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Cancer Causes & Control

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01-12-2008 | Original Paper

A case–control study of childhood brain tumors and fathers’ hobbies: a Children’s Oncology Group study

Authors: Andrea L. Rosso, Mary E. Hovinga, Lucy B. Rorke-Adams, Logan G. Spector, Greta R. Bunin

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 10/2008

Abstract

Objective

A comprehensive case–control study was conducted to evaluate parental risk factors for medulloblastoma (MB) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). This analysis was conducted to evaluate associations between fathers’ hobbies and risk of their children developing MB/PNET. The hobbies chosen for study were those with similar exposures as occupations associated with childhood cancers.

Methods

Cases were 318 subjects under six years of age at diagnosis between 1991 and 1997 and registered with the Children’s Cancer Group. An equal number of controls were selected through random digit dialing and individually matched to cases.

Results

In multivariate analyses, a significant association was seen for lawn care with pesticides [during pregnancy: odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0, 2.5; after birth: OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.8] and a weak association was seen for stripping paint [during pregnancy: OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.8, 2.6; after birth: OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.7, 2.6].

Conclusions

This study suggests that household exposures from hobbies, particularly pesticides, may increase risk of MB/PNET in children; previous research has been mostly limited to occupational exposures.

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Title: A case–control study of childhood brain tumors and fathers’ hobbies: a Children’s Oncology Group study
Authors: Andrea L. Rosso
Mary E. Hovinga
Lucy B. Rorke-Adams
Logan G. Spector
Greta R. Bunin
Publication date: 01-12-2008
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 10/2008
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9189-7

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Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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