Study: Family History of Colorectal Cancer Ups Risk of Polyp Growth

A family history of colorectal cancer does not appear to increase a person's risk of developing adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum, according to Norwegian researchers. But when these benign polyps are found, a family history significantly increases the risk of their growing and developing into colorectal cancer.

The researchers monitored 87 patients with adenomas, ranging in age from 50 to 76, for three years, and found that those with a family history of colorectal cancer had a fourfold higher risk of adenoma growth.

But, they reported in the journal Gut, family history did not appear to be linked to the risk of baseline adenoma occurrence, and no significant link was found for recurrence of the adenoma once the polyp had been removed.

They also found that a family history of other cancers was not significantly related to increased risk of growth or recurrence of these colorectal adenomas.

"Family history of colorectal cancer seems to be a strong risk factor for adenoma growth, but not for the earlier phases of colorectal cancer development such as the initiation of adenomas," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources: Gut