New Delhi: Families of men suffering from infertility may have a higher risk of certain cancers, including colon and testicular, according to a study.
While it is known that men who experience infertility have more health problems, including cancer, heart and related diseases, and autoimmune conditions, the researchers said they wanted to investigate whether their families were at greater risk for these conditions.
The team said the results obtained through the algorithm could help develop more personalized approaches to assessing cancer risk, which would help prevent cancer more effectively.
These findings may also inspire further conversations between families suffering from infertility and their doctors, she said.
The study found that families of men with infertility were most likely to have other cancers, including bone and joint, soft tissue, colon and testicular cancers.For the study, researchers used the Utah Population Database, which includes genetic and public health information. The database, hosted at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, USA, offers a comprehensive set of Utah family histories, linking family members to demographic and Medicare information.
The team also looked at parents, siblings, children of men suffering from infertility, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
Because family members share genetics, environment and lifestyle, it will be easier to identify factors that influence the risk of getting cancer, explains Jomi Ramsay, a researcher at the institute and lead investigator of the study published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Once general risk is assessed, the causes can be more accurately evaluated to understand their role in cancer diagnosis, he said.The researchers observed a variety of cancers to develop an algorithm that could group similar cancers by identifying around 13 distinct patterns. He said these patterns were explained by looking at similar multiple-cancer risks in families rather than looking at a single cancer type.
“Cancer and infertility are both complex diseases and processes,” Ramsay said.
He said that although the connection between male infertility and cancer risk is not fully understood, it is important to have these conversations with families and convey concerns to doctors.
Ramsay said more research is needed to establish the link, because understanding the cause could ultimately lead to more personalized courses of treatment, including prevention.
While it is known that men who experience infertility have more health problems, including cancer, heart and related diseases, and autoimmune conditions, the researchers said they wanted to investigate whether their families were at greater risk for these conditions.
The team said the results obtained through the algorithm could help develop more personalized approaches to assessing cancer risk, which would help prevent cancer more effectively.
These findings may also inspire further conversations between families suffering from infertility and their doctors, she said.
The study found that families of men with infertility were most likely to have other cancers, including bone and joint, soft tissue, colon and testicular cancers.For the study, researchers used the Utah Population Database, which includes genetic and public health information. The database, hosted at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, USA, offers a comprehensive set of Utah family histories, linking family members to demographic and Medicare information.
The team also looked at parents, siblings, children of men suffering from infertility, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
Because family members share genetics, environment and lifestyle, it will be easier to identify factors that influence the risk of getting cancer, explains Jomi Ramsay, a researcher at the institute and lead investigator of the study published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Once general risk is assessed, the causes can be more accurately evaluated to understand their role in cancer diagnosis, he said.The researchers observed a variety of cancers to develop an algorithm that could group similar cancers by identifying around 13 distinct patterns. He said these patterns were explained by looking at similar multiple-cancer risks in families rather than looking at a single cancer type.
“Cancer and infertility are both complex diseases and processes,” Ramsay said.
He said that although the connection between male infertility and cancer risk is not fully understood, it is important to have these conversations with families and convey concerns to doctors.
Ramsay said more research is needed to establish the link, because understanding the cause could ultimately lead to more personalized courses of treatment, including prevention.
