Increased incidence of cancer in infants in the U.S.: 1980-1990

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A Neonatal Intravenous Transplant Model for Assessment of Early-Life Immune Activities Against Cancer Cells

Published on: June 26, 2026

L B Kenney1, B A Miller, L A Ries

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 06155, USA.

Cancer
|April 7, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Cancer rates in U.S. infants increased between 1979-1991, particularly for males. Further research into genetic and environmental factors is needed to understand these trends in infant cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood cancer incidence in the U.S. rose during the 1980s.
  • The trend of infant cancer, distinct from older children, remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess changes in cancer incidence among U.S. infants (age < 1 year) from 1979 to 1991.
  • To identify specific cancer types and demographic differences in infant cancer rates.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.
  • Employed U.S. Bureau of the Census data to calculate population-based cancer incidence rates.
  • Analyzed age-specific incidence rates for infants under one year of age.

Main Results:

  • Overall infant cancer rates increased from 189 to 220 cases per million between 1979-1981 and 1989-1991.
  • Male infants showed a significant increase in rates for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma.
  • Female infants experienced increased rates of teratomas and hepatoblastomas; both sexes had higher rates than previously observed.

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of certain cancers in U.S. infants has demonstrably increased.
  • Investigating genetic and environmental factors is crucial to elucidate the rising rates and shifting patterns of infant cancers.
  • Understanding these trends is vital for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Abstract

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