The high incidence rate of gastrointestinal cancers (GI) has been reported in the northeast region of Iran, Golestan province. The Golestan Cancer Biobank (GoCB) was conducted to promote cancer research in this region. We aimed to present family history and co-morbidity in GI cancer patients registered in the GoCB.

The GoCB office was allocated in a referral cancer hospital in Gorgan, Iran. GoCB collected different types of biological samples including blood, urine, and tissue. We also collected demographic, risk factors and clinical data for cancer patients and used specific software for tracking and management of biological samples as well as demographic, risk factors and clinical data. We extracted and analyzed data on family history and co-morbidity in GoCB GI cancer cases.

During the first two years of the GoCB activity, 963 cancer patients were registered of which, 277 (%28.76) were GI cancers, including 144 patients (%51.99) with colorectal cancer (CRC), 68 patients (%24.55) with stomach cancer and 65 patients (%23.46) with esophageal cancer. The number (percent) of positive family history of cancer was 51(%35.41), 13(%19.11) and 19(%29.23) in the colorectal, stomach and esophageal cancer cases. The most common co-morbidity in CRC patients was hypertension (n=50,%34.72). Gastroesophageal reflux was the most common co-morbidity in esophageal (n=25,%38.46) and stomach (n=25,%36.76) cancers.

Our results suggested discrepancies in the frequency of family history of cancer and co-morbidities in GI cancer patients in our population. These variables should be considered in future studies on these cancers in this high-risk area.