Clustering studies for identifying the role of environmental factors in aetiology of human cancers

Abstract

This chapter reviews studies that have analysed clustering of cancer. In general, clustering studies may be divided into two distinct categories: (i) studies that are based on post hoc reports of unusual case aggregations; and (ii) studies that are based on rigorous and systematic analyses of population-based data. For each type of analysis, the underlying methodology is briefly described and key findings are summarised and interpreted in relation to putative aetiological factors. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.