The Forgotten Cancers Project is an online research resource collecting epidemiological data on less common cancers, with the aim of investigating the genetic, lifestyle, and environmental causes of these cancers. The Forgotten Cancers Project is not one single study of less common cancers. In most instances, the results for each cancer type will be analysed separately, however an advantage of the design also allows for commonalities (especially in terms of genetics) to be explored across cancers.
Partly because of their lower incidence and lower survival, the less common cancers have been relatively under researched by epidemiologists. We, thus, know little about their causes and research has focused instead on early detection and improving therapeutic approaches.
The aim of the project is to develop a genetic epidemiology platform, using a family case-control design. The family design is one that has been used successfully for several genetic epidemiology studies. The project aims to recruit individuals diagnosed with a less common cancer and unaffected individuals related to cases (e.g. unaffected siblings). In families with multiple members diagnosed with the same (or similar cancer) all members of the family are approached to participate. All participants complete common questionnaires and provide a saliva sample for DNA analyses.
Currently, we have 2,396 participants diagnosed with a less common cancer and 1,307 comparison family members. NHL is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among participants to date.
Developing a repository of data from participants with a less common cancer will allow for validation of hypotheses or investigation of new research questions without the time consuming, expensive and difficult process of recruiting the required number of cases and controls.