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Onyije FM, Dolatkhah R, Olsson A, Bouaoun L, Deltour I, Erdmann F, Bonaventure A, Scheurer ME, Clavel J, Schüz J. Risk factors for childhood brain tumours: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies from 1976 to 2022. Cancer Epidemiol 2024; 88:102510. [PMID: 38056243 PMCID: PMC10835339 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2023.102510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood brain tumours (CBTs) are the leading cause of cancer death in children under the age of 20 years globally. Though the aetiology of CBT remains poorly understood, it is thought to be multifactorial. We aimed to synthesize potential risk factors for CBT to inform primary prevention. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies indexed in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases from the start of those resources through 27 July 2023. We included data from case-control or cohort studies that reported effect estimates for each risk factor around the time of conception, during pregnancy and/or during post-natal period. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate summary effect sizes (ES) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We also quantified heterogeneity (I2) across studies. FINDINGS A total of 4040 studies were identified, of which 181 studies (85 case-control and 96 cohort studies) met our criteria for inclusion. Of all eligible studies, 50% (n = 91) were conducted in Europe, 32% (n = 57) in North America, 9% (n = 16) in Australia, 8% (n = 15) in Asia, 1% (n = 2) in South America, and none in Africa. We found associations for some modifiable risk factors including childhood domestic exposures to insecticides (ES 1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.73) and herbicides (ES 2.38, 95% CI 1.31-4.33). Maternal domestic exposure to insecticides (ES 1.45, 95% CI 1.09-1.94), maternal consumption of cured meat (ES 1.51, 95% CI 1.05-2.17) and coffee ≥ 2 cups/day (ES 1.45, 95% 95% CI 1.07-1.95) during pregnancy, and maternal exposure to benzene (ES 2.22; 95% CI 1.01-4.88) before conception were associated with CBTs in case-control studies. Also, paternal occupational exposure to pesticides (ES 1.48, 95% CI 1.23-1.77) and benzene (ES 1.74, 95% CI 1.10-2.76) before conception and during pregnancy were associated in case-control studies and in combined analysis. On the other hand, assisted reproductive technology (ART) (ES 1.32, 95% CI 1.05-1.67), caesarean section (CS) (ES 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.25), paternal occupational exposure to paint before conception (ES 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.40) and maternal smoking > 10 cigarettes per day during pregnancy (ES 1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.40) were associated with CBT in cohort studies. Maternal intake of vitamins and folic acid during pregnancy was inversely associated in cohort studies. Hormonal/infertility treatment, breastfeeding, child day-care attendance, maternal exposure to electric heated waterbed, tea and alcohol consumption during pregnancy were among those not associated with CBT in both case-control and cohort studies. CONCLUSION Our results should be interpreted with caution, especially as most associations between risk factors and CBT were discordant between cohort and case-control studies. At present, it is premature for any CBT to define specific primary prevention guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix M Onyije
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 25 avenue Tony Garnier, CS 90627, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France.
| | - Roya Dolatkhah
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 25 avenue Tony Garnier, CS 90627, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France
| | - Ann Olsson
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 25 avenue Tony Garnier, CS 90627, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France
| | - Liacine Bouaoun
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 25 avenue Tony Garnier, CS 90627, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France
| | - Isabelle Deltour
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 25 avenue Tony Garnier, CS 90627, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Research Group Aetiology and Inequalities in Childhood Cancer, Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraβe 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Audrey Bonaventure
- Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers Team, Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Villejuif, France
| | - Michael E Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jacqueline Clavel
- Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers Team, Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Villejuif, France; National Registry of Childhood Cancers, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Villejuif, France; Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Joachim Schüz
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 25 avenue Tony Garnier, CS 90627, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France
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Schraw JM, Petridou ET, Bonaventure A, Dockerty JD, Karalexi M, Ntzani E, Infante-Rivard C, Clavel J, Bracci PM, McKean-Cowdin R, Roman E, Kane E, Erdmann F, Schüz J, Mueller BA, Scheurer ME. Breastfeeding and risk of childhood brain tumors: a report from the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium. Cancer Causes Control 2023; 34:1005-1015. [PMID: 37421504 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01746-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Studies report mixed findings regarding the association of breastfeeding with childhood brain tumors (CBT), the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in young people. Our objective was to determine whether breastfeeding is associated with CBT incidence. METHODS We pooled data on N = 2610 cases with CBT (including 697 cases with astrocytoma, 447 cases with medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor [PNET], 167 cases with ependymoma) and N = 8128 age- and sex-matched controls in the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium. We computed unconditional logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of CBT, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma/PNET, and ependymoma according to breastfeeding status, adjusting for study, sex, mode of delivery, birthweight, age at diagnosis/interview, maternal age at delivery, maternal educational attainment, and maternal race/ethnicity. We evaluated any breastfeeding versus none and breastfeeding ≥ 6 months versus none. We subsequently performed random effects meta-analysis to confirm our findings, identify potential sources of heterogeneity, and evaluate for outliers or influential studies. RESULTS Breastfeeding was reported by 64.8% of control mothers and 64.5% of case mothers and was not associated with CBT (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.94-1.15), astrocytoma (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.87-1.17), medulloblastoma/PNET (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.93-1.32), or ependymoma (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.81-1.40). Results were similar when we restricted to breastfeeding ≥ 6 months and in meta-analyses. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that breastfeeding does not protect against CBT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Schraw
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Eleni Th Petridou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Hellenic Society for Social Pediatrics and Health Promotion, Athens, Greece
| | - Audrey Bonaventure
- UMR-1153, CRESS, Université de Paris, INSERM, Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers Team, Villejuif, France
| | - John D Dockerty
- Department of Preventative and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Maria Karalexi
- Hellenic Society for Social Pediatrics and Health Promotion, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Ntzani
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Claire Infante-Rivard
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Clavel
- UMR-1153, CRESS, Université de Paris, INSERM, Epidemiology of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers Team, Villejuif, France
- National Registry of Childhood Cancers, APHP, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Villejuif, and CHU de Nancy, Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Paige M Bracci
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Eve Roman
- Epidemiology and Cancer Statistics Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Eleanor Kane
- Epidemiology and Cancer Statistics Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Joachim Schüz
- Section of Environment and Radiation, International Agency for Research On Cancer (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France
| | - Beth A Mueller
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael E Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Georgakis MK, Dessypris N, Papadakis V, Tragiannidis A, Bouka E, Hatzipantelis E, Moschovi M, Papakonstantinou E, Polychronopoulou S, Sgouros S, Stiakaki E, Pourtsidis A, Psaltopoulou T, Petridou ET. Perinatal and early life risk factors for childhood brain tumors: Is instrument-assisted delivery associated with higher risk? Cancer Epidemiol 2019; 59:178-184. [PMID: 30818125 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The childhood peak of brain tumors suggests that early-life exposures might have a role in their etiology. Hence, we examined in the Greek National Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid tumors (NARECHEM-ST) whether perinatal and early-life risk factors influence the risk of childhood brain tumors. METHODS In a nationwide case-control study, we included 203 cases (0-14 years) with a diagnosis of brain tumor in NARECHEM-ST (2010-2016) and 406 age-, sex-, and center-matched hospital controls. Information was collected via interviews with the guardians and we analyzed the variables of interest in multivariable conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS Instrument-assisted delivery was associated with higher (OR: 7.82, 95%CI: 2.18-28.03), whereas caesarean delivery with lower (OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.45-0.99) risk of childhood brain tumors, as compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy (OR: 2.35, 95%CI: 1.45-3.81) and history of living in a farm (OR: 4.98, 2.40-10.32) increased the odds of childhood brain tumors. Conversely, higher birth order was associated with lower risk (OR for 2nd vs. 1st child: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.40-0.89 and OR for 3rd vs. 1st: 0.34, 95%CI: 0.18-0.63). Birth weight, gestational age, parental age, history of infertility, smoking during pregnancy, allergic diseases, and maternal diseases during pregnancy showed no significant associations. CONCLUSIONS Perinatal and early-life risk factors, and specifically indicators of brain trauma, exposure to toxic agents and immune system maturation, might be involved in the pathogenesis of childhood brain tumors. Larger studies should aim to replicate our findings and examine associations with tumor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios K Georgakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nick Dessypris
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilios Papadakis
- Department of Pediatric Haematology-Oncology, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tragiannidis
- Second Department of Pediatrics, Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evdoxia Bouka
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Hatzipantelis
- Second Department of Pediatrics, Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Moschovi
- Haematology-Oncology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Sophia Polychronopoulou
- Department of Pediatric Haematology-Oncology, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyridon Sgouros
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Mitera" Childrens Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Eftichia Stiakaki
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Apostolos Pourtsidis
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, "Pan. & Agl. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Psaltopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Th Petridou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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The association between birth order and childhood brain tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer Prev 2018; 28:551-561. [PMID: 30399044 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of childhood brain tumors (CBT) has increased worldwide, likely resulting from the improvements of early diagnostics. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the association between birth order and CBT. We followed established guidelines to systematically search Ovid Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for English language studies, published before March 2018. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis provided pooled risk estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for birth order and CBT. We identified 16 case-control studies with a total sample of 32 439 cases and 166 144 controls and three prospective cohort studies (i.e. 4515 incident cases of CBTs among 5 281 558 participants). Compared with first birth order, the meta-odds ratio for second birth order in case-control studies was 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01-1.07), that for third birth order was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.90-1.06), and that for fourth order was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78-0.92). The meta-hazard ratio for second or higher birth order compared with first birth order in cohort studies was 1.00 (95% CI: 0.96-1.05). We found no association between birth order and CBT in both case-control and cohort study designs; the small association observed for fourth birth order deserves further consideration.
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Lupatsch JE, Bailey HD, Lacour B, Dufour C, Bertozzi AI, Leblond P, Faure-Conter C, Pellier I, Freycon C, Doz F, Puget S, Ducassou S, Orsi L, Clavel J. Childhood brain tumours, early infections and immune stimulation: A pooled analysis of the ESCALE and ESTELLE case-control studies (SFCE, France). Cancer Epidemiol 2017; 52:1-9. [PMID: 29128708 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2017.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated whether early infections and factors potentially related to early immune stimulation might be involved in the aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT). In this study, we investigated the associations between CBT with early day-care attendance, history of early common infections, atopic conditions (asthma/wheezing, eczema, allergic rhinitis), early farm residence/visits and contact with animals. METHODS We pooled data from two nationwide French case-control studies, the ESCALE and ESTELLE studies. Children with a CBT diagnosed between 1 and 14 years of age were identified directly from the French National Registry of Childhood Cancers, while population controls were recruited from telephone subscribers. Odds-ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS The analyses included 469 cases and 2719 controls. We found no association between attending a day-care centre (OR: 0.9, 95%CI: 0.7-1.2) or having had repeated common infections (OR: 0.9, 95%CI: 0.7-1.2) in the first year of life and the risk of CBT. There was also no association with a history of asthma/wheezing (OR: 0.8, 95%CI: 0.56-1.1). Farm visits (OR: 0.6, 95%CI: 0.5-0.8) as well as contact with pets (OR: 0.8, 95%CI: 0.6-1.0) in the first year of life were inversely associated with CBT. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a protective effect of early farm visits and contact with pets, but not with other markers of early immune stimulation. This might be related to immune stimulation but needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith E Lupatsch
- UMRS 1153, INSERM, Université Paris-Descartes, Université Sorbonne-Paris-Cité, CRESS-EPICEA Epidémiologie des cancers de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Paris, France; Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Helen D Bailey
- UMRS 1153, INSERM, Université Paris-Descartes, Université Sorbonne-Paris-Cité, CRESS-EPICEA Epidémiologie des cancers de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Paris, France
| | - Brigitte Lacour
- UMRS 1153, INSERM, Université Paris-Descartes, Université Sorbonne-Paris-Cité, CRESS-EPICEA Epidémiologie des cancers de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Paris, France; RNCE - National Registry of Childhood Cancers, Inserm, Villejuif and CHU de Nancy, France
| | - Christelle Dufour
- Gustave Roussy, Département de cancérologie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Pierre Leblond
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Oscar Lambret Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lille, France
| | - Cécile Faure-Conter
- Institut d'hématologie et d'oncologie pédiatrique, IHOPe, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | | | - Claire Freycon
- Clinique de pédiatrie, Hôpital Couple Enfant, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - François Doz
- Oncology Center SIREDO (Care Innovation Research in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Cancer), Institut Curie and Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Puget
- Service de neurochirurgie pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Ducassou
- Service d'onco-hématologie pédiatrique, Hôpital Pellegrin Tripode, Bordeaux, France
| | - Laurent Orsi
- UMRS 1153, INSERM, Université Paris-Descartes, Université Sorbonne-Paris-Cité, CRESS-EPICEA Epidémiologie des cancers de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Paris, France
| | - Jacqueline Clavel
- UMRS 1153, INSERM, Université Paris-Descartes, Université Sorbonne-Paris-Cité, CRESS-EPICEA Epidémiologie des cancers de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Paris, France; RNCE - National Registry of Childhood Cancers, Inserm, Villejuif and CHU de Nancy, France
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6
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Georgakis MK, Ntinopoulou E, Chatzopoulou D, Petridou ET. Season of birth and primary central nervous system tumors: a systematic review of the literature with critical appraisal of underlying mechanisms. Ann Epidemiol 2017; 27:593-602.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Pembrey L, Waiblinger D, Griffiths P, Patel M, Azad R, Wright J. Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus infection in the first two years of life: a cohort study in Bradford, UK. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:220. [PMID: 28320319 PMCID: PMC5360071 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2319-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are common herpesviruses frequently acquired in childhood, which establish persistent, latent infection and are likely to impact the developing immune system. Little is known about the epidemiology of CMV and EBV infections in contemporary UK paediatric populations, particularly whether age at infection differs by ethnic group. Methods Children enrolled in the Born in Bradford Allergy and Infection Study had a blood sample taken and a questionnaire completed at 12 and 24 months of age. Ordered logistic regression quantified associations between ethnicity and other risk factors and age at CMV/EBV/VZV infection (<12 months, 12–24 months, uninfected at 24 months). Results Pakistani children (n = 472) were more likely to be infected with CMV and EBV at a younger age than White British children (n = 391) (CMV: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47–4.33; EBV: adjusted OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.43–3.26). Conversely, Pakistani children had lower odds of being VZV infected in the second year than White British children (adjusted OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.97). There was a strong association between increasing birth order and later CMV infection in Pakistani children. Conclusions We report large differences in CMV and EBV incidence in the first 2 years between Pakistani and White British children born in Bradford, which cannot be explained by differences in risk factors for infection. Our data will inform the optimum schedule for future CMV and EBV vaccination programmes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2319-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Pembrey
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | | | - Paul Griffiths
- Centre for Virology, University College London Medical School, London, UK
| | - Mauli Patel
- Virology Department, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Rafaq Azad
- Department of Biochemistry, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, UK
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Massimino M, Biassoni V, Gandola L, Garrè ML, Gatta G, Giangaspero F, Poggi G, Rutkowski S. Childhood medulloblastoma. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2016; 105:35-51. [PMID: 27375228 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma accounts for 15-20% of childhood nervous system tumours. The risk of dying was reduced by 30% in the last twenty years. Patients are divided in risk strata according to post-surgical disease, dissemination, histology and some molecular features such as WNT subgroup and MYC status. Sixty to 70% of patients older than 3 years are assigned to the average-risk group. High-risk patients include those with disseminated and/or residual disease, large cell and/or anaplastic histotypes, MYC genes amplification. Current and currently planned clinical trials will: (1) evaluate the feasibility of reducing both the dose of craniospinal irradiation and the volume of the posterior fossa radiotherapy (RT) for those patients at low biologic risk, commonly identified as those having a medulloblastoma of the WNT subgroup; (2) determine whether intensification of chemotherapy (CT) or irradiation can improve outcome in patients with high-risk disease; (3) find target therapies allowing tailored therapies especially for relapsing patients and those with higher biological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Massimino
- Fondazione IRCCS-Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy.
| | | | - Lorenza Gandola
- Fondazione IRCCS-Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy.
| | | | - Gemma Gatta
- Fondazione IRCCS-Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan Italy.
| | | | | | - Stefan Rutkowski
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hamburg, Germany.
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Johnson KJ, Cullen J, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Ostrom QT, Langer CE, Turner MC, McKean-Cowdin R, Fisher JL, Lupo PJ, Partap S, Schwartzbaum JA, Scheurer ME. Childhood brain tumor epidemiology: a brain tumor epidemiology consortium review. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014; 23:2716-36. [PMID: 25192704 PMCID: PMC4257885 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-14-0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood brain tumors are the most common pediatric solid tumor and include several histologic subtypes. Although progress has been made in improving survival rates for some subtypes, understanding of risk factors for childhood brain tumors remains limited to a few genetic syndromes and ionizing radiation to the head and neck. In this report, we review descriptive and analytical epidemiology childhood brain tumor studies from the past decade and highlight priority areas for future epidemiology investigations and methodological work that is needed to advance our understanding of childhood brain tumor causes. Specifically, we summarize the results of a review of studies published since 2004 that have analyzed incidence and survival in different international regions and that have examined potential genetic, immune system, developmental and birth characteristics, and environmental risk factors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2716-36. ©2014 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J Johnson
- Brown School Masters of Public Health Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jennifer Cullen
- American Childhood Cancer Organization, Kensington, Maryland
| | - Jill S Barnholtz-Sloan
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Quinn T Ostrom
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Chelsea E Langer
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Carrer Doctor Aiguader, Barcelona, Spain. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, Barcelona, Spain. CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Carrer Casanova, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michelle C Turner
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Carrer Doctor Aiguader, Barcelona, Spain. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Plaça de la Mercè, Barcelona, Spain. CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Carrer Casanova, Barcelona, Spain. McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roberta McKean-Cowdin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - James L Fisher
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Sonia Partap
- Division of Neurology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Judith A Schwartzbaum
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Michael E Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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10
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van Laar M, Stark DP, McKinney P, Parslow RC, Kinsey SE, Picton SV, Feltbower RG. Population mixing for leukaemia, lymphoma and CNS tumours in teenagers and young adults in England, 1996-2005. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:698. [PMID: 25248916 PMCID: PMC4180542 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Little aetiological epidemiological research has been undertaken for major cancers occurring in teenagers and young adults (TYA). Population mixing, as a possible proxy for infectious exposure, has been well researched for childhood malignancies. We aimed to investigate effects of population mixing in this older age group using an English national cancer dataset. Methods Cases of leukaemia, lymphoma and central nervous system (CNS) tumours amongst 15–24 year olds in England (diagnosed 1996–2005) were included in the study. Data were obtained by ward of diagnosis and linked to 1991 census variables including population mixing (Shannon index); data on person-weighted population density and deprivation (Townsend score) were also used and considered as explanatory variables. Associations between TYA cancer incidence and census variables were investigated using negative binomial regression, and results presented as incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results A total of 6251 cases of leukaemia (21%), lymphoma (49%) and CNS tumours (30%) were analysed. Higher levels of population mixing were associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of CNS tumours (IRR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.75-0.91), accounted for by astrocytomas and ‘other CNS tumours’; however, there was no association with leukaemia or lymphoma. Incidence of CNS tumours and lymphoma was 3% lower in more deprived areas (IRR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96-0.99 and IRR = 0.97, 95% CI =0.96-0.98 respectively). Population density was not associated with the incidence of leukaemia, lymphoma or CNS tumours. Conclusions Our results suggest a possible role for environmental risk factors with population correlates in the aetiology of CNS tumours amongst TYAs. Unlike studies of childhood cancer, associations between population mixing and the incidence of leukaemia and lymphoma were not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Richard G Feltbower
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Worsley Building, Clarendon Way, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
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11
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Feltbower RG, Fleming SJ, Picton SV, Alston RD, Morgan D, Achilles J, McKinney PA, Birch JM. UK case control study of brain tumours in children, teenagers and young adults: a pilot study. BMC Res Notes 2014; 7:14. [PMID: 24398074 PMCID: PMC3922821 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumours of the central nervous system are the second most common group of childhood cancers in 0-14 year olds (24% of total cancers) and represent a major diagnostic group in 15-24 year olds. The pilot case-control study aimed to establish methodologies for a future comprehensive aetiological investigation among children and young adults. METHODS Eligible cases were newly diagnosed with an intracranial tumour of neuroepithelial tissue aged 0-24 years. The pilot recruited patients through Leeds and Manchester Principal Treatment Centres. Controls were drawn from general practice lists. Controls were frequency matched by age and gender. RESULTS We interviewed 49 cases and 78 controls comprising 85% of the target sample size. Response rates were 52% for cases and 32% for controls. Completion of the questionnaire was successful, with a very small proportion of missing data being reported (5-10%). The age distribution of cases and controls was similar with around three-quarters of interviewed subjects aged 0-14. Half of cases and almost two-thirds of controls reported using a mobile phone with the majority starting between 10-14 years of age. Prevalence of breastfeeding was lower in cases than controls (Odds Ratio 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-1.2), whilst cases were more likely to be delivered by caesarean section (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.6-4.4). Cases were significantly more likely to have a birthweight > 3.5 kg compared to controls. Cases were also more likely to come from a family with 3 or more siblings than controls (OR 3.0; 95% CI 0.7-13.6). The majority of participants (>80%) were in favour of taking either blood or saliva to aid molecular epidemiological research. CONCLUSIONS Successful methods were established for identifying and recruiting a high proportion of case subjects, exploiting strong links with the clinical teams at the treatment centres. Control procedures proved more difficult to implement. However, working closely with national clinical and professional research networks will enable improved control identification and recruitment, with good prospects for collecting biological samples in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Feltbower
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sarah J Fleming
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Susan V Picton
- Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Martin Wing, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
| | - Robert D Alston
- Cancer Research UK Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Diana Morgan
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Janice Achilles
- Cancer Research UK Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Patricia A McKinney
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jillian M Birch
- Cancer Research UK Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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12
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McNally RJQ, Stiller C, Vincent TJ, Murphy MFG. Cross-space-time clustering of childhood cancer in Great Britain: evidence for a common aetiology. Int J Cancer 2014; 134:136-43. [PMID: 23775892 PMCID: PMC4232877 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we identified space-time clustering in certain childhood cancers. This study aimed to determine whether there was cross-space-time clustering between different diagnostic groups. A total of 32,295 cases were diagnosed during 1969–1993. Cross-space-time clustering was analyzed by a second-order procedure based on Diggle's method. Locations were birth and diagnosis addresses. The following space-time combinations were examined: address and date of birth; address at birth and date of diagnosis; address and date of diagnosis. Cross-space-time clustering analyses considered clustering pairs of cases from two different diagnostic groups. Formal statistical significance was taken as p < 0.00067 and marginal significance 0.01 > p ≥ 0.00067. Based on address at birth and date of diagnosis, there was statistically significant cross-clustering between cases of HL and intracranial and intraspinal embryonal tumors (IIET), both aged 0–14 years (p < 0.0001). Based on address and date of birth, there was marginally significant cross-clustering between cases of lymphoid leukemia (LL) aged 5-14 years and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) aged 0–14 years (p = 0.0019). Based on address and date of diagnosis there was marginally significant cross-clustering between cases of LL aged 1–4 years and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) aged 0–14 years (p = 0.0041). Findings from this study are consistent with possible common aetiological factors between different diagnostic groups. They suggest a common aetiology for the following pairs of diagnostic groups: HL and IIET; older cases of LL and HL; younger cases of LL and STS. The possibility of common infectious mechanisms should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Q McNally
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, England, United Kingdom
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13
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Andersen TV, Schmidt LS, Poulsen AH, Feychting M, Röösli M, Tynes T, Aydin D, Prochazka M, Lannering B, Klæboe L, Eggen T, Kuehni CE, Schmiegelow K, Schüz J. Patterns of exposure to infectious diseases and social contacts in early life and risk of brain tumours in children and adolescents: an International Case-Control Study (CEFALO). Br J Cancer 2013; 108:2346-53. [PMID: 23652309 PMCID: PMC3681020 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Infectious diseases and social contacts in early life have been proposed to modulate brain tumour risk during late childhood and adolescence. Methods: CEFALO is an interview-based case–control study in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, including children and adolescents aged 7–19 years with primary intracranial brain tumours diagnosed between 2004 and 2008 and matched population controls. Results: The study included 352 cases (participation rate: 83%) and 646 controls (71%). There was no association with various measures of social contacts: daycare attendance, number of childhours at daycare, attending baby groups, birth order or living with other children. Cases of glioma and embryonal tumours had more frequent sick days with infections in the first 6 years of life compared with controls. In 7–19 year olds with 4+ monthly sick day, the respective odds ratios were 2.93 (95% confidence interval: 1.57–5.50) and 4.21 (95% confidence interval: 1.24–14.30). Interpretation: There was little support for the hypothesis that social contacts influence childhood and adolescent brain tumour risk. The association between reported sick days due to infections and risk of glioma and embryonal tumour may reflect involvement of immune functions, recall bias or inverse causality and deserve further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- T V Andersen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
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14
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McNally RJQ, James PW, Picton SV, McKinney PA, van Laar M, Feltbower RG. Space-time clustering of childhood central nervous system tumours in Yorkshire, UK. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:13. [PMID: 22244018 PMCID: PMC3295655 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We specifically tested the aetiological hypothesis that a factor influencing geographical or temporal heterogeneity of childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumour incidence was related to exposure to a transient environmental agent. METHODS Information was extracted on individuals aged 0-14 years, diagnosed with a CNS tumour between the 1st January 1974 and 31st December 2006 from the Yorkshire Specialist Register of Cancer in Children and Young People. Ordnance Survey eight-digit grid references were allocated to each case with respect to addresses at the time of birth and the time of diagnosis, locating each address to within 0.1 km. The following diagnostic groups were specified a priori for analysis: ependymoma; astrocytoma; primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs); other gliomas; total CNS tumours. We applied the K-function method for testing global space-time clustering using fixed geographical distance thresholds. Tests were repeated using variable nearest neighbour (NN) thresholds. RESULTS There was statistically significant global space-time clustering for PNETs only, based on time and place of diagnosis (P = 0.03 and 0.01 using the fixed geographical distance and the variable NN threshold versions of the K-function method respectively). CONCLUSIONS There was some evidence for a transient environmental component to the aetiology of PNETs. However, a possible role for chance cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard JQ McNally
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
- Dr Richard JQ McNally, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Peter W James
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Susan V Picton
- Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Patricia A McKinney
- Paediatric Epidemiology Group, Division of Epidemiology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9NL, UK
| | - Marlous van Laar
- Paediatric Epidemiology Group, Division of Epidemiology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9NL, UK
| | - Richard G Feltbower
- Paediatric Epidemiology Group, Division of Epidemiology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9NL, UK
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15
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Massimino M, Giangaspero F, Garrè ML, Gandola L, Poggi G, Biassoni V, Gatta G, Rutkowski S. Childhood medulloblastoma. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2010; 79:65-83. [PMID: 21129995 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Revised: 06/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/14/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Among all the childhood central nervous system tumours, medulloblastoma and other neuroectodermal tumours account for 16-25% of cases. The causative factors of medulloblastoma/PNET have not been well established. It is more frequent in boys than in girl and in children than in adults. There was a significant improvement of survival for children diagnosed in 2000-2002 compared to those diagnosed in 1995-1999. The risk of dying was reduced by 30%. Patients are generally divided into risk-stratified schemes on the basis of age, the extent of residual disease, and dissemination. Sixty to 70% of patients older than 3 years are assigned to the average-risk group. High-risk patients include those in the disseminated category, and in North American trials those that have less than a gross or near-total resection, which is arbitrarily defined as 1.5 cm(2) of post-operative residual disease. Current and currently planned clinical trials will:define molecular and biological markers that improve outcome prediction in patients with medulloblastoma and which can be incorporated for front-line stratification of newly defined risk subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Massimino
- Fondazione IRCCS "Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori", Milan, Italy.
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16
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Von Behren J, Spector LG, Mueller BA, Carozza SE, Chow EJ, Fox EE, Horel S, Johnson KJ, McLaughlin C, Puumala SE, Ross JA, Reynolds P. Birth order and risk of childhood cancer: a pooled analysis from five US States. Int J Cancer 2010; 128:2709-16. [PMID: 20715170 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 07/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown. Birth order has been used as a proxy for prenatal and postnatal exposures, such as frequency of infections and in utero hormone exposures. We investigated the association between birth order and childhood cancers in a pooled case-control dataset. The subjects were drawn from population-based registries of cancers and births in California, Minnesota, New York, Texas and Washington. We included 17,672 cases <15 years of age who were diagnosed from 1980 to 2004 and 57,966 randomly selected controls born 1970-2004, excluding children with Down syndrome. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using logistic regression, adjusted for sex, birth year, maternal race, maternal age, multiple birth, gestational age and birth weight. Overall, we found an inverse relationship between childhood cancer risk and birth order. For children in the fourth or higher birth order category compared to first-born children, the adjusted OR was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.93) for all cancers combined. When we examined risks by cancer type, a decreasing risk with increasing birth order was seen in the central nervous system tumors, neuroblastoma, bilateral retinoblastoma, Wilms tumor and rhabdomyosarcoma. We observed increased risks with increasing birth order for acute myeloid leukemia but a slight decrease in risk for acute lymphoid leukemia. These risk estimates were based on a very large sample size, which allowed us to examine rare cancer types with greater statistical power than in most previous studies, however the biologic mechanisms remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Von Behren
- Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
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17
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Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most frequent brain tumors in childhood. The mortality of medulloblastoma decreased significantly during the last few decades, which was the result of the better surgical and radiotherapeutic methods and of the development of chemotherapy. The aim of this publication is the critical review of the present chemotherapeutic treatment. The new therapeutic trials based on the molecular genetic mechanism of these tumors are also mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezsô Schuler
- Semmelweis Egyetem AOK II. sz. Gyermekgyógyászati Klinika 1094 Budapest Tuzoltó utca 7-9.
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18
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Schmidt LS, Kamper-Jørgensen M, Schmiegelow K, Johansen C, Lähteenmäki P, Träger C, Stokland T, Grell K, Gustafson G, Kogner P, Sehested A, Schüz J. Infectious exposure in the first years of life and risk of central nervous system tumours in children: analysis of birth order, childcare attendance and seasonality of birth. Br J Cancer 2010; 102:1670-5. [PMID: 20461079 PMCID: PMC2883153 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: An infective, mostly viral basis has been found in different human cancers. To test the hypothesis of a possible infectious aetiology for central nervous system (CNS) tumours in children, we investigated the associations with proxy measures of exposure to infectious disease. Methods: In a large case–control study nested in the populations of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland of 4.4 million children, we studied the association of birth order and seasonal variation of birth with subsequent risk for CNS tumours. We identified 3983 children from the national cancer registries, and information on exposure was obtained from the high-quality national administrative health registries. We investigated the association between childcare attendance during the first 2 years of life and the risk for CNS tumours in a subset of Danish children with CNS tumours, using information from the Danish Childcare database. Results: We observed no association between birth order and risk of CNS tumours overall (odds ratio (OR) for second born or later born vs first born, 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96–1.10) or by histological subgroup, and children with CNS tumours did not show a seasonal variation of birth that was distinct from that of the background population. Childcare attendance compared with homecare showed a slightly increased OR (1.29; 95% CI, 0.90–1.86) for CNS tumours, with the highest risk observed in children attending a crèche. The strongest association was observed for embryonal CNS tumours. We found no effect of age at enrolment or duration of enrolment in childcare. Conclusion: These results do not support the hypothesis that the burden of exposure to infectious disease in early childhood has an important role in the aetiology of paediatric CNS tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Schmidt
- Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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