognosis remains poor, and improved prevention is needed. Familial clustering has been described however, The Nordic Twin Study of Cancer does not support a strong hereditability. We investigated familial OC over a decade in Ireland. Methods: The independent records of two national referral services were reviewed: an oesophageal surgery database and a hereditary cancer genetics database. Demographic Factors including family history of OC were recorded from the surgical database. Families containing a single OC diagnosis were identified in the genetics database. Age at diagnosis and additional cancer diagnoses in the family were recorded. Results: 1238 patients with OC were seen at St. James’s Hospital from 2005 to 2015. Demographic characteristics are shown in Table. 641 patients (51%) had a family history of malignancy. Seventy eight (6.3%) reported a family history of OC, 6 (7.6%) of whom had two or more first degree relatives with OC and 10 (13%) had both a first degree and second degree relative with OC. More male relatives were diagnosed with OC than female (59% vs 41%).The majority (24%) with a family history were diagnosed at Stage III, the majority (29%) without a family history were diagnosed at Stage II. 1840 pedigrees from the genetic database were reviewed. No pedigree contained a Proband with OC.4.5%(n = 84) included at least one family member with OC. The median age at diagnosis was 64. Breast, colorectal and gastric were the most commonly associated cancers with median ages of 50,59 and 64 respectively. Conclusions: More than half of patients presenting with OC report a family history of cancer, with likely hereditary and environmental components. OC patients are rarely referred for genetic assessment, possibly due to treatment related morbidity and poor clinical outcome. [Table: see text]