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Spina bifida and pediatric cancers.
Julia E Heck1,2, Pei-Chen Lee3, Chia-Kai Wu3
1Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA.
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
|May 5, 2020
Summary
Children with spina bifida have a significantly higher risk of developing pediatric cancer, particularly central nervous system tumors. This association warrants further investigation into shared risk factors for both conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Birth Defects Epidemiology
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Spina bifida is a birth defect with a known association with pediatric cancers, but comprehensive population-based data are limited.
- Previous studies have suggested a link, but lacked robust statistical power and comprehensive evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the co-occurrence of spina bifida and pediatric cancer in large, population-based cohorts.
- To quantify the risk of pediatric cancer in individuals diagnosed with spina bifida.
- To explore specific cancer types associated with spina bifida, including central nervous system tumors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two large, population-based studies from Taiwan and Denmark, including national patient and cancer registries.
- Linked diagnoses of spina bifida and cancer in cases and controls.
- Conducted analyses, with specific attention to the pre-prenatal diagnostics era in Denmark.
Main Results:
- A significantly increased risk of spina bifida was observed among pediatric cancer cases in both Taiwan (OR=8.5) and Denmark (OR=8.4).
- The association was particularly strong for central nervous system (CNS) tumors in both countries (Denmark OR=16.3; Taiwan OR=26.6).
- A notably high odds ratio was found for benign CNS tumors in Denmark (OR=41.5).
Conclusions:
- The findings confirm a significant co-occurrence between spina bifida and pediatric cancer.
- The strong association with CNS tumors suggests potential shared underlying risk factors.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the biological and environmental factors contributing to this link.
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