Family history of haematopoietic malignancies and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk in the California Teachers Study

Abstract

Family history of haematopoietic malignancies appears to be a risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but whether risk varies by family member's gender is unclear. Among 121 216 women participating in the prospective California Teachers Study, NHL risk varied by type of haematopoietic malignancy and gender of the relative. Evidence from epidemiologic studies shows that the risk of nonHodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is increased by approximately twofold for individuals with a first-degree family history (parent, sibling or child) of haematopoietic malignancy (Pottern et al, 1991;Zhu et al, 1998;Chiu et al, 2004;Altieri et al, 2005;Chang et al, 2005;Goldin et al, 2005;Wang et al, 2007). However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.A recent analysis from the International Lymphoma Epidemiology (InterLymph) Consortium of NHL case -control studies found an increased risk of NHL for individuals who reported having a first-degree relative with a haematopoietic malignancy (NHL, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukaemia or multiple myeloma) (Wang et al, 2007). They also found that NHL risk differed by the gender and familial relationship of the affected relative. These findings were based on case -control studies using retrospectively self-reported data on family history, and were therefore potentially subject to survival bias and differential recall bias (Chang et al, 2006). To understand the underlying disease mechanisms in NHL better, we used data from the prospective California Teachers Study to investigate NHL risks associated with first-degree family history. MATERIALS AND METHODSA detailed description of the California Teachers Study has been published elsewhere (Bernstein et al, 2002). In this analysis, we included 121 216 women who were California residents, were under the age of 85 years at baseline and had no prior history of a haematopoietic malignancy. Use of human subjects in this study was approved by each participating institution.Incident diagnoses of B-cell NHL (International Classification of Diseases for Oncology third edition morphology codes: 9590, 9591, 9670 -9675, 9680 -9699, 9727, 9823, 9832, 9835 and 9836) were identified through annual linkages with the population-based California Cancer Registry. Person-time was accrued from the date a participant completed her baseline questionnaire until the first occurrence of either a diagnosis of a B-cell NHL or a censoring event: a move outside of California; a first diagnosis of another haematopoietic malignancy not included in our case definition; death; or 31 December 2005.The self-administered, baseline questionnaire collected detailed information on personal and family history of cancer. Having 'no family history' of a haematopoietic malignancy was defined as reporting no first-degree relative with NHL, Hodgkin's lymphoma or leukaemia.We used Cox proportional hazards regression models, stratified by age in years at baseline, to estimate hazard rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for B-cell NHL, using age in days from baseline until ...

Familial predisposition and genetic risk factors for lymphoma

“…In a national cohort study of 3.5 million people in Sweden born between 1973 and 2008, family history of HL in a parent or sibling was associated with a 7.2 and 8.8-fold higher risk of childhood/young adult HL, respectively, 31 whereas another study reported a sixfold higher risk for siblings. 32 In a cohort study of over 120 000 female teachers in California, 33 a history of lymphoma in a first-degree relative was associated with a 1.7-fold higher risk of B-cell NHL (relative risk [RR] 51.74; 95% CI, 1.16-2.60) based on 478 cases; data on risk for NHL subtypes were not available. The latter finding was highly consistent with pooled case-control data (Table 1) and suggests a lack of major biases at least for the overall NHL association.…”

Lymphoma in Australian Border Collies: survey results and pedigree analyses

“…Similarly, familial predisposition has been demonstrated in people with different subtypes of lymphoma . A 1.7‐fold increased risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma was reported for those with a first‐degree relative with the same disease .…”

“…Similarly, familial predisposition has been demonstrated in people with different subtypes of lymphoma . A 1.7‐fold increased risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma was reported for those with a first‐degree relative with the same disease . Moreover, a large cancer registry study has shown that first‐degree relatives of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma cases had an almost 10‐fold increased risk of developing it .…”

“…56-58 A 1.7-fold increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was reported for those with a firstdegree relative with the same disease. 56,57 Moreover, a large cancer registry study has shown that first-degree relatives of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases had an almost 10-fold increased risk of developing it. 59 Understanding of the mechanisms in lymphoma predisposition is limited in people.…”

Families with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and plasma cell dyscrasias in their pedigrees

“…23 Chang et al reported that having a firstdegree relative with any hematopoietic malignancy was associated with an increased risk of NHL, and that a family history of MM was significantly associated with an increased risk of follicular NHL. 24 Lu et al 25 also reported an increased incidence of NHL in families with a history of hematopoietic malignancy but did not comment specifically on families with myeloma patients, as have others. 26 This study suggests that familial MM and NHL may have genetic etiological features in common.…”