Decreasing incidence rates of primary central nervous system lymphoma

BACKGROUND. Incidence rates of primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) in the U.S. were reported to have increased dramatically during the 1980s and early 1990s. Recent reports portray a continuation of this trend. With potential etiologic factors related to immunosuppression changing, the authors hypothesized that the incidence of PCNSL would be stabilizing. METHODS. The authors analyzed age specific, gender specific, and race specific PCNSL incidence rates from 1973-1998 using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. To estimate the impact of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and organ transplantation on PCNSL trends, the authors evaluated incidence data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV [human immunodeficiency virus]/AIDS Surveillance Report, and the United Network for Organ Sharing. RESULTS. PCNSL incidence rates decreased from a peak of 10.2 per 1 million person-years in 1995 to 5.1 per 1 million person-years in 1998, a decrease that was largely attributable to a decrease in the incidence of the disease in males age ≥ 59 years. The annual rate among those age ≥ 60 years essentially has remained unchanged since 1994, at approximately 16 per 1 million person-years. Since the early 1980s, regardless of age, PCNSL incidence rates were higher in males than in females, and higher in blacks than in whites. Concordant with PCNSL trends, AIDS rates have decreased since their peak in 1993. However, the rate of solid organ transplantations has increased steadily since 1990. CONCLUSIONS. In contrast to recent reports of a progressively increasing incidence, the authors found that PCNSL rates have been decreasing in the majority of demographic groups in the U.S since the mid-1990s. A notable exception was observed in the highest PCNSL risk group, those age ≥ 60 years. © 2002 American Cancer Society

Survival Variability by Race and Ethnicity in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Context: The role of race/ethnicity in survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unclear, with some studies reporting poorer survival among minority children and others reporting equivalent survival across race/ethnicity in the modern, risk-stratified treatment era. Objective: To investigate the relation between race/ethnicity and survival in a large, population-based analysis of incident ALL cases in the United States. Design, Population, and Setting: This study included 4952 individuals diagnosed with ALL between 1973 and 1999 at age 19 years or younger. ALL cases were identified from 9 population-based registries of the National Cancer Institute\u27s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Main Outcome Measures: Survival probabilities were compared among white, black, Hispanic, Asian/ Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaskan Native children. Kaplan-Meier curves and proportional hazard ratios from Cox regression analysis were calculated, accounting for treatment era (1973-1982, 1983-1989, and 1990-1999), age at diagnosis (\u3c1, 1-9, and 10-19 years), and sex. Results: Although overall 5-year survival probabilities improved with each successive treatment era, differences according to race/ethnicity persisted. For 1990-1999, 5-year survival was 84% for white children, 81% for Asian/Pacific Islander children, 75% for black children, and 72% for both American Indian/Alaskan Native children and Hispanic children. The largest difference by race/ethnicity was observed among children diagnosed between ages 1 and 9 years. Compared with white children, after adjusting for treatment era, age at diagnosis, and sex, children of black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaskan Native descent had hazard ratios of 1.50 (95% CI, 1.0-2.2; P=.03), 1.83 (95% CI, 1.4-2.4; P\u3c.001), and 1.90 (95% CI, 0.8-4.6; P=.16). Conclusions: Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaskan Native children with ALL have worse survival than white and Asian/Pacific Islander children, even in the contemporary treatment era. Future work must delineate the social and biological factors, including any differences in pharmacokinetics associated with chemotherapeutic agents, that account for disparities in outcome

Monitoring neurocognitive functioning in childhood cancer survivors: evaluation of CogState computerized assessment and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)

Abstract Background Many childhood cancer survivors develop neurocognitive impairment, negatively affecting education and psychosocial functioning. Recommended comprehensive neuropsychological testing can be time- and cost- intensive for both institutions and patients and their families. It is important to find quick and easily administered surveillance measures to identify those in need of evaluation. Methods We evaluated, individually and in combination, the sensitivity and specificity of the 1) Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Metacognition Index (BRIEF-MCI), and 2) CogState Composite Index (computerized assessment of cognition) in identifying below grade-level performance on state-administered tests of reading and mathematics among childhood cancer survivors. Results The 45 participants (39% female) were a mean age of 7.1 ± 4.4 years at diagnosis, 14.0 ± 3.0 at evaluation, with a history of leukemia (58%), lymphoma (9%), central nervous system tumors (20%), and other tumors (13%). Impairment on the BRIEF-MCI was associated with low sensitivity (26% reading, 41% mathematics) but stronger specificity (88% reading, 96% mathematics). We found similar associations for the CogState Composite Index with sensitivity of 26% for reading and 29% for mathematics and specificity of 92% for both reading and mathematics. Combining the two measures did not improve sensitivity appreciably (47% reading, 59% mathematics) while reducing specificity (84% reading, 88% mathematics). Conclusions While individuals identified from the BRIEF-MCI or CogState Composite would likely benefit from a full neuropsychological evaluation given the strong specificity, use of these measures as screening tools is limited. With poor sensitivity, they do not identify many patients with academic difficulties and in need of a full neuropsychological evaluation. Continued effort is required to find screening measures that have both strong sensitivity and specificity

Cesarean Section and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Population-Based, Record-Linkage Study in California

The relationship of mode of delivery to risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is uncertain. After linking birth records and cancer registry data from California, we conducted a population-based case-control study to investigate the role of delivery by cesarean section (C-section) in the etiology of childhood ALL. This study included 5,081 cases and 18,927 matched controls born in 1978-2009; more detailed data were available on type of C-section (i.e., elective vs. emergency) for a subset of 1,552 cases and 5,688 controls. No association was observed between C-section overall and childhood ALL risk (<15 years of age), but elective C-section was associated with a significantly elevated risk of ALL (odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.36). At the peak ages of ALL incidence (2-4 years), C-section was associated with an 11% higher risk of ALL (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.22) compared with vaginal delivery, and the magnitude of the association was larger for elective C-section (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.70). Emergency C-section was not associated with childhood ALL. Because of design features minimizing nonparticipation and inaccurate recall, this record linkage-based study is less prone to bias. Our results suggest that delivery by elective C-section was associated with a higher risk of childhood ALL, especially at the peak ages of incidence. It is important to evaluate possible mechanisms, because this potential risk factor is modifiable

Childhood cancer survivors\u27 knowledge about their past diagnosis and treatment: Childhood cancer survivor study

Context: Adult survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for adverse effects later in life but may have limited access to information about their diagnosis and treatment. This knowledge is necessary to motivate them to seek medical follow-up and to report essential history to health care professionals. Objective: To assess knowledge of adult survivors of childhood cancer about their primary cancer diagnosis and associated therapies. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional survey of 635 consecutive survivors (approximately 5%) drawn from 12 156 participants 18 years or older participating in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (a multiinstitutional cohort of individuals diagnosed between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 1986, at an age \u3c21 years, who had survived 5 years from diagnosis). The survey assessed knowledge of their cancer diagnosis and associated therapies in a 3- to 5-minute telephone questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Responses were compared with medical record data for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. Results: Overall, 72% accurately reported their diagnosis with precision and 19% were accurate but not precise. Individuals with central nervous system (CNS) cancer (odds ratio, 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-9.9) and neuroblastoma (OR, 4.2; 95% Cl, 1.8-9.6) were more likely not to know their cancer diagnosis. Participants\u27 accuracy rates for reporting their treatment history was 94% for chemotherapy, 89% for radiation, and 93% for splenectomy. Among those who received anthracyclines, only 30% recalled receiving daunorubicin therapy and 52% recalled receiving doxorubicin therapy, even after prompting with the drugs\u27 names. Among those who received radiotherapy, 70% recalled the site of radiotherapy. History of receiving a written medical summary, attending a long-term follow-up clinic, and anxiety about late effects were not associated with greater knowledge. Conclusions: Important knowledge deficits exist among adult survivors of childhood cancer regarding basic aspects of their diagnosis and treatment. Such deficits could impair survivors\u27 ability to seek and receive appropriate long-term follow-up care

Hispanic Ethnicity Differences in Birth Characteristics, Maternal Birthplace, and Risk of Early-Onset Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Hispanic ethnicity differences in the risk of early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed at <40 years are understudied. We conducted a population-based case-control study to evaluate associations between birth characteristics and early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma with a focus on potential ethnic differences. This study included 1,651 non-Hispanic White and 1,168 Hispanic cases with Hodgkin lymphoma endorsing a range of races diagnosed at the age of 0 to 37 years during 1988-2015 and 140,950 controls without cancer matched on race/ethnicity and year of birth from the California Linkage Study of Early-Onset Cancers. OR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated from multivariable logistic regression models. Having a foreign-born mother versus a United States-born mother (i.e., the reference group) was associated with an increased risk of early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma among non-Hispanic Whites (OR = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.31-1.76; P < 0.01) and a decreased risk among Hispanics (OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69-0.88; P < 0.01). Among both race groups, risk of early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma increased with birthweight and maternal age (all Ptrends < 0.01). Among non-Hispanic Whites, each 5-year increase in maternal age (OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.18; Ptrend < 0.01) and paternal age (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13; Ptrend < 0.01) was associated with increased risk of early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma. Compared with female Hispanics, male Hispanics had an increased risk of early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-1.42; P < 0.01). Maternal birthplace may play a role in risk of early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma that differs by ethnicity. The ethnic differences observed between certain birth characteristics, maternal birthplace, and early-onset Hodgkin lymphoma raise questions about the underlying biological, generational, lifestyle, residential, and genetic contributions to the disease