Cancer Epidemiology Unit

About: Cancer Epidemiology Unit is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 669 authors who have published 1725 publications receiving 93979 citations.

Body size in relation to incidence of subtypes of haematological malignancy in the prospective Million Women Study.

Abstract: Although previous studies have reported associations of haematological cancer with adiposity (Renehan et al, 2008) and height (Gunnell et al, 2001; Engeland et al, 2007; Green et al, 2011), associations with specific disease subtypes are not yet well-established. Traditionally, epidemiological studies have used broad categories defined mainly by clinical features: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), leukaemia, and multiple myeloma. A new classification, introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2001, divides haematological malignancies into lymphoid and myeloid neoplasms, and then more specifically according to cell lineage, so that each disease entity is defined by morphological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features (IARC, 2008). In this report, we describe associations of adiposity and height with risks of subtypes of haematological malignancy in women, using both traditional and updated disease classifications.

Vitamin K and childhood cancer: analysis of individual patient data from six case-control studies

Abstract: To investigate the hypothesis that neonates who receive intramuscular vitamin K are at an increased risk of developing cancer, particularly leukaemia, a pooled analysis of individual patient data from six case–control studies conducted in Great Britain and Germany has been undertaken. Subjects comprised 2431 case children diagnosed with cancer before 15 years of age and 6338 control children. The retrospective assessment of whether or not an individual baby received vitamin K is not straightforward. In many cases no record was found in stored medical notes and two types of analysis were therefore conducted; in the first it was assumed that where no written record of vitamin K was found it had not been given, and in the second, where no written record of administration was found, information on hospital policy and perinatal morbidity was used to ‘impute’ whether or not vitamin K had been given. In the first analysis, no association was found between neonatal administration of intramuscular. vitamin K and childhood cancer: odds ratios adjusted for mode of delivery, admission to special care baby unit and low birth weight were 1.09 (95% confidence interval 0.92–1.28) for leukaemia and 1.05 (0.92–1.20) for other cancers. In the second analysis, the adjusted odds ratios increased to 1.21 (1.02–1.44) for leukaemia and 1.10 (0.95–1.26) for other cancers. This shift did not occur in all studies, and when data from the hypothesis generating Bristol study were excluded, the adjusted odds ratios for leukaemia became 1.06 (0.89–1.25) in the first analysis and 1.16 (0.97–1.39) when data on prophylaxis imputed from hospital policy and perinatal morbidity were used. We conclude that whilst the broad nature of the diagnostic groups and the poor quality of some of the vitamin K data mean that small effects cannot be entirely ruled out, our analysis provides no convincing evidence that intramuscular vitamin K is associated with childhood leukaemia. British Journal of Cancer (2002) 86, 63–69. DOI: 10.1038/sj/bjc/6600007 www.bjcancer.com © 2002 The Cancer Research Campaign

Ionizing radiation and breast cancer in men (United States)

Abstract: The purposes of this study were to determine whether exposure of the vestigial male breast to ionizing radiation is associated with an increase in risk of breast cancer and, if so, to determine whether the apparent effects on risk in men are similar to those reported for women. A population-based case-control study of breast cancer in men was conducted in 10 geographic areas of the United States. Information on possible prior exposure to ionizing radiation, and on other potential risk factors for breast cancer, was obtained from personal interviews of 227 cases and 300 controls who were recruited from October 1983 to September 1986. Evidence from this study that ionizing radiation can cause breast cancer in men includes: a modest trend of increasing risk with frequency of chest X-rays; an increase in risk in men with three or more radiographic examinations, especially if received prior to 1963; and an increase in risk in men who received X-ray treatments to the chest and adjacent body areas. Risk was increased only from 20 to 35 years after initial exposure from either radiographic examinations or X-ray treatments, and declined after three to four decades since last exposure, suggesting a wave of increased risk of finite duration following exposure. The doses of radiation received could not be estimated precisely, but those from diagnostic procedures were likely similar to those received by prepubertal females in prior studies, and the results of those and the present investigation are compatible. The carcinogenic effects of ionizing radiation may be similar in the male and prepubertal female breast.

Farming environment and prevalence of atopy at age 31: prospective birth cohort study in Finland.

Abstract: Summary Background Cross-sectional studies have shown an association between the farming environment and a decreased risk of atopic sensitization, mainly related to contact with farm animals in the childhood. Objective Investigate the association of a farming environment, especially farm animal contact, during infancy, with atopic sensitization and allergic diseases at the age of 31. Methods In a prospective birth cohort study, 5509 subjects born in northern Finland in 1966 were followed up at the age of 31. Prenatal exposure to the farming environment was documented before or at birth. At age 31, information on health status and childhood exposure to pets was collected by a questionnaire and skin prick tests were performed. Results Being born to a family having farm animals decreased the risk of atopic sensitization [odds ratio (OR) 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56–0.80], atopic eczema ever (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.66–0.91), doctor-diagnosed asthma ever (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.55–1.00), allergic rhinitis at age 31 (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.73–1.03) and allergic conjunctivitis (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.72–1.02) at age 31. There was a suggestion that the reduced risk of allergic sensitization was particularly evident among the subjects whose mothers worked with farm animals during pregnancy, and that the reduced risk of the above diseases by farm animal exposure was largely explained by the reduced risk of atopy. Having cats and dogs in childhood revealed similar associations as farm animals with atopic sensitization. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Contact with farm animals in early childhood reduces the risk of atopic sensitization, doctor-diagnosed asthma and allergic diseases at age 31. Cite this as: J. Lampi, D. Canoy, D. Jarvis, A.-L. Hartikainen, L. Keski-Nisula, M.-R. Jarvelin and J. Pekkanen, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 987–993.