Maternal autoimmune disease and its association with childhood cancer: A population-based case-control study in Denmark.

Background: Autoimmune diseases have been linked to an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications. A family history of autoimmune diseases may be related to the risk of childhood cancer based on similar histocompatibility antigens. We utilized data from national registries in Denmark to examine associations between maternal autoimmune disease and cancer in their offspring. Methods: We linked data from several national registries in Denmark to identify childhood cancer cases in children <20 years diagnosed between 1977 to 2016. Controls were selected from the Central Population Register and matched to cases by birth year and sex (25:1). Mothers with autoimmune disease diagnosed in pregnancy or prior were identified from the National Patient Register. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were used to estimate associations between maternal autoimmune diseases and childhood cancer in offspring. Results: Autoimmune diseases (all types) were positively associated with all childhood cancers combined (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95% CI 1.06, 1.47), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR =1.52, 95% CI 1.09, 2.13), Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.04, 6.97), and central nervous system tumors (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.06, 1.99), especially astrocytoma (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.36, 3.77) and glioma (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.13, 2.73). When we examined mothers with rheumatoid arthritis, we observed an increased association for all cancers (OR = 2.15, 95% CI 1.40, 3.30), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR = 3.55, 95% CI 1.69, 7.47), and central nervous system tumors (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.46, 5.82), especially glioma (OR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.40, 9.18) in offspring. Conclusion: There is a positive association between maternal autoimmune disease and childhood cancer. This association is especially prominent in the offspring of women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Preeclampsia, antihypertensive medication use in pregnancy and risk of childhood cancer in offspring.

PURPOSE: Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that presents a significant risk to both the mother and the fetus. Preeclampsia and medications associated with its treatment are potentially linked to increased childhood cancer risk. Therefore, we examined the association between preeclampsia, antihypertensive medications, and childhood cancer in offspring. METHODS: Cases (n = 6,420) and controls (n = 160,484) were obtained from Danish national registries. We performed conditional logistic regression analyses to estimate the association between preeclampsia and childhood cancer risk, and examined the effects of antihypertensive medication use in pregnancy in relation to childhood cancer risk in the offspring with adjustment for relevant covariates. RESULTS: We observed an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among those whose mothers had preeclampsia (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.03, 1.79), especially for severe preeclampsia (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.37, 4.08). We also estimated an increased cancer risk in children born to mothers who were prescribed diuretics during pregnancy [OR = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39, 3.14]. Intake of other antihypertensive medications was not associated with childhood cancer (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.50, 1.23). Among women who did not take diuretics in pregnancy, preeclampsia was associated with neuroblastoma (OR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.08, 4.55). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested an increased risk for certain types of cancer in the offspring of mothers with preeclampsia and an increased risk of cancer with diuretic intake during pregnancy.

Hyperemesis gravidarum and the risk of childhood cancer - A case-control study in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: Only a few studies have reported on the association between hyperemesis gravidarum and the risk of childhood cancer. We examined possible associations in this population-based study in Denmark. METHODS: Pediatric cancer cases (n = 6420) were ascertained from the Denmark Cancer Registry among children born between 1977 and 2013. Twenty-five controls were matched to each case by sex and birth date from the Central Person Registry (n = 160500). Mothers with hyperemesis gravidarum were ascertained from the National Patient Register. The risk of childhood cancer was estimated using conditional logistic regression. In a separate analysis, we examined pregnancy prescription of antinauseant medications, ascertained from the National Pharmaceutical Register, to determine associations with childhood cancers. RESULTS: In Denmark, hyperemesis gravidarum was associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer [all types combined; Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.81; n = 73 exposed cases). Hyperemesis gravidarum was also associated with an increased risk of neuroblastoma (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.00, 6.36; n = 5 exposed cases), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 0.98, 2.72; n = 16 exposed cases), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 0.95, 6.08; n = 5 exposed cases). We observed no childhood cancer risk increase from antinauseant prescriptions (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.84, 1.30; n = 91 exposed cases). CONCLUSION: Our results are suggestive of an association between hyperemesis gravidarum and the overall cancer risk in offspring, particularly for neuroblastoma. Mothers with hyperemesis gravidarum should be closely monitored and receive appropriate treatment during pregnancy.

Dietary Fats, Serum Cholesterol and Liver Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.

To quantify the associations between dietary fats and their major components, as well as serum levels of cholesterol, and liver cancer risk, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to October 2020 for prospective studies that reported the risk estimates of dietary fats and serum cholesterol for liver cancer risk. We carried out highest versus lowest intake or level and dose-response analyses. Higher intake of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) was associated with a higher liver cancer risk in both category analysis (relative risk [RR]highest vs. lowest intake = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06, 1.69) and dose-response analysis (RR1% energy = 1.04, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.07). Higher serum total cholesterol was inversely associated with liver cancer but with large between-studies variability (RR1 mmol/L = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.69, 0.75, I2 = 75.3%). The inverse association was more pronounced for serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (RR1 mmol/L = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.27, 0.64). Higher intake of dietary SFA was associated with higher risk of liver cancer while higher serum levels of cholesterol and HDL were associated with a lower risk of liver cancer with high between-studies variability.