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Chronic diseases, medical history and familial cancer, and risk of leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in an adult population: a case–control study

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Abstract

Purpose

This investigation was aimed at evaluating the association between chronic diseases, medical history and familial cancer, and the risk of developing hematological malignancies.

Methods

Data were drawn from a population-based case–control study carried out to assess the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia in an adult population exposed to environmental air pollution in Northern Italy. Each case was classified according to the WHO ICD-O-3 classification. Statistical analyses were performed by multivariable unconditional logistic regression in 573 interviewed subjects (199 lymphoid cases, 95 myeloid cases, and 279 healthy controls).

Results

Lymphoid malignancies were associated with a history of gastroduodenal ulcer (OR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.2–3.6), rheumatoid arthritis (OR 4.4, 95 % CI 1.3–19.0), anemia (OR 3.3, 95 % CI 1.2–9.3), cholecystectomy (OR 2.9, 95 % CI 1.0–8.0), heavy diagnostic X-ray exposure (OR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.3–3.7), and a familial risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (OR 10.1, 95 % CI 1.3–458). Myeloid malignancies were associated with non-neoplastic thyroid diseases (OR 6.2, 95 % CI 1.7–35.6) and anemia (OR 6.8, 95 % CI 2.0–23.1). Subgroup analysis highlighted an excess risk of MALT in patients with gastroduodenal ulcer (OR 5.3, 95 % CI 1.04–23.7) and of AML in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (OR 6.9, 95 % CI 1.2–38.1), and of MDS in subjects exposed to heavy diagnostic X-ray (OR 3.4, 95 % CI 1.03–11.2) when the analysis was restricted to irradiation of pelvis, abdomen, or thorax.

Conclusions

Most observed associations confirm results from previous studies. The higher risk of lymphoid malignancies among patients with a history of cholecystectomy needs further investigations.

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Acknowledgments

We are deeply indebted with Maria Antonietta Gioioso, Giovanni Olivieri, Giuliano Chiappa, Virna Frumento, Claudio Boffa, and Margherita Costa (Savona Local Health Centre 2, ASL2 Savonese) who carried out the interviews; Maria Paola Briata (Savona Local Health Centre 2, ASL2 Savonese) who coordinated the interviewers activity; and Domenico Franco Merlo for language revision. The present study was supported by a grant provided by the Savona Local Health Centre 2 (ASL2 Savonese).

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflict of interest to report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy

    Stefano Parodi

  2. AO Foundation - Clinical Investigation and Documentation, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Irene Santi

  3. Liguria Cancer Registry, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy

    Enza Marani, Claudia Casella & Antonella Puppo

  4. Pathology Unit, Ospedale Santa Corona, Pietra Ligure, Italy

    Simona Sola

  5. Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Cancer Research Institute, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Vincenzo Fontana & Emanuele Stagnaro

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  1. Stefano Parodi
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Correspondence to Emanuele Stagnaro.

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Parodi, S., Santi, I., Marani, E. et al. Chronic diseases, medical history and familial cancer, and risk of leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in an adult population: a case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 26, 993–1002 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0592-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0592-6

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