Journal of the National Cancer Institute
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Jul 1984
Cutaneous malignant melanoma and indicators of total accumulated exposure to the sun: an analysis separating histogenetic types.
Evidence associating malignant melanoma with semiquantitative and questionnaire indicators of past sunlight exposure is presented from a case-control study of 511 patients and 511 matched control subjects in Western Australia. That melanoma is related to sun exposure was supported by associations with actinic skin damage graded by cutaneous microtopography, history of nonmelanotic skin cancer, duration of residence of migrants to Australia, and mean annual hours of bright sunshine received at locations where the subjects had resided. ⋯ Migrants arriving before age 10 years appeared to have a risk similar to that of native-born Australians, whereas the estimated incidence in those arriving after age 15 years was around one-quarter of the native-born rate, with arrival at later ages giving no additional advantage. Control subjects arriving in Australia before age 10 years had an increased number of nevi on their arms, suggesting that sun exposure in early life may be a factor in nevus production and, therefore, a determinant of later potential to develop superficial spreading melanoma.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Nov 1983
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSecond cancers after radiotherapy and chemotherapy for early stages of Hodgkin's disease.
In a population of 334 patients treated for Hodgkin's disease by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer between 1964 and 1971, 21 patients with second primary cancers (SC) were observed: 4 patients with acute leukemias, 3 with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and 14 with solid tumors. Time to SC ranged from 2 to 16 years after initial treatment. The relative risk (RR) of acute leukemia for the patients with Hodgkin's disease as compared to the general population was 40 (P less than .001). ⋯ The cumulative proportions of other SC at 10 years was 1.3% in the no-relapse group, 7.2% in the group of patients not treated by polychemotherapy after relapse, and 8.4% in the polychemotherapy group. The first important risk factor for developing an SC was polychemotherapy, and the second was age over 40 years. These data suggest that combination chemotherapy may be responsible for both acute leukemias and other SC.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Oct 1980
Role of natural killer cells in the destruction of circulating tumor emboli.
A close correlation was demonstrated between levels of host natural cytotoxic (NC) and/or natural killer (NK) cell activity and capacity to eliminate blood-borne tumor cells. The outcome of experimental metastasis of several tumors with defined biologic behavior was studied in syngeneic mice exhibiting low NK cell activity [3-wk-old normal mice and cyclophosphamide (Cy)-treated adult mice] and high NK cell activity (normal adult mice). An iv injection of metastatic tumor cells into 3-week-old or Cy-treated mice markedly enhanced experimental pulmonary metastasis. ⋯ The adoptive transfer of spleen cells from syngeneic mice or allogeneic nude mice that have high NK activity shortly before (but not after) iv tumor challenge abrogated the Cy-induced enhancement of metastasis. The reactive lymphoid cells were non-T, nonadherent to nylon wool, sensitive to Cy treatment, and endowed with a natural ability to kill tumor cells during a short (12-24 hr) period. The conclusions were that NC-NK cells are important in host defense against circulating tumor cells and therefore can prevent the development of tumor cells into metastases.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Oct 1980
Preconception radiation, intrauterine diagnostic radiation, and childhood neoplasia.
Diagnostic X-ray examinations as a potential risk for neoplasia were investigated in a prospective study of 55,908 women who participated in the Collaborative Perinatal Project of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. The X-ray exposure histories of 145 mothers whose children developed neoplasms and 290 matched controls were examined. ⋯ Generally, the data were consistent with increased risk of malignant neoplasms among children of women exposed to X-rays before and during pregnancy, with a somewhat higher relative risk estimate for preconception exposure. No significant association of X-ray exposure and benign neoplasms was detected.