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Nemes K, Benesch M, Kolarova J, Johann P, Hasselblatt M, Thomas C, Bens S, Glaser S, Ammerpohl O, Liaugaudiene O, Sadeghipour A, von der Weid N, Schmid I, Gidding C, Erdreich-Epstein A, Khurana C, Ebetsberger-Dachs G, Lemmer A, Khatib Z, Hernández Marqués C, Pears J, Quehenberger F, Kordes U, Vokuhl C, Gerss J, Schwarz H, Bison B, Biegel JA, Siebert R, Frühwald MC. Rhabdoid tumors in patients conceived following ART: is there an association? Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2028-2038. [PMID: 37553222 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead154] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION In children affected by rhabdoid tumors (RT), are there clinical, therapeutic, and/or (epi-)genetic differences between those conceived following ART compared to those conceived without ART? SUMMARY ANSWER We detected a significantly elevated female predominance, and a lower median age at diagnosis, of children with RT conceived following ART (RT_ART) as compared to other children with RT. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Anecdotal evidence suggests an association of ART with RT. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was a multi-institutional retrospective survey. Children with RT conceived by ART were identified in our EU-RHAB database (n = 11/311 children diagnosed between January 2010 and January 2018) and outside the EU-RHAB database (n = 3) from nine different countries. A population-representative German EU-RHAB control cohort of children with RTs conceived without ART (n = 211) (EU-RHAB control cohort) during the same time period was used as a control cohort for clinical, therapeutic, and survival analyses. The median follow-up time was 11.5 months (range 0-120 months) for children with RT_ART and 18.5 months (range 0-153 months) for the EU-RHAB control cohort. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We analyzed 14 children with RT_ART diagnosed from January 2010 to January 2018. We examined tumors and matching blood samples for SMARCB1 mutations and copy number alterations using FISH, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and DNA sequencing. DNA methylation profiling of tumor and/or blood samples was performed using DNA methylation arrays and compared to respective control cohorts of similar age (n = 53 tumors of children with RT conceived without ART, and n = 38 blood samples of children with no tumor born small for gestational age). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The median age at diagnosis of 14 individuals with RT_ART was 9 months (range 0-66 months), significantly lower than the median age of patients with RT (n = 211) in the EU-RHAB control cohort (16 months (range 0-253), P = 0.03). A significant female predominance was observed in the RT_ART cohort (M:F ratio: 2:12 versus 116:95 in EU-RHAB control cohort, P = 0.004). Eight of 14 RT_ART patients were diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, three with extracranial, extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumor, one with rhabdoid tumor of the kidney and two with synchronous tumors. The location of primary tumors did not differ significantly in the EU-RHAB control cohort (P = 0.27). Six of 14 RT_ART patients presented with metastases at diagnosis. Metastatic stage was not significantly different from that within the EU-RHAB control cohort (6/14 vs 88/211, P = 1). The incidence of pathogenic germline variants was five of the 12 tested RT_ART patients and, thus, not significantly different from the EU-RHAB control cohort (5/12 versus 36/183 tested, P = 0.35). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) rates of RT_ART patients were 42.9 ± 13.2% and 21.4 ± 11%, respectively, and thus comparable to the EU-RHAB control cohort (OS 41.1 ± 3.5% and EFS 32.1 ± 3.3). We did not find other clinical, therapeutic, outcome factors distinguishing patients with RT_ART from children with RTs conceived without ART (EU-RHAB control cohort). DNA methylation analyses of 10 tumors (atypical teratoid RT = 6, extracranial, extrarenal malignant RT = 4) and six blood samples from RT_ART patients showed neither evidence of a general DNA methylation difference nor underlying imprinting defects, respectively, when compared to a control group (n = 53 RT samples of patients without ART, P = 0.51, n = 38 blood samples of patients born small for gestational age, P = 0.1205). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION RTs are very rare malignancies and our results are based on a small number of children with RT_ART. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This cohort of patients with RT_ART demonstrated a marked female predominance, and a rather low median age at diagnosis even for RTs. Other clinical, treatment, outcome, and molecular factors did not differ from those conceived without ART (EU-RHAB control cohort) or reported in other series, and there was no evidence for imprinting defects. Long-term survival is achievable even in cases with pathogenic germline variants, metastatic disease at diagnosis, or relapse. The female preponderance among RT_ART patients is not yet understood and needs to be evaluated, ideally in larger international series. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) M.C.F. is supported by the 'Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung' DKS 2020.10, by the 'Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft' DFG FR 1516/4-1 and by the Deutsche Krebshilfe 70113981. R.S. received grant support by Deutsche Krebshilfe 70114040 and for infrastructure by the KinderKrebsInitiative Buchholz/Holm-Seppensen. P.D.J. is supported by the Else-Kroener-Fresenius Stiftung and receives a Max-Eder scholarship from the Deutsche Krebshilfe. M.H. is supported by DFG (HA 3060/8-1) and IZKF Münster (Ha3/017/20). BB is supported by the 'Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung' DKS 2020.05. We declare no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Nemes
- Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center, Germany
| | - Martin Benesch
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Julia Kolarova
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Pascal Johann
- Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center, Germany
| | - Martin Hasselblatt
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Thomas
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Susanne Bens
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Selina Glaser
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ole Ammerpohl
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Olga Liaugaudiene
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kauno Klinikos, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Alireza Sadeghipour
- Department of Pathology, Rasoul Akram Medical Complex, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nicolas von der Weid
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Irene Schmid
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, München, Germany
| | - Corrie Gidding
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anat Erdreich-Epstein
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Khurana
- Children's Center, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Lemmer
- Children's Hospital, HELIOS Klinikum Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Ziad Khatib
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Jane Pears
- Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Franz Quehenberger
- Institute for Medical Statistics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Uwe Kordes
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Vokuhl
- Section of Pediatric Pathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Joachim Gerss
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Heike Schwarz
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center, Germany
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Bison
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Neuroradiological Reference Center for the Pediatric Brain Tumor (HIT) Studies of the German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jaclyn A Biegel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael C Frühwald
- Swabian Children's Cancer Center, Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center, Germany
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Spaan M, van den Belt-Dusebout AW, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, Hauptmann M, Lambalk CB, Burger CW, van Leeuwen FE. Risk of cancer in children and young adults conceived by assisted reproductive technology. Hum Reprod 2020; 34:740-750. [PMID: 30715305 PMCID: PMC6443110 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do children conceived by ART have an increased risk of cancer? SUMMARY ANSWER Overall, ART-conceived children do not appear to have an increased risk of cancer. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Despite the increasing use of ART, i.e. IVF or ICSI worldwide, information about possible long-term health risks for children conceived by these techniques is scarce. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A nationwide historical cohort study with prospective follow-up (median 21 years), including all live-born offspring from women treated with subfertility treatments between 1980 and 2001. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All offspring of a nationwide cohort of subfertile women (OMEGA study) treated in one of the 12 Dutch IVF clinics or two fertility clinics. Of 47 690 live-born children, 24 269 were ART-conceived, 13 761 naturally conceived and 9660 were conceived naturally or through fertility drugs, but not by ART. Information on the conception method of each child and potential confounders were collected through the mothers’ questionnaires and medical records. Cancer incidence was ascertained through linkage with The Netherlands Cancer Registry from 1 January 1989 until 1 November 2016. Cancer risk in ART-conceived children was compared with risks in naturally conceived children from subfertile women (hazard ratios [HRs]) and with the general population (standardized incidence ratios [SIRs]). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The median follow-up was 21 years (interquartile range (IQR): 17–25) and was shorter in ART-conceived children (20 years, IQR: 17–23) compared with naturally conceived children (24 years, IQR: 20–30). In total, 231 cancers were observed. Overall cancer risk was not increased in ART-conceived children, neither compared with naturally conceived children from subfertile women (HR: 1.00, 95% CI 0.72–1.38) nor compared with the general population (SIR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.90–1.36). From 18 years of age onwards, the HR of cancer in ART-conceived versus naturally conceived individuals was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.73–2.13). Slightly but non-significantly increased risks were observed in children conceived by ICSI or cryopreservation (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.81–2.85; 1.80, 95% CI: 0.65–4.95, respectively). Risks of lymphoblastic leukemia (HR = 2.44, 95% CI: 0.81–7.37) and melanoma (HR = 1.86, 95% CI: 0.66–5.27) were non-significantly increased for ART-conceived compared with naturally conceived children. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Despite the large size and long follow-up of the cohort, the number of cancers was rather small for subgroup analyses as cancer in children and young adults is rare. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Overall, ART-conceived children do not appear to have an increased cancer risk after a median follow-up of 21 years. This large study provides important results, enabling physicians to better inform couples considering ART about the long-term safety of ART for their children. However, larger studies with prolonged follow-up are needed to investigate cancer risk in adults and in children conceived by ICSI and/or from cryopreserved embryos. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by The Dutch Cancer Society (NKI 2006-3631) which funded the OMEGA-women’s cohort and Children Cancer Free (KIKA;147) which funded the OMEGA-offspring cohort. We declare no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Spaan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Michael Hauptmann
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis B Lambalk
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Curt W Burger
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center. Wytemaweg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Flora E van Leeuwen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Williams CL, Bunch KJ, Murphy MFG, Stiller CA, Botting BJ, Wallace WH, Davies MC, Sutcliffe AG. Cancer risk in children born after donor ART. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:140-146. [PMID: 29106578 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do children born after donor ART have an increased risk of developing childhood cancer in comparison to the general population? SUMMARY ANSWER This study showed no overall increased risk of childhood cancer in individuals born after donor ART. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Most large population-based studies have shown no increase in overall childhood cancer incidence after non-donor ART; however, other studies have suggested small increased risks in specific cancer types, including haematological cancers. Cancer risk specifically in children born after donor ART has not been investigated to date. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This retrospective cohort study utilized record linkage to determine the outcome status of all children born in Great Britain (1992-2008) after donor ART. The cohort included 12 137 members who contributed 95 389 person-years of follow-up (average follow-up 7.86 years). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Records of all children born in Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) after all forms of donor ART (1992-2008) were linked to the UK National Registry of Childhood Tumours (NRCT) to determine the number who subsequently developed cancer by 15 years of age, by the end of 2008. Rates of overall and type specific cancer (selected a priori) were compared with age, sex and calendar year standardized population-based rates, stratifying for potential mediating/moderating factors including sex, age at diagnosis, birth weight, multiple births, maternal previous live births, assisted conception type and fresh/ cryopreserved cycles. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In our cohort of 12 137 children born after donor ART (52% male, 55% singleton births), no overall increased risk of cancer was identified. There were 12 cancers detected compared to 14.4 expected (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 0.83; 95% CI 0.43-1.45; P = 0.50). A small, significant increased risk of hepatoblastoma was found, but the numbers and absolute risks were small (<5 cases observed; SIR 10.28; 95% CI 1.25-37.14; P < 0.05). This increased hepatoblastoma risk was associated with low birthweight. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION Although this study includes a large number of children born after donor ART, the rarity of specific diagnostic subgroups of childhood cancer results in few cases and therefore wide CIs for such outcomes. As this is an observational study, it is not possible to adjust for all potential confounders; we have instead used stratification to explore potential moderating and mediating factors, where data were available. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This is the first study to investigate cancer risk in children born after donor ART. Although based on small numbers, results are reassuring for families and clinicians. The small but significant increased risk of hepatoblastoma detected was associated with low birthweight, a known risk factor for this tumour type. It should be emphasized that the absolute risks are very small. However, on-going investigation with a longer follow-up is needed. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was funded by Cancer Research UK (C36038/A12535) and the National Institute for Health Research (405526) and supported by the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust and University College London. The work of the Childhood Cancer Research Group (CCRG) was supported by the charity CHILDREN with CANCER UK, the National Cancer Intelligence Network, the Scottish Government and the Department of Health for England and Wales. There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Williams
- University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1 1EH, UK
| | - K J Bunch
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - M F G Murphy
- Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - C A Stiller
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Oxford OX4 2GX, UK
| | - B J Botting
- University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1 1EH, UK
| | - W H Wallace
- Paediatric Oncology Department, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 1LF, UK
| | - M C Davies
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Institute for Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - A G Sutcliffe
- University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1 1EH, UK
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Wang T, Chen L, Yang T, Wang L, Zhao L, Zhang S, Ye Z, Chen L, Zheng Z, Qin J. Cancer risk among children conceived by fertility treatment. Int J Cancer 2019; 144:3001-3013. [PMID: 30548591 PMCID: PMC6590158 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies on the association between fertility treatment and childhood cancer risk have generated inconsistent results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observation studies to summarize the evidence regarding the relation of fertility treatment with childhood cancer risk. A systematic literature search of several databases was conducted through April 2018 to identify relevant studies. The outcomes of interest included overall cancer, haematological malignancies, neural tumours, other solid tumours, and eight specific cancers. The overall risk estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Sixteen cohort and thirteen case-control studies were included. Results showed that children conceived by fertility treatment had significantly higher risk for developing overall cancer (relative risk [RR]: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.32), haematological malignancies (RR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.60) and other solid tumours (RR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.16). For specific cancers, fertility treatment was associated with a significantly increased risk of leukaemia (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.57) and hepatic tumours (RR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.32, 3.85). Sensitivity analysis validated evidence of the robustness of the findings. The results may demonstrate a possible association between fertility treatment and an increased risk of cancer among the offspring. However, the findings cannot say whether this increased risk is due to the subfertility itself or to the fertility treatment. Further research is needed to address the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Lizhang Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Tubao Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Lesan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Lijuan Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Senmao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Ziwei Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Letao Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Zan Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Jiabi Qin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Hunan, China
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