Discussion Papers no. 776

The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to cancer risk and cancer mortality in Norway

Using Norwegian cancer registry data we study twin and non-twin siblings to decompose variation in cancer at most common sites and cancer mortality into a genetic, shared environment and individual (unshared environmental) component.

Using Norwegian cancer registry data we study twin and non-twin siblings to decompose variation in cancer at most common sites and cancer mortality into a genetic, shared environment and individual (unshared environmental) component. Regardless the source of sibling variation, our findings indicate that genes dominate over shared environment in explaining relatively more of the variation in cancer at most common cancer sites (but lung and skin cancer) and cancer mortality. The vast majority of the variation in cancer and cancer mortality, however, is explained by individual (unshared environmental) factors.

About the publication

Title

The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to cancer risk and cancer mortality in Norway

Authors

Edwin Leuven, Erik Plug, Marte Rønning

Series and number

Discussion Papers no. 776

Publisher

Statistics Norway

Topic

Discussion Papers

ISSN

1892-753X

Number of pages

22

Language

English

About Discussion Papers

Discussion papers comprise research papers intended for international journals and books. A preprint of a Discussion Paper may be longer and more elaborate than a standard journal article as it may include intermediate calculations, background material etc.

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