International Agency for Research on Cancer

About: International Agency for Research on Cancer is a government organization based out in Lyon, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 2989 authors who have published 9010 publications receiving 929752 citations. The organization is also known as: IARC.

Etiologic Heterogeneity Among Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes: The InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project

Abstract: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematologic malignancy and the fifth most common type of cancer in more developed regions of the world (1). Numerous NHL subtypes with distinct combinations of morphologic, immunophenotypic, genetic, and clinical features are currently recognized (2,3). The incidence of NHL subtypes varies substantially by age, sex, and race/ethnicity (4–7). However, the etiological implications of this biological, clinical, and epidemiological diversity are incompletely understood. The importance of investigating etiology by NHL subtype is clearly supported by research on immunosuppression, infections, and autoimmune diseases, which are the strongest and most established risk factors for NHL. Studies of solid organ transplant recipients and individuals infected with HIV demonstrate that risks are markedly increased for several—but not all—NHL subtypes (8–13). Some infections and autoimmune diseases are associated with a single specific subtype [eg, human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type I (HTLV-I) with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (14), celiac disease with enteropathy-type peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) (15–17)], whereas others [eg, Epstein–Barr virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), Sjogren’s syndrome (18–21)] have been associated with multiple subtypes. In the last two decades, reports from individual epidemiological studies of NHL have suggested differences in risks among NHL subtypes for a wide range of risk factors, but most studies have lacked the statistical power to assess any differences quantitatively and have not systematically evaluated combinations of subtypes. One study assessed multiple risk factors and found support for both etiologic commonality and heterogeneity for NHL subtypes, with risk factor patterns suggesting that immune dysfunction is of greater etiologic importance for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and marginal zone lymphoma than for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and follicular lymphoma (22). However, that analysis was limited to approximately 1300 NHL cases and considered only the four most common NHL subtypes. Pooling data from multiple studies through the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph) have provided substantial insight into associations between specific risk factors and NHL subtypes, with evidence that family history of hematologic malignancy, autoimmune diseases, atopic conditions, lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, anthropometric measures, and hair dye use), and sun exposure are associated with NHL risk (19,21,23–32). However, no previous study has compared patterns of risk for a range of exposures for both common and rarer NHL subtypes. We undertook the InterLymph NHL Subtypes Project, a pooled analysis of 20 case–control studies including 17 471 NHL cases and 23 096 controls, to advance understanding of NHL etiology by investigating NHL subtype-specific risks associated with medical history, family history of hematologic malignancy, lifestyle factors, and occupation. The detailed risk factor profiles for each of 11 NHL subtypes appear in this issue (15–17,33–40). In this report, we assess risk factor heterogeneity among the NHL subtypes and identify subtypes that have similar risk factor profiles.

At least one in seven cases of cancer is caused by smoking. Global estimates for 1985

Abstract: Tobacco smoking is accepted as a major cause of cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney and bladder. The proportions of these cancers that are due to smoking were estimated for the year 1985 for 24 areas of the world. Fifteen percent--1.1 million new cases per year--of all cancer cases are attributed to cigarette smoking, 25% in men and 4% in women. In developed countries, the tobacco burden is estimated at 16% of all annual incident cases. In developing countries, the corresponding figure is 10%. In total, 85% of the 676,000 cases of lung cancer in men are attributable to tobacco smoking. The highest attributable fractions (AF: 90-93%) are estimated in areas where the habit of cigarette smoking in men has been longest established: North America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and the former USSR. Among the other 6 cancer sites considered in this analysis, those with the largest fractions of tobacco-related cases are the larynx, mouth and pharynx (excluding nasopharynx) and oesophagus. In regions where males have smoked for several decades, 30 to 40% of all cancers in this sex are attributable to tobacco. Unless tobacco-control efforts in developing countries are strengthened, the massive rise in cigarette consumption over the last few decades will produce a comparable rise in cancer in these countries within the next 20 to 30 years.

Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology – nutritional epidemiology (STROBE-nut): An extension of the STROBE statement†

Abstract: Concerns have been raised about the quality of reporting in nutritional epidemiology. Research reporting guidelines such as the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement can improve quality of reporting in observational studies. Herein, we propose recommendations for reporting nutritional epidemiology and dietary assessment research by extending the STROBE statement into Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology – Nutritional Epidemiology (STROBE-nut). Recommendations for the reporting of nutritional epidemiology and dietary assessment research were developed following a systematic and consultative process, co-ordinated by a multidisciplinary group of 21 experts. Consensus on reporting guidelines was reached through a three-round Delphi consultation process with 53 external experts. In total, 24 recommendations for nutritional epidemiology were added to the STROBE checklist. When used appropriately, reporting guidelines for nutritional epidemiology can contribute to improve reporting of observational studies with a focus on diet and health.

Chromosomal aberrations and SCEs as biomarkers of cancer risk

Abstract: Previous studies have suggested that the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs), but not of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), predicts cancer risk. We have further examined this relationship in European cohorts comprising altogether almost 22,000 subjects, in the framework of a European collaborative project (CancerRiskBiomarkers). The present paper gives an overview of some of the results of the project, especially as regards CAs and SCEs. The results confirm that a high level of CAs is associated with an increased risk of cancer and indicate that this association does not depend on the time between CA analysis and cancer detection, i.e., is obviously not explained by undetected cancer. The present evidence indicates that both chromatid-type and chromosome-type CAs predict cancer, even though some data suggest that chromosome-type CAs may have a more pronounced predictive value than chromatid-type CAs. CA frequency appears to predict cancers at various sites, although there seems to be a particular association with gastrointestinal cancers. SCE frequency does not appear to have cancer predictive value, at least partly due to uncontrollable technical variation. A number of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolism, DNA repair, and folate metabolism affect the level of CAs and might collectively contribute to the cancer predictivity of CAs. Other factors that may influence the association between CAs and cancer include, e.g., exposure to genotoxic carcinogens and internal generation of genotoxic species. Although the association between CA level and cancer is seen at the group level, an association probably also exists for the individual, although it is not known if an individual approach could be feasible. However, group level evidence should be enough to support the use of CA analysis as a tool in screening programs and prevention policies in occupational and environmental health.

Correlation between immunoglobulin light chain expression and variant translocation in Burkitt's lymphoma

Abstract: Burkitt's-type lymphomas-leukaemias (BL) are monoclonal proliferations of malignant B lymphocytes. Irrespective of whether they carry the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome, these tumour cells have been shown consistently to have one of the specific reciprocal chromosome translocations, t(8; 14), t(2; 8) or t(8; 22), involving the long arm of chromosome 8 (on 8q24) and chromosome 14, 2 or 22 (on 14q32, 2p12 and 22q11, respectively). The latter chromosomes have been shown recently to carry genes for immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains, and kappa and lambda light chains, respectively. Furthermore, the localization of kappa light chains within 2pcen-2p13 encompasses the breakpoint observed in Burkitt's translocation (2p12). It was therefore considered of interest to determine whether the expression of immunoglobulin chains in BL cells is related to the type of chromosomal anomalies observed. We report here that there is a direct relationship between expression of immunoglobulin light chains and specific type of translocation: BL cells with t(8; 22) express lambda chains, whereas those with t(2; 8) express kappa chains.