Genetic demography of medullary thyroid carcinoma in France

Since 1983, the ''Groupe d'etude des tumeurs a calcitonine'' (GETC) has established a national registry of the patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (isolated or part of multiple endocrine neoplasia). The collaboration between the GETC and the ''Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques'' (INED) led to this geographical and genealogical study. The probands and their ancestors tend to be more often located in the Northern and Northwestern regions of France. Very few genealogical links are found between the families. These results suggest that there may be multiple independent and probably ancient founder effects.