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Hayes L, Basta N, Muirhead CR, Pole JD, Gibson P, Di Monte B, Irwin MS, Greenberg M, Tweddle DA, McNally RJQ. Temporal clustering of neuroblastic tumours in children and young adults from Ontario, Canada. Environ Health 2022; 21:30. [PMID: 35255910 PMCID: PMC8902763 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00846-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aetiology of neuroblastic tumours is likely to involve both genetic and environmental factors. A number of possible environmental risk factors have been suggested, including infection. If an irregular temporal pattern in incidence is found, this might suggest that a transient agent, such as an infection, is implicated. Previous work has found evidence for temporal clustering in children and young adults living in northern England. METHODS We examined data from a second population-based registry from Ontario, Canada to determine whether there was evidence of temporal clustering of neuroblastic tumours. Cases diagnosed in children and young adults aged 0-19 years between 1985 and 2016 were extracted from the population-based Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Networked Information System (POGONIS). A modified version of the Potthoff-Whittinghill method was used to test for temporal clustering. Estimates of extra-Poisson variation (EPV) and standard errors (SE) were obtained. RESULTS Eight hundred seventy-six cases of neuroblastic tumours were diagnosed during the study period. Overall, no evidence of temporal clustering was found between fortnights, between months or between quarters within years. However, significant EPV was found between years within the full study period (EPV = 1.05, SE = 0.25; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS The findings are consistent with the possibility that a transient agent, such as an infection that is characterised by 'peaks and troughs' in its occurrence, might be implicated in the aetiology of neuroblastic tumours. However, this pattern may also reflect a long-term increase in the numbers of cases, rather than peaks and troughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Hayes
- Population Health Sciences Institute & Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Nermine Basta
- Population Health Sciences Institute & Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Colin R Muirhead
- Population Health Sciences Institute & Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Jason D Pole
- Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul Gibson
- Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Paediatric Hematology/Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | - Meredith S Irwin
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Deborah A Tweddle
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Richard J Q McNally
- Population Health Sciences Institute & Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
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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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Ortega-García JA, López-Hernández FA, Cárceles-Álvarez A, Fuster-Soler JL, Sotomayor DI, Ramis R. Childhood cancer in small geographical areas and proximity to air-polluting industries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 156:63-73. [PMID: 28319819 PMCID: PMC5685507 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
AIM Pediatric cancer has been associated with exposure to certain environmental carcinogens. The purpose of this work is to analyse the relationship between environmental pollution and pediatric cancer risk. METHOD We analysed all incidences of pediatric cancer (<15) diagnosed in a Spanish region during the period 1998-2015. The place of residence of each patient and the exact geographical coordinates of main industrial facilities was codified in order to analyse the spatial distribution of cases of cancer in relation to industrial areas. Focal tests and focused Scan methodology were used for the identification of high-incidence-rate spatial clusters around the main industrial pollution foci. RESULTS The crude rate for the period was 148.0 cases per 1,000,0000 children. The incidence of pediatric cancer increased significantly along the period of study. With respect to spatial distribution, results showed significant high incidence around some industrial pollution foci group and the Scan methodology identify spatial clustering. We observe a global major incidence of non Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) considering all foci, and high incidence of Sympathetic Nervous System Tumour (SNST) around Energy and Electric and organic and inorganic chemical industries foci group. In the analysis foci to foci, the focused Scan test identifies several significant spatial clusters. Particularly, three significant clusters were identified: the first of SNST was around energy-generating chemical industries (2 cases versus the expected 0.26), another of NHL was around residue-valorisation plants (5 cases versus the expected 0.91) and finally one cluster of Hodgkin lymphoma around building materials (3 cases versus the expected 2.2) CONCLUSION: Results suggest a possible association between proximity to certain industries and pediatric cancer risk. More evidences are necessary before establishing the relationship between industrial pollution and pediatric cancer incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Ortega-García
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Clinical University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | | | - Alberto Cárceles-Álvarez
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Clinical University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - José L Fuster-Soler
- Oncology & Hematology Section, Pediatrics Department, Clinical University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Diana I Sotomayor
- Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Laboratory of Environmental and Human Health (A5), Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB-Arrixaca, Clinical University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Rebeca Ramis
- Environmental Epidemiology and Cancer Unit, National Centre for Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III - ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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