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Cobaleda C, Vicente-Dueñas C, Nichols KE, Sanchez-Garcia I. Childhood B cell leukemia: Intercepting the paths to progression. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2400033. [PMID: 39058907 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer, arising most often in children aged 2-5 years. This distinctive age distribution hints at an association between B-ALL development and disrupted immune system function during a susceptible period during childhood, possibly triggered by early exposure to infection. While cure rates for childhood B-ALL surpass 90% in high-income nations, survivors suffer from diminished quality of life due to the side effects of treatment. Consequently, understanding the origins and evolution of B-ALL, and how to prevent this prevalent childhood cancer, is paramount to alleviate this substantial health burden. This article provides an overview of our current understanding of the etiology of childhood B-ALL and explores how this knowledge can inform preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Cobaleda
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM, CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Vicente-Dueñas
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Kim E Nichols
- Division of Cancer Predisposition, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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2
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Little MP, Bazyka D, de Gonzalez AB, Brenner AV, Chumak VV, Cullings HM, Daniels RD, French B, Grant E, Hamada N, Hauptmann M, Kendall GM, Laurier D, Lee C, Lee WJ, Linet MS, Mabuchi K, Morton LM, Muirhead CR, Preston DL, Rajaraman P, Richardson DB, Sakata R, Samet JM, Simon SL, Sugiyama H, Wakeford R, Zablotska LB. A Historical Survey of Key Epidemiological Studies of Ionizing Radiation Exposure. Radiat Res 2024; 202:432-487. [PMID: 39021204 PMCID: PMC11316622 DOI: 10.1667/rade-24-00021.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
In this article we review the history of key epidemiological studies of populations exposed to ionizing radiation. We highlight historical and recent findings regarding radiation-associated risks for incidence and mortality of cancer and non-cancer outcomes with emphasis on study design and methods of exposure assessment and dose estimation along with brief consideration of sources of bias for a few of the more important studies. We examine the findings from the epidemiological studies of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, persons exposed to radiation for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, those exposed to environmental sources including Chornobyl and other reactor accidents, and occupationally exposed cohorts. We also summarize results of pooled studies. These summaries are necessarily brief, but we provide references to more detailed information. We discuss possible future directions of study, to include assessment of susceptible populations, and possible new populations, data sources, study designs and methods of analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P. Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Dimitry Bazyka
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, 53 Melnikov Street, Kyiv 04050, Ukraine
| | | | - Alina V. Brenner
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - Vadim V. Chumak
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, 53 Melnikov Street, Kyiv 04050, Ukraine
| | - Harry M. Cullings
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - Robert D. Daniels
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Benjamin French
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Eric Grant
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 1646 Abiko, Chiba 270-1194, Japan
| | - Michael Hauptmann
- Institute of Biostatistics and Registry Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Gerald M. Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Dominique Laurier
- Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, Fontenay aux Roses France
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martha S. Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Kiyohiko Mabuchi
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Lindsay M. Morton
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | | | | | - Preetha Rajaraman
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - David B. Richardson
- Environmental and Occupational Health, 653 East Peltason, University California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-3957 USA
| | - Ritsu Sakata
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - Jonathan M. Samet
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Steven L. Simon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Hiromi Sugiyama
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - Richard Wakeford
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Manchester, Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lydia B. Zablotska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16 Street, 2 floor, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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3
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Little MP, Mai JZ, Fang M, Chernyavskiy P, Kennerley V, Cahoon EK, Cockburn MG, Kendall GM, Kimlin MG. Solar ultraviolet radiation exposure, and incidence of childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a US population-based dataset. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1441-1452. [PMID: 38424165 PMCID: PMC11059281 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02629-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are among the commonest types of childhood cancer. Some previous studies suggested that elevated ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposures increase ALL risk; many more indicate NHL risk is reduced. METHODS We assessed age<20 ALL/NHL incidence in Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results data using AVGLO-derived UVR irradiance/cumulative radiant exposure measures, using quasi-likelihood models accounting for underdispersion, adjusted for age, sex, racial/ethnic group and other county-level socioeconomic variables. RESULTS There were 30,349 cases of ALL and 8062 of NHL, with significant increasing trends of ALL with UVR irradiance (relative risk (RR) = 1.200/mW/cm2 (95% CI 1.060, 1.359, p = 0.0040)), but significant decreasing trends for NHL (RR = 0.646/mW/cm2 (95% CI 0.512, 0.816, p = 0.0002)). There was a borderline-significant increasing trend of ALL with UVR cumulative radiant exposure (RR = 1.444/MJ/cm2 (95% CI 0.949, 2.197, p = 0.0865)), and significant decreasing trends for NHL (RR = 0.284/MJ/cm2 (95% CI 0.166, 0.485, p < 0.0001)). ALL and NHL trend RR is substantially increased among those aged 0-3. All-age trend RRs are most extreme (increasing for ALL, decreasing for NHL) for Hispanics for both UVR measures. CONCLUSIONS Our more novel finding, of excess UVR-related ALL risk, is consistent with some previous studies, but is not clear-cut, and in need of replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA.
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
| | - Jim Z Mai
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Michelle Fang
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Pavel Chernyavskiy
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0717, USA
| | - Victoria Kennerley
- Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Cahoon
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Myles G Cockburn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gerald M Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Michael G Kimlin
- Institute of Evidence Based Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Gold Coast, QLD, 4226, Australia
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Sirirungreung A, Hansen J, Ritz B, Heck JE. Association between medically diagnosed postnatal infection and childhood cancers: A matched case-control study in Denmark, 1978 to 2016. Int J Cancer 2023; 153:994-1002. [PMID: 37243370 PMCID: PMC10524667 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Although the association between infection and childhood cancer has been long investigated, there is limited information on rarer cancers. This article aimed to explore the association between postnatal infection and childhood cancers in the Danish population. A matched case-control study was conducted using Danish nationwide registries from 1978 to 2016. Each childhood cancer case was matched 1:25 with controls by birth date within a week and sex. Postnatal infections were identified from the Danish National Patient Registry, which lists diagnoses seen in hospital, specialist or emergency care services. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (adj.OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Specific types of infections and the number of infection episodes were also considered. The study included 4125 childhood cancer cases and 103 526 matched controls with ages ranging from 0 to 19 years. Medically diagnosed postnatal infections were positively associated with many types of childhood cancer including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (adj.OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.23-1.63), acute myeloid leukemia (adj.OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.28-2.52), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (adj.OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.19-1.97) and central nervous system tumors (adj.OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.39-1.77). A higher number of infection episodes were also associated with an increased risk of these cancers. Specific infections such as viral, enteric and urinary tract infections were also strongly associated with specific types of cancer. In conclusion, children who later develop cancer appear to have adverse reactions to infections necessitating referral to specialized health care services, perhaps indicating dysregulated immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupong Sirirungreung
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Johnni Hansen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Julia E Heck
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- College of Health and Public Service, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
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Maternal antibiotics exposure during pregnancy and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:471-478. [PMID: 34535829 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Many epidemiological studies have assessed the association between maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), while reaching inconsistent conclusions. In order to clarify the association, the publications in English that provided information about maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and ALL risk in offspring in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically reviewed and we performed a meta-analysis using the random-effect models. Results of pooled analysis showed that maternal antibiotic intake during pregnancy is not associated with childhood ALL risk (pooled odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.18) without significant heterogeneity (I2 = 13.7%, P = 0.310). This finding was consistent across subgroups stratified by type of study design, measurement method, sample size, study quality, and pregnancy stage. Our findings suggest that maternal antibiotic consumption during pregnancy was not associated with ALL risk in progeny. Further investigations are needed to confirm the results and assess any risk differences of ALL by types of antibiotics.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that maternal antibiotics consumption during pregnancy was not associated with ALL risk in progeny. Further investigations are needed to confirm the results and assess any risk differences of ALL by types of antibiotics. What is Known: • It is not unusual for pregnant woman to receive antibiotics for local or systematic use during pregnancy. • The conclusions regarding the associations between maternal antibiotics use during pregnancy and childhood ALL risk were inconsistent. What is New: • Maternal antibiotics consumption during pregnancy was not associated with the increased ALL risk in offspring. • Further laboratory evidences are needed to confirm the results.
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6
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Schmidt JA, Hornhardt S, Erdmann F, Sánchez-García I, Fischer U, Schüz J, Ziegelberger G. Risk Factors for Childhood Leukemia: Radiation and Beyond. Front Public Health 2021; 9:805757. [PMID: 35004601 PMCID: PMC8739478 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.805757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood leukemia (CL) is undoubtedly caused by a multifactorial process with genetic as well as environmental factors playing a role. But in spite of several efforts in a variety of scientific fields, the causes of the disease and the interplay of possible risk factors are still poorly understood. To push forward the research on the causes of CL, the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection has been organizing recurring international workshops since 2008 every two to three years. In November 2019 the 6th International Workshop on the Causes of CL was held in Freising and brought together experts from diverse disciplines. The workshop was divided into two main parts focusing on genetic and environmental risk factors, respectively. Two additional special sessions addressed the influence of natural background radiation on the risk of CL and the progress in the development of mouse models used for experimental studies on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of leukemia worldwide. The workshop presentations highlighted the role of infections as environmental risk factor for CL, specifically for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Major support comes from two mouse models, the Pax5+/- and Sca1-ETV6-RUNX1 mouse model, one of the major achievements made in the last years. Mice of both predisposed models only develop leukemia when exposed to common infections. These results emphasize the impact of gene-environment-interactions on the development of CL and warrant further investigation of such interactions - especially because genetic predisposition is detected with increasing frequency in CL. This article summarizes the workshop presentations and discusses the results in the context of the international literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine-Alison Schmidt
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Hornhardt
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France
| | - Isidro Sánchez-García
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ute Fischer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joachim Schüz
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France
| | - Gunde Ziegelberger
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
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7
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Cobaleda C, Vicente-Dueñas C, Sanchez-Garcia I. Infectious triggers and novel therapeutic opportunities in childhood B cell leukaemia. Nat Rev Immunol 2021; 21:570-581. [PMID: 33558682 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-021-00505-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. Although treatment has advanced remarkably in the past 50 years, it still fails in ~20% of patients. Recent studies revealed that more than 5% of healthy newborns carry preleukaemic clones that originate in utero, but only a small percentage of these carriers will progress to overt B-ALL. The drivers of progression are unclear, but B-ALL incidence seems to be increasing in parallel with the adoption of modern lifestyles. Emerging evidence shows that a major driver for the conversion from the preleukaemic state to the B-ALL state is exposure to immune stressors, such as infection. Here, we discuss our current understanding of the environmental triggers and genetic predispositions that may lead to B-ALL, highlighting lessons from epidemiology, the clinic and animal models, and identifying priority areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Cobaleda
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain. .,Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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8
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Bamouni S, Hémon D, Faure L, Clavel J, Goujon S. Seasonal variations in childhood leukaemia incidence in France, 1990-2014. Cancer Causes Control 2021; 32:693-704. [PMID: 33829352 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-021-01421-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have addressed the potential seasonality of childhood acute leukaemia (AL) without conclusive results. Using data from the National Registry of Childhood Cancers over 1990-2014 in mainland France, we investigated the seasonal variations in childhood AL taken together, and lymphoblastic (ALL) and myeloid (AML) leukaemia separately. METHODS Assuming constant variations over 1990-2014, we used a Poisson regression model to evaluate variations in standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) by month of birth or diagnosis. A scan method for temporal cluster detection was used to identify windows of several consecutive months with high or low SIR. The yearly reproducibility of the observed monthly variations was then evaluated. RESULTS We included 11,528 AL, of which 9493 ALL and 1,843 AML. No seasonal variation was detected for ALL. With a clear seasonal pattern, differences in AML incidence rates were evidenced between January-April and May-December birth periods (SIR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.77-0.94 and SIR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14, respectively). AML incidence variations by month of diagnosis were less clear-cut. CONCLUSION Based on a large number of cases from a high-quality registry, we did not evidence any seasonality in ALL incidence rates but evidenced seasonal variations in AML incidence rates by month of birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bamouni
- Inserm, UMR 1153 Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers team (EPICEA), 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier - Bat 15/16, 94807, Villejuif Cedex, France. .,Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Denis Hémon
- Inserm, UMR 1153 Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers team (EPICEA), 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier - Bat 15/16, 94807, Villejuif Cedex, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Laure Faure
- Inserm, UMR 1153 Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers team (EPICEA), 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier - Bat 15/16, 94807, Villejuif Cedex, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France.,French National Registry of Childhood Hematological Malignancies (RNHE), 94807, Villejuif, France
| | - Jacqueline Clavel
- Inserm, UMR 1153 Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers team (EPICEA), 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier - Bat 15/16, 94807, Villejuif Cedex, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France.,French National Registry of Childhood Hematological Malignancies (RNHE), 94807, Villejuif, France
| | - Stéphanie Goujon
- Inserm, UMR 1153 Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers team (EPICEA), 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier - Bat 15/16, 94807, Villejuif Cedex, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France.,French National Registry of Childhood Hematological Malignancies (RNHE), 94807, Villejuif, France
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9
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The glycosphingolipid GD2 as an effective but enigmatic target of passive immunotherapy in children with aggressive neuroblastoma (HR-NBL). Cancer Lett 2020; 503:220-230. [PMID: 33271265 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NBL), the most frequent and lethal pediatric cancer of children in pre-school age, is considered enigmatic in view of its extreme heterogeneity, from spontaneous regression in the IV-S form to incurable disease in approx. 40% of cases (High Risk, HR-NBL). It has an embryonal origin and a very heterogeneous genomic landscape, hampering the success of targeted strategies. The glycosphingolipid GD2 was shown to be expressed on NBL cells and utilized as target for passive immunotherapy with anti-GD2 antibodies (GD2-IMT). An international protocol was established with GD2-IMT, which increases remission length and survival in HR-NBL. By reviewing the different biological and molecular aspects of NBL and GD2-IMT, this mini-review questions the present lack of association between GD2-IMT and the underlying molecular landscape. The alternative model of Micro-Foci inducing virus (MFV) is presented, since MFV infection can induce extensive genomic aberrations (100X NMYC DNA-amplification). Since this family of viruses uses molecules for cell penetration similar to GD2 (i.e., GM2), it is hypothesized that GD2 is the port-of-entry for MFV and that success of anti-GD2 therapies is also associated to inhibition of this clastogenic virus in HR-NBL.
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10
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Kinlen LJ, Gilham C, Ray R, Thomas DB, Peto J. Cohabitation, infection and breast cancer risk. Int J Cancer 2020; 148:1408-1418. [PMID: 32984953 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
For 50 years, the effect of age at first birth (AFB) has been thought to explain the strong association between breast cancer risk and age at first marriage (AFM), which was first reported in 1926. The independent effects of AFM, AFB and number of sexual partners adjusted for parity and other risk factors were estimated in reanalysis of a large international case-control study conducted in 1979 to 1982 (2274 breast cancers, 18209 controls) by unconditional logistic regression. Respective AFB and AFM breast cancer odds ratios (ORs) for ≥31 years relative to ≤18 years were 3.01 (95% CI 2.44-3.71; P(trend) < .0001) and 3.24 (95% CI 2.62-4.01; P(trend) < .0001) in univariate analyses. Among married parous women, these ORs fell to 1.38 (95% CI 0.98-1.95; P(trend) < .03) for AFB and 1.70 (95% CI 1.17-2.46; P(trend) < .002) for AFM when fitted together in multivariate analysis including other risk factors. A similar adjusted OR for AFM ≥ 31 years relative to ≤18 years was seen among married nulliparous women (OR 1.71, 95% CI 0.98-2.98; P(trend) < .001). AFM (a surrogate for age at starting prolonged cohabitation) is thus strongly associated with breast cancer risk. This suggests an effect of close contact. Identifying the (probably infective) mechanism might lead to effective prevention of breast cancer. The independent effect of AFB is smaller and could be due to residual confounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo J Kinlen
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Clare Gilham
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Roberta Ray
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David B Thomas
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Julian Peto
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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11
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Bispo JAB, Pinheiro PS, Kobetz EK. Epidemiology and Etiology of Leukemia and Lymphoma. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a034819. [PMID: 31727680 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Available evidence suggests that the incidence of leukemia and lymphoma tends to be higher in highly developed regions of the world and among Whites in the United States. Temporal trends in incidence are dynamic and multifactorial; for instance, the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma increased around the turn of the century, in part because of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. Most leukemias and lymphomas are sporadic and the specific etiology remains elusive. Still, research shows that these malignancies often develop in the context of genetic abnormalities, immunosuppression, and exposure to risk factors like ionizing radiation, carcinogenic chemicals, and oncogenic viruses. The prognosis varies by subtype, with poorer survival outcomes for acute leukemias among adults, and more favorable outcomes for Hodgkin's lymphoma. At a time when specific prevention efforts targeting these malignancies are nonexistent, there is a great need to ensure equitable access to diagnostic services and treatments worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A Baeker Bispo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| | - Paulo S Pinheiro
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| | - Erin K Kobetz
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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12
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Lubega J, Hallman MD, Lupo PJ, Fu Y, Peterson L, Scheurer ME. Association of population mixing and acute lymphocytic leukemia in children and young adults. Cancer Epidemiol 2020; 66:101722. [PMID: 32353774 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association of population mixing (PM1) with childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL2) has been reproduced in multiple studies. However, the mechanism underlying this association is unknown. METHODS Ecological study of incidence of pediatric ALL among 253 counties in the State of Texas (USA) using surrogates of genetic and environmental PM. ALL incidence data were obtained from Texas Cancer Registry and county population statistics from the US Census Bureau. Poisson regression was used to compare ALL incidence and PM. RESULTS There is substantial and variable genetic and environmental PM among counties in Texas. Indicators of genetic PM including proportion of multiracial households, ratio of Hispanics to non-Hispanics, and ratio of foreign to native-born residents were all significantly associated with a higher incidence of ALL (IRR3 1.81 (95CI 1.05-3.13), 1.67 (95CI 1.16-2.37), and 1.59 (95CI 1.03-2.48), respectively). Surrogates of environmental PM namely population density and persons per household were not associated with incidence of ALL; IRRs 1.29 (95CI 0.4-4.15) and 1.47 (95CI 0.89-2.43). CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with prior patterns and magnitudes of PM association with ALL. Our findings suggest that the implicated mechanism of leukemogenesis in PM may be genetically transmitted rather than environmental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Lubega
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, United States.
| | - M David Hallman
- University of Texas - School of Public Health, Houston, United States
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - Yunxin Fu
- University of Texas - School of Public Health, Houston, United States
| | - Leif Peterson
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, United States
| | - Michael E Scheurer
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, United States
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13
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Mazzei-Abba A, Folly CL, Coste A, Wakeford R, Little MP, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Kendall G, Hémon D, Nikkilä A, Spix C, Auvinen A, Spycher BD. Epidemiological studies of natural sources of radiation and childhood cancer: current challenges and future perspectives. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2020; 40:R1-R23. [PMID: 31751953 PMCID: PMC10654695 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ab5a38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The empirical estimation of cancer risks in children associated with low-dose ionising radiation (<100 mSv) remains a challenge. The main reason is that the required combination of large sample sizes with accurate and comprehensive exposure assessment is difficult to achieve. An international scientific workshop, 'Childhood cancer and background radiation', organised by the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine of the University of Bern, brought together researchers in this field to evaluate how epidemiological studies of background radiation and childhood cancer can best improve our understanding of the effects of low-dose ionising radiation. This review summarises and evaluates the findings of these studies with regard to their methodological differences, identifies key limitations and challenges, and proposes ways to move forward. Large childhood cancer registries, such as those in Great Britain, France and Germany, now permit the conducting of studies that should have sufficient statistical power to detect the effects predicted by standard risk models. Nevertheless, larger studies or pooled studies will be needed to investigate disease subgroups. The main challenge is to accurately assess children's individual exposure to radiation from natural sources and from other sources, as well as potentially confounding non-radiation exposures, in such large study populations. For this, the study groups should learn from each other to improve exposure estimation and develop new ways to validate exposure models with personal dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Mazzei-Abba
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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14
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Bunch KJ, Kendall GM, Stiller CA, Vincent TJ, Murphy MFG. Case-control study of paternal occupational exposures and childhood lymphoma in Great Britain, 1962-2010. Br J Cancer 2019; 120:1153-1161. [PMID: 31105271 PMCID: PMC6738046 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0469-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This nationwide study investigates associations between paternal occupational exposure and childhood lymphoma. METHODS The UK National Registry of Childhood Tumours provided cases of childhood lymphoma born and diagnosed in Great Britain 1962-2010. Control births, unaffected by childhood cancer, were matched on sex, birth period and birth registration sub-district. Fathers' occupations were assigned to one or more of 33 exposure groups and also coded for occupational social class. RESULTS We analysed 5033 childhood lymphoma cases and 4990 controls. Total lymphoma and the subgroups Hodgkin, Burkitt and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were considered separately. No one exposure was significantly associated with increased risk within all subgroups and for total lymphoma. However, exposure to "ceramics and glass" was significantly associated with increased risk of total lymphoma, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Paternal lead exposure was associated with Burkitt lymphoma and exposure to metal fumes was associated with Hodgkin lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS This study provides no support for previous suggestions of an association between childhood lymphoma and paternal occupational exposure to pesticides, solvents/hydrocarbons or infections potentially transmitted by father's social contacts. An association with exposure to "ceramics and glass" was noted for the two major lymphoma subtypes together comprising 80% of total lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J Bunch
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
| | - Gerald M Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Charles A Stiller
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England, Chancellor Court, Oxford Business Park South, Oxford, OX4 2GX, UK
| | - Timothy J Vincent
- Formerly of Childhood Cancer Research Group, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael F G Murphy
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
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15
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Amoon AT, Arah OA, Kheifets L. The sensitivity of reported effects of EMF on childhood leukemia to uncontrolled confounding by residential mobility: a hybrid simulation study and an empirical analysis using CAPS data. Cancer Causes Control 2019; 30:901-908. [PMID: 31144088 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-019-01189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Residential mobility is considered as a potential source of confounding in studies assessing environmental exposures, including in studies of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures and childhood leukemia. METHODS We present a hybrid simulation study where we simulate a synthetic dataset based on an existing study and use it to assess the sensitivity of EMF-leukemia associations to different scenarios of uncontrolled confounding by mobility under two major hypotheses of the infectious etiology of childhood leukemia. We then used the findings to conduct sensitivity analysis and empirically offset the potential bias due to unmeasured mobility in the California Power Line Study dataset. RESULTS As expected, the stronger the assumed relationship between mobility and exposure and outcome, the greater the potential bias. However, no scenario created a bias strong enough to completely explain away previously observed associations. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that uncontrolled confounding by residential mobility had some impact on the estimated effect of EMF exposures on childhood leukemia, but that it was unlikely to be the primary explanation behind previously observed largely consistent, but unexplained associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryana T Amoon
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA.
| | - Onyebuchi A Arah
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA.,Department of Statistics, UCLA College of Letters and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Leeka Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA
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16
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17
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Re. The Association Between Childhood Leukemia and Population Mixing: An Artifact of Focusing on Clusters? Epidemiology 2019; 30:e26. [PMID: 30985535 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Studies investigating the population-mixing hypothesis in childhood leukemia principally use two analytical approaches: (1) nonrandom selection of areas according to specific characteristics, followed by comparisons of their incidence of childhood leukemia with that expected based on the national average; and (2) regression analyses of region-wide data to identify characteristics associated with the incidence of childhood leukemia. These approaches have generated contradictory results. We compare these approaches using observed and simulated data. Methods: We generated 10,000 simulated regions using the correlation structure and distributions from a United Kingdom dataset. We simulated cases using a Poisson distribution with the incidence rate set to the national average assuming the null hypothesis that only population size drives the number of cases. Selection of areas within each simulated region was based on characteristics considered responsible for elevated infection rates (population density and inward migration) and/or elevated leukemia rates. We calculated effect estimates for 10,000 simulations and compared results to corresponding observed data analyses. Results: When the selection of areas for analysis is based on apparent clusters of childhood leukemia, biased assessments occur; the estimated 5-year incidence of childhood leukemia ranged between zero and eight per 10,000 children in contrast to the simulated two cases per 10,000 children, similar to the observed data. Performing analyses on region-wide data avoids these biases. Conclusions: Studies using nonrandom selection to investigate the association between childhood leukemia and population mixing are likely to have generated biased findings. Future studies can avoid such bias using a region-wide analytical strategy. See video abstract at, http://links.lww.com/EDE/B431.
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19
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Boulton F. Ionising radiation and childhood leukaemia revisited. Med Confl Surviv 2019; 35:144-170. [PMID: 30821174 DOI: 10.1080/13623699.2019.1571684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Increased incidences of childhood acute leukaemia were noted among survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Western societies, Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia has a distinct epidemiology peaking at 3 years old. Exposure to ionising radiation is an established hazard but it is difficult to gauge the precise risk of less than 100 mSv. Since 1983 significant leukaemia incidences have been reported among families residing near nuclear installations. The target cells (naïve neonatal lymphocytes) get exposed to multiple xenobiotic challenges and undergo extraordinary proliferation and physiological somatic genetic change. Population movements and ionising radiation are considered taking account of updated understanding of radiation biology, cancer cytogenetics and immunological diversity. Double Strand Breaks in DNA arise through metabolic generation of Reactive Oxygen Species, and nearly always are repaired; but mis-repairs can be oncogenic. Recombinant Activating Gene enzymes in rapidly dividing perinatal pre-B lymphocytes being primed for antibody diversity are targeted to Signal Sequences in the Immunoglobulin genes. off target pseudo-sequences may allow RAG enzymes to create autosomal DSBs which, when mis-repaired, become translocated oncogenes. Immunogens acting by chance at crucial stages may facilitate this. In such circumstances, oncogenic DSBs from ionising radiation are less likely to be significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Boulton
- Medact , London , UK.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
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20
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Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. This paper describes an ecological study investigating whether there is an excess incidence of acute leukaemia among children aged 0–14 years living in the vicinity of the nuclear sites in Belgium. Poisson regression modelling was carried out for proximity areas of varying sizes. In addition, the hypothesis of a gradient in leukaemia incidence with increasing levels of surrogate exposures was explored by means of focused hypothesis tests and generalized additive models. For the surrogate exposures, three proxies were used, that is, residential proximity to the nuclear site, prevailing winds and simulated radioactive discharges, on the basis of mathematical dispersion modelling. No excess incidence of acute leukaemia was observed around the nuclear power plants of Doel or Tihange nor around the nuclear site of Fleurus, which is a major manufacturer of radioactive isotopes in Europe. Around the site of Mol-Dessel, however, two- to three-fold increased leukaemia incidence rates were found in children aged 0–14 years living in the 0–5, 0–10 and the 0–15 km proximity areas. For this site, there was evidence for a gradient in leukaemia incidence with increased proximity, prevailing winds and simulated radioactive discharges, suggesting a potential link with the site that needs further investigation. An increased incidence of acute leukaemia in children aged 0–14 years was observed around one nuclear site that hosted reprocessing activities in the past and where nuclear research activities and radioactive waste treatment are ongoing.
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21
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Nikkilä A, Kendall G, Raitanen J, Spycher B, Lohi O, Auvinen A. Effects of incomplete residential histories on studies of environmental exposure with application to childhood leukaemia and background radiation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 166:466-472. [PMID: 29945121 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
When evaluating environmental exposures, residential exposures are often most relevant. In most countries, it is impossible to establish full residential histories. In recent publications, childhood leukaemia and background radiation have been studied with and without full residential histories. This paper investigates the consequences of lacking such full data. Data from a nationwide Finnish Case-Control study of Childhood Leukaemia and gamma rays were analysed. This included 1093 children diagnosed with leukaemia in Finland in 1990-2011. Each case was matched by gender and year of birth to three controls. Full residential histories were available. The dose estimates were based on outdoor background radiation measurements. The indoor dose rates were obtained with a dwelling type specific conversion coefficient and the individual time-weighted mean red bone marrow dose rates were calculated using age-specific indoor occupancy and the age and gender of the child. Radiation from Chernobyl fallout was included and a 2-year latency period assumed. The median separation between successive dwellings was 3.4 km and median difference in red bone marrow dose 2.9 nSv/h. The Pearson correlation between the indoor red bone marrow dose rates of successive dwellings was 0.62 (95% CI 0.60, 0.64). The odds ratio for a 10 nSv/h increase in dose rate with full residential histories was 1.01 (95% CI 0.97, 1.05). Similar odds ratios were calculated with dose rates based on only the first dwelling (1.02, 95% CI 0.99, 1.05) and only the last dwelling (1.00, 95% CI 0.98, 1.03) and for subjects who had lived only in a single dwelling (1.05, 95% CI 0.98, 1.10). Knowledge of full residential histories would always be the option of choice. However, due to the strong correlation between exposure estimates in successive dwellings and the uncertainty about the most relevant exposure period, estimation of overall exposure level from a single address is also informative. Error in dose estimation is likely to cause some degree of classical measurement error resulting in bias towards the null.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atte Nikkilä
- Faculty of Medicine and Biosciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Gerald Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, NDPH, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Jani Raitanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ben Spycher
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olli Lohi
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anssi Auvinen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Helsinki, Finland
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22
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Kendall GM, Bithell JF, Bunch KJ, Draper GJ, Kroll ME, Murphy MFG, Stiller CA, Vincent TJ. Childhood cancer research in oxford III: The work of CCRG on ionising radiation. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:771-778. [PMID: 30131551 PMCID: PMC6173777 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0182-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High doses of ionising radiation are a known cause of childhood cancer and great public and professional interest attaches to possible links between childhood cancer and lower doses, particularly of man-made radiation. This paper describes work done by the Childhood Cancer Research Group (CCRG) on this topic METHODS: Most UK investigations have made use of the National Registry of Childhood Tumours and associated controls. Epidemiological investigations have included national incidence and mortality analyses, geographical investigations, record linkage and case-control studies. Dosimetric studies use biokinetic and dosimetric modelling. RESULTS This paper reviews the work of the CCRG on the association between exposure to ionising radiation and childhood cancer, 1975-2014. CONCLUSION The work of CCRG has been influential in developing understanding of the causes of 'clusters' of childhood cancer and the risks arising from exposure to ionising radiation both natural and man-made. Some clusters around nuclear installations have certainly been observed, but ionising radiation does not seem to be a plausible cause. The group's work has also been instrumental in discounting the hypothesis that paternal preconception irradiation was a cause of childhood cancers and has demonstrated an increased leukaemia risk for children exposed to higher levels of natural gamma-ray radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald M Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
| | - John F Bithell
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles', Oxford, OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Kathryn J Bunch
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Gerald J Draper
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles', Oxford, OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Mary E Kroll
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Michael F G Murphy
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Charles A Stiller
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England, Chancellor Court, Oxford Business Park South, Oxford, OX4 2GX, UK
| | - Tim J Vincent
- Formerly of Childhood Cancer Research Group, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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23
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Amoon AT, Oksuzyan S, Crespi CM, Arah OA, Cockburn M, Vergara X, Kheifets L. Residential mobility and childhood leukemia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 164:459-466. [PMID: 29574256 PMCID: PMC7491916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Studies of environmental exposures and childhood leukemia studies do not usually account for residential mobility. Yet, in addition to being a potential risk factor, mobility can induce selection bias, confounding, or measurement error in such studies. Using data collected for California Powerline Study (CAPS), we attempt to disentangle the effect of mobility. METHODS We analyzed data from a population-based case-control study of childhood leukemia using cases who were born in California and diagnosed between 1988 and 2008 and birth certificate controls. We used stratified logistic regression, case-only analysis, and propensity-score adjustments to assess predictors of residential mobility between birth and diagnosis, and account for potential confounding due to residential mobility. RESULTS Children who moved tended to be older, lived in housing other than single-family homes, had younger mothers and fewer siblings, and were of lower socioeconomic status. Odds ratios for leukemia among non-movers living <50 meters (m) from a 200+ kilovolt line (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 0.72-3.65) and for calculated fields ≥ 0.4 microTesla (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 0.65-4.52) were slightly higher than previously reported overall results. Adjustments for propensity scores based on all variables predictive of mobility, including dwelling type, increased odds ratios for leukemia to 2.61 (95% CI: 1.76-3.86) for living < 50 m from a 200 + kilovolt line and to 1.98 (1.11-3.52) for calculated fields. Individual or propensity-score adjustments for all variables, except dwelling type, did not materially change the estimates of power line exposures on childhood leukemia. CONCLUSION The residential mobility of childhood leukemia cases varied by several sociodemographic characteristics, but not by the distance to the nearest power line or calculated magnetic fields. Mobility appears to be an unlikely explanation for the associations observed between power lines exposure and childhood leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Amoon
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA.
| | - S Oksuzyan
- Division of HIV and STD Programs, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 600 S Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005, USA
| | - C M Crespi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
| | - O A Arah
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
| | - M Cockburn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - X Vergara
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA; Energy & Environment Sector, Electric Power Research Institute, 3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - L Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
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Grosche B, Kaatsch P, Heinzow B, Wichmann HE. The Krümmel (Germany) Childhood Leukaemia Cluster: a review and update. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2017; 37:R43-R58. [PMID: 28914236 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/aa8ce9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The debate surrounding possible adverse health effects from the civil use of nuclear power under normal operating conditions has been on-going since its introduction. It was particularly intensified by the detection of three leukaemia clusters near nuclear installations, i.e. near the reprocessing plants in Sellafield and Dounreay, UK, and near the Krümmel nuclear power plant, Germany, the last of which commenced between 1990 and 1991 and was first described in 1992; it continued until 2003, and an elevated risk up to 2005 has been reported in the literature. A number of expert commissions and working groups were set up by the governments of the German federal states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein to investigate the possible causes of the cluster. An overview of the many risk factors that were investigated as a possible explanation of the Krümmel cluster is given here, focussing on radiation, but also including other risk factors. Further, results from related epidemiological and cytogenetic studies are described. In summary, the cause of the occurrence of the Krümmel cluster has to be considered as unknown. Further research on the causes of childhood leukaemia is needed, focussing on epigenetics and on gene-environment interaction. An update of the leukaemia incidence around the Krümmel site shows that the incidence rates are now comparable to the average rate in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Grosche
- Freising, Germany (retired, formerly Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Oberschleissheim, Germany
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25
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Hwee J, Tait C, Sung L, Kwong JC, Sutradhar R, Pole JD. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between childhood infections and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Br J Cancer 2017; 118:127-137. [PMID: 29065105 PMCID: PMC5765221 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: To determine whether childhood infections were associated with the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Methods: We included studies that assessed any infection in childhood prior to the diagnosis of ALL in children aged 0–19 years compared to children without cancer. The primary analysis synthesised any infection against the odds of ALL, and secondary analyses assessed the frequency, severity, timing of infections, and specific infectious agents against the odds of ALL. Subgroup analyses by data source were investigated. Results: In our primary analysis of 12 496 children with ALL and 2 356 288 children without ALL from 38 studies, we found that any infection was not associated with ALL (odds ratio (OR)=1.10, 95% CI: 0.95–1.28). Among studies with laboratory-confirmed infections, the presence of infections increased the odds of ALL by 2.4-fold (OR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.54–3.82). Frequency, severity, and timing of infection were not associated with ALL. Conclusions: The hypothesis put forward by Greaves and others about an infectious aetiology are neither confirmed nor refuted and the overall evidence remains inadequate for good judgement. The qualitative difference in the subgroup effects require further study, and future research will need to address the challenges in measuring infectious exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah Hwee
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher Tait
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lillian Sung
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey C Kwong
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada.,Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Toronto Western Family Health Team, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rinku Sutradhar
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jason D Pole
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, 480 University Avenue, Suite 1014, Toronto, ON, Canada
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26
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Kheifets L, Swanson J, Yuan Y, Kusters C, Vergara X. Comparative analyses of studies of childhood leukemia and magnetic fields, radon and gamma radiation. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2017; 37:459-491. [PMID: 28586320 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/aa5fc7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we compare the findings of epidemiologic studies of childhood leukemia that examined at least two of ELF magnetic fields and/or distance to power lines, and exposure to radon and gamma radiation or distance to nuclear plants. Many of the methodologic aspects are common to studies of non-ionising (i.e. ELF-MF) and ionising radiation. A systematic search and review of studies with more than one exposure under study identified 33 key and 35 supplementary papers from ten countries that have been included in this review. Examining studies that have looked at several radiation exposures, and comparing similarities and differences for the different types of radiation, through the use of directed acyclic graphs, we evaluate to what extent bias, confounding and other methodological issues might be operating in these studies. We found some indication of bias, although results are not clear cut. There is little evidence that confounding has had a substantial influence on results. Influence of the residential mobility on the study conduct and interpretation is complex and can manifest as a selection bias, confounding, increased measurement error or could also be a potential risk factor. Other factors associated with distance to power lines and to nuclear power plants should be investigated. A more complete and consistent reporting of results in the future studies will allow for a more informative comparison across studies and integration of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeka Kheifets
- University of California Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - John Swanson
- National Grid, 1-3 Strand, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yingzhe Yuan
- University of California Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Kusters
- University of California Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Ximena Vergara
- University of California Los Angeles, United States of America
- Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
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Can changes in population mixing and socio-economic deprivation in Cumbria, England explain changes in cancer incidence around Sellafield? Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2017; 21:25-36. [PMID: 28552185 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Previously excesses in incident cases of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma have been observed amongst young people born or resident in Seascale, Cumbria. These excesses have not been seen more recently. It is postulated that the former apparent increased risk was related to 'unusual population mixing', which is not present in recent years. This study investigated changes in measures of population mixing from 1951-2001. Comparisons were made between three specified areas. Area-based measures were calculated (migration, commuting, deprivation, population density). All areas have become more affluent, although Seascale was consistently the most affluent. Seascale has become less densely populated, with less migration into the ward and less diversity with respect to migrants' origin. There have been marked changes in patterns of population mixing throughout Cumbria. Lesser population mixing has been observed in Seascale in recent decades. Changes in pattern and nature of population mixing may explain the lack of recent excesses.
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Sudan M, Arah OA, Becker T, Levy Y, Sigsgaard T, Olsen J, Vergara X, Kheifets L. Re-examining the association between residential exposure to magnetic fields from power lines and childhood asthma in the Danish National Birth Cohort. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177651. [PMID: 28545137 PMCID: PMC5435231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A study reported an increased risk of asthma in children whose mothers were exposed to magnetic field (MF) levels above 0.2 μT during pregnancy. We re-examined this association using data from mothers and children in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Methods This study included 92,676 singleton-born children and their mothers from the DNBC. MF exposure from power lines was estimated for all residences where the mothers lived during pregnancy and for all children from birth until the end of follow up. Exposure was categorized into 0 μT, 0.1 μT, and ≥ 0.2 μT for analysis. Definitive and possible asthma cases were identified using data from three independent data sources: 1) mothers’ reports, 2) a national hospitalization register, 3) a national prescription drug register. We calculated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between the highest level of exposure during pregnancy and asthma in children, adjusting for several potential confounding factors. We also examined the sensitivity of the risk estimates to changes in exposure and outcome definitions. Results No differences or trends in the risk of asthma development were detected between children with different levels of MF exposure regardless of the asthma case definition or outcome data source. For definitive cases, the HR (95% CI) for those with any exposure was 0.72 (0.27–1.92), and it was 0.41 (0.06–2.92) for those exposed to ≥ 0.2 μT. Adjustments for confounding and variations in the exposure definition did not appreciably alter the results. Conclusion We did not find evidence that residential exposure to MF during pregnancy or early childhood increased the risk of childhood asthma. This interpretation is in line with the lack of an established biological mechanism directly linking MF exposure to asthma, but high exposure was very rare in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Sudan
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Onyebuchi A. Arah
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas Becker
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Yael Levy
- Kipper Institute of Immunology and Allergy, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | | | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ximena Vergara
- Environment Sector, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Leeka Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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29
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Barrington-Trimis JL, Cockburn M, Metayer C, Gauderman WJ, Wiemels J, McKean-Cowdin R. Trends in childhood leukemia incidence over two decades from 1992 to 2013. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:1000-1008. [PMID: 27778348 PMCID: PMC5550103 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Incidence rates of childhood leukemia in the United States have steadily increased over the last several decades, but only recently have disparities in the increase in incidence been recognized. In the current analysis, Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data were used to evaluate recent trends in the incidence of childhood leukemia diagnosed at age 0-19 years from 1992 to 2013, overall and by age, race/ethnicity, gender and histologic subtype. Hispanic White children were more likely than non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black or non-Hispanic Asian children to be diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) from 2009 to 2013. From 1992 to 2013, a significant increase in ALL incidence was observed for Hispanic White children [annual percent change (APC)Hispanic = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.59, 1.58]; no significant increase was observed for non-Hispanic White, Black or Asian children. ALL incidence increased by about 3% per year from 1992 to 2013 for Hispanic White children diagnosed from 15 to 19 years (APC = 2.67; 95% CI: 0.88, 4.49) and by 2% for those 10-14 years (APC = 2.09; 95% CI: 0.57, 3.63), while no significant increases in incidence were observed in non-Hispanic White, Black, or Asian children of the same age. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) incidence increased among non-Hispanic White children under 1 year at diagnosis, and among Hispanic White children diagnosed at age 1-4. The increase in incidence rates of childhood ALL appears to be driven by rising rates in older Hispanic children (10-14, and 15-19 years). Future studies are needed to evaluate reasons for the increase in ALL among older Hispanic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Barrington-Trimis
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Myles Cockburn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Catherine Metayer
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley (UCB), Berkeley, CA
| | - W James Gauderman
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Joseph Wiemels
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA
| | - Roberta McKean-Cowdin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Kreis C, Lupatsch JE, Niggli F, Egger M, Kuehni CE, Spycher BD. Space-Time Clustering of Childhood Leukemia: Evidence of an Association with ETV6-RUNX1 (TEL-AML1) Fusion. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170020. [PMID: 28129329 PMCID: PMC5271308 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies have observed space-time clustering of childhood leukemia (CL) yet few have attempted to elicit etiological clues from such clustering. We recently reported space-time clustering of CL around birth, and now aim to generate etiological hypotheses by comparing clustered and nonclustered cases. We also investigated whether the clustering resulted from many small aggregations of cases or from a few larger clusters. METHODS We identified cases of persons born and diagnosed between 1985 and 2014 at age 0-15 years from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We determined spatial and temporal lags that maximized evidence of clustering based on the Knox test and classified cases born within these lags from another case as clustered. Using logistic regression adjusted for child population density, we determined whether clustering status was associated with age at diagnosis, immunophenotype, cytogenetic subtype, perinatal and socioeconomic characteristics, and pollution sources. RESULTS Analyses included 1,282 cases of which 242 were clustered (born within 1 km and 2 years from another case). Of all investigated characteristics only the t(12;21)(p13;q22) translocation (resulting in ETV6-RUNX1 fusion) differed significantly in prevalence between clustered and nonclustered cases (40% and 25%, respectively; adjusted OR 2.54 [1.52-4.23]; p = 0.003). Spatio-temporal clustering was driven by an excess of aggregations of two or three children rather than by a few large clusters. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest ETV6-RUNX1 is associated with space-time clustering of CL and are consistent with an infection interacting with that oncogene in early life leading to clinical leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kreis
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Judith E. Lupatsch
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Felix Niggli
- University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia E. Kuehni
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ben D. Spycher
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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31
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Elliott EG, Trinh P, Ma X, Leaderer BP, Ward MH, Deziel NC. Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 576:138-147. [PMID: 27783932 PMCID: PMC6457992 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The widespread distribution of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) wells and other facilities in the United States potentially exposes millions of people to air and water pollutants, including known or suspected carcinogens. Childhood leukemia is a particular concern because of the disease severity, vulnerable population, and short disease latency. A comprehensive review of carcinogens and leukemogens associated with UO&G development is not available and could inform future exposure monitoring studies and human health assessments. The objective of this analysis was to assess the evidence of carcinogenicity of water contaminants and air pollutants related to UO&G development. We obtained a list of 1177 chemicals in hydraulic fracturing fluids and wastewater from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and constructed a list of 143 UO&G-related air pollutants through a review of scientific papers published through 2015 using PubMed and ProQuest databases. We assessed carcinogenicity and evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma of these chemicals using International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs. The majority of compounds (>80%) were not evaluated by IARC and therefore could not be reviewed. Of the 111 potential water contaminants and 29 potential air pollutants evaluated by IARC (119 unique compounds), 49 water and 20 air pollutants were known, probable, or possible human carcinogens (55 unique compounds). A total of 17 water and 11 air pollutants (20 unique compounds) had evidence of increased risk for leukemia/lymphoma, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, diesel exhaust, and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Though information on the carcinogenicity of compounds associated with UO&G development was limited, our assessment identified 20 known or suspected carcinogens that could be measured in future studies to advance exposure and risk assessments of cancer-causing agents. Our findings support the need for investigation into the relationship between UO&G development and risk of cancer in general and childhood leukemia in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise G Elliott
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Pauline Trinh
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Brian P Leaderer
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mary H Ward
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20850, USA
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA..
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Schüz J, Erdmann F. Environmental Exposure and Risk of Childhood Leukemia: An Overview. Arch Med Res 2016; 47:607-614. [PMID: 28476188 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2016.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Childhood leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in children worldwide. However, only a few causes have been established so far, mainly some genetic syndromes and high doses of ionizing radiation. Major efforts have been undertaken to study the relationship between environmental factors and the risk of childhood leukemia, inspired by geographical variation in incidence rates. Some evidence has emerged for parental occupational exposures to pesticides, whereas there is less evidence for an association with postnatal pesticide exposure. Diagnostic radiation and radon exposure have been suggested but there remains a lack of convincing studies. Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields consistently showed a small increase in risk in numerous studies, but bias and confounding cannot be ruled out as possible explanations. From among factors other than environmental and radiation-related, the most promising candidate is abnormal patterns to common infections, but which children are most at risk and the pathways are not fully understood. In conclusion, although childhood leukemia shows some distinct incidence patterns by sex, age, and geography suggesting a role of the environment in its etiology, no major environmental risk factors including radiation have been established as major contributors to the global childhood leukemia burden. Due to the young age at diagnosis and evidence of chromosomal damage before birth in many of the affected children, parental exposures remain of high interest. Although cure rates of childhood leukemia are high in economically developed countries, because of the adverse late effects of the disease and its treatment, identification of modifiable risk factors for implementing primary prevention remains the ultimate goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Schüz
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France.
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France; Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Unit of Survivorship, Copenhagen, Denmark
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33
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Facteurs de risque environnementaux des cancers de l’enfant. ONCOLOGIE 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10269-016-2673-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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34
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Childhood leukemia and population mixing. Cancer Causes Control 2016; 27:1499. [DOI: 10.1007/s10552-016-0819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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35
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Bunch KJ, Swanson J, Vincent TJ, Murphy MFG. Epidemiological study of power lines and childhood cancer in the UK: further analyses. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2016; 36:437-455. [PMID: 27356108 DOI: 10.1088/0952-4746/36/3/437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We report further analyses from an epidemiological study of childhood cancer and residence at birth near high-voltage power lines in the UK. These results suggest that the elevated risks for childhood leukaemia that we previously found for overhead power lines may be higher for older age at diagnosis and for myeloid rather than lymphoid leukaemia. There are differences across regions of birth but not forming any obvious pattern. Our results suggest the decline in risk we previously reported from the 1960s to the 2000s is linked to calendar year of birth or of cancer occurrence rather than the age of the power lines concerned. Finally, we update our previous analysis of magnetic fields to include later subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Bunch
- Formerly Childhood Cancer Research Group, University of Oxford, New Richards Building, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LG, UK. National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
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36
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Lupatsch JE, Kreis C, Zwahlen M, Niggli F, Ammann RA, Kuehni CE, Spycher BD. Temporal association between childhood leukaemia and population growth in Swiss municipalities. Eur J Epidemiol 2016; 31:763-74. [DOI: 10.1007/s10654-016-0162-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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37
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Timms JA, Relton CL, Rankin J, Strathdee G, McKay JA. DNA methylation as a potential mediator of environmental risks in the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Epigenomics 2016; 8:519-36. [PMID: 27035209 PMCID: PMC4928498 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2015-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
5-year survival rate for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has risen to approximately 90%, yet the causal disease pathway is still poorly understood. Evidence suggests multiple 'hits' are required for disease progression; an initial genetic abnormality followed by additional secondary 'hits'. It is plausible that environmental influences may trigger these secondary hits, and with the peak incidence of diagnosis between 2 and 5 years of age, early life exposures are likely to be key. DNA methylation can be modified by many environmental exposures and is dramatically altered in cancers, including childhood ALL. Here we explore the potential that DNA methylation may be involved in the causal pathway toward disease by acting as a mediator between established environmental factors and childhood ALL development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Timms
- Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Caroline L Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Judith Rankin
- Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Gordon Strathdee
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Jill A McKay
- Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
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38
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Reported associations between asthma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: insights from a hybrid simulation study. Eur J Epidemiol 2016; 31:593-602. [PMID: 26861154 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-016-0126-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have reported a protective association between asthma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but the causal structure of this association remains unclear. We present a hybrid simulation to examine the compatibility of this association with uncontrolled confounding by infection or another unmeasured factor. We generated a synthetic cohort using inputs on the interrelations of asthma, ALL, infections, and other suggested risk factors from the literature and the Danish National Birth Cohort. We computed odds ratios (ORs) between asthma and ALL in the synthetic cohort with and without adjustment for infections and other (including unmeasured) confounders. Only if infection was an extremely strong risk factor for asthma (OR of 10) and an extremely strong protective factor against ALL (OR of 0.1) was the asthma-ALL association compatible with the literature (OR of 0.78). Similarly, strong uncontrolled confounding by an unmeasured factor could downwardly bias the asthma-ALL association, but not enough to replicate findings in the literature. This investigation illustrates that the reported protective association between asthma and ALL is unlikely to be entirely due to uncontrolled confounding by infections or an unmeasured confounder alone. Simulation can be used to advance our understanding of risk factors for rare outcomes as demonstrated by this study.
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39
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Residential mobility and the risk of childhood leukemia. Cancer Causes Control 2016; 27:433-43. [DOI: 10.1007/s10552-016-0720-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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40
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Kreis C, Grotzer M, Hengartner H, Spycher BD. Space-time clustering of childhood cancers in Switzerland: A nationwide study. Int J Cancer 2016; 138:2127-35. [PMID: 26650335 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aetiology of childhood cancers remains largely unknown. It has been hypothesized that infections may be involved and that mini-epidemics thereof could result in space-time clustering of incident cases. Most previous studies support spatio-temporal clustering for leukaemia, while results for other diagnostic groups remain mixed. Few studies have corrected for uneven regional population shifts which can lead to spurious detection of clustering. We examined whether there is space-time clustering of childhood cancers in Switzerland identifying cases diagnosed at age <16 years between 1985 and 2010 from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. Knox tests were performed on geocoded residence at birth and diagnosis separately for leukaemia, acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL), lymphomas, tumours of the central nervous system, neuroblastomas and soft tissue sarcomas. We used Baker's Max statistic to correct for multiple testing and randomly sampled time-, sex- and age-matched controls from the resident population to correct for uneven regional population shifts. We observed space-time clustering of childhood leukaemia at birth (Baker's Max p = 0.045) but not at diagnosis (p = 0.98). Clustering was strongest for a spatial lag of <1 km and a temporal lag of <2 years (Observed/expected close pairs: 124/98; p Knox test = 0.003). A similar clustering pattern was observed for ALL though overall evidence was weaker (Baker's Max p = 0.13). Little evidence of clustering was found for other diagnostic groups (p > 0.2). Our study suggests that childhood leukaemia tends to cluster in space-time due to an etiologic factor present in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kreis
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Heinz Hengartner
- Children's Hospital Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Ben Daniel Spycher
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Lupatsch JE, Egger M, Kuehni CE, Spycher BD. The authors' reply: Population mixing and childhood leukaemia. Eur J Epidemiol 2015; 30:1333-4. [PMID: 26666542 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-015-0109-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Judith E Lupatsch
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia E Kuehni
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ben D Spycher
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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42
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Population mixing and childhood leukaemia. Eur J Epidemiol 2015; 30:1331. [DOI: 10.1007/s10654-015-0107-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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43
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Kinlen LJ. A case-control study of occupational contact levels in the childhood leukaemia cluster at Seascale, Cumbria, UK. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e008432. [PMID: 26243554 PMCID: PMC4538261 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate adult occupational contact levels and risk of childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LNHL) in Seascale, an association found in other situations of rural population mixing (PM). DESIGN Matched case-control study. SETTING Seascale, Cumbria, UK. PARTICIPANTS For each case of LNHL recorded in patients under age 25 years during 1950-2006, up to 20 matched controls were chosen and parental occupational details obtained; an exception was a single working young adult, whose own occupation (and that of controls) was used. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Contact levels of occupations were categorised as: low/medium (reference group), high or very high contact levels, as in previous studies, with provision for certain unusual occupations. In particular, specialist policemen responsible for security and access at the nearby Sellafield nuclear complex were allocated to the highest contact category, and those Sellafield employees who worked in controlled areas to the middle (high) category. Since of possible bias, unusual contact aspects noted in the main research and development (R&D) building were reserved for a supplementary analysis. ORs were calculated for the occupational contact levels. RESULTS Compared to the reference group, the social class adjusted ORs for the high and very high contact categories were 8.18 (95% CI 0.95 to 70.33) and 14.90 (1.20 to 184.90), respectively, with a significant trend across the categories (p value=0.024). In the supplementary analysis with R&D workers moved to the very high contact category, the OR for the latter became 29.68 (2.12 to 415.79), and the p value for trend, 0.011. CONCLUSIONS The Seascale LNHL excess was most marked among those young people linked with high occupational contact levels; it is therefore not an exception to the pattern of family infection shown by other PM-related excesses. The findings have implications for the choice of controls in certain types of virus study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo J Kinlen
- The Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Gradel KO, Kaerlev L. Antibiotic use from conception to diagnosis of child leukaemia as compared to the background population: A nested case-control study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015; 62:1155-61. [PMID: 25790083 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of infection in the aetiology of childhood leukaemia is unknown. We used prescriptions of antibiotics from Danish pharmacies as a proxy measure for the occurrence of infections. PROCEDURE We investigated the association between exposure to antibiotics, from conception to leukaemia diagnosis, and the risk of leukaemia. Incident cases of leukaemia among children in Denmark, 1995-2008, with mothers having their earliest conception date in 1995, were individually matched to population controls by age, sex and municipality. Conditional logistic regression analyses assessed antibiotic redemptions in different time periods from conception up to 6 months before the diagnoses of all leukaemia types, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia [ALL] and ALL in 2- to 5-year-old children, adjusting for several potential confounders. RESULTS A total of 120/360 (33.3%) leukaemia mothers and 1,081/3,509 (30.8%) control mothers redeemed antibiotics during pregnancy (P = 0.32). For children, the equivalent numbers were 276 (76.7%) and 2,665 (75.9%) (P = 0.76). Histograms of antibiotic redemptions showed no temporal differences between leukaemia mothers/children and controls, which was confirmed in adjusted regression analyses (OR [95% CI]: 1.02 [0.75-1.38]). Only antibiotics redeemed during the first year after birth differed from this (OR [95% CI] for ALL diagnosed in 2- to 5-year-old children: 0.46 [0.31-0.66]). CONCLUSIONS In this hypothesis generating study, the similar amount and pattern of antibiotic redemptions in children with and without leukaemia indicate that infections play a minor role in the aetiology of childhood leukaemia. However, less antibiotic redemptions during the first year of life conform to Greaves' 'delayed infection hypothesis'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Oren Gradel
- Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Linda Kaerlev
- Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Coebergh JW, van den Hurk C, Rosso S, Comber H, Storm H, Zanetti R, Sacchetto L, Janssen-Heijnen M, Thong M, Siesling S, van den Eijnden-van Raaij J. EUROCOURSE lessons learned from and for population-based cancer registries in Europe and their programme owners: Improving performance by research programming for public health and clinical evaluation. Eur J Cancer 2015; 51:997-1017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Response to: Comment on 'Updated investigations of cancer excesses in individuals born or resident in the vicinity of Sellafield and Dounreay'. Br J Cancer 2015; 112:1837. [PMID: 25412231 PMCID: PMC4647235 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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Population mixing and the risk of childhood leukaemia in Switzerland: a census-based cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol 2015; 30:1287-98. [DOI: 10.1007/s10654-015-0042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Rudant J, Lightfoot T, Urayama KY, Petridou E, Dockerty JD, Magnani C, Milne E, Spector LG, Ashton LJ, Dessypris N, Kang AY, Miller M, Rondelli R, Simpson J, Stiakaki E, Orsi L, Roman E, Metayer C, Infante-Rivard C, Clavel J. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and indicators of early immune stimulation: a Childhood Leukemia International Consortium study. Am J Epidemiol 2015; 181:549-62. [PMID: 25731888 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The associations between childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and several proxies of early stimulation of the immune system, that is, day-care center attendance, birth order, maternally reported common infections in infancy, and breastfeeding, were investigated by using data from 11 case-control studies participating in the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (enrollment period: 1980-2010). The sample included 7,399 ALL cases and 11,181 controls aged 2-14 years. The data were collected by questionnaires administered to the parents. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, study, maternal education, and maternal age. Day-care center attendance in the first year of life was associated with a reduced risk of ALL (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval: 0.71, 0.84), with a marked inverse trend with earlier age at start (P < 0.0001). An inverse association was also observed with breastfeeding duration of 6 months or more (odds ratio = 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.79, 0.94). No significant relationship with a history of common infections in infancy was observed even though the odds ratio was less than 1 for more than 3 infections. The findings of this large pooled analysis reinforce the hypothesis that day-care center attendance in infancy and prolonged breastfeeding are associated with a decreased risk of ALL.
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Ajrouche R, Rudant J, Orsi L, Petit A, Baruchel A, Lambilliotte A, Gambart M, Michel G, Bertrand Y, Ducassou S, Gandemer V, Paillard C, Saumet L, Blin N, Hémon D, Clavel J. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and indicators of early immune stimulation: the Estelle study (SFCE). Br J Cancer 2015; 112:1017-26. [PMID: 25675150 PMCID: PMC4366894 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2015.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 01/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Factors related to early stimulation of the immune system (breastfeeding, proxies for exposure to infectious agents, normal delivery, and exposure to animals in early life) have been suggested to decrease the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Methods: The national registry-based case–control study, ESTELLE, was carried out in France in 2010–2011. Population controls were frequency matched with cases on age and gender. The participation rates were 93% for cases and 86% for controls. Data were obtained from structured telephone questionnaires administered to mothers. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using unconditional regression models adjusted for age, gender, and potential confounders. Results: In all, 617 ALL and 1225 controls aged ⩾1 year were included. Inverse associations between ALL and early common infections (OR=0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6, 1.0), non-first born (⩾3 vs 1; OR=0.7, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0), attendance of a day-care centre before age 1 year (OR=0.7, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0), breastfeeding (OR=0.8, 95% CI: 0.7, 1.0), and regular contact with pets (OR=0.8, 95% CI: 0.7, 1.0) in infancy were observed. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that conditions promoting the maturation of the immune system in infancy have a protective role with respect to ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ajrouche
- 1] Epidemiology of childhood and adolescent cancers, CRESS, INSERM U1153, Villejuif, France [2] Paris-Sud University, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - J Rudant
- 1] Epidemiology of childhood and adolescent cancers, CRESS, INSERM U1153, Villejuif, France [2] Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France [3] RNHE-National Registry of Childhood Hematopoietic Malignancies, Villejuif, France
| | - L Orsi
- 1] Epidemiology of childhood and adolescent cancers, CRESS, INSERM U1153, Villejuif, France [2] Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - A Petit
- 1] AP-HP, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris, France [2] Université Paris 6 Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - A Baruchel
- 1] AP-HP, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France [2] Université Paris 7, Paris, France
| | | | - M Gambart
- Hôpital des Enfants, Toulouse, France
| | - G Michel
- AP-HM, Hôpital la Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Y Bertrand
- Institut d'Hématologie et d'Oncologie Pédiatrique, Lyon, France
| | - S Ducassou
- Hôpital Pellegrin Tripode, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - C Paillard
- Hôpital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France
| | - L Saumet
- Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France
| | - N Blin
- Hôpital Mère-Enfant, CHU-Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - D Hémon
- 1] Epidemiology of childhood and adolescent cancers, CRESS, INSERM U1153, Villejuif, France [2] Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - J Clavel
- 1] Epidemiology of childhood and adolescent cancers, CRESS, INSERM U1153, Villejuif, France [2] Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France [3] RNHE-National Registry of Childhood Hematopoietic Malignancies, Villejuif, France
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Abstract
The causes of childhood cancer have been systematically studied for decades, but apart from high-dose radiation and prior chemotherapy there are few strong external risk factors. However, inherent risk factors including birth weight, parental age, and congenital anomalies are consistently associated with most types of pediatric cancer. Recently the contribution of common genetic variation to etiology has come into focus through genome-wide association studies. These have highlighted genes not previously implicated in childhood cancers and have suggested that common variation explains a larger proportion of childhood cancers than adult. Rare variation and nonmendelian inheritance may also contribute to childhood cancer risk but have not been widely examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan G. Spector
- Division of Epidemiology/Clinical Research Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota 420 Delaware Street, SE, MMC 715 Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Nathan Pankratz
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology University of Minnesota
| | - Erin L. Marcotte
- Division of Epidemiology/Clinical Research Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota
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