Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium

Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO) is an international collaboration that focuses on the identification and characterization of genetic risk factors and gene-environment interactions for colorectal cancer (CRC). Furthermore, we are investigating the impact of germline genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk factors on the tumor genome, microbiome and immune response and the impact on survival. For the translation of our findings into public health practice and clinical care, we are developing comprehensive risk prediction models for personalized screening decisions and evaluating these models in the population. The coordinating center for this international consortium is based at Fred Hutch. (Principal investigator: Ulrike Peters; lead statistician: Li Hsu).

The GECCO coordinating center manages individual level genetic and epidemiological data of over 130,000 participants from 70 studies from North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. To date, we have harmonized over 100 lifestyle, environmental, and clinical variables across the studies. Germline genetic array-based data are available for all individuals (whole genome sequencing data are available for a subset) and targeted sequencing data are currently generated for over 5,000 colorectal cancer cases using tumor and paired normal DNA.

The large amount of data that GECCO has collected for CRC allows for investigation into survival and risk modeling as well. GECCO is now aiming to broaden its investigation of colorectal cancer risk by examining tumor characteristics in concert with host characteristics.

The GECCO team in 2019
2019 GECCO Investigator Meeting Robert Hood / Fred Hutch

We welcome new collaborations. Contact us if you are interested.

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Studies Working With GECCO

  • French Association Study Evaluating RISK for sporadic colorectal cancer (ASTERISK)
  • Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC)
  • Black Women's Health Study (BWHS)
  • USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Genetics Registry (CGN Registry)
  • Campaign against Cancer and Heart Disease II (CLUE II)
  • ColoCare Study (ColoCare)
  • Longitudinal, observational study on nutritional and lifestyle factors for colorectal cancer and related outcomes (COLON)
  • Cancer Prevention Study II (CPSII)
  • A case-control study from the University of Hawai’i (Colo 2&3)
  • Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria (CORSA)
  • Colorectal Cancer Genetics & Genomics (CRCGEN)
  • Czech Republic Colorectal Cancer Study (Czech CCS)
  • Darmkrebs: Chancen der Verhütung durch Screening (DACHS)
  • Diet, Activity, and Lifestyle Study (DALS)
  • Early Detection Research Network (EDRN)
  • European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)
  • EPICOLON (EPICOLON)
  • Epidemiologische Studie zu Chancen der Verhutung, Fruherkennung und optimierten THerapie chronischer ERkrankungen in der alteren Bevolkerung (ESTHER II/VERDI)
  • 5-FU, Folinic Acid and Irinotecan (FOLFIRI) Plus Cetuximab Versus FOLFIRI Plus Bevacizumab in First Line Treatment Colorectal Cancer (CRC) (FIRE3)
  • Galicia Estudio Oncologico del Colon (GALEON)
  • Hawaiian Adenoma Case-Control Study (Hawaii CCS)
  • Hispanic Colorectal Cancer Study (HCCS)
  • The Hwasun Cancer Epidemiology Study-Colon and Rectum Cancer (HCES-CRC)
  • Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS)
  • Kentucky Case-Control study (Kentucky)
  • Leeds Colorectal Cancer Study (LCCS)
  • Study of Bevacizumab/mFOLFOX6 Versus Bevacizumab/Folfiri With Biomarker Stratification in Patients With Previously Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (MAVERICC)
  • Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS)
  • Multiethnic Cohort (MEC)
  • Molecular Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer (MECC) study
  • Colorectal Cancer Outcomes Prognosis and Epidemiology (COPE) Study and Total Cancer Care (TCC) (MOFFITT)
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
  • North Carolina Case-Control Study, I (NCCCSI)
  • North Carolina Case-Control Study, II (NCCCSII)
  • Newfoundland Familial Colorectal Cancer Study (NFCCR)
  • North German Case Control Study (NGCCS)
  • Nurses' Health Study (NHS)
  • Northern Swedish Health and Disease Study (NSHDS)
  • Ontario Colorectal Cancer Family Registry (OFCCR)
  • Columbus-area HNPCC study, Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiative, Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC)
  • Physicians' Health Study (PHS)
  • Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO)
  • Post-Menopausal Hormone-CCFR Study (PMH-CCFR)
  • Aspirin/Folate Polyp Prevention Study (PPS3)
  • Vitamin D/Calcium Polyp Prevention Study (PPS4)
  • Puerto Rico Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry (PURIFICAR)
  • Colon Cancer Pathways: Hyperplastic Polyps and Adenomas (REACH)
  • Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH)
  • Studies of Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Cancer Heredity (SEARCH)
  • Selenium and Vitamin E Prevention Trial (SELECT)
  • Swedish Low-Risk Colorectal Cancer Study (SLRCCS)
  • Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC) and COSMs (SMC_COSM)
  • Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS)
  • Screening Markers for Colorectal Cancer Study and Colonoscopy and Health study (adenomas) (SMS)
  • Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS)
  • Taiwan’s National Cancer Registry (Taiwan)
  • The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)
  • Combination Chemotherapy and Bevacizumab as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (TRIBE)
  • UK Biobank (UKB)
  • University of Southern California Hormone Replacement Therapy Colorectal Cancer Study (USC-HRT-CRC)
  • CancerScreening Trial; VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort
  • Women's Health Initiative (WHI)

Additionally, the Colon Cancer Family Registry (CCFR) and the Colorectal Transdisciplinary study (CORECT) are collaborating with GECCO on many analyses.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Campus

Contact GECCO

Ulrike (Riki) Peters, Ph.D., MPH
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
1100 Fairview Ave. N.
P.O. Box 19024
Mail Stop M4-B402
Seattle, WA 98109-1024

Phone: 206.667.2450