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What is
involved in your participation? |
Your family’s participation can involve any or all of
the following, depending on the requirements of the study and/or the
preferences of each individual family member.
- Through the completion of questionnaires and
interviews with research assistants at the Family Lung Cancer Study,
provide us with demographic, medical, and health habit information
about your family so that we can draw your family tree, or pedigree.
- Provide a blood sample of 4-5 tablespoons
donated at a time of your convenience, without any cost to you, at a
local laboratory or your physician’s office.
- Allow us to obtain certain medical and/or
pathology reports to confirm a cancer diagnosis of a family member or
yourself.
- Allow us to contact you annually to update your
family tree.
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How will you
use the blood sample? |
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In our laboratory, we will use the DNA in
the white blood cells to determine that person's genotype. We will then
perform many complex statistical comparisons of the genotypes of family
members with and without lung cancer. Through these statistical analyses
we hope to identify the susceptibility genes. |
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Elena Ivanenkov
Research Associate |
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Zhengtao (Ellen) Chu
Research Assistant |
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Will I be
given my gene test results? |
The goal of this study is to understand the meaning of
genetic susceptibility mutations. Because we are still collecting and
analyzing data to help us understand any genes which cause susceptibility to
lung cancer, the meaning of an individual result may not be understood for
some time. Identifying such genes will aid in the development of strategies
for the improved prevention and treatment of lung cancer. When and if we
detect the presence of any genetic susceptibility mutations, all study
participants will be contacted and informed of our discoveries. However,
individual gene test results will not be given to any participants. In the
event that you wish to learn more about your personal genetic
susceptibility, we will assist you in obtaining a genetic counselor, who
will perform a new blood test and explain your results to you. This is
another way of protecting your confidentiality. |
