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Childhood cancer and birthmarks in the Collaborative Perinatal Project
Kimberly J Johnson1, Logan G Spector, Mark A Klebanoff
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Insights
Children with birthmarks have an increased risk of developing childhood cancer. This prospective study supports a potential shared cause for birthmarks and pediatric cancers, aiding in understanding malignancy development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous retrospective studies suggested a link between birthmarks and childhood cancer.
- The Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP) cohort provides a large, prospective dataset for investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine the association between birthmarks and the incidence of childhood cancer.
- To determine if children with birthmarks have a higher risk of developing cancer compared to those without.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 49,503 US children in the CPP cohort (1959-1968).
- Documented birthmarks included hemangiomas, pigmented nevi, lymphangiomas, and café-au-lait spots.
- Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was employed to assess the association.
Main Results:
- A significant increased risk of cancer was observed in children with documented birthmarks (2505 individuals).
- Seven out of 47 children who developed cancer had a documented birthmark.
- Excluding cancers diagnosed in the first year slightly reduced the risk estimate; no specific cancer types were disproportionately affected.
Conclusions:
- Prospective data indicates an excess of birthmarks in children diagnosed with cancer.
- Findings suggest a potential shared etiology between birthmarks and childhood cancer.
- This research may offer insights into the pathogenesis of pediatric malignancies.
Objective:
Three previous retrospective studies noted a positive association between birthmarks and childhood cancer. The objective of this study was to determine whether the incidence of cancer is increased in children with birthmarks relative to those without birthmarks using data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project cohort, a large, prospective study.
Methods:
Our study population comprised 49,503 US children who were born between 1959 and 1968. Birthmarks were documented as definite or suspected during the first year through history or medical examinations and included hemangiomas (port-wine, strawberry, or cavernous), pigmented nevi, lymphangiomas, and café-au-lait spots. The association between birthmarks and childhood cancer was determined using Cox proportional hazards regression.
Results:
In the Collaborative Perinatal Project, 2505 individuals had a documented definite or suspected birthmark, including 7 of 47 children who developed cancer. Birthmarks were associated with a significant increase in the risk for cancer. There was a slight attenuation of the risk estimate when cases that were diagnosed in the first year of life were excluded. No specific childhood malignancies were notably affected by birthmarks.
Conclusions:
Although this study was based on a small number of cases, we found birthmarks to be in excess in children who received a diagnosis of cancer using prospective data. These findings provide additional support for the possibility of a shared etiology between birthmarks and childhood cancer that could offer insight into the pathogenesis of pediatric malignancy.
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