Early vaccination protects against childhood leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Leukemia is the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer, although its etiology is still largely unknown. Growing evidence supports a role for infection in the etiology of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and the involvement of the immune system suggests that vaccination may also play a role. However, the findings presented in the published literature are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis. 14 studies were identified and meta-analyzed. Vaccinations studied comprised Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, Triple vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), Polio, Measles, Rubella, Mumps, trivalent MMR vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (HiB) vaccine. We observed a protective association between any vaccination in the first year of life and risk of childhood leukemia (summary odds ratio (OR) 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36–0.91]). When individual vaccines were analysed, some evidence of an association was seen only for BCG (summary OR 0.73 [95% CI 0.50–1.08]). In conclusion, early vaccination appears to be associated with a reduced risk of childhood leukemia. This finding may be underpinned by the association observed for BCG. Given the relatively imprecise nature of the results of this meta-analysis, our findings should be interpreted cautiously and replicated in future studies.

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine, antimalarial, age and gender relation to COVID-19 spread and mortality

“…BCG was considered as a supplementary treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer by triggering the body's immune system to release cytokines and activating cytotoxic cells to destroy tumour cells after/with transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) cytotoxic cells [43,44]. Also, it has a protective effect against other cancers showing an inhibitory effect on tumour growth and was reported to reduce the risk of leukemia and lung cancer [45,46]. BCG has been reported to prevent lung injury by improving the alveolar surface area which is attributed to the preserved IL-13 expression and up-regulation of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Subunit-1 (NFkB1), Fibroblast growth factor binding protein-1 (FGF.BP1) and Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) genes [47].…”

Neonatal Immunization: Rationale, Current State, and Future Prospects

“…It is hypothesized that these non-specific benefits may protect against unrelated infections, supporting the use in neonates, beyond any protection against TB infection or disease. Furthermore, association studies suggest that early immunization with BCG-containing regimens may protect against leukemia, allergy, and childhood diabetes among others, possibly via heterologous trained immunity ( 17 – 19 ).…”

Antiproliferative Effects of Alkaloid Evodiamine and Its Derivatives

“…Leukemias, characterized by over-proliferation of abnormal blood cells, represent 31% of all cancers [ 54 ]. Evodiamine was shown to exert antiproliferative activity against human leukemia cells THP-1, K562, CCRF-CEM and camptothecin-resistant CCRF-CEM/C1 by inactivating topoisomerase I (topo I) and II (topo II).…”