Childhood
Cancer Research Core |
1998
Progress Report |
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The main areas of research
activity for 1998 can be briefly summarized
as follows: |
Collaborations
between Core members and the Children's
Cancer Group (CCG) |
The CCG remains a vital
resource for epidemiological studies on
childhood cancer. An important focus of
current research is on the possible role
of pesticides in the etiology of childhood
cancer: studies that address this issue
include separate case-control studies of
AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and ALL (acute
lymphoblastic leukia), and a housedust sampling
study that has assayed pesticide concentrations
in the homes of children with ALL, and controls
(Buckley). A new molecular epidemiological
study has recently been funded to examine
the role of pesticides in childhood non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma (Buckley). |
Other CCG related studies
include a proposed case-control study of
hepatoblastoma and factors associated with
prematurity (VanTornout and Buckley) and
two studies being conducted out of the University
of Minnesota (Julie Ross, P.I.) for which
Dr. Buckley is a co-investigator (a case-control
study of Downs syndrome/leukemia and an
infant leukemia case/control study to examine
the role of exposure to topoisomerase inhibitors). |
| Brain tumor research |
Dr. Preston-Martin's
main area of interest remains childhood
brain tumors. Her two current projects are
an international collaborative case-control
study of childhood brain tumors and N-nitroso
exposures and molecular genetic studies
of childhood brain tumors. |
In this last year,
Dr. Preston-Martin has published three manuscripts
that document environmental risk factors
for childhood brain tumors. The first showed
an apparent protective effect due to maternal
supplementation of the diet with prenatal
vitamins. The second showed an association
between parental occupation in the chemical
and electrical industries and astroglial
and PNET risk, and the third reported elevated
risk of childhood brain tumors with maternal
exposure to pigs and horses, consistent
with data from previous studies from Norway,
Canada and the U.S. |
| Genetic polymorphisms |
Dr. Van Tornout has
expanded his interest in the influence of
polymorphisms in metabolic and receptor
proteins on cancer risk. He has a number
of pilot projects underway, including studies
of Ewing's sarcoma (with particular interest
in the marked race-specific incidence for
this malignancy); neuroblastoma, examining
the role of GST polymorphisms; and brain
tumors, with a general interest in polymorphisms
in phase I and II metabolic genes. |
| Second malignancies |
Dr. Bhatia is conducting
several studies on second malignancies for
children with cancer. One group of particular
interest is Hodgkin's disease survivors
who have a very high risk of secondary breast
cancer, and Dr. Bhatia is working through
the international organization, SIOP, to
assemble a cohort of Hodgkin's patients
with SMN. She is also collaborating on a
study that will identify mutations (germline/somatic)
in candidate genes (p53, ATM, BRCA1) and
establish a protocol for annual mammographic
screening. Other SMN projects include a
study on the role of genetic susceptibility
in the development of secondary myelodysplasia,
and studies of SMN following childhood ALL
and bone marrow transplantation. Finally,
she is collaborating with Dr. Buckley in
developing a database of SMN patients in
CCG, to identify cases, construct a pedigree,
and correlate risk with socio-demographic,
clinical and treatment characteristics. |
| Late effects of treatment in cancer
survivors |
In addition to studies
on SMN, other projects include a pilot study
of the long-term effects of cancer treatments
in identical twins (VanTornout and Buckley),
using the unaffected co-twin as a control
subject; a proposed study of long-term survivors
of bone marrow transplantation (Bhatia)
and validation of a new quality of life
instrument for survivors of childhood cancer
(Bhatia and Buckley). |
| Collaborations |
As itemized above,
the active members of this Core work together
on multiple projects. Drs. Buckley and Van
Tornout are involved in planning and conducting
several joint projects, as are Drs. Buckley
and Bhatia. |
In addition, there
is frequent interaction between members
of this Core and other Research Cores—for
example, Drs. Preston-Martin, Buckley and
Van Tornout are all conducting studies on
adult cancers, often in collaboration with
members of that Core. Members of this Core
also interact with the Service Core personnel.
Dr. Van Tornout has utilized the facilities
provided by Dr. Dubeau for the processing
of samples on two of his studies. Dr. Buckley
has consulted with Dr. Gauderman for assistance
with developing statistical methods for
modeling the effects of spontaneous mutation
to faster growing cell types on rates of
cell proliferation in vitro. Dr. Buckley
is also using the Molecular Biology Core
for analysis of tumor specimens for p53
mutations, and will rely on the Biological
Sample Processing Core to handle all biological
specimens obtained in his new case-control
study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. |
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