Epidemiology of rhabdoid tumors of early childhood

Abstract

Background Rhabdoid tumors are a rare and aggressive cancer subtype which is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Little is known about their etiology. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of rhabdoid tumors and examine their relation to perinatal characteristics. Methods We identified 44 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) of the central nervous system (CNS) and 61 rhabdoid sarcomas (renal and extra-renal non-CNS tumors) from California Cancer Registry records of diagnoses 1988-2007 among children <6 years of age. We randomly selected 208,178 controls from California birthrolls. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between rhabdoid tumors and perinatal characteristics. Results After adjustment for demographic characteristics, low birthweight (<2500g) strongly increased risk for developing both rhabdoid sarcomas (OR=2.43, 95% CI 1.09, 5.41) and AT/RT (OR=2.99, 95% CI 1.31, 6.84). Both preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation, OR=2.63, 95% CI 1.34, 5.17) and late term delivery (>42 weeks, OR=3.66, 95% CI 1.54, 8.71) also increased risk of rhabdoid sarcomas. Rhabdoid sarcoma cases (OR=3.08, 95% CI 1.11, 8.55) and AT/RT cases (OR=3.16, 95% CI 1.23, 8.13) also were more likely to be multiple births. Conclusion The excess of twin pregnancies may suggest an association with infertility treatments. This is the first population-based epidemiologic study to examine these rare tumors.

Exposure to ambient dichloromethane in pregnancy and infancy from industrial sources and childhood cancers in California

“…Cases and controls belong to an existing population-based study on childhood cancers, whose source population included all births in California from 1983–2011; that study has been described in detail elsewhere (Heck et al, 2013a). In brief, cases were collected from the California Cancer Registry (CCR) from among those diagnosed 1988–2013 with any cancer, younger than age 6, and born in California.…”

Childhood Brain Tumor Epidemiology: A Brain Tumor Epidemiology Consortium Review

“…(14–18) Overall, median survival is usually between 6–18 months. (16, 19–21) Most analyses show that ATRTs are more common in males (15, 16, 22) and among whites. (15, 23) A a systematic diagnostic approach for ATRT was not common until 2005; prior to that these tumors were frequently misclassified, mostly as MBs or PNET.…”

Prenatal Exposure to Air Toxics and Risk of Wilms' Tumor in 0- to 5-Year-Old Children

“…27 Here, we report on Wilms’ tumor cases (n=769) and controls only. Using first name, last name, date of birth, and social security number when available, we were able to match 89% of all childhood cancer cases to a California birth certificate (1986-2007).…”