There are certain women who exhibit recurrent abortions (expulsion of the developing embryo) before 12th week of pregnancy.1 When such women present otherwise normal anatomy and physiology of a mature woman, gynaecologists suspect them to be carriers of some genetic anomaly, principally that of chromosomal origin. Cytogenetic studies world over have demonstrated involvement of various chromosomes presenting aberrations.2,3 In our study on chromosomal features on all couples and with record of 3 or more abortions within two years we have had come across the history of cancer incidence among first degree relatives of both or either of the partners in the same or preceding generation. Precisely, this short communication analyses data indicating that couples exhibiting recurrent abortions have often had cancer patients in their preceding generation(s).

The couples in the age group 25 to 50 yrs were often referred to our genetic counselling clinic at the Department of Genetics, the University campus Bhopal for routine investigations on haemoglobin profile, chromosome aberrations after methyl isocyanate gas exposure (in Dec. 1984) if any, and for any other reason or syndrome in the family affecting or related with future reproductive output. Interesting information on variable globin chains4 and chromosome studies5,6 have been published. This paper however is based on filled proforma and valuable information gathered from these couples. Proforma filled by each couple included twelve questions; Besides name, age, address, etc. the pertinent questions were on age at which they married, the first conception, and subsequent ones; abortions, if any; abortion history on wives and husbands side (sister; brother’s wife). In this proforma, a question “Has there been any cancer history in the nearest family relative (Grand parent or any of the parents; brother, sister, father or mother’s brother or sister? has formed the basic information for this paper. A short pedigree was drawn to show the commonness of genes. We have considered the range from 1/2 to 1/8 genes common to the first cancer patient and the present one (related to wife or husband) showing recurrent abortion. Precisely, this proforma gave an information on 281 couples investigated including controls within the sample. 179 couples revealed affiliation with cancer and recurrent abortions, 35 couples revealed abortions without any cancer history. Data are presented in Tables 1 and 2 to show distribution of “affected” as well as control couples.

Statistical evaluation is based on applying the Chi-square test for dependency, a 2 x 2 contingency table is analyzed with the:

Null Hypothesis : Cancer history in previous generations is not associated with recurrent abortions.

Proforma filled on couples were scrutinized to examine the relationship of Cancer History with incidences of early foetal loss. Data are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Among 281 couples, 179 couples revealed history of cancer in two preceding generation and sometimes in the same generation among first degree relatives of both the partners. Only 35 out of the 281 couples exhibited recurrent abortion had no known familial incidence of cancer in the previous three generations. Also 30 and 37 couples who had no abortions had or did not have cancer history respectively (67 out of 281). Among 179 couples, 31 male partners and 59 female partners had history of cancer in the family; 89 couples had history in the families of both partners. Statistically, familial cancer among the female partners is significantly higher (p < 0.01) than among the male partners. The types of cancer in the families could not be ascertained because the couples did not possess authentic medical records of their parents or grand parents. However, the commonest statements included report on breast, cervix and lung cancer among female relatives and lung and colon cancer among male relatives.

The tabulated value of chi-square at 1% level of significance for 1 degrees of freedom is 6.635. Since calculated value of chi-square is much greater than tabulated value, the null hypothesis is rejected (p < 0.01). Thus, cancer history in previous generations is associated with recurrent abortions (Tables 1 and 2).

The record of cancer history in the family of women reporting three or more abortions within two years (age 26 to 40 yrs) is quite a new information on 281 couples. Our analysis primarily has been based on information accumulated on each patient/couple and statistical evaluation does indicate that cancer history in previous generation is associated with recurrent abortions. As far as we know such an association has never been reported in literature. Undoubtedly this would be of great significance for counselling purposes.

Since chromosomal involvement7 in early foetal wastage is well known,2 we have had also suspected involvement of some chromosomal mechanism that might account for both foetal wastage and cancer in the family. One such chromosomal involvement has been reported to be Marker Dot (Fig. 1). Marker Dot(s)6 appeared in 70% metaphases of recurrently aborting women and 90% in chromosome preparations of cancer patients.8,9 There is every possibility that these chromatin dots (1 to 2.5µ) emanating from chromosome(s) might be searched for being either the cause9 or a consequence of chromosomal mutagenesis.

We are grateful to the patients and family members who have cooperated in these studies.

We thank Prof. MA Ferguson Smith FRS for his manifold encouragement.