Tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs during pregnancy and risk of neuroblastoma: systematic review

Maternal Prenatal Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drugs and Associations with Childhood Cancer Subtypes

BACKGROUND

The association between childhood cancer risk and maternal prenatal substance use/abuse remains uncertain due to modest sample sizes and heterogeneous study designs.

METHODS

We surveyed parents of children with cancer regarding maternal gestational use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, using a Likert-type scale, and demographic, perinatal, and clinical variables. Multivariable log-Poisson regression assessed differences in frequency of prenatal substance use across fifteen childhood cancer subtypes, adjusting for birthweight, gestational age, and demographic factors.

RESULTS

Respondents from 3,145 unique families completed the survey (92% biological mothers). A minority reported gestational use of tobacco products (14%), illicit drugs including marijuana or cocaine (4%), or more than a moderate amount of alcohol (2%). Prenatal illicit drug use was associated with increased prevalence of intracranial embryonal tumors [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.94; confidence interval [CI], 1.05-3.58], including medulloblastoma (PR = 1.82) and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET; PR = 2.66), and was also associated with retinoblastoma (PR = 3.11; CI, 1.20-8.08). Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption was strongly associated with elevated prevalence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PR = 5.94; CI, 1.84-19.21). Prenatal smoking was not associated with elevated prevalence of any childhood cancer subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

We identify novel associations between illicit drug use during pregnancy and increased prevalence of nonglioma central nervous system tumors, including medulloblastoma, supratentorial PNETs, and retinoblastoma. Gestational exposure to alcohol was positively associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

IMPACT

Although alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy has declined, gestational cannabis use has risen. Investigating its impact on neurodevelopment and brain tumorigenesis is vital, with important implications for childhood cancer research and public health education.

Risk factors for tumors or leukemia development in the first two years of life

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of neoplastic diseases and associated risk factors in the early stages of life.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively assessed in 730,000 live births between 2000 and 2019. The occurrence of tumors was monitored in the neonatal, infant (1-12 months), and toddler (13-24 months) periods. Risk factors were divided into demographic, internal, and environmental factors. The control group consisted of subjects in the same age category without oncological diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 452 neoplastic diseases were diagnosed in the study sample. In total, 24% (110/452) manifested during the neonatal period, 45% (203/452) in infants, and 31% (139/452) at the age of 13-24 months. Any genetic disease (OR 26.68; 95% CI 7.64-93.12) and medications used by the mother (OR 3.07; 95% CI 1.32-7.15) were identified as risk factors. Without adjustment for all factors, asphyxia in the first minute, a younger age of the mother, lower pregnancy, and the presence of a congenital defect manifested themselves as risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The highest risk factors for the development of early childhood tumors were identified as with medications used by the mother before or during pregnancy and genetic diseases.

Nutraceutical Preventative and Therapeutic Potential in Neuroblastoma: From Pregnancy to Early Childhood

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly malignant embryonic extracranial solid tumor that arises from sympathoadrenal neuroblasts of neural crest origin. In addition to genetic factors, NB has been linked to maternal exposure to a variety of substances during pregnancy. Recent interest in the potential of nutrients to prevent cancer and reduce malignancy has resulted in the identification of several nutraceuticals including resveratrol, curcumin, and molecular components of garlic, which together with certain vitamins may help to prevent NB development. As NBs arise during fetal development and progress during early childhood, specific NB inhibiting nutraceuticals and vitamins could enhance the preventative influence of maternal nutrition and breast feeding on the development and early progression of NB. In this article, we review NB inhibitory nutraceuticals and vitamins, their mechanisms of action and expound their potential as maternal nutritional supplements to reduce NB development and progression during fetal growth and early childhood, whilst at the same time enhancing maternal, fetal, and infant health.

Health Education about Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors in Gynecological and Obstetric Care: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Providers' Views in Germany

OBJECTIVE

Lifestyle-related risk factors (LRRFs) during pregnancy and lactation are associated with a range of health problems. However, previous studies have shown a large knowledge gap among pregnant women regarding the effects of LRRFs. This study aimed to investigate the role of health education about LRRFs during pregnancy and lactation in gynecological and obstetric care from healthcare providers' (HCPs) point of view.

METHODS

To explore the views of healthcare providers, a qualitative study was performed. In 2019, 22 in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 9 gynecologists and 13 midwives. Participants came from different inpatient and outpatient care settings and from rural, urban, and socially deprived areas in southern Germany. All the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A combined inductive and deductive approach was applied for data analysis.

RESULTS

Interviews with HCPs showed that they were aware of the possible impacts of LRRFs during pregnancy and lactation. They noted the importance of action, specifically among women with low socioeconomic status (SES), migrants, and women with a concerning medical history or other specific needs. However, the interviews showed that, at present, there is no standardized practice of educating patients on LRRFs in routine care. This was attributed to a lack of guidelines and time, unfavorable regulations, and undefined responsibilities. The priority of health education is lower in inpatient healthcare settings as compared to outpatient healthcare settings. HCPs apply a demand-driven healthcare approach, focusing on a woman's medical history, needs, and personal circumstances. HCPs voiced the importance of implementing pre-conception education across different healthcare settings, garnering support from other health organizations, and setting out clearly defined responsibilities among HCPs.

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative study explored HCPs' perspectives on health education about LRRFs during pregnancy and lactation. The results from this study emphasize the need for a central strategy for health education about LRRFs during pregnancy and lactation in gynecological and obstetric care.

Parental Age and Childhood Lymphoma and Solid Tumor Risk: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although advanced parental age has been definitively linked to pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, studies of parental age and pediatric solid tumors have not reached firm conclusions. This analysis aimed to elucidate the relationship between parental age and pediatric solid tumors through meta-analysis of existing studies based in population registries.

METHODS

We searched Medline (PubMed) and Embase for registry-based studies of parental age and solid tumors through March 2022. We performed random-effects meta-analysis to estimate pooled effects and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies covering 10 childhood solid tumor types (30 323 cases and 3 499 934 controls) were included in this analysis. A 5-year increase in maternal age was associated with an increased risk of combined central nervous system tumors (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.10), ependymoma (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.31), astrocytoma (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.15), rhabdomyosarcoma (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.25), and germ cell tumors (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.12). A 5-year increase in paternal age was associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.12).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis of registry-based analyses of parental age and childhood cancer supports the association between older maternal age and certain childhood solid cancers. There is also some evidence that paternal age may be associated with certain cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, as maternal and paternal age are highly correlated, disentangling potential independent causal effects of either factor will require large studies with extensive data on potential confounders.

A Mapping Literature Review of Medical Cannabis Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Evidence in Approved Conditions in the USA from 2016 to 2019

In 2017, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report comprehensively evaluated the body of evidence regarding cannabis health effects through the year 2016. The objectives of this study are to identify and map the most recently (2016-2019) published literature across approved conditions for medical cannabis and to evaluate the quality of identified recent systematic reviews, published following the NASEM report. Following the literature search from 5 databases and consultation with experts, 11 conditions were identified for evidence compilation and evaluation: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, cancer, chronic noncancer pain, Crohn's disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and posttraumatic stress disorder. A total of 198 studies were included after screening for condition-specific relevance and after imposing the following exclusion criteria: preclinical focus, non-English language, abstracts only, editorials/commentary, case studies/series, and non-U.S. study setting. Data extracted from studies included: study design type, outcome definition, intervention definition, sample size, study setting, and reported effect size. Few completed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Studies classified as systematic reviews were graded using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews-2 tool to evaluate the quality of evidence. Few high-quality systematic reviews were available for most conditions, with the exceptions of MS (9 of 9 graded moderate/high quality; evidence for 2/9 indicating cannabis improved outcomes; evidence for 7/9 indicating cannabis inconclusive), epilepsy (3 of 4 graded moderate/high quality; 3 indicating cannabis improved outcomes; 1 indicating cannabis inconclusive), and chronic noncancer pain (12 of 13 graded moderate/high quality; evidence for 7/13 indicating cannabis improved outcomes; evidence from 6/7 indicating cannabis inconclusive). Among RCTs, we identified few studies of substantial rigor and quality to contribute to the evidence base. However, there are some conditions for which significant evidence suggests that select dosage forms and routes of administration likely have favorable risk-benefit ratios (i.e., epilepsy and chronic noncancer pain). The body of evidence for medical cannabis requires more rigorous evaluation before consideration as a treatment option for many conditions, and evidence necessary to inform policy and treatment guidelines is currently insufficient for many conditions.

District-level epidemiology, hot spots and sociodemographic determinants of tobacco use in Indian men and women: analysis of national family health survey-4 (2015-16)

OBJECTIVES

To map district-level tobacco hot spots and understand the Sociodemographic Indices (SDI) influencing tobacco consumption in Indian men and women.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Tobacco use data from 640 districts of India were extracted from National Family Health Survey-4, carried out from 2015 to 2016 with a sample size of 103,411 men and 699,686 women. Geographic Information System was used to map the tobacco prevalence, and hot spots were identified by spatial statistics (Getis-OrdGi∗). SDI were studied by bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

India has two major tobacco hot spots; one comprising the districts of North-Eastern states, excluding Sikkim, and the second cluster is formed by the districts of Central-Eastern states. These hot spots coincide well with demographic determinants: North-East (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] men, 5.74; aOR women, 13.54) and Central India (aOR men, 4.5; aOR women, 3.5) have higher odds of Tobacco consumption. In men, respondents with no education (aOR 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.26-2.81) and Muslims (aOR 3.53; 95% CI: 2.93-4.26) have higher odds of tobacco consumption. The poorest (men aOR, 2.06; 95% CI: 1.87-2.27; women aOR, 3.36: 95% CI: 2.69-4.19) and ST women (aOR 1.89; 95% CI: 1.68-2.13) have higher odds of tobacco consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified tobacco hot spots and detailed the SDI affecting tobacco use separately in men and women to guide public health policies for targeted intervention of tobacco consumption.

Maternal lifestyle characteristics and Wilms tumor risk in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the etiology of childhood Wilms tumor (WT) and potentially modifiable maternal risk factors, in particular.

METHODS

Unpublished data derived from the hospital-based, case-control study of the Greek Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumors (NARECHEM-ST) were included in an ad hoc conducted systematic literature review and meta-analyses examining the association between modifiable maternal lifestyle risk factors and WT. Eligible data were meta-analysed in separate strands regarding the associations of WT with (a) maternal folic acid and/or vitamins supplementation, (b) alcohol consumption and (c) smoking during pregnancy. The quality of eligible studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Effect estimates from 72 cases and 72 age- and sex-matched controls contributed by NARECHEM-ST were meta-analysed together with those of another 17, mainly medium size, studies of ecological, case-control and cohort design. Maternal intake of folic acid and/or other vitamins supplements during pregnancy was inversely associated with WT risk (6 studies, OR: 0.78; 95 %CI: 0.69-0.89, I2 = 5.4 %); of similar size was the association for folic acid intake alone (4 studies, OR: 0.79; 95 %CI: 0.69-0.91, I2 = 0.0 %), derived mainly from ecological studies. In the Greek study a positive association (OR: 5.31; 95 %CI: 2.00-14.10) was found for mothers who consumed alcohol only before pregnancy vs. never drinkers whereas in the meta-analysis of the four homogeneous studies examining the effect of alcohol consumption during pregnancy the respective overall result showed an OR: 1.60 (4 studies, 95 %CI: 1.28-2.01, I2 = 0.0 %). Lastly, no association was seen with maternal smoking during pregnancy (14 studies, OR: 0.93; 95 %CI: 0.80-1.09, I2 = 0.0 %).

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest to-date meta-analysis, there was an inverse association of maternal folic acid or vitamins supplementation with WT risk in the offspring, derived mainly from ecological studies. The association with maternal alcohol consumption found in our study needs to be further explored whereas no association with maternal smoking was detected. Given the proven benefits for other health conditions, recommendations regarding folic acid supplementation as well as smoking and alcohol cessation should apply. The maternal alcohol consumption associations, however, should be further explored given the inherent limitations in the assessment of exposures of the published studies.

Exposure to Tobacco, Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Nicotine in Pregnancy: A Pragmatic Overview of Reviews of Maternal and Child Outcomes, Effectiveness of Interventions and Barriers and Facilitators to Quitting

The aim of this review of reviews was to collate the latest evidence from systematic reviews about the maternal and child health outcomes of being exposed to tobacco and nicotine during pregnancy; the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce these exposures, and barriers to and facilitators of smoking cessation during pregnancy. Two databases were searched to obtain systematic reviews published from 2010 to 2019. Pertinent data from 76 articles were summarized using a narrative synthesis (PROSPERO reference: CRD42018085896). Exposure to smoke or tobacco in other forms during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of obstetric complications and adverse health outcomes for children exposed in-utero. Counselling interventions are modestly effective, while incentive-based interventions appear to substantially increase smoking cessation. Nicotine replacement therapy is effective during pregnancy but the evidence is not conclusive. Predictors and barriers to smoking cessation in pregnancy are also discussed. Smoking during pregnancy poses substantial risk to mother's and child's health. Psychosocial interventions and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) appear to be effective in helping pregnant women quit smoking. Barriers to smoking cessation must be identified and steps taken to eradicate them in order to reduce smoking among pregnant women. More research is needed on smoking cessation medications and e-cigarettes.

Role and toxicity of radiation therapy in neuroblastoma patients: A literature review

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor, arising from primitive sympathetic ganglion cells, in pediatric patients. The unique features of neuroblastoma include variable clinical behaviors, such as rapid progression to death and maturation to benign ganglioneuroma, followed by regression. Radiation therapy (RT) is usually administered to both the primary tumor bed and persistent metastatic sites after induction chemotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. RT to the tumor bed after surgical resection contributes significantly to local disease control and prevention of local relapse, confirming the role of RT. Palliative radiotherapy for metastatic neuroblastoma is also effective and safe and mainly provides symptomatic relief. The late side effects of RT in neuroblastoma patients include growth and developmental failure, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal dysfunction, neurocognitive defects, pulmonary and cardiac abnormalities, infertility, and secondary cancers. In this article, we reviewed the role and toxicity of RT in neuroblastoma patients.

The role of teratogens in neural crest development

The neural crest (NC), discovered by Wilhelm His 150 years ago, gives rise to a multipotent migratory embryonic cell population that generates a remarkably diverse and important array of cell types during the development of the vertebrate embryo. These cells originate in the neural plate border (NPB), which is the ectoderm between the neural plate and the epidermis. They give rise to the neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, melanocytes, chondrocytes, smooth muscle cells, odontoblasts and neuroendocrine cells, among others. Neurocristopathies are a class of congenital diseases resulting from the abnormal induction, specification, migration, differentiation or death of NC cells (NCCs) during embryonic development and have an important medical and societal impact. In general, congenital defects affect an appreciable percentage of newborns worldwide. Some of these defects are caused by teratogens, which are agents that negatively impact the formation of tissues and organs during development. In this review, we will discuss the teratogens linked to the development of many birth defects, with a strong focus on those that specifically affect the development of the NC, thereby producing neurocristopathies. Although increasing attention is being paid to the effect of teratogens on embryonic development in general, there is a strong need to critically evaluate the specific role of these agents in NC development. Therefore, increased understanding of the role of these factors in NC development will contribute to the planning of strategies aimed at the prevention and treatment of human neurocristopathies, whose etiology was previously not considered.

Neuroblastoma image-defined risk factors in adrenal neuroblastoma: role of radiologist

Neuroblastoma, one of the most common extracranial solid malignancies in children, is often localized in the adrenal glands (49%). The staging system for prognostic purpose was one of the first points of disagreement, which led to the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) of 1986, revised in 1989, which relies on surgical staging. The limit of this classification was the different surgical resection, also done at interval times from diagnosis. To overcome this difficulty, a new staging system was made based on preoperative imaging by the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) in 2009. This new staging system uses 20 Image-Defined Risk Factors (IDRFs) across multiple organ systems. The scope of this IDRFs is to predict surgical outcomes and, in addition with clinical data, to provide risk stratification. The INRG Staging System (INRGSS) relies on Imaging-Defined Risk Factors (IDRFs) that are determined before surgery or other therapy. With the application of the INRGSS the radiologist's role in staging children with neuroblastoma increased. The review provides an overview of the INRGSS and the IDRFs in adrenal neuroblastoma.

Maternal use of illicit drugs, tobacco or alcohol and the risk of childhood cancer before 6 years of age

BACKGROUND

Previous studies provide conflicting evidence of a link between maternal substance use and risk of childhood cancer.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of 785,438 newborns in Quebec (2006-2016). We identified infants whose mothers had problematic illicit drug, tobacco, or alcohol use before or during pregnancy. The primary outcomes were childhood hematopoietic cancer or solid tumors within 0-5 years of age. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we computed hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between maternal substance use and childhood cancer, adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 925 cases of cancer occurred during 3.5 million person-years of follow-up. Children exposed to any maternal substance use had marginally elevated cancer incidence rates compared with unexposed children (29.4 vs. 26.1 per 100,000 person-years). Maternal illicit drug use was associated with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR 1.63, 95% CI 0.79-3.36) and fibrosarcoma (HR 2.11, 95% CI 0.86-5.16). Maternal tobacco use was associated with acute myeloid leukemia (HR 2.01, 95% CI 0.72-5.60) and fibrosarcoma (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.05-4.32), but a weak association with neuroblastoma (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.61-2.40) and renal tumors (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.42-3.13) also appeared to be present.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a potential association between maternal substance use and certain types of early childhood cancer. Although effects were modest, maternal substance use may contribute to some types of childhood cancer, especially leukemia and fibrosarcoma.

KRAS rs7973450 A>G increases neuroblastoma risk in Chinese children: a four-center case-control study

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common extracranial solid pediatric tumors. KRAS plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in KRAS have been shown to modify susceptibility to multiple tumors, but no specific molecular epidemiology study was reported regarding neuroblastoma.

METHODS

We conducted a four-center case-control study to explore the association between KRAS gene polymorphisms (rs12587 G>T, rs7973450 A>G, rs7312175 G>A) and neuroblastoma susceptibility with 505 Chinese children and 1070 matched controls.

RESULTS

We found that rs7973450 A>G was associated with significantly increased neuroblastoma risk [GG vs. AA: adjusted odds ratio (OR)=4.26, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.28-14.19, P=0.018; GG vs. AA/AG: adjusted OR=4.27, 95% CI=1.28-14.24, P=0.018]. The stratified analysis further demonstrated that rs7973450 GG genotype carriers had a higher risk to develop neuroblastoma in the subgroups of males, tumor originated from the adrenal gland and clinical stages III+IV.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results suggested that rs7973450 A>G was associated with increased neuroblastoma risk.

Functional Polymorphisms at ERCC1/XPF Genes Confer Neuroblastoma Risk in Chinese Children

Variations in nucleotide excision repair pathway genes may predispose to initiation of cancers. However, polymorphisms of ERCC1/XPF genes and neuroblastoma risk have not been investigated before. To evaluate the relevance of polymorphisms of ERCC1/XPF genes in influencing neuroblastoma susceptibility, we genotyped four polymorphisms in ERCC1/XPF genes using a Chinese population of 393 cases and 812 controls. The results showed that ERCC1 rs2298881 and rs11615 predisposed to enhanced neuroblastoma risk [CA vs. AA: adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.30-2.89, P=0.0012; CC vs. AA: adjusted OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.45-3.26, P=0.0002 for rs2298881, and AG vs. GG: adjusted OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.02-1.69, P=0.038 for rs11615]. Moreover, XPF rs2276466 was also associated with increased neuroblastoma risk (GG vs. CC: adjusted OR=1.66, 95% CI=1.02-2.71, P=0.043). In the combined analysis of ERCC1, we found that carriers with 2-3 risk genotypes were more likely to get risk of neuroblastoma, when compared to those with 0-1 risk genotype (adjusted OR=1.75; 95% CI=1.25-2.45, P=0.0012). Our study indicates that common genetic variations in ERCC1/XPF genes predispose to neuroblastoma risk, which needs to be further validated by ongoing efforts.