Pediatric Cancer Genetics

Nathaniel H. Robin, Meagan Farmer

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9780323495967
• Topic: Medicina
• Subtopic: Oncología

Get a quick, expert overview of the many key facets of pediatric cancer genetics with this concise, practical resource by Dr. Nathaniel H. Robin and Meagan Farmer, MS, CGC, MBA. Ideal for pediatric oncologists and all providers who care for children, this easy-to-read reference addresses the remarkable potential of genetic testing as well as the complexities of choosing the correct test, understanding the results, and counseling the family.

• Features a wealth of information on pediatric cancer genetics, including the epidemiology and biology of cancer and the genetic evaluation process and role of genetic counselors.
• Highlights examples of syndromes that present in childhood and increase susceptibility to cancer.
• Discusses the genetic evaluation process in context of the multidisciplinary care of children with cancer.
• Considers the ethical and legal issues of genetic testing in children and provides illustrative case examples.
• Consolidates today's available information and guidance in this timely area into one convenient resource.

Chapter 1

Epidemiology of Childhood Cancer

Kimberly Whelan, MD, MSPH, and Elizabeth Alva, MD, MSPH

Abstract

In the United States, 1 of approximately every 285 children will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 years. Although relatively rare, childhood cancer is the leading cause of disease-related deaths in children and adolescents. Understanding the epidemiology of childhood cancer is imperative for progress to be made in the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of childhood cancer. This chapter will include a discussion of pediatric cancer incidence by age and cancer type, gender, and race/ethnicity as well as trends in pediatric cancer incidence over time. Mortality and survival rates for pediatric cancer will also be discussed. In addition, the chapter will explore the possible causes of pediatric cancer, including both extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors. This chapter focuses on the descriptive epidemiology of childhood cancer as well as discussing the possible causes of childhood cancer with the hopes of providing a basic understanding to the reader of the epidemiology of childhood cancer.

Keywords

Cancer; Childhood; Incidence; Mortality; Risk factors; Survival

Introduction

Approximately 16,400 children and adolescents are diagnosed with a cancer every year in the United States. While childhood cancer remains relatively rare, it is also the leading cause of disease-related deaths in children and adolescents. ¹ There are many differences between adult and childhood malignancies, including incidence, risk factors, and prognosis. One of the most important differences is the basis of classification of cancer types. Most adult cancers are categorized based on their site of origin. In pediatric oncology, cancers are classified based on their histology. ²

Data about the epidemiology of childhood cancer come from multiple sources. Because of the incomplete nature of cancer registries among the states, the exact number of incident cases of pediatric cancer each year is unknown. One of the most comprehensive databases for cancer incidence is the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute. The SEER program reports high-quality, long-term, population-based incidence data covering ∼28% of the population of the United States. Data on incidence trends in the SEER database extend back to 1975 and can allow for the examination of the pediatric cancer incidence trends over time. The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) is the more recently established registry, which reports incidence data from 1995 onward. In the NAACCR the cancer registries that participate in the SEER program, as well as the registries that participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Nation Program of Cancer Registries, are included. The NAACR covers up to 95% of the US population. However, both the SEER and NAACCR data reporting of incidence data lag behind the current year because of the time needed for data collection, aggregation, and dissemination. Descriptive epidemiology data reported in this chapter come from both the SEER program and NAACR as well as recent publications from the American Cancer Society. ^3–5

Other important sources of information about childhood cancer include cooperative groups, such as the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). The COG has over 220 member institutions, and 90% of all children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in t...