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High-birth weight and other risk factors for Wilms tumour: results of a population-based case-control study
J Schüz1, U Kaletsch, R Meinert
1Institut für Medizinische Statistik und Dokumentation, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany. schuez@imsd.uni-mainz.de
Insights
High birth weight may increase the risk of Wilms tumour (childhood kidney cancer). This large study found limited evidence for other previously suggested risk factors like parental age or coffee consumption.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Wilms tumour (nephroblastoma) is a significant childhood cancer.
- Previous studies have suggested various risk factors, but findings have been inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential risk factors for Wilms tumour in a large population-based case-control study.
- To re-evaluate previously suggested risk factors and identify new associations.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 177 children diagnosed with Wilms tumour and 2006 controls under 10 years old.
- Data collected via parental questionnaires and telephone interviews regarding potential risk factors.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant association was found between high birth weight (>4000 g) and Wilms tumour risk (OR 1.58).
- The association with high birth weight was stronger in older children (≥2 years).
- No significant associations were confirmed for high parental age, maternal coffee/tea consumption, or pesticide exposure.
Conclusions:
- High birth weight is a potential risk factor for Wilms tumour development.
- Many previously implicated risk factors appear to have less importance in the aetiology of Wilms tumour.
Unlabelled:
Wilms tumour, or nephroblastoma, is one of the childhood cancers included in two recent population-based case-control studies in West Germany. Altogether, 177 children under the age of 10 years with Wilms tumour diagnosed between 1988 and 1994 and 2006 control children sampled from population registration files participated. Information on potential risk factors was obtained from the parents using a questionnaire and by subsequent telephone interview. We found an association with a high birth weight >4000 g (odds ratio 1.58; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.48), which was somewhat stronger for children aged 2 years or older. Findings for young maternal age at birth and certain parental occupationally related exposures were not reported by previous studies and thus may be chance findings. As opposed to previous studies, we failed to confirm associations with high parental age at birth, maternal coffee and tea consumption during pregnancy, and exposure to pesticides.
Conclusion:
Based on this large population-based case-control study, high birth weight may play a role in the aetiology of Wilms tumour, but many risk factors previously suggested are of less importance.