OBJECTIVES:

• Ascertain individuals at high risk for hematologic malignancy because of personal or family medical history.
• Evaluate and define the clinical spectrum and natural history of disease in syndromes predisposing these individuals and families to hematologic cancer.
• Evaluate the potential precursor states of malignancy in families at risk.
• Quantify the risks of specific tumors in family members of this high-risk population and define syndromic constellations.
• Identify, map, characterize, clone, and determine function of tumor susceptibility genes in this high-risk population.
• Validate and test associations of biomarkers with risk in these individuals.
• Identify genetic determinants, environmental factors, and gene-environmental interactions conferring cancer risk in individuals and families.
• Identify differences and similarities between the familial and sporadic condition in this high-risk population.
• Educate and counsel study participants about their risk of hematologic malignancy including prevention recommendations and early detection activities when known.

OUTLINE: One family member completes a family history questionnaire. Participants may undergo limited physical exams, imaging studies, and skin or bone marrow biopsy.

Blood is collected for localizing genetic loci, identifying genes, and evaluating genotype/phenotype correlations. Buccal cells are obtained for germline DNA extraction.

Participants receive counseling and education for cancer prevention, risk reduction, and early detection.

Participants are followed approximately annually for as long as possible.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3,000 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Meets one of the following criteria:

  • Family or personal medical history of hematologic/lymphoproliferative malignancy of an unusual type, pattern, or number
  • Known or suspected factor(s) predisposing to hematologic malignancy
  • Genetic and/or congenital (e.g., birth defects, metabolic phenotype, chromosomal anomalies, or Mendelian traits associated with tumors)
  • Environmental exposure (e.g., medications, occupation, radiation, diet, or infectious agents)
  • Unusual demographic features (e.g., very young age at onset or multiple tumors)

• Familial aggregation of any of the following:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  • Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM)
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Mixed hematologic and lymphoproliferative diseases
  • Any other hematologic cancer

• At least 2 living affected family members required for familial neoplasms

  • For WM, one case plus a living first-degree relative with an autoimmune condition is required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Any age

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified