Malignant tumors during the first 2 decades of life in the offspring of atomic bomb survivors

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · American Journal of Human Genetics; (USA)

OSTI ID:6743283

Yoshimoto, Y; Neel, J V; Schull, W J; Kato, H; Soda, M; Eto, R; Mabuchi, K ^[1]

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1. Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima (Japan)

The risk of cancer (incidence) prior to age 20 years has been determined for children born to atomic bomb survivors and to a suitable comparison group. Tumor ascertainment was through death certificates and the tumor registries maintained in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The rationale for the study stemmed from the evidence that a significant proportion of such childhood tumors as retinoblastoma and Wilms tumor arise on the basis of a mutant gene inherited from one parent plus a second somatic cell mutation involving the allele of this gene. Gonadal radiation doses were calculated by the recently established DS86 system, supplemented by an ad hoc system for those children for one or both of whose parents a DS86 dose could not be computed but for whom an ad hoc dose could be developed on the basis of the available information. The total data set consisted of (1) a cohort of 31,150 live-born children one or both of whose parents received greater than 0.01 Sv of radiation at the time of the atomic bombings (average conjoint gonad exposure 0.43 Sv) and (2) two suitable comparison groups totaling 41,066 children. Altogether, 43 malignant tumors were ascertained in the children of exposed parents, and 49 malignant tumors were ascertained in the two control groups. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed no increase in malignancy in the children of exposed parents. However, examination of the data suggested that only 3.0-5.0% of the tumors of childhood that were observed in the comparison groups are associated with an inherited genetic predisposition that would be expected to exhibit an altered frequency if the parental mutation rate were increased. There is thus far no confirmation of the positive findings that Nomura found in a mouse system.

• OSTI ID: 6743283
• Journal Information: American Journal of Human Genetics; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Human Genetics; (USA) Vol. 46:6; ISSN AJHGA; ISSN 0002-9297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
AGE GROUPS
ASIA
BODY
CHILDREN
DISEASES
DOSES
FEMALE GENITALS
GENE MUTATIONS
GENES
GONADS
HEMIC DISEASES
HIROSHIMA
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
INFANTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
JAPAN
LEUKEMIA
MALE GENITALS
MATHEMATICS
MUTATIONS
NAGASAKI
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
ORGANS
OVARIES
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RISK ASSESSMENT
STATISTICS
TERATOGENESIS
TESTES
WARFARE
WEAPONS