Skip to content
Bored Studies
RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteers

Genetic Analysis of Birt Hogg-Dube Syndrome and Characterization of Predisposition to Kidney Cancer

National Cancer Institute (NCI) · NCT00033137

View Study & Apply (opens in a new tab)

Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 2+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Observational
Target enrollment
950
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
May 13, 2002
Record last updated
October 26, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

This study will investigate the genetic cause of Birt Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome and the relationship of this disorder to kidney cancer. BHD is a rare inherited condition characterized by papules, or bumps-benign tumors involving hair follicles-on the head and neck. People with BHD are at increased risk of developing kidney cancer. Scientists have identified the chromosome (strand of genetic material in the cell nucleus) that contains the BHD gene and the region of the gene on the chromosome. This study will try to learn more about:

  • The characteristics and type of kidney tumors associated with BHD
  • The risk of kidney cancer in people with BHD
  • Whether more than one gene causes BHD
  • The genetic mutations (changes) responsible for BHD

Individuals with known or suspected Birt Hogg-Dube syndrome, and their family members, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a family history and review of medical records, including pathology reports for tumors, and films of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Participants may undergo various tests and procedures, including the following:

  • Physical examination
  • Review of personal and family history with a cancer doctor, cancer nurses, kidney surgeon, and genetic counselor
  • Chest and other x-rays
  • Ultrasound (imaging study using sound waves)
  • MRI (imaging study using radiowaves and a magnetic field)
  • CT scans of the chest and abdomen (imaging studies using radiation)
  • Blood tests for blood chemistries and genetic testing
  • Skin evaluation, including a skin biopsy (surgical removal of a small skin tissue sample for microscopic evaluation)
  • Cheek swab or mouthwash to collect cells for genetic analysis
  • Lung function studies
  • Medical photography of skin lesions

These tests will be done on an outpatient basis in either one day or over 3 to 4 days. When the studies are complete, participants will receive counseling about the findings and recommendations. Individuals with kidney lesions may be asked to return periodically, such as every 3 to 36 months, based on their individual condition, to document the rate of progression of the lesions.

Conditions: Kidney Neoplasms; Kidney Cancer; Pneumothorax; FLCN Protein, Human

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Individuals that meet one or more of the following criteria:

-Suspected or known to have phenotype or genotype suggestive of Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD), such as:

--Individuals with at least one histologically confirmed fibrofolliculomas;

or

--Individuals with clinical evidence of multiple skin papules (without fibrofolliculoma biopsy confirmation) and a personal or family history of spontaneous pneumothorax/or kidney cancer;

or

--Individuals with spontaneous pneumothorax and skin papules or kidney cancer and a positive family history of spontaneous pneumothorax, skin papules or kidney cancer;

or

--Individuals with a known germline FLCN gene mutation

OR

-Renal tumor histology consistent with BHD, including, but not limited to those suggestive of chromophobe, hybrid oncocytic neoplasm or oncocytoma.

OR

  • Are a relative (related by blood) of an individual with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of BHD.

-Participants must be >= 2 years of age.

  • For children less than 18 years of age, parental permission or legal guardian consent will be obtained.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

None.

Recruiting US locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, MD 20892

    Site contact: For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR) · 800-411-1222 · ccopr@nih.gov

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Deborah A Nielsen, R.N. · (240) 760-6247 · deborah.nielsen@nih.gov
  • W. Marston Linehan, M.D. · (240) 858-3700 · linehanm@mail.nih.gov
All healthy volunteers studies in Maryland →
Genetic Analysis of Birt Hogg-Dube Syndrome and Characterization… (NCT00033137) | Bored Studies