Parallel analysis of cancer mortality among atomic bomb survivors and patients with ankylosing spondylitis given X-ray therapy

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5148726

Darby, S C; Nakashima, E; Kato, H

Radiation-induced cancer mortality rates among atomic bomb survivors with doses of at least 100 rad and patients with ankylosing spondylitis given X-ray therapy have been compared for the first time. The estimated average mean bone marrow dose for the spondylitics is more than twice that for atomic bomb survivors, and yet spondylitics experienced only half the risk of radiation-induced leukemia of atomic bomb survivors. For sites that were heavily irradiated in the spondylitics, provisional estimates indicate comparable doses in the two studies, and similar levels of cancer risk were observed. For these sites, when information from the studies was combined, there were statistically significant excesses for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, lung, and ovaries, multiple myeloma, other lymphomas, and tumors of the spinal cord and nerves. Very high relative risks (RR's) for tumors of the spinal cord and nerves were observed in both studies. For sites that were lightly irradiated in the spondylitics, in addition to previously documented sites, there was a statistically significant excess of cancers of the liver and gallbladder among atomic bomb survivors. A previous subdivision of cancer sites into radiosensitive and other tissues was not supported by the atomic bomb survivor data. Changes in the rates of radiation-induced cancers with age at exposure and time since exposure were studied and compared with the use of generalized linear modeling of the RR's and also by examination of the excess mortality rates. The level of agreement between the two studies was high; provided it is accepted that the reduced level of leukemia risk in the spondylitics is due to cell sterilization, no inconsistencies were found.

• Research Organization: Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5148726
• Journal Information: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Vol. 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION DOSES
NEOPLASMS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOTHERAPY
AGE DEPENDENCE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ESOPHAGUS
JAPAN
LIVER
LUNGS
MORTALITY
NERVES
OVARIES
PATIENTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SPINAL CORD
STOMACH
TIME DEPENDENCE
WARFARE
ASIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSES
FEMALE GENITALS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
GONADS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MEDICINE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
THERAPY
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)