Ascertainment of Peripheral Blood or Saliva Samples for Genetic Epidemiology Studies of Familial Cancers

The purpose of this study is to better understand the genetic causes of cancer and the inherited tendency to develop cancer. To accomplish this, blood specimens and/or saliva samples and/or tumor and normal tissue blocks from patients and families of patients with cancer will be collected. Blood specimens will be frozen and stored for analysis at a later date. Tumor tissue and normal tissue will be stored for analysis at a later date. In order to perform this study, patients and members of their families will be asked to provide blood samples and/or saliva samples. Individuals will be asked to provide a history of cancer in their relatives at the time the blood sample is given. No relatives will be contacted before they have been asked by a family member if they wish to participate in this study. If they do wish to participate, the relatives should indicate this by returning the "Family Member Consent for Contact Form" After we receive this form, arrangements may be made for the family member to send in a blood and/or saliva sample or to come in person to provide the sample to us.

Except for family history, no medical information provided by one member of a family will be discussed with other family members. At the end of this form, we will also ask for your permission to be contacted in the future to discuss information about your health, additional research with your samples and/or certain research findings possibly related to your sample.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms Adnexal Diseases Breast Diseases Colonic Diseases Colonic Neoplasms Colorectal Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Endocrine System Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Genital Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Genital Diseases, Male Genital Neoplasms, Female Genital Neoplasms, Male Gonadal Disorders Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Immune System Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Leukemia Lymphatic Diseases Lymphoma Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoproliferative Disorders Male Urogenital Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Ovarian Diseases Ovarian Neoplasms Prostatic Diseases Prostatic Neoplasms Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Urogenital Diseases Urogenital Neoplasms Uterine Cervical Diseases Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Uterine Diseases Uterine Neoplasms

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, 10065, United States

About this study

Patients can provide either a blood or saliva sample for the protocol. For blood samples, two tubes of blood (approximately 20 cc) will be drawn from the patient, utilizing a sterile technique. The tubes will be rocked so as to mix the blood with the additive (EDTA) in the tubes. For saliva samples, approximately 2-4 ml of saliva will be collected in specialized Oragene DNA Self-Collection Kit tubes. The sample(s) may also be used to detect new genes or changes in genes that may tell us who is at risk for certain types of cancer and/or other diseases.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients accepted for referral to the Cancer Family Clinic of the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are eligible for participation in this study. Such patients should have a history of cancers of the breast, ovary, colon, prostate, uterus, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, soft tissue sarcoma, endocrine neoplasms, or other malignancies presenting in first degree relatives or in successive generations as part of a suspected cancer family syndrome.
Family members of probands including parents, sisters, brothers, half-brothers and sisters, sons, daughters, grandparents, as well as aunts and uncles are also eligible.
This study involves research which presents no greater than minimal risk to children. The assent of any minor should be obtained before the patient is entered into this study.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

To establish a bank of DNA and frozen lymphoblastoid cell lines for the purpose of facilitating genetic epidemiology investigations of familial cancers.

Time frame: 1 year

Secondary outcomes

A related goal is to provide patients with cancer and their living relatives the opportunity to preserve DNA samples so that they may be used for future genetic counseling regarding inherited cancer risk.

Time frame: 1 year

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 1994
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Dec 21, 2007
Registry last updated: Jan 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed