Addressing cancer clusters

Abstract Beginning in 1961, the Centers for Disease Control investigated 108 cancer clusters and reported the findings in Epidemic Aid Reports. The clusters studied were of leukemia (38%), leukemia and lymphoma (30%), leukemia and other cancer combinations (13%), and all other cancer or combinations (19%). These clusters occurred in 29 states and five foreign countries, with the largest numbers from Connecticut (11), California (eight), Illinois (eight), New York (eight), Georgia (seven), Pennsylvania (six), and Iowa (five). All other states reported less than five. Eight different data collection methods were used, often in combinations, and four types of laboratory methods on four different specimen types. Although 14 different categories of associations were reported, no dear cause was found for any cluster. Nonetheless, concern about clusters by the public and media, and the need to investigate them, warrants the development of a uniform approach for use by local health departments.

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Q method can identify diverse perspectives on ‘helpful’ information on cancer clusters and inform risk communication generally

Journal of Risk Research ◽

10.1080/13669877.2013.879491 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 1125-1145 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Branden B. Johnson ◽

Lynn Waishwell

Keyword(s):

Risk Communication ◽

Q Method ◽

Cancer Clusters

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Understanding Cancer Clusters

CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians ◽

10.3322/canjclin.54.5.273 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

pp. 273-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

M. J. Thun ◽

T. Sinks

Keyword(s):

Cancer Clusters

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Other cancers in lung cancer families are overwhelmingly smoking-related cancers

ERJ Open Research ◽

10.1183/23120541.00006-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 00006-2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hongyao Yu ◽

Christoph Frank ◽

Akseli Hemminki ◽

Kristina Sundquist ◽

Kari Hemminki

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Unknown Primary ◽

Upper Aerodigestive Tract ◽

Lung Cancers ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Relative Risks ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Cancer Clusters ◽

Familial Relative Risk ◽

Prostate Cancers

Familial risks of lung cancer are well-established, but whether lung cancer clusters with other discordant cancers is less certain, particularly beyond smoking-related sites, which may provide evidence on genetic contributions to lung cancer aetiology.We used a novel approach to search for familial associations in the Swedish Family-Cancer Database. This involved assessment of familial relative risk for cancer X in families with increasing numbers of lung cancer patients and, conversely, relative risks for lung cancer in families with increasing numbers of patients with cancers X. However, we lacked information on smoking.The total number of lung cancers in the database was 125 563. We applied stringent statistical criteria and found that seven discordant cancers were associated with lung cancer among family members, and six of these were known to be connected with smoking: oesophageal, upper aerodigestive tract, liver, cervical, kidney and urinary bladder cancers. A further novel finding was that cancer of unknown primary also associated with lung cancer. We also factored in histological evidence and found that anal and connective tissue cancers could be associated with lung cancer for reasons other than smoking. For endometrial and prostate cancers, suggestive negative associations with lung cancer were found.Although we lacked information on smoking it is prudent to conclude that practically all observed discordant associations of lung cancer were with cancers for which smoking is a risk factor.

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