Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Brain tumors in children and adolescents and exposure to animals and farm life: a multicenter case–control study (CEFALO)

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

The etiology of brain tumors in children and adolescents is largely unknown, and very few environmental risk factors have been identified. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pre- or postnatal animal contacts or farm exposures and the risk of childhood brain tumors (CBTs), since infectious agents may pose a risk factor and a proposed mechanism is transferral of infectious agents from animals to humans.

Methods

The case–control study conducted in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland included brain tumor cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2008 aged 7–19 years at diagnosis. Three hundred and fifty-two cases (83 % participation rate) were matched to 646 population-based controls (71 % participation rate). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios.

Results

Maternal farm residence during pregnancy was inversely related to all CBTs combined (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.40, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.19–0.88), as was the child’s farm residence but not statistically significantly so (aOR = 0.57, 95 % CI = 0.28–1.17). Exposure to animals was in general not related to CBT risk except postnatal contact with birds showing reduced aORs of all CBTs (0.67, 95 % CI = 0.46–0.97) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (0.28, 95 % CI = 0.10–0.83). Sensitivity analyses focusing on early exposure of the child did not change the associations observed for the entire exposure period with the exception of exposure to goats and sheep which was associated with reduced risks of both all CBTs (aOR = 0.48, 95 % CI = 0.24–0.97) and astrocytomas (aOR = 0.29, 95 % CI = 0.10–0.87).

Conclusion

Altogether, our data indicate an inverse association between the mother during pregnancy or the child living on a farm and CBT risk, which contrasts with the existing literature and merits further attention. With respect to exposure to animals, we did not observe any systematic pattern. This suggests that a potential protective effect of farm residence is mediated by some other factor than animal contact.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CBT:

Childhood brain tumor

BT:

Brain tumor

OR:

Odds ratio

UOR:

Unadjusted odds ratio (basic model including matching factors)

AOR:

Adjusted odds ratio (adjusted model including additional confounding factors)

CI:

Confidence interval

PNET:

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor

References

  1. Little J (1999) Epidemiology of childhood cancer. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon

    Google Scholar 

  2. Peris-Bonet R, Martinez-Garcia C, Lacour B et al (2006) Childhood central nervous system tumours—incidence and survival in Europe (1978–1997): report from automated childhood cancer information system project. Eur J Cancer 42(13):2064–2080

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lannering B, Sandstrom PE, Holm S et al (2009) Classification, incidence and survival analyses of children with CNS tumours diagnosed in Sweden 1984–2005. Acta Paediatr 98(10):1620–1627

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Raaschou-Nielsen O, Sorensen M, Carstensen H et al (2006) Increasing incidence of childhood tumours of the central nervous system in Denmark, 1980–1996. Br J Cancer 95(3):416–422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Baldwin RT, Preston-Martin S (2004) Epidemiology of brain tumors in childhood—a review. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 199(2):118–131

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bleyer WA (1999) Epidemiologic impact of children with brain tumors. Childs Nerv Syst 15(11–12):758–763

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yeni-Komshian H, Holly EA (2000) Childhood brain tumours and exposure to animals and farm life: a review. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 14(3):248–256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Berleur MP, Cordier S (1995) The role of chemical, physical, or viral exposures and health factors in neuro carcinogenesis: implications for epidemiologic studies of brain tumors. Cancer Causes Control 6(3):240–256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Andersen HR, Nielsen JB, Grandjean P (2000) Toxicologic evidence of developmental neurotoxicity of environmental chemicals. Toxicology 144(1–3):121–127

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Adinolfi M (1985) The development of the human blood-CSF-brain barrier. Dev Med Child Neurol 27:532–537

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bunin GR, Buckley JD, Boesel CP, Rorke LB, Meadows AT (1994) Risk factors for astrocytic glioma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the brain in young children: a report from the Children’s Cancer Group. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 3(3):197–204

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Cordier S, Iglesias MJ, Goaster CL, Guyot MM, Mandereau L, Hemon D (1994) Incidence and risk factors for childhood brain cancer in the Ile de France. Int J Cancer 59:776–782

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Efird JT, Holly EA, Preston-Martin S et al (2003) Farm-related exposures and childhood brain tumours in seven countries: results from the SEARCH International Brain Tumour Study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 17(2):201–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. McCredie M, Maisonneuve P, Boyle P (1994) Antenatal risk factors for malignant brain tumours in New South Wales children. Int J Cancer 56:6–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. McCredie M, Maisonneuve P, Boyle P (1994) Perinatal and early postnatal risk factors for malignant brain tumours in New South Wales children. Int J Cancer 56(11):11–16

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Holly EA, Bracci PM, Mueller BA, Preston-Martin S (1998) Farm and animal exposures and pediatric brain tumors: results from the United States west coast childhood brain tumor study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 7(9):797–802

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Howe GR, Burch JD, Chiarelli AM, Risch HA, Choi BCK (1989) An exploratory case control study of brain tumors in children. Cancer Res 49:4349–4352

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Infante-Rivard C, Weichenthal S (2007) Pesticides and childhood cancer: an update of Zahm and Ward’s 1998 review. J Toxicol Environ Health B, Crit Rev 10(1–2):81–99

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Steliarova-Foucher E, Stiller C, Lacour B, Kaatsch P (2005) International classification of childhood cancer, third edition. Cancer 103(7):1457–1467

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Storm HH, Michelsen EV, Clemmensen IH, Pihl J (1997) The Danish Cancer Registry—history, content, quality and use. Dan Med Bull 44(5):535–539

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tulinius H, Storm HH, Pukkala E, Andersen A, Ericsson J (1992) Cancer in the Nordic countries, 1981–86. A joint publication of the five Nordic Cancer Registries. APMIS Suppl 31:1–194

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Glymour MM, Greenland S (2008) Causal Diagrams. In: Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL (eds) Modern epidemiology, 3rd edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 183–209

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schmidt LS (2009) Aspects of the natural history of Central nervous system tumours in children, PhD thesis. Danish Cancer Society

  24. Walker D, Perinlongo G, Punt JAG, Taylor RE (2004) Brain and spinal tumours of childhood. Arnold, London

    Google Scholar 

  25. Gold E, Gordis L, Tonascia J, Szklo M (1979) Risk factors for brain tumors in children. Am J Epidemiol 109(3):309–319

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kuijten RR, Bunin GR, Nass CC, Meadows AT (1990) Gestational and familial risk factors for childhood astrocytoma: results of a case-control study. Cancer Res 50(9):2608–2612

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. von Mutius E, Vercelli D (2010) Farm living: effects on childhood asthma and allergy. Nat Rev Immunol 10(12):861–868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Schlehofer B, Siegmund B, Linseisen J et al (2011) Primary brain tumours and specific serum immunoglobulin E: a case-control study nested in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition cohort. Allergy 66(11):1434–1441

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Harding NJ, Birch JM, Hepworth SJ, McKinney PA (2008) Atopic dysfunction and risk of central nervous system tumours in children. Eur J Cancer 44(1):92–99

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL (2008) Validity in epidemiologic studies. In: Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL (eds) Modern epidemiology, 3rd edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 128–148

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The Danish CEFALO study was supported by the Danish Strategic Research Council (grant numbers 2103-05-0006 and 2064-04-0010). The Swiss CEFALO study was supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (grant number 05.001626), the Swiss Research Foundation on Mobile Communication (grant number A2006.18), and the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number PDFMP3_122873). The Swedish CEFALO study was supported by grants from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (grant numbers 2004-0504 and 2007-0224), the Swedish Research Council (K2008-70X-15366-04-3), the Swedish Cancer Society (09 0666), the Swedish Childhood Cancer Society (grant numbers PROJ06/050 and PROJ09/086), and the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI P 1572). The Norwegian CEFALO study was supported by the Research Council of Norway (grant number 175163/V40).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jeppe Schultz Christensen, Tina Veje Andersen, Lisbeth Samsø Schmidt & Aslak Harbo Poulsen

  2. Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Laust Hvas Mortensen

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland

    Martin Röösli & Denis Aydin

  4. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Martin Röösli & Denis Aydin

  5. Unit of Epidemiology, Institute for Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Maria Feychting & Michaela Prochazka

  6. The Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway

    Tore Tynes & Tone Eggen

  7. National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway

    Tore Tynes

  8. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Berne, Switzerland

    Claudia E. Kuehni

  9. Department of Pediatrics, The Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Birgitta Lannering

  10. Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Oslo, Norway

    Lars Klaeboe

  11. Section of Environment and Radiation, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France

    Joachim Schüz

Authors
  1. Jeppe Schultz Christensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laust Hvas Mortensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Martin Röösli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria Feychting
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tore Tynes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tina Veje Andersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lisbeth Samsø Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Aslak Harbo Poulsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Denis Aydin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Claudia E. Kuehni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Michaela Prochazka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Birgitta Lannering
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Lars Klaeboe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Tone Eggen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Joachim Schüz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aslak Harbo Poulsen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Christensen, J.S., Mortensen, L.H., Röösli, M. et al. Brain tumors in children and adolescents and exposure to animals and farm life: a multicenter case–control study (CEFALO). Cancer Causes Control 23, 1463–1473 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0020-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0020-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation