Volume 60, Issue 1 pp. 77-81
Research Article

Epidemiology of rhabdoid tumors of early childhood

Julia E. Heck PhD, MPH

Corresponding Author

Julia E. Heck PhD, MPH

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California

Department of Epidemiology, Box 951772, 650 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772.===Search for more papers by this author
Christina A. Lombardi MPH

Christina A. Lombardi MPH

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California

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Myles Cockburn PhD

Myles Cockburn PhD

Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

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Travis J. Meyers MPH

Travis J. Meyers MPH

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California

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Michelle Wilhelm PhD

Michelle Wilhelm PhD

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California

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Beate Ritz PhD, MD

Beate Ritz PhD, MD

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California

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First published: 20 March 2012
Citations: 56

Conflicts of Interest: Nothing to declare.

Abstract

Background

Rhabdoid tumors are a rare and aggressive cancer subtype which is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Little is known about their etiology. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of rhabdoid tumors and examine their relation to perinatal characteristics.

Methods

We identified 44 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) of the central nervous system (CNS) and 61 rhabdoid sarcomas (renal and extra-renal non-CNS tumors) from California Cancer Registry records of diagnoses 1988–2007 among children <6 years of age. We randomly selected 208,178 controls from California birthrolls. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between rhabdoid tumors and perinatal characteristics.

Results

After adjustment for demographic characteristics, low birthweight (<2,500 g) strongly increased risk for developing both rhabdoid sarcomas (OR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.09, 5.41) and AT/RT (OR = 2.99, 95% CI 1.31, 6.84). Both preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation, OR = 2.63, 95% CI 1.34, 5.17) and late term delivery (>42 weeks, OR = 3.66, 95% CI 1.54, 8.71) also increased risk of rhabdoid sarcomas. Rhabdoid sarcoma cases (OR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.11, 8.55) and AT/RT cases (OR = 3.16, 95% CI 1.23, 8.13) also were more likely to be multiple births.

Conclusion

The excess of twin pregnancies may suggest an association with infertility treatments. This is the first population-based epidemiologic study to examine these rare tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 77–81. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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