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.

Risk of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Among 69 460 Five-Year Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Europe

Abstract: Background Childhood cancer survivors are at risk of subsequent primary soft-tissue sarcomas (STS), but the risks of specific STS histological subtypes are unknown. We quantified the risk of STS histological subtypes after specific types of childhood cancer. Methods We pooled data from 13 European cohorts, yielding a cohort of 69 460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and absolute excess risks (AERs) were calculated. Results Overall, 301 STS developed compared with 19 expected (SIR = 15.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.0 to 17.6). The highest standardized incidence ratios were for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST; SIR = 40.6, 95% CI = 29.6 to 54.3), leiomyosarcomas (SIR = 29.9, 95% CI = 23.7 to 37.2), and fibromatous neoplasms (SIR = 12.3, 95% CI = 9.3 to 16.0). SIRs for MPNST were highest following central nervous system tumors (SIR = 80.5, 95% CI = 48.4 to 125.7), Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR = 81.3, 95% CI = 35.1 to 160.1), and Wilms tumor (SIR = 76.0, 95% CI = 27.9 to 165.4). Standardized incidence ratios for leiomyosarcoma were highest following retinoblastoma (SIR = 342.9, 95% CI = 245.0 to 466.9) and Wilms tumor (SIR = 74.2, 95% CI = 37.1 to 132.8). AERs for all STS subtypes were generally low at all years from diagnosis (AER < 1 per 10 000 person-years), except for leiomyosarcoma following retinoblastoma, for which the AER reached 52.7 (95% CI = 20.0 to 85.5) per 10 000 person-years among patients who had survived at least 45 years from diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Conclusions For the first time, we provide risk estimates of specific STS subtypes following childhood cancers and give evidence that risks of MPNSTs, leiomyosarcomas, and fibromatous neoplasms are particularly increased. While the multiplicative excess risks relative to the general population are substantial, the absolute excess risk of developing any STS subtype is low, except for leiomyosarcoma after retinoblastoma. These results are likely to be informative for both survivors and health care providers.

Population-based survival after childhood cancer diagnosed during 1970-98: a report from the Childhood Cancer Registry of Piedmont, Italy

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Survival after childhood cancer has shown a steady improvement from the late 1970s in most developed countries. Since 1967 the Childhood Cancer Registry of Piedmont has been collecting cases of malignant tumor, diagnosed in children aged 0-14 years, living in Piedmont. This work aims to update survival rates to 31.12.2000. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study includes 2,678 children diagnosed between 1970-98. Vital status was assessed at the Registry Office of the town of residence. One thousand four-hundred ninety cases were reported to be alive, 1170 dead and for 18 the status was unknown. Thirty-three cases registered with a death certificate only were excluded. Completeness of follow-up was 99.3%. All tumor types were classified according to the Birch-Marsden classification. Histologic verification was available for 94.4% of cases. RESULTS: Survival at 5 years increased over the period 1970-98 for all tumor types with a statistically significant trend over time (p

Sinonasal cancer and occupation. Results from the reanalysis of twelve case-control studies

Abstract: A pooled reanalysis of twelve case-control studies on sinonasal cancer and occupation from seven countries was conducted in order to study associations with occupations other than wood- and leather-related occupations. The pooled data set included a total of 930 cases (680 men and 250 women) and 3,136 controls (2,349 men and 787 women). All the studies included a detailed occupational history for cases and controls. Each job was coded using the same classifications for occupation and industry. Two approaches were used in the analysis: systematic analysis of occupations; a priori analysis using a preestablished list of occupations and industries. The results confirmed associations observed in several studies not included in this analysis. For agricultural workers, significant excesses were observed for squamous cell carcinoma among women (OR = 1.69) and men (OR = 3.72 for ten years or more of employment as an orchard worker), and adenocarcinomas among men (OR = 2.98 for ten years or more of employment). Associations with textile occupations were observed for adenocarcinoma among women (OR = 2.60) and squamous cell carcinoma among men (OR = 5.09 for fiber preparers, 3.01 for bleachers). Elevated risks for both histologic types were observed among men employed in food manufacturing (OR = 3.25, adenocarcinoma), or as food preservers (OR = 13.9, squamous cell carcinoma), and among men employed as cooks (OR = 1.99, squamous cell carcinoma). A positive association with squamous cell carcinoma was observed for male transport equipment operators (OR = 1.21), and also with adenocarcinoma for male motor-vehicle drivers (OR = 2.50). A number of other associations were observed in the systematic analysis. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:153–165, 1997. © 1997, Wiley-Liss Inc.

Splicing factor proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) protein regulates platinum response in ovarian cancer-modulating SRSF2 activity.

Abstract: In epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), response to platinum (PT)-based chemotherapy dictates subsequent treatments and predicts patients' prognosis. Alternative splicing is often deregulated in human cancers and can be altered by chemotherapy. Whether and how changes in alternative splicing regulation could impact on the response of EOC to PT-based chemotherapy is still not clarified. We identified the splicing factor proline and glutamine rich (SFPQ) as a critical mediator of response to PT in an unbiased functional genomic screening in EOC cells and, using a large cohort of primary and recurrent EOC samples, we observed that it is frequently overexpressed in recurrent PT-treated samples and that its overexpression correlates with PT resistance. At mechanistic level, we show that, under PT treatment, SFPQ, in complex with p54nrb, binds and regulates the activity of the splicing factor SRSF2. SFPQ/p54nrb complex decreases SRSF2 binding to caspase-9 RNA, favoring the expression of its alternative spliced antiapoptotic form. As a consequence, SFPQ/p54nrb protects cells from PT-induced death, eventually contributing to chemoresistance. Overall, our work unveils a previously unreported SFPQ/p54nrb/SRSF2 pathway that in EOC cells plays a central role in regulating alternative splicing and PT-induced apoptosis and that could result in the design of new possible ways of intervention to overcome PT resistance.

Meat intake and cancer risk: prospective analyses in UK Biobank

Abstract: Background Red and processed meat have been consistently associated with colorectal cancer risk, but evidence for other cancer sites and for poultry intake is limited. We therefore examined associations between total, red and processed meat and poultry intake and incidence for 20 common cancers. Methods We analyzed data from 474 996 participants (54% women) in UK Biobank. Participants were aged 37-73 years and cancer-free at baseline (2006-10). Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine associations between baseline meat intake and cancer incidence. Trends in risk across the baseline categories were calculated, assigning re-measured intakes from a subsample. Results During a mean follow-up of 6.9 years, 28 955 participants were diagnosed with malignant cancer. After correction for multiple testing, red and processed meat combined, and processed meat, were each positively associated with colorectal cancer risk [hazard ratio (HR) per 70 g/day higher intake of red and processed meat 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.14-1.53; HR per 20 g/day higher intake of processed meat 1.18, 1.03-1.31] and red meat was associated with colon cancer risk (HR per 50 g/day higher intake of red meat 1.36, 1.13-1.64). Positive associations of red meat intake with colorectal and prostate cancer, processed meat intake with rectal cancer and poultry intake with cancers of the lymphatic and haematopoietic tissues did not survive multiple testing. Conclusions Higher intake of red and processed meat was specifically associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer; there was little evidence that meat intake was associated with risk of other cancers.