Overview
Hodgkin’s disease is a cancer of the blood and is often treated in a highly effective manner with radiotherapy. However, the risk of breast cancer in later life after having received radiotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease at a young age is greater than any non-genetic risk factor for breast cancer yet identified. Research to understand its aetiology has been very limited, and there has been no substantial investigation of the interaction of the effects of radiation exposure with hormonal and genetic factors.
The study aims, on a much larger scale than any previously, to investigate risk factors for breast cancer in this population of women. Such information is important to enable prevention of breast cancer in this very high risk group, and more widely because it gives a unique opportunity to gain understanding of the inter-relation of genetic, endogenous hormonal and exogenous factors in breast cancer aetiology.
The study protocol is designed as a cohort study, recruiting 2500-3000 women who had radiotherapy treatment for Hodgkin’s disease which contains a nested case-control study of 150-200 women who have had breast cancer subsequent to treatment for Hodgkin’s disease.
Research Aims
To investigate causal factors for breast cancer after radiotherapy in young women with Hodgkin’s disease, to:
- Inform treatment and follow-up decisions.
- Help to devise preventive strategies.
- Add to the general understanding of the inter-relation of genetic, endogenous hormonal, and exogenous factors in the aetiology of breast cancer through the study of an exceptional high-risk group.
The effects of treatment and other risk factors on breast cancer will be addressed by data obtained by interview and questionnaire, from case notes and from blood samples.
The information collected will include hormone exposure history, demographic details, family history of breast cancer and the individual’s history of breast disease along with Hodgkin’s disease and treatment details.
The study is a collaboration between Anthony Swerdlow (The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton Campus) and Professor Alan Ashworth (Breakthrough Research Centre).
Contact
Email: Professor Anthony Swerdlow
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8722 4012
Fax: +44 (0)20 8722 4019
Email: Professor Alan Ashworth (Janine.Harris@icr.ac.uk)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7153 5333
Fax: +44 (0)20 7153 5340
