Studies from International Agency for Research on Cancer in the area of chronic lymphocytic leukemia epidemiology described
December 1st, 2008
2008 DEC 1 -- Fresh data on chronic lymphocytic leukemia are presented in the report 'Ionizing radiation and risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the 15-country study of nuclear industry workers.' According to recent research from Lyon, France, "In contrast to other types of leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has long been regarded as non-radiogenic, i.e. not caused by ionizing radiation. However, the justification for this view has been challenged."
"We therefore report on the relationship between CLL mortality and external ionizing radiation dose within the 15-country nuclear workers cohort study. The analyses included, in seven countries with CLL deaths, a total of 295,963 workers with more than 4.5 million person-years of follow-up and an average cumulative bone marrow dose of 15 mSv; there were 65 CLL deaths in this cohort. The relative risk (RR) at an occupational dose of 100 mSv compared to 0 mSv was 0.84 (95% CI 0.39, 1.48) under the assumption of a 10-year exposure lag. Analyses of longer lag periods showed little variation in the RR, but they included very small numbers of cases with relatively high doses," wrote M. Vrijheid and colleagues, International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The researchers concluded: "The largest nuclear workers cohort study to date finds little evidence for an association between low doses of external ionizing radiation and CLL mortality. This study had little power due to low doses, short follow-up periods, and uncertainties in CLL ascertainment from death certificates; an extended follow-up of the cohorts is merited and would ideally include incident cancer cases."
Vrijheid and colleagues published their study in Radiation Research (Ionizing radiation and risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the 15-country study of nuclear industry workers. Radiation Research, 2008;170(5):661-5).
For additional information, contact M. Vrijheid, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Publisher contact information for the journal Radiation Research is: Radiation Research Society, 820 Jorie Boulevard, Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA.
Keywords: France, Lyon, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Epidemiology, Bone Marrow, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Clinical Trial Research, Epidemiology, Hematology, Oncology, Radiation Research.
This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
