Long-term risk of second cancers after childhood cancer

Sample size: 634 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): F. de Vathaire, O. Schweisguth, C. Rodary, P. François, D. Sarrazin, O. Oberlin, C. Hill, M.A. Raquin, A. Dutreix, R. Flamant

Primary Institution: Institut Gustave Roussy

What is the long-term risk of developing second malignant neoplasms in childhood cancer survivors?

Childhood cancer survivors have a significantly increased risk of developing second cancers, particularly as they age.

32 patients developed a total of 35 second cancers.
The average annual incidence of second cancer was 0.36%.
The cumulative incidence of second cancer was 4.3% at 20 years after first cancer diagnosis.
The standardised incidence ratio of second cancer was 15.
Chemotherapy increased the risk of second cancer compared to no chemotherapy.

Kids who survive cancer might get sick again later in life with another type of cancer, especially as they get older.

The study followed 634 childhood cancer survivors treated between 1942 and 1969, assessing the incidence of second cancers over time.

Potential bias due to the referral pattern of the cancer center and the exclusion of patients who died or had active disease at five years.

The study had a significant percentage of patients lost to follow-up, which may affect the results.

Patients were treated for childhood cancer, with a median age of 3 years at first treatment and a median follow-up of 19 years.

0.02

95% CI: 2.8-6.6%, 5.1-11.8%, 8.2-20.0%

p<0.05

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