Tuning porosity in macroscopic monolithic metal-organic frameworks for exceptional natural gas storage

Widespread access to greener energy is required in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. A significant barrier to cleaner natural gas usage lies in the safety/efficiency limitations of storage technology. Despite highly porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) demonstrating record-breaking gas-storage capacities, their conventionally powdered morphology renders them non-viable. Traditional powder shaping utilising high pressure or chemical binders collapses porosity or creates low-density structures with reduced volumetric adsorption capacity. Here, we report the engineering of one of the most stable MOFs, Zr-UiO-66, without applying pressure or binders. The process yields centimetre-sized monoliths, displaying high microporosity and bulk density. We report the inclusion of variable, narrow mesopore volumes to the monoliths’ macrostructure and use this to optimise the pore-size distribution for gas uptake. The optimised mixed meso/microporous monoliths demonstrate Type II adsorption isotherms to achieve benchmark volumetric working capacities for methane and carbon dioxide. This represents a critical advance in the design of air-stable, conformed MOFs for commercial gas storage.

While metal–organic frameworks exhibit record-breaking gas storage capacities, their typically powdered form hinders their industrial applicability. Here, the authors engineer UiO-66 into centimetre-sized monoliths with optimal pore-size distributions, achieving benchmark volumetric working capacities for both CH₄ and CO₂.

Temporal regulation of fibroblast growth factors and their receptors in the endometrium and conceptus during the pre-implantation period of pregnancy in cattle

We hypothesised that the expression pattern of members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family would be altered in the endometrium as the oestrous cycle/early pregnancy progressed associated with changes in the expression pattern of their receptors in the developing embryo/conceptus. Expression of FGF1 and FGF10 transcript variants 1 and 2 increased significantly as the oestrous cycle/early pregnancy progressed. Neither progesterone (P4) supplementation nor pregnancy status significantly affected the expression of any of the FGF ligands studied. However, there was a significant interaction between day, pregnancy and P4 status on FGF2 expression (P<0.05) and a significant interaction between P4 status and day on FGF10_tv2 expression. FGF10 protein was localised in the luminal and glandular epithelium as well as the stroma but was not detected in the myometrium. By RNA sequencing, the expression of FGF ligands in the developing embryo/conceptus was found to be minimal. The expression of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1), FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, FGFRL1 and FRS3 was significantly affected by the stage of conceptus development. Interestingly, the expression of FGFR1 and FGFR4 was higher during early embryo development (days 7–13, P<0.05) but decreased on day 16 (P<0.05) while FGFR2 (P<0.001) expression was similar from day 7 through to day 13, with a significant increase by day 16 (P<0.05) that was maintained until day 19 (P>0.05). In conclusion, these data demonstrate that FGF ligands are primarily expressed by the endometrium and their modulation throughout the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle/early pregnancy are associated with alterations in the expression of their receptors in the embryo/conceptus.

77 OVIDUCT - EMBRYO INTERACTIONS: TWO-WAY TRAFFIC OR A ONE-WAY STREET? TRANSCRIPTOMIC RESPONSE OF THE BOVINE OVIDUCT TO THE PRESENCE OF AN EMBRYO

Despite clear evidence of a two-way interaction between the developing conceptus and the uterine endometrium in early pregnancy, the evidence for reciprocal cross-talk during the transit of the embryo through the oviduct is less clear. The aims were (1) to characterise the transcriptome of the bovine oviduct at the initiation of embryonic genome activation (EGA), (2) to examine the effect, if any, of the presence of an embryo on the oviduct transcriptome, and (3) to compare gene expression in the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. The oestrous cycles of cross-bred beef heifers were synchronized and those recorded in standing oestrus were randomly allocated to control group, nonbred (n = 7), or AI group (n = 11). All heifers were slaughtered on Day 3 after oestrus. The oviducts from each animal were isolated, straightened, and cut in half (ampulla and isthmus). Each portion was flushed with 500 μL of PBS to confirm the presence of an oocyte/embryo and was then opened and scraped longitudinally to obtain epithelial cells. Cells were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for microarray analysis. All recovered oocytes and embryos were located in the isthmus of the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. The recovery rate was 72.7% (8/11) and 83.3% (5/6) for pregnant and cyclic animals, respectively. The stage of the recovered embryos was as follows: 4-cell stage (n = 1), 8-cell stage (n = 5), and 8–16 cell stage (n = 2), whereas in the cyclic group all recovered structures were unfertilized oocytes. The cells of the isthmus from ipsilateral and contralateral oviducts from 5 cyclic and 5 pregnant animals (8-cell embryos) and the ipsilateral ampulla cells from the pregnant animals were used for microarray analysis (Affymetrix Bovine ST array, Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Array data were analysed using BioConductor packages in R and custom CDF files downloaded from MBNI. Preprocessing of raw data was performed with RMA, and differential expression was assessed by linear modelling implemented in the limma package. Genes displaying P < 0.05 after adjustment for multiple testing were considered differentially expressed. A total of 18 809 probe sets were assessed for differential expression. Comparison of pregnant and cyclic oviduct epithelium revealed no significantly altered genes. However, comparison of the isthmus and ampulla of the ipsilateral oviduct in pregnant animals revealed 4011 (P < 0.05) and 2327 (P < 0.01) differentially expressed genes. Some of the gene ontologies involved in biological processes included fatty acid metabolism, cell adhesion, cell morphogenesis, cellular developmental process, and reproduction. In conclusion, we have characterised the transcriptome of the bovine oviduct epithelium at the initiation of embryonic genome activation on Day 3 post-oestrus in pregnant and cyclic heifers. Although large differences in gene expression were observed between the isthmus and ampulla, data suggest that the presence of an 8-cell embryo had no effect on the transcriptome of the cells of the isthmus, although a local effect at the precise position of the embryo cannot be ruled out.

Endometrial response of beef heifers on day 7 following insemination to supraphysiological concentrations of progesterone associated with superovulation

Ovarian stimulation is a routine procedure in assisted reproduction to stimulate the growth of multiple follicles in naturally single-ovulating species including cattle and humans. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes induced in the endometrial transcriptome associated with superovulation in cattle and place these observations in the context of our previous data on changes in the endometrial transcriptome associated with elevated progesterone (P4) concentrations within the physiological range and those changes induced in the embryo due to superovulation. Mean serum P4 concentrations were significantly higher from day 4 to day 7 in superovulated compared with unstimulated control heifers (P < 0.05). Between-group analysis revealed a clear separation in the overall transcriptional profile of endometria from unstimulated control heifers (n = 5) compared with superovulated heifers (n = 5). This was reflected in the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified between the two groups with 795 up- and 440 downregulated in superovulated endometria. Ten times more genes were altered by superovulation (n = 1,234) compared with the number altered due to elevated P4 within physiological ranges by insertion of a P4-releasing intravaginal device (n = 124) with only 22 DEGs common to both models of P4 manipulation. Fewer genes were affected by superovulation in the embryo compared with the endometrium, (443 vs. 1,234 DEGs, respectively), and the manner in which genes were altered was different with 64.5% of genes up- and 35.5% of genes downregulated in the endometrium, compared with the 98.9% of DEGs upregulated in the embryo. In conclusion, superovulation induces significant changes in the transcriptome of the endometrium which are distinct from those in the embryo.

Evidence for an early endometrial response to pregnancy in cattle: both dependent upon and independent of interferon tau

The aims of this study were to 1) identify the earliest transcriptional response of the bovine endometrium to the presence of the conceptus (using RNAseq), 2) investigate if these genes are regulated by interferon tau (IFNT) in vivo, and 3) determine if they are predictive of the pregnancy status of postpartum dairy cows. RNAseq identified 459 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pregnant and cyclic endometria on day 16. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of selected genes revealed PARP12, ZNFX1, HERC6, IFI16, RNF213, and DDX58 expression increased in pregnant compared with cyclic endometria on day 16 and were directly upregulated by intrauterine infusion of IFNT in vivo for 2 h ( P < 0.05). On day 13 following estrous endometrial expression of nine genes increased [ ARHGAP1, MGC127874, LIMS2, TBC1D1, FBXL7, C25H16orf71, LOC507810, ZSWIM4, and one novel gene (ENSBTAT00000050193)] and seven genes decreased ( SERBP1, SRGAP2, AL7A1, TBK1, F2RL2, MGC128929, and WBSCR17; P < 0.05) in pregnant compared with cyclic heifers. Of these DEGs, significant differences in expression between pregnant and cyclic endometria were maintained on day 16 for F2RL2, LIMS2, LOC507810, MGC127874, TBC1D1, WBSCR17, and ZSWIM4 ( P < 0.05) both their expression was not directly regulated by IFNT in vivo. Analysis of the expression of selected interferon-stimulated genes in blood samples from postpartum dairy cows revealed a significant increase ( P < 0.05) in expression of ZXFX1, PARP12, SAMD9, and HERC6 on day 18 following artificial insemination in cows subsequently confirmed pregnant compared with cyclic controls. In conclusion, RNAseq identified a number of novel pregnancy-associated genes in the endometrium of cattle during early pregnancy that are not regulated by IFNT in vivo. In addition, a number of genes that are directly regulated by short term exposure to IFNT in vivo are differentially expressed on day 18 following estrus detection in the blood of postpartum dairy cows depending on their pregnancy status.

Effect of the metabolic environment at key stages of follicle development in cattle: focus on steroid biosynthesis

Cellular mechanisms that contribute to low estradiol concentrations produced by the preovulatory ovarian follicle in cattle with a compromised metabolic status are largely unknown. To gain insight into the main metabolic mechanisms affecting preovulatory follicle function, two different animal models were used. Experiment 1 compared Holstein-Friesian nonlactating heifers (n = 17) and lactating cows (n = 16) at three stages of preovulatory follicle development: 1) newly selected dominant follicle in the luteal phase (Selection), 2) follicular phase before the LH surge (Differentiation), and 3) preovulatory phase after the LH surge (Luteinization). Experiment 2 compared newly selected dominant follicles in the luteal phase in beef heifers fed a diet of 1.2 times maintenance (M, n = 8) or 0.4 M (n = 11). Lactating cows and 0.4 M beef heifers had higher concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate, and lower concentrations of glucose, insulin, and IGF-I compared with dairy heifers and 1.2 M beef heifers, respectively. In lactating cows this altered metabolic environment was associated with reduced dominant follicle estradiol and progesterone synthesis during Differentiation and Luteinization, respectively, and in 0.4 M beef heifers with reduced dominant follicle estradiol synthesis. Using a combination of RNA sequencing, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and qRT-PCR validation, we identified several important molecular markers involved in steroid biosynthesis, such as the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) within developing dominant follicles, to be downregulated by the catabolic state. Based on this, we propose that the adverse metabolic environment caused by lactation or nutritional restriction decreases preovulatory follicle function mainly by affecting cholesterol transport into the mitochondria to initiate steroidogenesis.

76 DECIPHERING G-PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTOR NETWORK DURING BOVINE CONCEPTUS DEVELOPMENT AND MATERNAL RECOGNITION OF PREGNANCY

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) comprise a large protein family of transmembrane receptors that sense molecules outside the cell to activate the signal transduction pathways inside and, ultimately, the cellular responses. They have a central role in various physiological systems that places them at the forefront of many drug target programs and perturbation in their activity has been cited in many diseases, including infertility (Jean-Alphonse and Hanyaloglu 2011 Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 331, 205–214). However, little information is available on the types of GPCR and their expression in the bovine conceptus during maternal recognition of pregnancy. The aim of this study was, therefore, to take advantage of the bovine conceptus global gene expression profiles, particularly to examine the expression of various transcripts of GPCR during the window of maternal recognition of pregnancy. Global transcriptome profiling of the bovine conceptuses at 5 key stages of pre- and peri-implantation growth (Day 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19) was carried out using in vivo-derived embryos and state-of-the-art RNA sequencing techniques, following the Illumina standard procedures for library preparation and genome analyzer sequencing (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Following various quality control procedures, the transcripts were mapped to the bovine genome. ANOVA was carried out to detect the differentially regulated transcripts between any 2 developmental stages followed by self-organizing map clustering to identify genes with a similar temporal expression pattern. Those transcripts differentially regulated on Day 16 (the day of maternal recognition of pregnancy in cattle) were screened and submitted to Ingenuity pathway analysis (Ingenuity Systems Inc., Redwood City, CA). Subsequently, the expression profiles of the transcripts in the GPCR network were examined across the 5 key developmental stages. Pathway analysis detected various transcript networks, including the GPCR network, comprising a large number of transcripts (∼30). These include F2RL2, GCGR, VIPR1, LPAR6, RAC2, LPHN3, PTGFR, PTH1R, CNR2, CD97, APLNR and various other GPCR family genes. Analysis of expression profiles across the 5 development stages revealed that these receptors were significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated at Day 16, compared with other time points. The significantly higher expression pattern of these GPCR during this critical stage of pregnancy may suggest an important role during this period of maternal recognition and establishment of pregnancy that contributes to embryo-maternal crosstalk during this critical period. Supported by Science Foundation Ireland (07/SRC/B1156).

Transcriptome changes at the initiation of elongation in the bovine conceptus

The majority of embryonic loss in cattle occurs before maternal recognition of pregnancy, at around Day 16 postconception. The origin of the embryo can have a significant impact on the dynamics of embryo mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the temporal changes in transcriptional profile as the embryo develops from a spherical blastocyst on Day 7 to an ovoid conceptus at the initiation of elongation on Day 13 and to highlight differences in these temporal gene expression dynamics between in vivo- and in vitro-derived blastocysts that may be associated with embryonic survival/mortality using the bovine Affymetrix microarray. All embryos were produced either in vitro by in vitro fertilization or in vivo by superovulation. A proportion of Day 7 blastocysts were snap frozen, and the remainder were transferred (n = 10 per recipient) to synchronized heifers, recovered on Day 13, and snap frozen individually. Three pools of Day 7 blastocysts (n = 25 per pool) and Day 13 conceptuses (n = 5 per pool) were used for microarray analysis. In Day 7 blastocysts, 50 genes were found to be differentially expressed (P < 0.05), of which 19 were up-regulated and 31 down-regulated in the in vivo compared to in vitro embryos. In Day 13 conceptuses, 288 genes were found to be differentially expressed (P < 0.05), of which 133 were up-regulated and 155 down-regulated in the in vivo compared to in vitro embryos. The comparison between Day 7 and Day 13 embryos revealed significant temporal changes in transcript profile with 1806 and 909 transcripts differentially expressed in the in vitro- and in vivo-derived embryos, respectively. Across the three array comparisons between Day 7 and Day 13 embryos, 444 genes were consistently exclusively present in the in vivo embryos, whereas 1341 were exclusively present in the in vitro embryos. Regardless of the origin of the embryo, 465 differentially expressed genes between Day 7 and 13 were common to both in vivo- and in vitro-derived embryos; these genes are likely critical for the transition between the blastocyst (Day 7) and ovoid conceptus (Day 13) stages of embryo development. In order to validate the microarray findings, differences in the expression of six genes (CYP51A1, FADS1, TDGF1, HABP2, APOA2, and SLC12A2) were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR on in vivo- and in vitro-derived embryos on Day 7 and Day 13 using independent samples from those used for the microarray. Subsequent mapping of these differentially expressed genes into relevant functional groups and pathways identified important pathways involved in conceptus elongation in cattle. In conclusion, this analysis has identified genes and pathways crucial for the transition from a spherical blastocyst to an ovoid conceptus as well as those uniquely associated with a greater likelihood of embryonic survival (those unique to in vivo embryos) or loss (those unique to in vitro embryos).

200 IN VITRO EMBRYO PRODUCTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTINCT ALTERATIONS IN THE TRANSCRIPTOME BETWEEN THE BLASTOCYST STAGE AND THE INITIATION OF ELONGATION IN CATTLE

The majority of embryonic loss in cattle occurs before maternal recognition of pregnancy around Day 16 postconception. The origin of the embryo can have a significant impact on the dynamics of embryo mortality. The aim of the present study was to compare transcript profiles between Day 7 (spherical blastocyst) and Day 13 (ovoid conceptus) bovine embryos derived in vitro or in vivo using the bovine Affymetrix microarray. Subsequent mapping of these differentially expressed genes (DEG) into relevant functional groups and pathways using ingenuity pathway analysis would identify the most important pathways involved in conceptus elongation in cattle. All embryos were produced either in vitro or in vivo by superovulation. A proportion of Day 7 blastocysts were snap frozen and the remainder were transferred (n = 10 per recipient) to synchronized heifers, recovered on Day 13, and snap frozen individually. Three pools of Day 7 blastocysts (n = 25 per pool) and Day 13 conceptuses (n = 5 per pool) were used for microarray analysis. A total of 909 and 1806 transcripts were differentially expressed between Day 7 and 13 in in vivo- and in vitro-derived embryos, respectively, of which a core of 465 transcripts was common to both groups. These 465 genes, likely to be crucial for the transition from blastocyst to the initiation of elongation, were associated with 5 canonical pathways, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 signalling, the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway, and nitrogen metabolism. The top networks identified genes associated with 1) cellular development, lipid metabolism, and small molecular biochemistry; 2) cell-to-cell signaling; and 3) amino acid metabolism, including transcripts such as MYC, SLC25A12, HSPH1, LXN, ALDH18A1, PMP22, PEG3, CDH2, and Hsp70, which were up-regulated in the conceptus on Day 13. The top canonical pathways among the 444 DEG unique to in vivo embryos were 1) glycerolipid metabolism, 2) steroid biosynthesis, and 3) acute phase response signalling. One of the interaction networks identified was associated with cardiovascular system development and function, gene expression, and organismal development, including transcripts of proteins such as laminins and claudins, which are important for cell communication and morphogenesis during embryonic development. Among the 1341 DEG unique to in vitro-produced embryos, the top pathways were 1) glycerophospholipid metabolism, 2) IL-6 signalling, and 3) endothelial-1 signalling, whereas one of the interaction networks identified was associated with hematological disease, organismal injury, and abnormalities and cellular development, including POU5F1, a transcription factor known to bind to DNA and activate or repress transcription of several genes important for early embryonic development. In conclusion, this analysis has identified genes and pathways crucial to the transition from a spherical blastocyst to an ovoid conceptus as well as those uniquely associated with a greater likelihood of embryonic survival (those unique to in vivo embryos) or loss (those unique to in vitro embryos).

Changes in the endometrial transcriptome during the bovine estrous cycle: effect of low circulating progesterone and consequences for conceptus elongation

In cattle, elevated concentrations of circulating progesterone (P4) in the immediate postconception period are associated with advanced conceptus development, while low P4 is implicated as a causative factor in low pregnancy rates observed in dairy cows. This study aimed to: 1) describe the transcriptional changes that occur in the bovine endometrium during the estrous cycle, 2) determine how elevated P4 affects these changes, 3) identify if low P4 alters the expression of these genes, and 4) assess the impact that low P4 has on conceptus development. Relatively few differences occurred in endometrial gene expression during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle (Day 5 vs. 7), but comparison of endometria from more distant stages of the luteal phase (Day 7 vs. 13) revealed large transcriptional changes, which were significantly altered by exogenous supplementation of P4. Induction of low circulating P4 altered the normal temporal changes in gene expression, and these changes were coordinate with a delay in the down-regulation of the PGR from the LE and GE. Altered endometrial gene expression induced by low P4 was associated with a reduced capacity of the uterus to support conceptus development after embryo transfer on Day 7. In conclusion, the present study provides clear evidence that the temporal changes in the transcriptome of the endometrium of cyclic heifers are sensitive to circulating P4 concentrations in the first few days after estrus. Under low P4 conditions, a suboptimal uterine environment with reduced ability to support conceptus elongation is observed.

Effect of elevated circulating progesterone concentration on bovine blastocyst development and global transcriptome following endoscopic transfer of in vitro produced embryos to the bovine oviduct

Elevated concentrations of circulating progesterone in the immediate postconception period have been associated with an increase in embryonic growth rate, interferon-tau production, and pregnancy rate in cattle and sheep. Much of this effect is likely mediated via downstream effects of progesterone-induced changes in gene expression in the uterine tissues. Using state-of-the-art endoscopic techniques, this study examined the effect of elevated progesterone on the development of in vitro produced bovine zygotes transferred to the oviducts of heifers with high or normal circulating progesterone concentrations and on the transcriptome of blastocysts developing under such conditions. Simmental heifers (n = 34) were synchronized using a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device for 8 days, with a prostaglandin F(2 alpha) analogue administered 3 days before removal of the CIDR device. Only animals exhibiting a clear standing estrus (Day 0) were used. To produce animals with divergent progesterone concentrations, half of the animals received a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID) on Day 3 of the estrous cycle; the PRID was left in place until embryo recovery. All animals were sampled for blood daily from Day 0 to Day 7. Cleaved embryos were transferred by endoscopy to the ipsilateral oviduct of each recipient on Day 2 and then recovered by nonsurgically flushing the oviduct and the uterus on Day 7. The number of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage was recorded at recovery and following overnight culture in vitro. Potential effects of elevated progesterone on transcript abundance were examined using the Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine Genome Array. Insertion of a PRID on Day 3 resulted in a significant elevation of progesterone concentration (P < 0.05) from Day 3.5 until Day 6. Elevated progesterone did not affect the proportion of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage. Genomewide gene expression analysis identified 194 differentially expressed genes between embryos collected from heifers with normal or elevated progesterone, and quantitative real-time PCR validation with a subset of selected genes and an independent sample confirmed the microarray results. Interaction network analysis indicated a significant interaction between progesterone-regulated genes in the blastocyst and in the maternal endometrium. These results suggest that elevated concentrations of progesterone do not affect the ability of the early embryo to reach the blastocyst stage in vivo but do result in subtle changes to the transcriptome of the embryo that may be associated with advanced elongation posthatching.

TMEM25, REPS2 and Meis 1: favourable prognostic and predictive biomarkers for breast cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

A panel of prognostic and predictive biomarkers would contribute to personalized treatment of breast cancer patients. However, many such biomarkers have yet to be identified and evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of 3 such putative biomarkers.

METHODS

TMEM25, REPS2 and Meis 1 expression was investigated by qRT-PCR, in triplicate, in 103 breast tumour biopsies procured in 1993-1994. Normal breast tissue specimens were also analysed for comparative purposes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify associations between expression of these transcripts as well as patients' clinicopathological and survival data.

RESULTS

TMEM25, REPS2 and Meis 1 transcripts were detected in approximately 52, 78 and 40% of tumour specimens, respectively. Expression of each of the 3 genes was indicative of extended survival times from diagnosis [association between relapse-free survival (RFS) and TMEM25, p = 0.0002; REPS2, p = 0.0287; association between overall survival (OS) and TMEM25, p = 0.001; REPS2, p = 0.0131; Meis 1, p = 0.0255]. Presence of TMEM25 and Meis 1 was associated with oestrogen receptor-positive (TMEM25, p < 0.0005; Meis 1, p = 0.011), lower-grade (TMEM25, p = 0.002; Meis 1, p = 0.001) tumours. Multivariate analysis indicated TMEM25 expression to be an independent prognostic factor for extended RFS (p = 0.011) and OS (p = 0.001). Furthermore, for patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, significantly longer survival times were achieved if their tumours expressed TMEM25 (OS, p = 0.031; RFS, p = 0.0181) and REPS2 (OS, p = 0.011). While expression of these mRNAs was generally absent from triple-negative breast tumours, statistical significance was not achieved.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that TMEM25, REPS2 and Meis 1 mRNAs may be useful members of a panel of favourable prognostic and predictive markers for breast cancer and an understanding of their function may provide useful information about this disease.

Familial occurrence of cancer in Basel city

The Basel Familial Cancer Study was established in 1982. Data collection and statistical analysis suggest that genetic mechanisms play an important role in most cancer types. This is illustrated in breast and colorectal cancer patients whose first degree relatives were studied. The establishment of a familial cancer registry is most helpful for cancer risk determinations, surveillance and management programmes, identification of new cancer prone genotypes and etiological family studies. The family history should be included into future cancer control activities.