Survival of adult AML patients treated with chemotherapy in the U.S. population by age, race and ethnicity, sex, calendar-year period, and AML subgroup, 2001-2019

Background

Population-based survival studies of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have not simultaneously evaluated age at diagnosis, race and ethnicity, sex, calendar period or AML subtypes/subgroups among chemotherapy-treated patients.

Methods

For 28,473 chemotherapy-treated AML patients diagnosed at ages ≥20 years in population-based cancer registry areas of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (2001-2018, followed through 2019), we evaluated 1-month through 5-year relative survival (RS) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using the actuarial method in the SEER∗Stat Survival Session and overall survival (OS) using multivariable Cox regression to estimate proportional hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI.

Findings

RS decreased with increasing age (20-39, 40-59, 60-74, 75-84, ≥85 years) at AML diagnosis. RS declined substantially within the first month and, except for acute promyelocytic leukemia, decreasing patterns continued thereafter for core binding factor AML, AML with antecedent condition/therapy, and all other AML. For all ages, acute promyelocytic leukemia RS stabilized after the first year. For total AML the hazard of death was significantly increased for non-Hispanic (NH)-Black (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.12-1.24) and NH-Pacific Islander patients (HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.11-1.55) compared with NH-White patients. In contrast, NH-Asian and Hispanic patients had similar OS to NH-White patients across all ages and most AML subgroups. Males had significantly inferior survival to females with some exceptions. Compared to 2001-2006, in 2013-2018 OS improved for all age and AML subgroups.

Interpretation

Chemotherapy-treated U.S. adults with AML have notable differences in survival by age, race and ethnicity, sex, calendar-year period, and AML subgroup. Despite survival gains over time, our findings highlight the need for improving early outcomes across all AML subgroups, older ages, and Black and Pacific Islander patients and long-term outcomes among most treated groups.

Funding

Intramural Research Program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology.

Utilization of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Over Time in Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Study

PURPOSE

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT) is associated with survival benefits in multiple myeloma (MM), but utilization remains low and differs by sociodemographic factors. Prior population-based studies have not fully captured autoHCT utilization or examined relationships between sociodemographic factors and autoHCT trends over time.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used a novel data linkage between the California Cancer Registry, Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, and hospitalizations to capture autoHCT in a population-based MM cohort (n = 29, 109; 1991-2016). Due to interactions by treatment era, stratified multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models determined factors associated with autoHCT.

RESULTS

The frequency of MM patients who received autoHCT increased from 5.7% (1991-1995) to 27.4% (2011-2016). In models by treatment era, patients with public/no (vs. private) health insurance were less likely to receive autoHCT (2011-2016 Medicare hazard ratio (HR) 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63-0.78; Medicaid HR 0.81, CI: 0.72-0.91; no insurance HR 0.56, CI: 0.32-0.99). In each treatment era, Black/African American (vs. non-Hispanic White) patients were less likely to receive autoHCT (2011-2016 HR 0.83, CI: 0.72-0.95). Hispanic patients were less likely to undergo autoHCT, most prominently in the earliest treatment era (1991-1995 HR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37-0.90; 2011-2016 HR 1.07, CI: 0.96-1.19). Patients in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods were less likely to utilize autoHCT, but differences decreased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite increases in autoHCT utilization, sociodemographic disparities remain. Identifying and mitigating barriers to autoHCT is essential to ensuring more equitable access to this highly effective therapy.

Polygenic risk scores, radiation treatment exposures and subsequent cancer risk in childhood cancer survivors

Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for subsequent cancers attributable to the late effects of radiotherapy and other treatment exposures; thus, further understanding of the impact of genetic predisposition on risk is needed. Combining genotype data for 11,220 5-year survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the St Jude Lifetime Cohort, we found that cancer-specific polygenic risk scores (PRSs) derived from general population, genome-wide association study, cancer loci identified survivors of European ancestry at increased risk of subsequent basal cell carcinoma (odds ratio per s.d. of the PRS: OR = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.29-1.46), female breast cancer (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.27-1.58), thyroid cancer (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.31-1.67), squamous cell carcinoma (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.00-1.44) and melanoma (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.31-1.96); however, the association for colorectal cancer was not significant (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.94-1.52). An investigation of joint associations between PRSs and radiotherapy found more than additive increased risks of basal cell carcinoma, and breast and thyroid cancers. For survivors with radiotherapy exposure, the cumulative incidence of subsequent cancer by age 50 years was increased for those with high versus low PRS. These findings suggest a degree of shared genetic etiology for these malignancy types in the general population and survivors, which remains evident in the context of strong radiotherapy-related risk.

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Low-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Survivors in the United States

Background: Despite the excellent disease-specific survival associated with low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), its diagnosis and management have been linked to patient concerns about cancer recurrence, treatment-related health risks, and mortality. Lack of information regarding long-term health outcomes can perpetuate these concerns. Therefore, we assessed all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a large cohort of individuals diagnosed with low-risk DTC. Methods: From the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-12 cancer registry database (1992-2019), we identified 51,854 individuals (81.8% female) diagnosed with first primary DTC at low risk of recurrence (≤4 cm, localized). We estimated cause-specific cumulative mortality by time since diagnosis, accounting for competing risks. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and CIs were used to compare observed mortality rates in DTC patients with expected rates in the matched U.S. general population, overall and by time since DTC diagnosis. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine associations between radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment and cause-specific mortality. Results: During follow-up (median = 8.8, range 0-28 years), 3467 (6.7%) deaths were recorded. Thyroid cancer accounted for only 4.3% of deaths (n = 148). The most common causes of death were malignancies (other than thyroid cancer) (n = 1031, 29.7%) and cardiovascular disease (CVD; n = 912, 26.3%). The 20-year cumulative mortality rate from thyroid cancer, malignancies (other than thyroid or nonmelanoma skin cancer), and CVD was 0.6%, 4.6%, and 3.9%, respectively. Lower than expected mortality was observed for all causes excluding thyroid cancer (SMR = 0.69 [CI 0.67-0.71]) and most specific causes, including all malignancies combined (other than thyroid cancer; SMR = 0.80 [CI 0.75-0.85]) and CVD (SMR = 0.64 [CI 0.60-0.69]). However, mortality rates were elevated for specific cancers, including pancreas (SMR = 1.58 [CI 1.18-2.06]), kidney and renal pelvis (SMR = 1.85 [CI 1.10-2.93]), and brain and other nervous system (SMR = 1.62 [CI 0.99-2.51]), and myeloma (SMR = 2.35 [CI 1.46-3.60]) and leukemia (SMR = 1.62 [CI 1.07-2.36]); these associations were stronger ≥10 years after diagnosis. RAI was not associated with risk of cause-specific death, but numbers of events were small and the range of administered activities was likely narrow. Conclusions: Overall, our findings provide reassurance regarding low overall and cause-specific mortality rates in individuals with low-risk DTC. Additional research is necessary to confirm and understand the increased mortality from certain subsequent cancers.

Comparison of Vital Status, Cause of Death, and Follow-Up after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Linked Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and California Cancer Registry Data, 1991 to 2018

Assessing outcomes following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) poses challenges due to the necessity for systematic and often prolonged patient follow-up. Linking the HCT database of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) with cancer registry data may improve long-term outcome ascertainment, but the reliability of mortality data in death certificates from cancer registries among HCT recipients remains unknown. We compared the classification of vital status and primary cause of death (COD), as well as the length of follow-up between the CIBMTR and California Cancer Registry (CCR) to assess the possibility of supplementing the CIBMTR with cancer registry data. This retrospective study leveraged a linked CIBMTR-CCR dataset. We included patients who were California residents at the time of HCT and received a first allogeneic (allo) or autologous (auto) HCT for a hematologic malignancy diagnosed during 1991-2016. Follow-up was through 2018. We analyzed 18,450 patients (alloHCT, n = 8232; autoHCT, n = 10,218). The Vital status agreement was 97.7% for alloHCT and 97.2% for autoHCT. Unknown COD was higher in CIBMTR (12.9%) than in CCR (1.6%). After excluding patients with unknown COD information, the overall agreement of primary COD (cancer versus noncancer) was 53.7% for alloHCT and 83.2% for autoHCT. This agreement was lower within the first 100 days post-HCT (alloHCT, 31.0%; autoHCT, 54.6%). Compared with CIBMTR, deaths due to cancer were higher in CCR (alloHCT, 90.0%; autoHCT, 90.1% versus alloHCT, 47.3%; autoHCT, 82.5% in CIBMTR). CIBMTR reports more frequently noncancer-related deaths, including graft-versus-host disease and infections. The cumulative incidence of cancer-specific mortality at 20 years differed, particularly for alloHCT (CCR, 53.7%; CIBMTR, 27.6%). The median follow-up among alive patients was longer in CCR (alloHCT, 6.0 years; autoHCT, 4.7 years) than in CIBMTR (alloHCT, 5.0 years; autoHCT, 3.8 years). Our findings highlight the completeness of vital status data in CIBMTR but reveal substantial disagreement in primary COD. Consequently, caution is required when interpreting HCT studies that use only death certificates to estimate cause-specific mortality outcomes. Improving the accuracy of COD registration and follow-up completeness by developing communication pathways between cancer registries and hospital-based cohorts may enhance our understanding of late effects and long-term outcomes among HCT survivors.

The pathobiology of select adolescent young adult lymphomas

Lymphoid cancers are among the most frequent cancers diagnosed in adolescents and young adults (AYA), ranging from approximately 30%-35% of cancer diagnoses in adolescent patients (age 10-19) to approximately 10% in patients aged 30-39 years. Moreover, the specific distribution of lymphoid cancer types varies by age with substantial shifts in the subtype distributions between pediatric, AYA, adult, and older adult patients. Currently, biology studies specific to AYA lymphomas are rare and therefore insight into age-related pathogenesis is incomplete. This review focuses on the paradigmatic epidemiology and pathogenesis of select lymphomas, occurring in the AYA patient population. With the example of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, follicular lymphoma (incl. pediatric-type follicular lymphoma), and mediastinal lymphomas (incl. classic Hodgkin lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma and mediastinal gray zone lymphoma), we here illustrate the current state-of-the-art in lymphoma classification, recent molecular insights including genomics, and translational opportunities. To improve outcome and quality of life, international collaboration in consortia dedicated to AYA lymphoma is needed to overcome challenges related to siloed biospecimens and data collections as well as to develop studies designed specifically for this unique population.

Critical gaps in understanding treatment outcomes in adolescents and young adults with lymphoma: A review of current data

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with lymphoma experience treatment-related effects in the short and long term that impact their quality of life and survivorship experience. The effort to improve outcomes for AYA lymphoma survivors requires understanding the available literature, identifying current knowledge deficits, designing better clinical trials incorporating the patient perspective, using novel tools to bridge data gaps and building survivorship guidelines that translate research to clinical practice. This review article summarizes the current state of lymphoma treatment-related outcomes in AYAs and provides future direction.

Comparing Risk for Second Primary Cancers After Intensity-Modulated vs 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer, 2002-2015

Importance

Compared with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can spare nearby tissue but may result in increased scatter radiation to distant normal tissue, including red bone marrow. It is unclear whether second primary cancer risk varies by radiotherapy type.

Objective

To evaluate whether radiotherapy type (IMRT vs 3DCRT) is associated with second primary cancer risk among older men treated for prostate cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this retrospective cohort study of a linked database of Medicare claims and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program population-based cancer registries (2002-2015), male patients aged 66 to 84 diagnosed with a first primary nonmetastatic prostate cancer from 2002 to 2013, as reported to SEER, and who received radiotherapy (IMRT and/or 3DCRT without proton therapy) within the first year following prostate cancer were identified. The data were analyzed from January 2022 through June 2022.

Exposure

Receipt of IMRT and 3DCRT, based on Medicare claims.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The association between radiotherapy type and development of a subsequent hematologic cancer at least 2 years after prostate cancer diagnosis or a subsequent solid cancer at least 5 years after prostate cancer diagnosis. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional regression.

Results

The study included 65 235 2-year first primary prostate cancer survivors (median [range] age, 72 [66-82] years; 82.2% White patients) and 45 811 5-year survivors with similar demographic characteristics (median [range] age, 72 [66-79] years; 82.4% White patients). Among 2-year prostate cancer survivors (median [range] follow-up, 4.6 [0.003-12.0] years), 1107 second hematologic cancers were diagnosed (IMRT, 603; 3DCRT, 504). Radiotherapy type was not associated with second hematologic cancers overall or any specific types evaluated. Among 5-year survivors (median [range] follow-up, 3.1 [0.003-9.0] years), 2688 men were diagnosed with a second primary solid cancer (IMRT, 1306; 3DCRT, 1382). The overall HR for IMRT vs 3DCRT was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.83-0.99). This inverse association was restricted to the earlier calendar year period of prostate cancer diagnosis (HR2002-2005 = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.94; HR2006-2010 = 1.14; 95% CI, 0.96-1.36), with a similar pattern observed for colon cancer (HR2002-2005 = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.94; HR2006-2010 = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.59-1.88).

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this large, population-based cohort study suggest that IMRT for prostate cancer is not associated with an increased risk of second primary cancers, either solid or hematologic, and any inverse associations may be associated with calendar year of treatment.

Trends in risk for therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia after initial chemo/immunotherapy for common and rare lymphoid neoplasms, 2000-2018

Background

Historically, survivors of common lymphoid neoplasms (LNs) had increased risks for therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (tMDS/AML). Despite major treatment advances in the treatment of LNs over the last two decades, a comprehensive evaluation of tMDS/AML trends following both common and rare LNs treated in this contemporary period is lacking.

Methods

In US cancer registries during 2000-2018, we identified 1496 tMDS/AML cases among 186,503 adults who were treated with initial chemo/immunotherapy for first primary LN and survived ≥1 year. We quantified tMDS/AML standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), excess absolute risks (EARs, per 10,000 person-years), and cumulative incidence.

Findings

The highest tMDS/AML risks occurred after precursor leukemia/lymphoma (SIR = 39, EAR = 30), Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma (SIR = 20, EAR = 24), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (SIR = 12, EAR = 23), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL; SIR = 9.0, EAR = 27), and mantle cell lymphoma (SIR = 8.5, EAR = 25). Elevated risks (SIRs = 4.2-6.9, EARs = 4.9-15) also were observed after all other LN subtypes except hairy cell leukemia and mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome. Among patients treated more recently, tMDS/AML risks were significantly higher after CLL/SLL (SIR_2000-2005 = 4.8, SIR_2012-2017 = 10, P_trend = 0.0043), significantly lower after Hodgkin (SIR_2000-2005 = 15, SIR_2012-2017 = 6.3, P_trend = 0.024) and marginal zone (SIR_2000-2005 = 7.5, SIR_2012-2017 = 2.3, P_trend = 0.015) lymphomas, and non-significantly lower after mantle cell lymphoma (SIR_2000-2005 = 10, SIR_2012-2017 = 3.2, P_trend = 0.054), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia (SIR_2000-2005 = 6.9, SIR_2012-2017 = 1.0, P_trend = 0.067), and plasma cell neoplasms (SIR_2000-2005 = 5.4, SIR_2012-2017 = 3.1, P_trend = 0.051). EAR and cumulative incidence trends generally were similar to SIR trends. Median survival after tMDS/AML was 8.0 months (interquartile range, 3.0-22.0).

Interpretation

Although tMDS/AML risks are significantly elevated after initial chemo/immunotherapy for most LNs, patients treated more recently have lower tMDS/AML risks, except after CLL/SLL. Though rare, the poor prognosis following tMDS/AML emphasizes the importance of continued efforts to reduce treatment-associated toxicity.

Funding

This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. LMM, GMD, REC, and CBS verified the data, and all authors had access to the data and made the decision to submit for publication.

Targeted long-read sequencing of the Ewing sarcoma 6p25.1 susceptibility locus identifies germline-somatic interactions with EWSR1-FLI1 binding

Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare bone and soft tissue malignancy driven by chromosomal translocations encoding chimeric transcription factors, such as EWSR1-FLI1, that bind GGAA motifs forming novel enhancers that alter nearby expression. We propose that germline microsatellite variation at the 6p25.1 EwS susceptibility locus could impact downstream gene expression and EwS biology. We performed targeted long-read sequencing of EwS blood DNA to characterize variation and genomic features important for EWSR1-FLI1 binding. We identified 50 microsatellite alleles at 6p25.1 and observed that EwS-affected individuals had longer alleles (>135 bp) with more GGAA repeats. The 6p25.1 GGAA microsatellite showed chromatin features of an EWSR1-FLI1 enhancer and regulated expression of RREB1, a transcription factor associated with RAS/MAPK signaling. RREB1 knockdown reduced proliferation and clonogenic potential and reduced expression of cell cycle and DNA replication genes. Our integrative analysis at 6p25.1 details increased binding of longer GGAA microsatellite alleles with acquired EWSR-FLI1 to promote Ewing sarcomagenesis by RREB1-mediated proliferation.

Inflated expectations: Rare-variant association analysis using public controls

The use of publicly available sequencing datasets as controls (hereafter, "public controls") in studies of rare variant disease associations has great promise but can increase the risk of false-positive discovery. The specific factors that could contribute to inflated distribution of test statistics have not been systematically examined. Here, we leveraged both public controls, gnomAD v2.1 and several datasets sequenced in our laboratory to systematically investigate factors that could contribute to the false-positive discovery, as measured by λΔ95, a measure to quantify the degree of inflation in statistical significance. Analyses of datasets in this investigation found that 1) the significantly inflated distribution of test statistics decreased substantially when the same variant caller and filtering pipelines were employed, 2) differences in library prep kits and sequencers did not affect the false-positive discovery rate and, 3) joint vs. separate variant-calling of cases and controls did not contribute to the inflation of test statistics. Currently available methods do not adequately adjust for the high false-positive discovery. These results, especially if replicated, emphasize the risks of using public controls for rare-variant association tests in which individual-level data and the computational pipeline are not readily accessible, which prevents the use of the same variant-calling and filtering pipelines on both cases and controls. A plausible solution exists with the emergence of cloud-based computing, which can make it possible to bring containerized analytical pipelines to the data (rather than the data to the pipeline) and could avert or minimize these issues. It is suggested that future reports account for this issue and provide this as a limitation in reporting new findings based on studies that cannot practically analyze all data on a single pipeline.

Distinct germline genetic susceptibility profiles identified for common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes

Lymphoma risk is elevated for relatives with common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes, suggesting shared genetic susceptibility across subtypes. To evaluate the extent of mutual heritability among NHL subtypes and discover novel loci shared among subtypes, we analyzed data from eight genome-wide association studies within the InterLymph Consortium, including 10,629 cases and 9505 controls. We utilized Association analysis based on SubSETs (ASSET) to discover loci for subsets of NHL subtypes and evaluated shared heritability across the genome using Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis (GCTA) and polygenic risk scores. We discovered 17 genome-wide significant loci (P < 5 × 10-8) for subsets of NHL subtypes, including a novel locus at 10q23.33 (HHEX) (P = 3.27 × 10-9). Most subset associations were driven primarily by only one subtype. Genome-wide genetic correlations between pairs of subtypes varied broadly from 0.20 to 0.86, suggesting substantial heterogeneity in the extent of shared heritability among subtypes. Polygenic risk score analyses of established loci for different lymphoid malignancies identified strong associations with some NHL subtypes (P < 5 × 10-8), but weak or null associations with others. Although our analyses suggest partially shared heritability and biological pathways, they reveal substantial heterogeneity among NHL subtypes with each having its own distinct germline genetic architecture.

Germline Genetic and Treatment-Related Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and St Jude Lifetime Cohorts

PURPOSE

To characterize germline genetic risk factors of diabetes mellitus among long-term survivors of childhood cancer.

METHODS

Adult survivors of childhood cancer from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) Original Cohort (n = 5,083; 383 with diabetes) were used to conduct a discovery genome-wide association study. Replication was performed using the CCSS Expansion (n = 2,588; 40 with diabetes) and the St Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE; n = 3,351; 208 with diabetes) cohorts. Risk prediction models, stratified on exposure to abdominal radiation, were calculated using logistic regression including attained age, sex and body mass index, diagnosis, alkylating chemotherapy, age at cancer diagnosis, and a polygenic risk score (PRS) on the basis of 395 diabetes variants from the general population. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for models on the basis of traditional risk factors, clinical risk factors, and PRS.

RESULTS

There was a genome-wide significant association of rs55849673-A with diabetes among survivors (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.0 to 4.2; P = 3.7 × 10^-8), which is related to expression of ERCC6L2 in the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. The association of rs55849673-A was observed largely among survivors not exposed to abdominal radiation (odds ratio = 3.5, P = 1.1 × 10^-7) and the frequency of rs55849673-A was consistently higher among diabetic survivors in the CCSS Expansion and SJLIFE cohorts. Risk prediction models including traditional diabetes risk factors, clinical risk factors and PRS had an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.801, with an AUC of 0.751 in survivors treated with abdominal radiation versus 0.813 in survivors who did not receive abdominal radiation.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence for a novel locus of diabetes among survivors not exposed to abdominal radiation. Further refinement and validation of clinic-based risk prediction models for diabetes among long-term survivors of childhood cancer is warranted.

Abstract 1448: Novel specific susceptibility loci identified for pediatric and adult ependymoma in first histology-specific genome-wide association study

Despite extensive research, a small proportion of the variants contributing to the genetic architecture of brain tumors have been reported. The published GWAS have been largely performed on pooled histological subtypes of glioma and most of these studies have been conducted primarily for adult tumors. Therefore, we aimed to perform the first GWAS specifically for ependymoma to identify the genetic variants associated with the risk of these tumors and to investigate the similarities/differences between the genetic architectures of adult and pediatric ependymomas.

Germline SNP-array data of ependymoma cases were obtained from nine studies or biobanks across the United States and Europe. Controls were randomly selected with the ratio of 10:1 from three of those studies and a separate publicly available database. Additionally, germline whole genome sequencing data on cases and controls from St Jude Cloud were utilized. In total, 483 pediatric cases and 265 adult cases and 5592 controls were included. The same quality control procedures were applied to all studies. Data were imputed based on the Haplotype Reference Consortium using EAGLE. Meta-analyses were performed based on GMMAT and logistic regression. The results were adjusted for sex, ancestry and PCs. PAINTOR was used to identify the plausible causal variants, and eQTL and gene enrichment analyses were performed.

We identified 16 independent significant SNPs which were specifically associated with pediatric ependymoma risk, of which 10 SNPs were plausible causal. The significant variants were located on 1q32.2 (KCNH1), 2p14 (MEIS1-AS3), 4p15.32 (LDB2), 6p21.32 (HLA-DQA), 6p21.33 (BX927178/CR759828), 7p21.3 (UMAD1), 11p12 (LRRC4C), 11q24.2 (KRT18P59), 14q24.3 (SPTLC2), and 21q11.2 (LOC112268283/FEM1AP1). The 18 identified independent significant SNPs associated with risk of adult ependymoma were located on 4p16.1 (SORCS2), 6p11.2, 6p21.31(KCTD20), 6p21.32 (HLA-DQA1), 7q31.32, 8p23.1 (LOC157273), 8q24.3 (PLEC), 10p13 (PTER), 11q23.3 (GRIK4), 19q13.11 (CEP89), and 22q11.1 (XKR3), of which 8 variants were plausible causal. One intronic variant associated with susceptibility of both pediatric and adult ependymomas was detected; rs68160486 (CCDC85A 2p16.1 PPediatric=3.41x10-8, PAdult=2.12x10-8).

The genetic architectures of adult and pediatric ependymomas appear to largely differ from one another. We identified novel variants for these tumors that have not been previously reported for GWAS of combined glioma subtypes. This analysis highlights the need to conduct additional GWAS of more refined glioma subtypes, perhaps even utilizing newer data on molecularly defined subtypes that are emerging in updated pathological classification schemes.

Citation Format: Maral Adel Fahmideh, Spiridon Tsavachidis, Stephen C. Mack, Xiao Xiangjun, Terri S. Armstrong, Mark R. Gilbert, NCI-Connect, iPSYCH Consortium, GICC, Lisa Mirabello, Smita Bhatia, Wendy M. Leisenring, Lindsay M. Morton, Gregory T. Armstrong, Jon Foss-Skiftesvik, Christian M. Hagen, Jonas Bybjerg-Grauholm, Manel Ghozal, Audrey Bonaventure, Jacqueline Clavel, Melissa L. Bondy, Christopher I. Amos, Michael E. Scheurer. Novel specific susceptibility loci identified for pediatric and adult ependymoma in first histology-specific genome-wide association study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1448.

A novel locus on 6p21.2 for cancer treatment-induced cardiac dysfunction among childhood cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Adult survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of cardiac late effects.

METHODS

Using whole-genome sequencing data from 1,870 survivors of European ancestry in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) study, genetic variants were examined for association with ejection fraction (EF) and clinically assessed cancer therapy-induced cardiac dysfunction (CCD). Significant findings were validated in 301 SJLIFE survivors of African ancestry and 4,020 survivors of European ancestry from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

A variant near KCNK17 showed genome-wide significant association with EF (rs2815063-A: EF reduction = 1.6%; P = 2.1 × 10-8) in SJLIFE survivors of European ancestry, which replicated in SJLIFE survivors of African ancestry (EF reduction: 1.5%; P = .004). The rs2815063-A also showed a 1.80-fold (P = .008) risk of severe/disabling or life-threatening CCD and replicated in 4,020 CCSS survivors of European ancestry (OR = 1.40; P = .039). Notably, rs2815063-A was specifically associated among survivors exposed to doxorubicin only, with a stronger effect on EF (3.3% EF reduction) and CCD (2.97-fold). Whole blood DNA methylation data in 1,651 SJLIFE survivors of European ancestry showed significant correlation of rs2815063-A with dysregulation of KCNK17 enhancers (false discovery rate <5%), which replicated in 263 survivors of African ancestry. Consistently, the rs2815063-A was associated with KCNK17 downregulation based on RNA-sequencing of 75 survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Leveraging the two largest cohorts of childhood cancer survivors in North America and survivor-specific polygenomic functional data, we identified a novel risk locus for CCD which showed specificity with doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction and highlighted dysregulation of KCNK17 as the likely molecular mechanism underlying this genetic association.

Evaluating risk for second primary cancers by radiotherapy technique in prostate cancer survivors

12005

Background: Radiotherapy-related adverse effects such as the development of subsequent neoplasms cause significant morbidity among prostate cancer survivors. Advances in radiotherapy techniques, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam radiotherapy (PBRT), have aimed to reduce exposure to adjacent healthy tissues to reduce adverse effects. Initial reports based on small sample sizes and limited follow up (through 2011) have suggested reduced risks for subsequent colon and rectal cancers following IMRT compared to 3D conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for prostate cancer patients, but not for subsequent bladder cancer. We sought to extend previous reports with larger sample size and longer follow up. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study within the linked database of Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries and Medicare claims. The cohort included men diagnosed with first primary non-metastatic prostate cancer at ages 66-84 during 2002-2011; received initial IMRT, PBRT, or CRT; and survived without developing a second primary cancer ≥5 years after diagnosis (follow up through 2016). Cox regression models estimated risks of second primary solid tumors after IMRT and PBRT vs CRT, adjusting for age at prostate cancer diagnosis, tumor grade, race, Charlson comorbidity score, and receipt of initial prostate cancer therapy. Results: The cohort (median follow-up = 8.4 years) included 51,020 patients, of whom 19,536 received CRT alone, 29,868 received IMRT without PBRT, and 1,616 received PBRT. Compared to patients who received CRT (n = 1,348, 7.0%), both IMRT (n = 1,289, 4.3%; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.95) and PBRT (n = 83, 5.1%; HR = 0.77; 95% CI 0.62-0.97) showed a decrease in risk of developing any second solid malignancy. In analyses by second cancer type, risks of colon cancer (HR = 0.70; 95%CI, 0.52-0.94) and bladder cancer (HR = 0.79; 95%CI, 0.65-0.97) were significantly lower after IMRT than CRT, whereas no association was observed for anorectal cancers (HR = 1.00; 95%CI, 0.65-1.53). Further investigation by time since prostate cancer diagnosis revealed a time-dependent decrease after IMRT compared to CRT in risk for bladder cancer (HRs = 0.94, 0.87, 0.61 for 5-7.4, 7.5-9.9, and 10+ years respectively) and anorectal cancer (HRs = 1.22, 0.97, 0.78), whereas the opposite trend was observed for colon cancer (HRs = 0.70, 0.68, 1.05). Conclusions: In this large cohort with increased follow-up time compared with previous reports, we observed reduced risk of colon and bladder cancer with IMRT overall, as well as time-dependent patterns for bladder and anorectal cancer that were consistent with improved tumor targeting. Further research is needed with larger sample sizes to evaluate long-term effects after PBRT. Our study supports the value of quantifying adverse effects as radiotherapy techniques evolve.

Improvements in life expectancy among childhood cancer survivors: Uneven gains and remaining challenges

10050

Background: Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for shortened lifespan. Projections of life expectancy (LE) by diagnosis can provide benchmarks for assessing improvements over time. Methods: We developed a simulation model to project risk for common, life-threatening chronic health conditions (CHCs; heart failure, myocardial infarction, valvular disease, stroke, secondary breast cancer, colorectal cancer, glial tumors, sarcomas) and excess mortality among 5-year survivors, based on patient characteristics (sex, age at diagnosis, diagnosis) and treatment exposures (chemotherapy, radiation dose). Risk was estimated using statistical models and Childhood Cancer Survivor Study data. Age-related CHC risks (SEER, NHLBI) and competing mortality (CDC Wonder) were based on national databases. We used model calibration to identify parameter sets that generated outcomes consistent with observed data. Model outcomes included conditional LE and 10-year survival probability at age 40. For comparisons to the general population, we simulated age-, sex-, and diagnosis year-matched individuals who faced only competing mortality rates. Results: Among a cohort representative of the CCSS (mean diagnosis age, 7.4 yrs), compared to the general population, the gap in LE among survivors diagnosed in the 1970s vs. 1990s decreased from 17 yrs (25%) to 11 yrs (17%). Changes in LE among survivors diagnosed in the 1990s vs. 1970s varied by diagnosis, with leukemia, lymphoma, and CNS tumor survivors estimated to live an additional 8 to 11 yrs (Table). In contrast, considerably smaller gains were estimated for sarcoma and renal tumor survivors (1–3 yrs) and a loss for neuroblastoma (-3 yrs). Among survivors who reached age 40, the probability of surviving an additional 10 years increased from 89% to 92% between 1970s vs. 1990s, with the greatest gains for lymphoma and CNS tumors. Conclusions: Although temporal changes in pediatric oncology are projected to result in LE gains among survivors, considerable variation is projected across diagnoses. These findings highlight the uneven success of improving treatments for all cancers. [Table: see text]

Joint effects of general population polygenic risk scores (PRS) and radiation treatment on subsequent neoplasm risk among childhood cancer survivors: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)

10008

Background: We examined whether PRS from general population studies are associated with risk of subsequent neoplasms (SNs) in childhood cancer survivors and evaluated joint associations between PRS and radiation treatment (RT), an established SN risk factor. Methods: Common genetic variants associated with risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), breast cancer, thyroid cancer, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or melanoma in general population studies were used to calculate cancer specific PRS among 5,911 5 year cancer survivors diagnosed < 21 years of age and between 1970-1986 in the CCSS. We examined associations between each PRS and SN risk using conditional logistic regression in nested case control studies, with incidence density sampling and matching on childhood cancer type, age at diagnosis, sex, RT dose to the SN site, and chemotherapy exposure. Further analyses matching only on non-treatment factors assessed joint associations considering potential combinations of PRS and RT exposure. We calculated the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) to determine whether joint associations were consistent with additivity of the individual risk factors (RERI > 0 indicates a more-than-additive joint association). Results: Among survivors (median age at follow-up 40 years, range 3-67; 62% exposed to RT), cancer specific PRS were associated with risk of subsequent BCC (N = 626; quartile 4 versus 1, OR [95% CI] = 1.9 [1.5-2.4]), breast cancer (N = 277; 4.5 [2.8-7.1]), thyroid cancer (N = 149; 1.9 [1.2-3.1]), and melanoma (N = 76; 2.7 [1.3-5.6]). Both PRS and RT were independently associated with SN risk, but joint analyses using a common reference group (PRS < median, RT < 1 Gy) found that both risk factors together resulted in more-than-additive increases in risk of BCC (RERI [95% CI] = 6.9 [2.0-11.8], breast cancer (6.6 [2.2-10.1], and thyroid cancer (4.8 [0.5-9.2]). Specifically, BCC risk was increased 28.8-fold for both PRS ≥ median and RT ≥ 1 Gy together, but only 3.3-fold for PRS ≥ median alone and 19.7-fold for RT ≥ 1 Gy alone. Similarly, breast cancer risk was increased 14.1-fold for both risk factors together, 2.5-fold for PRS ≥ median alone, and 6.5-fold for RT ≥ 1 Gy alone, and thyroid cancer risk was increased 12.3-fold for both risk factors together, 2.4-fold for PRS ≥ median alone, and 6.0-fold for RT ≥ 1 Gy alone. In joint analyses using more detailed RT categories, we found more-than-additive joint associations at both low and high RT doses. Conclusions: General population PRS were associated with SN risks after childhood cancer. More-than-additive increased risks with the combination of PRS and RT suggest that established markers of genetic susceptibility remain important in the context of treatment-related risks and may be useful in further refining risk assessment and follow-up guidelines for survivors.

Reaching beyond maximum grade: progress and future directions for modernising the assessment and reporting of adverse events in haematological malignancies

Remarkable improvements in outcomes for many haematological malignancies have been driven primarily by a proliferation of novel therapeutics over the past two decades. Targeted agents, immune and cellular therapies, and combination regimens have adverse event profiles distinct from conventional finite cytotoxic chemotherapies. In 2018, a Commission comprising patient advocates, clinicians, clinical investigators, regulators, biostatisticians, and pharmacists representing a broad range of academic and clinical cancer expertise examined issues of adverse event evaluation in the context of both newer and existing therapies for haematological cancers. The Commission proposed immediate actions and long-term solutions in the current processes in adverse event assessment, patient-reported outcomes in haematological malignancies, toxicities in cellular therapies, long-term toxicity and survivorship in haematological malignancies, issues in regulatory approval from an international perspective, and toxicity reporting in haematological malignancies and the real-world setting. In this follow-up report, the Commission describes progress that has been made in these areas since the initial report.

Association Between Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Pediatric and Young Adulthood Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Risk of Second Primary Malignancies

PURPOSE

Since the 1980s, both the incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and use of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment increased markedly. RAI has been associated with an increased risk of leukemia, but risks of second solid malignancies remain unclear. We aimed to quantify risks of second malignancies associated with RAI treatment for DTC in children and young adults, who are more susceptible than older adults to the late effects of radiation.

METHODS

Using nine US SEER cancer registries (1975-2017), we estimated relative risks (RRs) for solid and hematologic malignancies associated with RAI (yes v no or unknown) using Poisson regression among ≥ 5- and ≥ 2-year survivors of nonmetastatic DTC diagnosed before age 45 years, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 27,050 ≥ 5-year survivors (median follow-up = 15 years), RAI treatment (45%) was associated with increased risk of solid malignancies (RR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.37). Risks were increased for uterine cancer (RR = 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.32) and nonsignificantly for cancers of the salivary gland (RR = 2.15; 95% CI, 0.91 to 5.08), stomach (RR = 1.61; 95% CI, 0.70 to 3.69), lung (RR = 1.42; 95% CI, 0.97 to 2.08), and female breast (RR = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.40). Risks of total solid and female breast cancer, the most common cancer type, were highest among ≥ 20-year DTC survivors (RR_solid = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.74; RR_breast = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.95). Among 32,171 ≥ 2-year survivors, RAI was associated with increased risk of hematologic malignancies (RR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.01), including leukemia (RR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.56). We estimated that 6% of solid and 14% of hematologic malignancies in pediatric and young adult DTC survivors may be attributable to RAI.

CONCLUSION

In addition to leukemia, RAI treatment for childhood and young-adulthood DTC was associated with increased risks of several solid cancers, particularly more than 20 years after exposure, supporting the need for long-term surveillance of these patients.

Immune-Related Adverse Events After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Melanoma Among Older Adults

Importance

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved survival in patients with advanced melanoma but can be associated with a spectrum of immune-related adverse events (AEs), including both autoimmune-related AEs and other immune-related inflammatory AEs. These associations have primarily been evaluated in clinical trials that include highly selected patients, with older adults often underrepresented.

Objective

To evaluate the association between use of ICIs and immune-related AEs (autoimmune and other immune related) among older patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A population-based cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015. Data were analyzed from January 31 to May 31, 2021. With use of a linked database of Medicare claims and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program population-based cancer registries, patients of White race diagnosed with stages II-IV or unknown (American Joint Committee on Cancer, AJCC Cancer Staging Manual 6th edition) first primary cutaneous melanoma during 2011-2015, as reported to SEER, and followed up through December 31, 2015, were identified.

Exposures

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of melanoma.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The association between ICIs and immune-related AEs ascertained from Medicare claims data was estimated using multivariable Cox regression with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs and with cumulative incidence accounting for competing risk of death.

Results

The study included 4489 patients of White race with first primary melanoma (3002 men [66.9%]; median age, 74.9 [range, 66.0-84.9] years). During follow-up (median, 1.4 [range, 0-5.0] years), 1576 patients (35.1%) had an immune-related AE on a Medicare claim. Use of ICIs (reported for 418 patients) was associated with autoimmune-related AEs (HR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6-4.0), including primary adrenal insufficiency (HR, 9.9; 95% CI, 4.5-21.5) and ulcerative colitis (HR, 8.6; 95% CI, 2.8-26.3). Immune checkpoint inhibitors also were associated with other immune-related AEs (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.7-2.8), including Cushing syndrome (HR, 11.8; 95% CI, 1.4-97.2), hyperthyroidism (HR, 6.3; 95% CI, 2.0-19.5), hypothyroidism (HR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.4-6.1), hypopituitarism (HR, 19.8; 95% CI, 5.4-72.9), other pituitary gland disorders (HR, 6.0; 95% CI, 1.2-30.2), diarrhea (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.5-4.9), and sepsis or septicemia (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.3). Most associations were pronounced within 6 months following the first ICI claim and comparable with or without a baseline history of autoimmune disease. The cumulative incidence at 6 months following the first ICI claim was 13.7% (95% CI, 9.7%-18.3%) for autoimmune-related AEs and 46.8% (95% CI, 40.7%-52.7%) for other immune-related AEs.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of older adults with melanoma, ICIs were associated with autoimmune-related AEs and other immune-related AEs. Although some findings were consistent with clinical trials of ICIs, others warrant further investigation. As ICI use continues to expand rapidly, ongoing investigation of the spectrum of immune-related AEs may optimize management of disease in patients.

Body mass index and survival of patients with lymphoma

The impact of body mass index (BMI) on survival in lymphoma remains controversial. We leveraged a prospective cohort of lymphoma patients enrolled to SPORE Molecular Epidemiology Resource between 2002 and 2015 to assess the association of BMI before diagnosis, BMI at diagnosis, and BMI change over time with lymphoma-specific survival (LSS). A total of 4009 lymphoma patients (670 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 689 follicular lymphoma (FL), 1018 chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), and 1632 other subtypes) were included. Significantly shorter LSS after diagnosis was observed for FL patients who were obese before diagnosis (HR: 3.02, 95%CI: 1.43-6.41, p=.004) and for those with a ≥ 5% increase in BMI from diagnosis to 3-year follow-up (HR: 3.53, 95%CI: 1.22-10.2, p=.020). In contrast, obesity prior to or at the time of diagnosis was not associated with LSS in DLBCL and CLL/SLL. The impact of weight control after diagnosis in FL patient warrants investigation.

Polygenic Risk Score Improves Risk Stratification and Prediction of Subsequent Thyroid Cancer after Childhood Cancer

BACKGROUND

Subsequent thyroid cancer (STC) is one of the most common malignancies in childhood cancer survivors. We aimed to evaluate the polygenic contributions to STC risk and potential utility in improving risk prediction.

METHODS

A polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated from 12 independent SNPs associated with thyroid cancer risk in the general population. Associations between PRS and STC risk were evaluated among survivors from St. Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) and were replicated in survivors from Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). A risk prediction model integrating the PRS and clinical factors, initially developed in SJLIFE, and its performance were validated in CCSS.

RESULTS

Among 2,370 SJLIFE survivors with a median follow-up of 28.8 [interquartile range (IQR) = 21.9-36.1] years, 65 (2.7%) developed STC. Among them, the standardized PRS was associated with an increased rate of STC [relative rate (RR) = 1.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24-1.98; P < 0.001]. Similar associations were replicated in 6,416 CCSS survivors, among whom 121 (1.9%) developed STC during median follow-up of 28.9 (IQR = 22.6-34.6) years (RR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.25-1.83; P < 0.001). A risk prediction model integrating the PRS with clinical factors showed better performance than the model considering only clinical factors in SJLIFE (P = 0.004, AUC = 83.2% vs. 82.1%, at age 40), which was further validated in CCSS (P = 0.010, AUC = 72.9% vs. 70.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Integration of the PRS with clinical factors provided a statistically significant improvement in risk prediction of STC, although the magnitude of improvement was modest.

IMPACT

PRS improves risk stratification and prediction of STC, suggesting its potential utility for optimizing screening strategies in survivorship care.

Clinical and genetic risk factors for radiation-associated ototoxicity: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort

BACKGROUND

Cranial radiation therapy (CRT) is associated with ototoxicity, which manifests as hearing loss and tinnitus. The authors sought to identify clinical determinants and genetic risk factors for ototoxicity among adult survivors of pediatric cancer treated with CRT.

METHODS

Logistic regression evaluated associations of tinnitus (n = 1991) and hearing loss (n = 2198) with nongenetic risk factors and comorbidities among CRT-treated survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of CRT-related tinnitus and hearing loss were also performed.

RESULTS

Males were more likely to report CRT-related tinnitus (9.4% vs 5.4%; P = 5.1 × 10^-4 ) and hearing loss (14.0% vs 10.7%; P = .02) than females. Survivors with tinnitus or hearing loss were more likely to experience persistent dizziness or vertigo (tinnitus: P < 2 × 10^-16 ; hearing loss: P = 6.4 × 10^-9 ), take antidepressants (tinnitus: P = .02; hearing loss: P = .01), and report poorer overall health (tinnitus: P = 1.5 × 10^-6 ; hearing loss: P = 1.7 × 10^-6 ) in comparison with controls. GWAS of CRT-related tinnitus revealed a genome-wide significant signal in chromosome 1 led by rs203248 (P = 1.5 × 10^-9 ), whereas GWAS of CRT-related hearing loss identified rs332013 (P = 5.8 × 10^-7 ) in chromosome 8 and rs67522722 (P = 7.8 × 10^-7 ) in chromosome 6 as nearly genome-wide significant. A replication analysis identified rs67522722, intronic to ATXN1, as being significantly associated with CRT-related hearing loss (P = .03) and de novo hearing loss (P = 3.6 × 10^-4 ).

CONCLUSIONS

CRT-associated ototoxicity was associated with sex, several neuro-otological symptoms, increased antidepressant use, and poorer self-reported health. GWAS of CRT-related hearing loss identified rs67522722, which was supported in an independent cohort of survivors.

LAY SUMMARY

Hearing loss and subjective tinnitus (the perception of noise or ringing in the ear) are long-term side effects of cancer treatment and are common in children treated with radiation to the brain. These toxicities can affect childhood development and potentially contribute to serious learning and behavioral difficulties. This study's data indicate that males are at greater risk for hearing loss and tinnitus than females after radiation therapy to the brain. Those who develop these toxicities are more likely to use antidepressants and report poorer overall health. Health care providers can improve the management of survivors by informing patients and/or their parents of these risks.

Assessment of surveillance versus etiologic factors in the reciprocal association between papillary thyroid cancer and breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Mutually increased risks for thyroid and breast cancer have been reported, but the contribution of etiologic factors versus increased medical surveillance to these associations is unknown.

METHODS

Leveraging large-scale US population-based cancer registry data, we used standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) to investigate the reciprocal risks of thyroid and breast cancers among adult females diagnosed with a first primary invasive, non-metastatic breast cancer (N = 652,627) or papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) (N = 92,318) during 2000-2017 who survived ≥1-year.

RESULTS

PTC risk was increased 1.3-fold [N = 1434; SIR = 1.32; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.25-1.39] after breast cancer compared to the general population. PTC risk declined significantly with time since breast cancer (Poisson regression = P_trend <0.001) and was evident only for tumors ≤2 cm in size. The SIRs for PTC were higher after hormone-receptor (HR)+ (versus HR-) and stage II or III (versus stage 0-I) breast tumors. Breast cancer risk was increased 1.2-fold (N = 2038; SIR = 1.21; CI = 1.16-1.26) after PTC and was constant over time since PTC but was only increased for stage 0-II and HR + breast cancers.

CONCLUSION

Although some of the patterns by latency, stage and size are consistent with heightened surveillance contributing to the breast-thyroid association, we cannot exclude a role of shared etiology or treatment effects.

Increased risk of skin cancer in 1851 long-term retinoblastoma survivors

Hereditary retinoblastoma patients are at risk for developing cutaneous melanoma, but little is known about the role of sun exposure or other factors, and incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is poorly understood. We investigated the incidence of melanoma and NMSC in a cohort of 1851 white, long-term retinoblastoma survivors (1020 hereditary and 831 nonhereditary) diagnosed from 1914-2006. During follow-up through 2016, 33 hereditary and 7 nonhereditary survivors developed melanoma, and 26 hereditary and 9 nonhereditary survivors developed NMSC. Most NMSC were on the head/neck whereas melanomas were more broadly distributed with patterns similar to melanoma-prone families. For both outcomes, median age at diagnosis was ∼20 years younger among hereditary than nonhereditary survivors. Fifty years following retinoblastoma diagnosis, the cumulative incidence in hereditary survivors was 4.5% for melanoma and 3.7% for NMSC; for nonhereditary survivors, it was 0.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Sun sensitivity and phenotypic characteristics generally did not vary by skin cancer status. Hereditary retinoblastoma survivors have an increased risk for melanoma and NMSC that occurred earlier compared with nonhereditary survivors, likely reflecting genetic factors. These findings among white retinoblastoma survivors support consensus-based recommendations for skin cancer screening and sun protection starting at young ages and continuing long-term.

Genetic and treatment risks for diabetes mellitus (DM) in survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) and St. Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) cohorts

10014

Background: Childhood cancer survivors face increased risk for DM, a polygenic trait also attributable to cancer treatment exposures, particularly abdominal radiation. We aimed to characterize the role of genetic and treatment risk factors for DM among two large cohorts of childhood cancer survivors. Methods: We performed a nested case-control genome-wide association study for DM managed with oral medications in the original CCSS cohort (diagnosed 1970-1986). Logistic regression was conducted in the total sample (N = 5083) and stratified by 1) European ancestry (EA) and 2) abdominal radiation. Replication of suggestive variants (P < 1×10-7) using Fisher’s exact test was performed in independent cohorts: i) CCSS expansion diagnosed 1987-1999 (N = 2588) and ii) SJLIFE diagnosed 1962-2012 (N = 2182). To evaluate the effect of cancer treatment on the background genetic predisposition to DM, we estimated standardized effect sizes (Z’) among EA survivors in each abdominal radiation group for 398 index variants from the largest population-based EA DM study. Radiation group Z’ estimates were compared using linear regression. Results: In the original CCSS cohort we identified nine variants associated with DM and provide further support for four linked variants in the ERCC6L2 locus. Among all survivors, the rs55849673-A allele was associated with increased odds for DM among survivors in the original CCSS cohort (minor allele frequency [MAF]-cases = 0.055; MAF-controls = 0.024; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.9, 95% CI: 2.0-4.2, P = 3.7×10-8). Allele frequencies were consistent in the CCSS expansion (MAF-cases = 0.075; MAF-controls = 0.028; P = 0.07) and SJLIFE (MAF-cases = 0.036; MAF-controls = 0.027; P = 0.5). Additionally, rs55849673-A estimates were consistent among EA survivors and stronger among survivors not treated with abdominal radiation (MAF-cases = 0.052; MAF-controls = 0.021; aOR = 3.6, P = 1.6×10-6). Notably, in the CCSS expansion all rs55849673-A EA carriers who developed DM did not receive abdominal radiation (MAF-cases = 0.1; MAF-controls = 0.026; P = 0.04). More broadly, the Z’ of population-based DM index variants were 78% lower in survivors treated with abdominal radiation than survivors not treated with abdominal radiation (beta = 0.22; P = 0.01), indicating the background genetic risk for DM may be altered by treatment. Conclusions: We provide evidence for a novel locus of DM in childhood cancer survivors. This locus is a regulatory region associated with expression of ERCC6L2, a gene implicated in an East Asian population-based DM study. Taken together, our findings support the overwhelming effect of abdominal radiation on DM risk in childhood cancer survivors, relative to other risk factors, and provide insight on a genetic locus that may be useful for DM risk prediction in the context of cancer treatment.

Radiation-related genomic profile of papillary thyroid carcinoma after the Chernobyl accident

The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident increased papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) incidence in surrounding regions, particularly for radioactive iodine (¹³¹I)-exposed children. We analyzed genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic characteristics of 440 PTCs from Ukraine (from 359 individuals with estimated childhood ¹³¹I exposure and 81 unexposed children born after 1986). PTCs displayed radiation dose-dependent enrichment of fusion drivers, nearly all in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and increases in small deletions and simple/balanced structural variants that were clonal and bore hallmarks of nonhomologous end-joining repair. Radiation-related genomic alterations were more pronounced for individuals who were younger at exposure. Transcriptomic and epigenomic features were strongly associated with driver events but not radiation dose. Our results point to DNA double-strand breaks as early carcinogenic events that subsequently enable PTC growth after environmental radiation exposure.

Abstract PO-055: Molecular characterization of papillary thyroid cancer in relation to ionizing radiation dose following the Chernobyl accident

The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident increased papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) incidence in surrounding regions, particularly for 131I-exposed children. To investigate the contribution of environmental radiation to PTC characteristics and improve understanding of radiation-induced carcinogenesis, we analyzed genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic characteristics of 440 pathologically-confirmed fresh-frozen PTCs from Ukraine (359 with estimated childhood or in utero 131I exposure and 81 from unexposed children born after March 1987) and matched normal tissue (non-tumor thyroid tissue and/or blood). Mean age at PTC was 28.0 years (range: 10.0-45.6). Among 131I-exposed individuals, mean radiation dose was 250 mGy (range: 11.0-8,800). In multivariable models adjusted for age at PTC and sex, we observed radiation dose-dependent enrichment of fusion drivers (P=6.6 × 10−8), nearly all occurring in the MAPK pathway, as well as increases in small deletions (P=8.0 × 10−9) and simple/balanced structural variants (P=1.2 × 10−14). Further analyses demonstrated even stronger associations for those small deletions and simple/balanced structural variants that were clonal and bore hallmarks of non-homologous end-joining repair (deletions: P=4.9 × 10−31; simple/balanced structural variants: P=5.5 × 10−19). In contrast, radiation dose was not associated with subclonal small deletions (P=0.82) or subclonal simple/balanced structural variants (P=0.91). Additionally, radiation dose was not associated with TINS (locally templated insertions), which are characteristic of alt-end-joining repair (P=0.69). The effects of radiation on genomic alterations with more pronounced for those younger at exposure. Analyses generally were consistent with a linear radiation dose-response for all molecular characteristics except clonal small deletions. Analyses of transcriptomic and epigenomic features demonstrated strong associations with the PTC driver gene but not radiation dose. Our results point to DNA double-strand breaks as early carcinogenic events that subsequently enable PTC growth following environmental radiation exposure.

Citation Format: Lindsay M. Morton, Danielle Karyadi, Chip Stewart, Tetiana Bogdanova, Eric Dawson, Mia Steinberg, Jieqiong Dai, Stephen Hartley, Sara Schonfeld, Joshua Sampson, Yosi Maruvka, Vidushi Kapoor, Dale Ramsden, Juan Carvajal-Garcia, Chuck Perou, Joel Parker, Marko Krznaric, Meredith Yeager, Joseph Boland, Amy Hutchinson, Belynda Hicks, Casey Dagnall, Julie Gastier-Foster, Jay Bowen, Olivia Lee, Mitchell Machiela, Elizabeth Cahoon, Alina Brenner, Kiyohiko Mabuchi, Vladimir Drozdovitch, Sergii Masiuk, Mykola Chepurny, Liudmyla Yu Zurnadzhy, Maureen Hatch, Amy Berrington de Gonzalez, Gerry Thomas, Mykola Tronko, Gad Getz, Stephen Chanock. Molecular characterization of papillary thyroid cancer in relation to ionizing radiation dose following the Chernobyl accident [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Radiation Science and Medicine; 2021 Mar 2-3. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(8_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-055.

Benign Tumors in Long-Term Survivors of Retinoblastoma

Simple Summary

It is well-established that hereditary retinoblastoma survivors have a substantially increased risk of developing subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs). Although clinicians have long suspected that this population is also at increased risk for developing benign neoplasms, the evidence is unclear. Benign tumors can substantially impact health status and quality of life, while raising questions for clinicians, when faced with a mass in a retinoblastoma survivor. By 60 years following retinoblastoma diagnosis, 17.6% of hereditary survivors had developed a benign tumor, with lipomas and leiomyomas being the most frequently diagnosed types. Additionally, we report both an increased risk of benign tumors after SMNs and a reciprocal increased risk of SMNs after benign tumors among hereditary retinoblastoma survivors. If confirmed, the large magnitude of the absolute risks and the association between benign tumors and SMNs in this population may have implications for long-term surveillance.

Abstract

Hereditary retinoblastoma survivors have substantially increased risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs). The risk of benign neoplasms, a substantial cause of morbidity, is unclear. We calculated the cumulative incidence of developing benign tumors at 60 years following retinoblastoma diagnosis among 1128 hereditary (i.e., bilateral retinoblastoma or unilateral with family history, mutation testing was not available) and 924 nonhereditary retinoblastoma survivors diagnosed during 1914–2006 at two US medical centers with follow-up through 2016. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we compared benign tumor risk by hereditary status and evaluated the association between benign tumors and SMNs. There were 100 benign tumors among 73 hereditary survivors (cumulative incidence = 17.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 12.9–22.8%) and 22 benign tumors among 16 nonhereditary survivors (cumulative incidence = 3.9%; 95%CI = 2.2–6.4%), corresponding to 4.9-fold (95%CI = 2.8–8.4) increased risk for hereditary survivors. The cumulative incidence after hereditary retinoblastoma was highest for lipoma among males (14.0%; 95%CI = 7.7–22.1%) and leiomyoma among females (8.9%; 95%CI = 5.2–13.8%). Among hereditary survivors, having a prior SMN was associated with 3.5-fold (95%CI = 2.0–6.1) increased risk of developing a benign tumor; the reciprocal risk for developing an SMN after a benign tumor was 1.8 (95%CI = 1.1–2.9). These large-scale, long-term data demonstrate an increased risk for benign tumors after hereditary versus nonhereditary retinoblastoma. If confirmed, the association between benign tumors and SMNs among hereditary patients may have implications for long-term surveillance.

Frequency of Pathogenic Germline Variants in Cancer-Susceptibility Genes in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Background

Pediatric cancers are the leading cause of death by disease in children despite improved survival rates overall. The contribution of germline genetic susceptibility to pediatric cancer survivors has not been extensively characterized. We assessed the frequency of pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in 5451 long-term pediatric cancer survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

Methods

Exome sequencing was conducted on germline DNA from 5451 pediatric cancer survivors (cases who survived ≥5 years from diagnosis; n = 5105 European) and 597 European cancer-free adults (controls). Analyses focused on comparing the frequency of rare P/LP variants in 237 cancer-susceptibility genes and a subset of 60 autosomal dominant high-to-moderate penetrance genes, for both case-case and case-control comparisons.

Results

Of European cases, 4.1% harbored a P/LP variant in high-to-moderate penetrance autosomal dominant genes compared with 1.3% in controls (2-sided P = 3 × 10-4). The highest frequency of P/LP variants was in genes typically associated with adult onset rather than pediatric cancers, including BRCA1/2, FH, PALB2, PMS2, and CDKN2A. A statistically significant excess of P/LP variants, after correction for multiple tests, was detected in patients with central nervous system cancers (NF1, SUFU, TSC1, PTCH2), Wilms tumor (WT1, REST), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PMS2), and soft tissue sarcomas (SDHB, DICER1, TP53, ERCC4, FGFR3) compared with other pediatric cancers.

Conclusion

In long-term pediatric cancer survivors, we identified P/LP variants in cancer-susceptibility genes not previously associated with pediatric cancer as well as confirmed known associations. Further characterization of variants in these genes in pediatric cancer will be important to provide optimal genetic counseling for patients and their families.

Genome-wide Association Studies Reveal Novel Locus With Sex-/Therapy-Specific Fracture Risk Effects in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Childhood cancer survivors treated with radiation therapy (RT) and osteotoxic chemotherapies are at increased risk for fractures. However, understanding of how genetic and clinical susceptibility factors jointly contribute to fracture risk among survivors is limited. To address this gap, we conducted genome-wide association studies of fracture risk after cancer diagnosis in 2453 participants of European ancestry from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) with 930 incident fractures using Cox regression models (ie, time-to-event analysis) and prioritized sex- and treatment-stratified genetic associations. We performed replication analyses in 1417 survivors of European ancestry with 652 incident fractures from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE). In discovery, we identified a genome-wide significant (p < 5 × 10^-8 ) fracture risk locus, 16p13.3 (HAGHL), among female CCSS survivors (n = 1289) with strong evidence of sex-specific effects (p_{sex-heterogeneity}  < 7 × 10^-6 ). Combining discovery and replication data, rs1406815 showed the strongest association (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.43, p = 8.2 × 10^-9 ; n = 1935 women) at this locus. In treatment-stratified analyses in the discovery cohort, the association between rs1406815 and fracture risk among female survivors with no RT exposures was weak (HR = 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95-1.57, p = 0.11) but increased substantially among those with greater head/neck RT doses (any RT: HR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.54-2.28, p = 2.4 × 10^-10 ; >36 Gray only: HR = 3.79, 95% CI 1.95-7.34, p = 8.2 × 10^-5 ). These head/neck RT-specific HAGHL single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effects were replicated in female SJLIFE survivors. In silico bioinformatics analyses suggest these fracture risk alleles regulate HAGHL gene expression and related bone resorption pathways. Genetic risk profiles integrating this locus may help identify female survivors who would benefit from targeted interventions to reduce fracture risk. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Common genetic polymorphisms contribute to the association between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non-melanoma skin cancer

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive association between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). We hypothesized that shared genetic risk factors between CLL and NMSC could contribute to the association observed between these diseases.

METHODS

We examined the association between (i) established NMSC susceptibility loci and CLL risk in a meta-analysis including 3100 CLL cases and 7667 controls and (ii) established CLL loci and NMSC risk in a study of 4242 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases, 825 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases and 12802 controls. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for CLL, BCC and SCC were constructed using established loci. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Higher CLL-PRS was associated with increased BCC risk (OR4th-quartile-vs-1st-quartile = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.24, Ptrend = 0.009), even after removing the shared 6p25.3 locus. No association was observed with BCC-PRS and CLL risk (Ptrend = 0.68). These findings support a contributory role for CLL in BCC risk, but not for BCC in CLL risk. Increased CLL risk was observed with higher SCC-PRS (OR4th-quartile-vs-1st-quartile = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.38, Ptrend = 1.36 × 10-5), which was driven by shared genetic susceptibility at the 6p25.3 locus.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the role of pleiotropy regarding the pathogenesis of CLL and NMSC and shows that a single pleiotropic locus, 6p25.3, drives the observed association between genetic susceptibility to SCC and increased CLL risk. The study also provides evidence that genetic susceptibility for CLL increases BCC risk.

Contribution of Polygenic Risk to Hypertension Among Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Background

Childhood cancer survivors experience significantly higher rates of hypertension, which potentiates cardiovascular disease, but the contribution and relationship of genetic and treatment factors to hypertension risk are unknown.

Objectives

This study sought to determine the contribution of a blood pressure polygenic risk score (PRS) from the general population and its interplay with cancer therapies to hypertension in childhood cancer survivors.

Methods

Using 895 established blood pressure loci from the general population, we calculated a PRS for 3,572 childhood cancer survivors of European ancestry from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) original cohort, 1,889 from the CCSS expansion cohort, and 2,534 from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort. Hypertension was assessed using National Cancer Institute criteria based on self-report of a physician diagnosis in CCSS and based on blood pressure measurement in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort.

Results

In the combined sample of 7,995 survivors, those in the top decile of the PRS had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.03 to 3.48) for hypertension compared with survivors in the bottom decile. The PRS-hypertension association was modified by being overweight/obese (per standard deviation interaction OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.27) and exposure to hypothalamic-pituitary axis radiation (per standard deviation interaction OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.33). Attributable fractions for hypertension to the PRS and cancer therapies were 21.0% and 15.7%, respectively; they jointly accounted for 40.2% of hypertension among survivors.

Conclusions

A blood pressure PRS from the general population is significantly associated with hypertension among childhood cancer survivors and contributes to approximately one quarter of hypertension risk among survivors. These findings highlight the importance of screening for hypertension in all childhood cancer survivors and identifying higher-risk subgroups.

Risk of Rare Cancers Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have elevated rates of certain rare cancers caused by viruses. Evaluating risk of rare cancers among SOTRs may provide etiological clues for additional cancers linked to poor immunity and viral infections.

METHODS

We performed a cohort study of 262 455 SOTRs (1987-2014) from the US SOTR registry linked to 17 population-based cancer registries. First cancers in SOTRs were categorized using an established classification scheme based on site and histology. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) compared risk in SOTRs with the general population. We used Poisson regression to calculate incidence rate ratios according to immune-related SOTR characteristics, including time since transplant (ie, duration of immunosuppression). All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

We examined 694 distinct cancer subtypes, with 33 manifesting statistically significantly elevated SIRs (Bonferroni P < 7.2 × 10-5). All 33 are rare (incidence <6 per 100 000 person-years) and several have known viral etiology (eg, Merkel cell carcinoma: SIR = 24.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 20.8 to 29.1). Additional cancers that were increased include squamous cell carcinomas of the lip (SIR range = 18.3-19.8), eye and adnexa (SIR = 13.8, 95% CI = 7.9 to 22.3), salivary gland (SIR = 9.3, 95% CI = 6.1 to 13.5), and nasal cavity and sinuses (SIR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2.8 to 6.8); sebaceous adenocarcinoma (SIR = 34.3, 95% CI = 26.3 to 44.0); malignant fibrous histiocytoma (15.4); and subtypes of bladder, kidney, lung, and colon cancer (SIR range = 3.2-13.3). Incidence of several cancers increased over time since transplant (Ptrend < .05), including squamous cell carcinomas of the lip, salivary gland, and anogenital sites.

CONCLUSIONS

SOTRs experience elevated rates of several rare cancers. Because some of these cancers exhibit aggressive behavior with poor outcomes, it is important to further characterize the role of immunity and the potential involvement of oncogenic viruses to improve prevention and treatment.

Frequency of Pathogenic Germline Variants in Cancer-Susceptibility Genes in Patients With Osteosarcoma

Importance

Osteosarcoma, the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, occurs in a high number of cancer predisposition syndromes that are defined by highly penetrant germline mutations. The germline genetic susceptibility to osteosarcoma outside of familial cancer syndromes remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the germline genetic architecture of 1244 patients with osteosarcoma.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Whole-exome sequencing (n = 1104) or targeted sequencing (n = 140) of the DNA of 1244 patients with osteosarcoma from 10 participating international centers or studies was conducted from April 21, 2014, to September 1, 2017. The results were compared with the DNA of 1062 individuals without cancer assembled internally from 4 participating studies who underwent comparable whole-exome sequencing and 27 173 individuals of non-Finnish European ancestry who were identified through the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) database. In the analysis, 238 high-interest cancer-susceptibility genes were assessed followed by testing of the mutational burden across 736 additional candidate genes. Principal component analyses were used to identify 732 European patients with osteosarcoma and 994 European individuals without cancer, with outliers removed for patient-control group comparisons. Patients were subsequently compared with individuals in the ExAC group. All data were analyzed from June 1, 2017, to July 1, 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The frequency of rare pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants.

Results

Among 1244 patients with osteosarcoma (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 16 [8.9] years [range, 2-80 years]; 684 patients [55.0%] were male), an analysis restricted to individuals with European ancestry indicated a significantly higher pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant burden in 238 high-interest cancer-susceptibility genes among patients with osteosarcoma compared with the control group (732 vs 994, respectively; P = 1.3 × 10-18). A pathogenic or likely pathogenic cancer-susceptibility gene variant was identified in 281 of 1004 patients with osteosarcoma (28.0%), of which nearly three-quarters had a variant that mapped to an autosomal-dominant gene or a known osteosarcoma-associated cancer predisposition syndrome gene. The frequency of a pathogenic or likely pathogenic cancer-susceptibility gene variant was 128 of 1062 individuals (12.1%) in the control group and 2527 of 27 173 individuals (9.3%) in the ExAC group. A higher than expected frequency of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants was observed in genes not previously linked to osteosarcoma (eg, CDKN2A, MEN1, VHL, POT1, APC, MSH2, and ATRX) and in the Li-Fraumeni syndrome-associated gene, TP53.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, approximately one-fourth of patients with osteosarcoma unselected for family history had a highly penetrant germline mutation requiring additional follow-up analysis and possible genetic counseling with cascade testing.

Subsequent Primary Neoplasms: Risks, Risk Factors, Surveillance, and Future Research

The authors' objective is to provide a brief update on recent advances in knowledge relating to subsequent primary neoplasms developing in survivors of childhood cancer. This includes a summary of established large-scale cohorts, risks reported, and contrasts with results from recently established large-scale cohorts of survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer. Recent evidence is summarized concerning the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for childhood cancer and survivor genomics in determining the risk of subsequent primary neoplasms. Progress with surveillance, screening, and clinical follow-up guidelines is addressed. Finally, priorities for future research are outlined.

The Future of Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Continued Progress

As treatment evolves and the population who survive childhood cancer ages and increases in number, researchers must use novel approaches to prevent, identify and mitigate adverse effects of treatment. Future priorities include collaborative efforts to pool large cohort data to improve detection of late effects, identify late effects of novel therapies, and determine the contribution of genetic factors along with physiologic and accelerated aging among survivors. This knowledge should translate to individual risk prediction and prevention strategies. Finally, we must utilize health services research and implementation science to improve adoption of survivorship care recommendations outside of specialized pediatric oncology centers.

Role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the risk of leukemia after childhood cancer: An international pooled analysis

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for second primary leukemia (SPL), but there is little consensus on the magnitude of some risk factors because of the small size of previous studies. We performed a pooled analysis of all published studies with detailed treatment data, including estimated active bone marrow (ABM) dose received during radiation therapy and doses of specific chemotherapeutic agents for childhood cancer diagnosed from 1930 through 2000, in order to more thoroughly investigate treatment-related risks of SPL. A total of 147 SPL cases (of which 69% were acute myeloid leukemia [AML]) were individually matched to 522 controls, all from four case-control studies including patients from six countries (France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Italy and Netherlands). Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression, and the excess OR per Gray (EOR/Gy) was also calculated. After accounting for the other therapies received, topoisomerase II inhibitor was associated with an increased SPL risk (highest tertile vs none: OR = 10.0, 95% CI: 3.7-27.3). Radiation dose to the ABM was also associated with increased SPL risk among those not receiving chemotherapy (EOR/Gy = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.1-14.3), but not among those who received chemotherapy (CT). SPL were most likely to occur in the first decade following cancer treatment. Results were similar when analyses were restricted to AML. The evidence of interaction between radiation and CT has implications for leukemogenic mechanism. The results for topoisomerase II inhibitors are particularly important given their increasing use to treat childhood cancer.

Cancer therapy shapes the fitness landscape of clonal hematopoiesis

Acquired mutations are pervasive across normal tissues. However, understanding of the processes that drive transformation of certain clones to cancer is limited. Here we study this phenomenon in the context of clonal hematopoiesis (CH) and the development of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (tMNs). We find that mutations are selected differentially based on exposures. Mutations in ASXL1 are enriched in current or former smokers, whereas cancer therapy with radiation, platinum and topoisomerase II inhibitors preferentially selects for mutations in DNA damage response genes (TP53, PPM1D, CHEK2). Sequential sampling provides definitive evidence that DNA damage response clones outcompete other clones when exposed to certain therapies. Among cases in which CH was previously detected, the CH mutation was present at tMN diagnosis. We identify the molecular characteristics of CH that increase risk of tMN. The increasing implementation of clinical sequencing at diagnosis provides an opportunity to identify patients at risk of tMN for prevention strategies.

Recommendations for Long-Term Follow-up of Adults with Heritable Retinoblastoma

PURPOSE

To generate recommendations for long-term follow-up of adult survivors of heritable retinoblastoma.

DESIGN

We convened a meeting of providers from retinoblastoma centers around the world to review the state of the science and to evaluate the published evidence.

PARTICIPANTS

Retinoblastoma is a rare childhood cancer of the retina. Approximately 40% of retinoblastoma cases are heritable, resulting from a germline mutation in RB1. Dramatic improvements in treatment and supportive care have resulted in a growing adult survivor population. However, survivors of heritable retinoblastoma have a significantly increased risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms, particularly bone and soft tissue sarcomas, uterine leiomyosarcoma, melanomas, and radiotherapy-related central nervous system tumors, which are associated with excess morbidity and mortality. Despite these risks, no surveillance recommendations for this population currently are in place, and surveillance practices vary widely by center.

METHODS

Following the Institute of Medicine procedure for clinical practice guideline development, a PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science search was performed, resulting in 139 articles; after abstract and full-text review, 37 articles underwent detailed data abstraction to quantify risk and evidence regarding surveillance, if available. During an in-person meeting, evidence was presented and discussed, resulting in consensus recommendations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Diagnosis and mortality from subsequent neoplasm.

RESULTS

Although evidence for risk of subsequent neoplasm, especially sarcoma and melanoma, was significant, evidence supporting routine testing of asymptomatic survivors was not identified. Skin examination for melanoma and prompt evaluation of signs and symptoms of head and neck disease were determined to be prudent.

CONCLUSIONS

This review of the literature confirmed some of the common second cancers in retinoblastoma survivors but found little evidence for a benefit from currently available surveillance for these malignancies. Future research should incorporate international partners, patients, and family members.

Genetic variation in the body mass index of adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort

BACKGROUND

Treatment characteristics such as cranial radiation therapy (CRT) do not fully explain adiposity risk in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors. This study was aimed at characterizing genetic variation related to adult body mass index (BMI) among survivors of childhood ALL.

METHODS

Genetic associations of BMI among 1458 adult survivors of childhood ALL (median time from diagnosis, 20 years) were analyzed by multiple approaches. A 2-stage genome-wide association study in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) and the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE) was performed. BMI was a highly polygenic trait in the general population. Within the known loci, the BMI percent variance explained was estimated, and additive interactions (chi-square test) with CRT in the CCSS were evaluated. The role of DNA methylation in CRT interaction was further evaluated in a subsample of ALL survivors.

RESULTS

In a meta-analysis of the CCSS and SJLIFE, 2 novel loci associated with adult BMI among survivors of childhood ALL (LINC00856 rs575792008 and EMR1 rs62123082; P_Meta < 5E-8) were identified. It was estimated that the more than 700 known loci explained 6.2% of the variation in adult BMI in childhood ALL survivors. Within the known loci, significant main effects for 23 loci and statistical interactions with CRT at 9 loci (P < 7.0E-5) were further identified. At 2 CRT-interacting loci, DNA methylation patterns may have differed by age.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult survivors of childhood ALL have genetic heritability for BMI similar to that observed in the general population. This study provides evidence that treatment with CRT can modify the effect of genetic variants on adult BMI in childhood ALL survivors.

Generalizability of "GWAS Hits" in Clinical Populations: Lessons from Childhood Cancer Survivors

With mounting interest in translating genome-wide association study (GWAS) hits from large meta-analyses (meta-GWAS) in diverse clinical settings, evaluating their generalizability in target populations is crucial. Here, we consider long-term survivors of childhood cancers from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study, and we show the limited generalizability of 1,376 robust SNP associations reported in the general population across 12 complex anthropometric and cardiometabolic phenotypes (n = 2,231; observed-to-expected replication ratio = 0.70, p = 6.2 × 10^-8). An examination of five comparable phenotypes in a second independent cohort of survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study corroborated the overall limited generalizability of meta-GWAS hits to survivors (n = 4,212; observed-to-expected replication ratio = 0.55, p = 5.6 × 10^-15). Finally, in direct comparisons of survivor samples against independent equivalently powered general population samples from the UK Biobank, we consistently observed lower meta-GWAS hit replication rates and poorer polygenic risk score predictive performance in survivor samples for multiple phenotypes. As a possible explanation, we found that meta-GWAS hits were less likely to be replicated in survivors who had been exposed to cancer therapies that are associated with phenotype risk. Examination of complementary DNA methylation data in a subset of survivors revealed that treatment-related methylation patterns at genomic sites linked to meta-GWAS hits may disrupt established genetic signals in survivors.

Cause-Specific Mortality Following Initial Chemotherapy in a Population-Based Cohort of Patients With Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, 2000-2016

PURPOSE

Mortality for patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) treated during an era characterized in the United States by widespread use of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine and diminishing use of radiotherapy is not well understood.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified 20,007 individuals diagnosed with stage I/II (early) or III/IV (advanced) cHL between age 20 and 74 years treated with initial chemotherapy in US population-based cancer registries during 2000-2015 (follow-up through 2016). We used standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) to compare cause-specific relative mortality risk following cHL to that expected in the general population and estimated excess absolute risks (EARs; per 10,000 patient-years) to quantify disease-specific death burden.

RESULTS

We identified 3,380 deaths in the cHL cohort, including 1,321 (39%) not attributed to lymphoma. Overall, noncancer SMRs were increased 2.4-fold (95% CI, 2.2 to 2.6; observed, 559; EAR, 61.6) and 1.6-fold (95% CI, 1.4 to 1.7; observed, 473; EAR, 18.2) for advanced- and early-stage cHL, respectively, compared with the general US population. SMRs and EARs differed substantially by cause of death and cHL stage. Among the highest EARs for noncancer causes of death were those for heart disease (EAR, 15.1; SMR, 2.1), infections (EAR, 10.6; SMR, 3.9), interstitial lung disease (ILD; EAR, 9.7; SMR, 22.1), and adverse events (AEs) related to medications/drugs (EAR, 7.4; SMR, 5.0) after advanced-stage cHL and heart disease (EAR, 6.6; SMR, 1.7), ILD (EAR, 3.7; SMR, 13.1), and infections (EAR, 3.1; SMR, 2.2) after early-stage cHL. Strikingly elevated SMRs for ILD, infections, and AEs were observed < 1 year after cHL. Individuals age 60-74 years with advanced-stage cHL experienced a disproportionate excess of deaths as a result of heart disease, ILD, infections, AEs, and solid tumors.

CONCLUSION

Despite evolving cHL treatment approaches, patients continue to face increased nonlymphoma mortality risks from multiple, potentially preventable causes. Surveillance, early interventions, and cHL treatment refinements may favorably affect patient longevity, particularly among high-risk subgroups.

Low-frequency variation near common germline susceptibility loci are associated with risk of Ewing sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare, aggressive solid tumor of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood associated with pathognomonic EWSR1-ETS fusion oncoproteins altering transcriptional regulation. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 6 common germline susceptibility loci but have not investigated low-frequency inherited variants with minor allele frequencies below 5% due to limited genotyped cases of this rare tumor.

METHODS

We investigated the contribution of rare and low-frequency variation to EwS susceptibility in the largest EwS genome-wide association study to date (733 EwS cases and 1,346 unaffected controls of European ancestry).

RESULTS

We identified two low-frequency variants, rs112837127 and rs2296730, on chromosome 20 that were associated with EwS risk (OR = 0.186 and 2.038, respectively; P-value < 5×10-8) and located near previously reported common susceptibility loci. After adjusting for the most associated common variant at the locus, only rs112837127 remained a statistically significant independent signal (OR = 0.200, P-value = 5.84×10-8).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest rare variation residing on common haplotypes are important contributors to EwS risk.

IMPACT

Motivate future targeted sequencing studies for a comprehensive evaluation of low-frequency and rare variation around common EwS susceptibility loci.