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Exposure to alkylating agents, radiation did not increase likelihood for genetic anomalies among offspring
Children of childhood cancer survivors are not at increased risk for congenital anomalies due to their parent’s cancer treatment, according to results from data taken from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.
Researchers conducted the retrospective study to determine if childhood cancer survivors’ children were at greater risk for genetic anomalies due to mutagenic treatments, specifically those to the testes and ovaries.
The study looked at all cases of congenital anomalies among 4,699 children of either male (n=1,128) or female cancer survivors (n=1,627). Specifically, the researchers were looking for a relationship between chemotherapy with alkylating agents and radiotherapy to the testes and ovaries and congenital anomalies.
Among the 4,699 children, 129 had an anomaly. However, no relationship was found linking prior cancer treatment with the anomalies.
Three percent of children whose mothers had treatment with an alkylating agent or radiation had anomalies vs. 3.5% whose mother was exposed to neither.
Among the children of male survivors exposed to these treatments types, 1.9% had an anomaly vs. 1.7% of the children whose parents were exposed to neither. Further, the dose of radiation to the testes or ovaries had no effect on the likelihood of children having an anomaly.
“Our findings were based on 5-year childhood cancer survivors and thus are limited in their generalization outside this group,” the researchers wrote. “However, given the young ages of these patients, pregnancies would be unusual before 5-year survivorship, thus our findings should be relevant to the majority of childhood cancer survivors.”
For more information:
- Signorello LA. J Clin Oncol. 2011;20:239-245.