Genetics of Familial Testicular Cancer

Study Summary

This study is a collaboration between the Clinical Genetics Branch of the National Cancer Institute and the International Testicular Cancer Linkage Consortium (ITCLC). The primary goal of the ITCLC is mapping and cloning susceptibility genes for familial TGCT. The objectives of the current study are to: * Identify the genes responsible for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) (testicular cancer) in families with an inherited tendency to develop the disease * Determine if the genes which predispose to developing testicular cancer also increase the risk of other specific types of cancer among first- and second-degree relatives of patients with TGCT * Determine if the microscopic appearance of familial testicular cancers is different from that of non-familial TGCT Patients and family members recruited by the ITCLC in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway are eligible for this study. Individuals with the following medical criteria may participate: * Patients with testicular germ cell cancer who have at least one other blood relative with the disease * Family members of patients (first- and second-degree relatives) Participants undergo the following procedures: * Fill out questionnaires for providing information about a history of cancer in all blood relatives, including parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and a history of undescended testes in male blood relatives. Participants may be asked permission to contact family members to request their help in the study as well. * Provide a blood sample for genetic testing related to TGCT (except in children under 16 years old). * Review of medical records and examination of tumor specimen (patients with TGCT only). * Confirmation of the diagnosis of other types of cancer in these same families (medical records, pathology repots) * Review of the testicular cancer tissue obtained at the time of surgery from members of multiple case families, and comparison of these findings with a se