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

Helen T. Orimoloye; Nicholas Nguyen; Chuanjie Deng; Chai Saechao; Beate Ritz; Jorn Olsen; Johnni Hansen; Julia E. Heck

EJC Paediatric Oncology (Jun 2024)

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

Helen T. Orimoloye,
Nicholas Nguyen,
Chuanjie Deng,
Chai Saechao,
Beate Ritz,
Jorn Olsen,
Johnni Hansen,
Julia E. Heck

Affiliations

Helen T. Orimoloye: College of Health and Public Service, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
Nicholas Nguyen: Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Chuanjie Deng: Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Chai Saechao: UCLA Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Beate Ritz: Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jorn Olsen: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Johnni Hansen: Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Julia E. Heck: College of Health and Public Service, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Correspondence to: College of Health and Public Service, UNT, 1155 Union Circle #311340, Denton, TX 76203-5017, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3
p. 100145

Abstract

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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.

Published in EJC Paediatric Oncology

ISSN: 2772-610X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ejc-paediatric-oncology

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