Epidemiological Studies of Leukemia and Lymphoma

Although some lymphoid neoplasms have been linked to certain infections and severe immunosuppression, the etiologies of most lymphoid neoplasms remain largely unknown. REB investigators collaborate on a number of initiatives focused on elucidating the etiology of lymphomas, with special interests in molecular epidemiology and the evaluation of etiologic heterogeneity among lymphoma subtypes.

For the last decade, REB investigators have collaborated on the NCI-SEER Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) Case-Control Study, a multi-center, population-based study of 1321 NHL cases and 1057 controls that includes detailed interview data, biospecimens, and environmental samples. Currently, we are collaborating on studies using the candidate gene approach to identify common genetic variants in relation to both NHL susceptibility and survival within the NCI-SEER NHL Study, focusing on key genes in cell cycle control, DNA repair, and immune function pathways that likely contribute to lymphomagenesis. We are also conducting molecular studies utilizing the paraffin-embedded tumor tissue collected for approximately 70% of the cases.

REB investigators are also members of the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph). The goal of the consortium is to enhance collaboration among epidemiologists studying lymphoma, provide a forum for the exchange of research ideas, and create a framework for collaborating on analyses that pool data from multiple studies. Within the consortium, we are currently leading pooled analyses to 1) investigate whether the risk of NHL associated with cigarette smoking and personal hair dye use is modified by genetic variation in N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) and 2 (NAT2), which encode enzymes that metabolize aromatic and heterocyclic amines, and 2) provide the first comprehensive assessments of risk factors for several rare lymphoma subtypes.

We are also participating in pooled analyses of data from large case-control studies of childhood leukemia conducted in four countries: Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A pooled analysis of data from nine studies demonstrated a significantly elevated risk of childhood leukemia (OR=2.00, 95% CI 1.27-3.13) associated with residential exposures = 0.4 µT to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Future analyses are planned to evaluate the risk of childhood leukemia associated with birth weight, maternal smoking during pregnancy, paternal smoking pre-conception, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and infant feeding.

Opportunities exist for post-doctoral fellows to participate in current and future research on the etiology of leukemia and lymphoma.

Post-doctoral research opportunities