LB69
Geographical analyses of childhood bone cancer in Great Britain: 1980 - 2005
Karen Blakey1, Richard Feltbower2, Roger Parslow2, Peter James1, Basilio Gmez Pozo1, Charles Stiller3, Tim Vincent3, Patricia McKinney2, Michael Murphy3, Sir Alan Craft4, Richard McNally1
1Newcastle University, UK; 2Leeds University, UK; 3University of Oxford, UK; 4Northern Institute of Cancer Research, Newcastle University, UK
Aim
Primary bone cancers occur most often in children and adolescents.
Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are the most common bone tissue malignancies in
children but their aetiology is poorly understood. This study examined
geographical patterning in the incidence of bone cancers diagnosed in 0-14 year
olds in Great Britain during the period 1980-2005. It is well recognised that
incidence of some childhood cancers varies with socioeconomic status.
Therefore, a specific aim was to analyse putative associations between
socioeconomic status and bone cancer in children.
Method
Data on osteosarcoma (n = 744) and Ewing sarcoma (n = 581) were obtained
from the National Registry of Childhood Tumours. Dependent on date of
diagnosis, cases were linked to their corresponding 1981, 1991 or 2001 census
geography and aggregated to census ward level. Poisson regression was
used to examine the relationship between incidence rates and the Townsend
deprivation index at small area level. Correlation with each of the
Townsend index components was also assessed. Univariable risk
estimates were reported.
Results
No statistically significant associations were found for
osteosarcoma. For Ewing sarcoma, decreased risk was associated with
greater levels of deprivation (most deprived third: RR = 0.82; 95% CI:
0.69-0.97; P for linear trend = 0.02). This was linked to increased levels
of unemployment (most deprived third: RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72-1.00; P
for linear trend = 0.057), housing tenure (most deprived third: RR = 0.79; 95%
CI: 0.66-0.93; P for linear trend = 0.006) and lower levels of car
ownership (most deprived third: RR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.60-0.84; P for
linear trend < 0.001), but not to household overcrowding.
Conclusion
There was no evidence that risk of osteosarcoma varied with socioeconomic
status. Socio-environmental risk factors for Ewing sarcoma may be
associated with living in a more affluent area.
