Concordance for Hodgkin's disease in identical twins suggesting genetic susceptibility to the young-adult form of the disease
Article Abstract:
Hodgkin's disease may be acquired in young adulthood in part through genetic susceptibility. A study of 187 pairs of dizygotic (fraternal) twins and 179 pairs of monozygotic (identical) twins found that in none of the dizygotic twin pairs was Hodgkin's disease diagnosed in both members of a pair; the disease was diagnosed in both members of 10 of the monozygotic twin pairs. No similar correlation was found among twins for other cancers after Hodgkin's disease was diagnosed in one twin of a pair. Monozygotic twins were no more than twice as likely to experience cancer as were dizygotic twins. The incidence of both members of monozygotic twin pairs having Hodgkin's disease was associated with a young average age at diagnosis and a short average interval between diagnoses of both members. These findings may also point to a genetically determined susceptibility. Ninety percent of monozygotic twins of patients with Hodgkin's disease may not acquire the disease. A particular DNA base sequence common to several genes may be responsible for genetic susceptibility to Hodgkin's disease.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1995
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Puberty and genetic susceptibility to breast cancer in a case-control study in twins
Article Abstract:
There appears to be a type of hereditary breast cancer that is caused by exposure to the hormones that become active during puberty. This was the conclusion of researchers who studied 1,811 pairs of female twins, one or both of whom had breast cancer. When both twins had breast cancer, the twin who went through puberty first developed breast cancer first.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2003
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Genes, hormones, and pathways to breast cancer
Article Abstract:
There may be different causes of breast cancer in women, according to a study of twins. Gene mutations may cause some types of breast cancer and excessive exposure to sex hormones may cause other types. The twin study found that early puberty may increase a woman's risk of breast cancer if she has a genetic susceptibility to the disease.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2003
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