Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of 4069 children with glioma identifies 9p21.3 risk locus.

Background: Although recent sequencing studies have revealed that 10% of childhood gliomas are caused by rare germline mutations, the role of common variants is undetermined and no genome-wide significant risk loci for pediatric central nervous system tumors have been identified to date.

Methods: Meta-analysis of 3 population-based genome-wide association studies comprising 4069 children with glioma and 8778 controls of multiple genetic ancestries. Replication was performed in a separate case-control cohort.

A genome-wide association study on medulloblastoma.

Introduction: Medulloblastoma is a malignant embryonal tumor of the cerebellum that occurs predominantly in children. To find germline genetic variants associated with medulloblastoma risk, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 244 medulloblastoma cases and 247 control subjects from Sweden and Denmark.

Methods: Genotyping was performed using Illumina BeadChips, and untyped variants were imputed using IMPUTE2.

Genetic Variants in the 9p21.3 Locus Associated with Glioma Risk in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified germline genetic variants in 25 genetic loci that increase the risk of developing glioma in adulthood. It is not known if these variants increase the risk of developing glioma in children and adolescents and young adults (AYA). To date, no studies have performed genome-wide analyses to find novel genetic variants associated with glioma risk in children and AYA.

CCND2, CTNNB1, DDX3X, GLI2, SMARCA4, MYC, MYCN, PTCH1, TP53, and MLL2 gene variants and risk of childhood medulloblastoma.

Recent studies have described a number of genes that are frequently altered in medulloblastoma tumors and that have putative key roles in the development of the disease. We hypothesized that common germline genetic variations in these genes may be associated with medulloblastoma development. Based on recent publications, we selected 10 genes that were frequently altered in medulloblastoma: CCND2, CTNNB1, DDX3X, GLI2, SMARCA4, MYC, MYCN, PTCH1, TP53, and MLL2 (now renamed as KMT2D).

Detection of IL-17A-producing peripheral blood monocytes in Langerhans cell histiocytosis patients.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown cause with manifestations ranging from isolated granulomatous lesions to life-threatening multi-system organ involvement. This disorder is further characterized by infiltration of immune cells in affected tissues and an association with interleukin (IL)-17A has been reported. Here, we investigated the presence of IL-17A-producing cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from LCH patients and observed a high percentage of IL-17A(+) monocytes in peripheral blood of LCH patients compared to controls.

Human immunoglobulin G levels of viruses and associated glioma risk.

Few consistent etiological factors have been identified for primary brain tumors. Inverse associations to asthma and low levels of varicella-zoster virus, immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in prevalent cases have indicted a role for the immune system in the development of glioma. Because samples from prevalent cases of glioma could be influenced by treatments such as steroids and chemotherapy, we investigated pre-diagnostic samples from three large Scandinavian cohorts.

Incidence and survival analyses in children with solid tumours diagnosed in Sweden between 1983 and 2007.

Aim: Solid tumours constitute 40% of childhood malignancies. The Swedish Childhood Cancer Registry is population based and includes all children with cancer reported from the six paediatric oncology centres in Sweden. The aim was to investigate incidence and survival.

Genetic variants in association studies--review of strengths and weaknesses in study design and current knowledge of impact on cancer risk.

Sequencing of the human genome has recently been completed and mapping of the complete genomic variation is ongoing. During the last decade there has been a huge expansion of studies of genetic variants, both with respect to association studies of disease risk and for studies of genetic factors of prognosis and treatments response, i.e.

The Knox method and other tests for space-time interaction.

The Knox method, as well as other tests for space-time interaction, are biased when there are geographical population shifts, i.e., when there are different percent population growths in different regions.

Higher risk for acute childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia in Swedish population centres 1973-94. Swedish Child Leukaemia Group.

A population-based sample of acute childhood leukaemia cases in Sweden 1973-94 was analysed by a geographical information system (GIS) for spatial leukaemia distribution in relation to population density. The annual incidence rate for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was 3.6, and for acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia (ANLL) 0.

Increased incidence rates but no space-time clustering of childhood astrocytoma in Sweden, 1973-1992: a population-based study of pediatric brain tumors.

Background: Incidence patterns, trends, and spatial and/or temporal clustering of childhood brain tumors were analyzed in the population-based national cancer registry of Sweden.

Methods: Temporal trends were analyzed by a logistic regression procedure in which the average annual percentages of change in incidence rates and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Spatial and/or temporal clustering were investigated by using a geographic information system and analyzed with a modified version of the Knox test and a spatial scan statistic.

Childhood leukaemia in Sweden: using GIS and a spatial scan statistic for cluster detection.

The study of disease clustering is becoming increasingly common in the field of medical epidemiology. There is great public concern and numerous reports on perceived clusters of various diseases, and with cancers, and especially leukaemia, being the most commonly studied. We present a population based study on acute childhood leukaemia in Sweden 1973-1993, illustrating the possibility of a system for full-scale spatial epidemiological study design.

Detection and assessment of clusters of disease: an application to nuclear power plant facilities and childhood leukaemia in Sweden.

We review some recent statistical methods for examining geographic patterns of disease incidence for the presence of clusters. General methods search for clusters throughout the study area and then assess the statistical significance of any clusters detected. Focused methods check for elevated incidence rates close to prespecified locations of putative sources of hazard.

Risk of acute childhood leukaemia in Sweden after the Chernobyl reactor accident. Swedish Child Leukaemia Group.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of acute childhood leukaemia in areas of Sweden contaminated after the Chernobyl reactor accident in April 1986.

Design: Population based study of childhood leukaemia diagnosed during 1980-92.

Setting: Coordinates for places of residence of all 1.