Dr. Olson's main research interest is in genetic susceptibility to cancer and the interactions of genetic factors and other risk factors. We hope to begin to answer the question of why many people are exposed to risk factors but few develop cancer. In an NCI-funded study of endometrial cancer, "Estrogen, Diet, Genetics and Endometrial Cancer" (the EDGE Study), we have completed fieldwork and are conducting data analyses. Preliminary data indicate that some of the genes we are studying in the pathway of estrogen metabolism are associated with risk of this disease. In other analyses, we are investigating the relation of medication use and exposure to light at night to risk. Future plans include working with the newly-established Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2) to combine data from different studies to obtain better information on the interactions of personal and environmental risk factors with genetic factors. We have expanded the EDGE study by adding a second case group, women with ovarian cancer, in collaboration with Elisa Bandera, MD, PhD, at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. We will investigate the role of phytoestrogens and DNA repair in this disease.
In pancreatic cancer, in collaboration with Robert Kurtz, MD, we have established a Familial Pancreatic Cancer Registry at MSKCC. One purpose is offer surveillance to at-risk family members in the hope of finding early stage disease that is more likely to be treated successfully. In addition, we collect epidemiologic and genetic information from cases (both familial and sporadic) and from healthy controls to evaluate risk factors for this poorly-understood disease. In pilot studies, we are evaluating the associations of genes involved in growth factors and allergies with risk of disease.
Selected bibliography:
1. Olson SH, Mignone L, Nakraseive C, Caputo TA, Barakat RR, Harlap S. Symptoms of ovarian cancer in cases and controls. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2001;98:212-7.
2. Olson SH. Reported participation in case-control studies: changes over time. American Journal of Epidemiology 2001;154:574-81.
3. Olson SH, Voigt LF, Begg CB, Weiss NS. Reporting participation in case-control studies [Commentary]. Epidemiology 2002;13:123-6.
4. Olson SH, Carlson MDA, Ostrer H, Harlap S, Stone A, Winters M, Ambrosone CB. Genetic variants in SOD2, MPO, and NQO1 and risk of ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology 2004;93:615-20.
5. Olson SH, Bandera EV, Orlow I. Variants in estrogen biosynthesis genes, sex steroid hormone levels, and endometrial cancer. A HuGE Review. American Journal of Epidemiology, in press.
