RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that may occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at DNA variations in the RASSF1A gene in young patients with Wilms' tumor.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the presence of the A133S polymorphism in the RASSF1A tumor suppressor gene by screening germline DNAs of children with Wilms' tumor.
• Determine the inheritance pattern of the A133S polymorphism by evaluating the parents of children who carry this polymorphism.

Secondary

• Determine the differences in age at diagnosis, stage, histology, site of primary tumor, and outcome, between patients with vs without the A133S polymorphism.
• Determine whether the S131F RASSF1A variant is a true polymorphism in these patients.
• Determine the polymorphic differences in this gene between these patients based on ethnicity and sex.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to age at diagnosis, stage, histology, site of primary tumor, and outcome.

Genomic DNA samples are purified from peripheral blood of patients and controls and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for the RASSF1A gene. DNA is also analyzed from parents of patients with the A133S polymorphism.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 471 participants (229 Wilms' tumor patients and 200 control participants plus 42 parents) will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of Wilms' tumor OR

• Control participants matched for race, sex, and age

  • No prior or concurrent history of cancer OR

• Parents of children involved in the study

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified

Diagnosis of Wilms' tumor or control participants matched for race, sex, and age.