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