Genetic risks of patients with double primary cancers

Genetic risks of patients with double primary cancers

What does it mean to have double primary cancer?

Double primary cancers mean that a person has two different types of cancer at the same time. For example, a person may have both breast cancer and lung cancer. This is different from cancer that spreads from one part of the body to another. Having double primary cancers is rare, and we want to find out why some people get both types of cancer at the same time. By understanding this, we can potentially better treat and prevent these types of cancers.

How was the research done?

The goal of this study is to find out if there are certain genes that may be linked to getting both breast and lung cancer. Researchers will use a special method to look at the DNA of people who have had both types of cancer. They will then compare their DNA to healthy people and people who only had one type of cancer. They will also look at the DNA of likely distant family members. Researchers will try to find out if there are certain genes that run in families and increase the risk of getting both cancers. Lastly, researchers will look for any other health problems that may be linked to these genes. 

What is the significance of this study?

Breast cancer and lung cancer affect people of different races in different ways. They also have different types of mutations that cause them to grow. People who survive these cancers may have a higher risk of getting other types of cancer, and this risk varies among different racial groups. This suggests that there may be genetic factors involved in getting both breast and lung cancer at the same time, and this study aims to find out what those factors may be.