Data Stream
Relative Risk False Starts
Relatives of patients with myeloid malignancies have a 2-fold higher
risk of developing a myeloid malignancy, compared with individuals
with no family history, according to research published in Blood. Researchers are tirelessly working to understand the causes of cancer, but they may
need to debunk some of the fake causes of cancer.
In a survey asking people to identify an “actual” or “mythical” cause of cancer:
The analysis included more than 93,000 first-degree relatives of more
than 35,000 patients diagnosed with myeloid malignancies between
1958 and 2015. Compared with those without a family history, relatives’
overall risk and risks for specific diseases were higher:
36 %
52 %
800%
700%
600%
500%
400%
identified an actual cause identified a mythical cause
(e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption,
lack of physical activity, reduced fruit
and vegetable consumption,
overweight status) The most popular mythical causes
included: exposure to stress (43%), food
additives (42%), and electromagnetic
frequencies (35%).
Greater education about actual causes of cancer is needed, the authors concluded,
particularly because “only knowledge of established risk factors is associated with
adherence to behavioral recommendations for reducing cancer risk.”
Source: Shahab L, McGowan JA, Waller J, Smith SG. Prevalence of beliefs about actual and mythical causes of cancer
and their association with socio-demographic and health-related characteristics: Findings from a cross-sectional
survey in England. Eur J Cancer. 2018 April 26. [Epub ahead of print]
300%
A Forward March Against Cancer
200%
100%
The agency highlighted several areas of progress, including a 26% drop in the U.S.
cancer mortality rate from 1991 to 2015 – which translates to almost 2.4 million lives
saved.
Cancer still poses a tremendous challenge: Researchers predicted that the number
of new cancer cases will rise from 1.7 million in 2018 to 2.4 million
by 2035, due in part to an aging population.
3.00
0%
Investment in cancer research has led to “unprecedented” progress in its prevention
and treatment, according to the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR’s)
recently released annual progress report for 2018.
2.25
New
Cancer
Cases 1.50
(in millions)
The risk is passed on through families via inherited genetic traits, the
authors concluded, adding that “our data suggest there are individuals,
such as patients diagnosed at a young age and those with multiple
affected first-degree relatives, for whom counseling, gene testing, and
surveillance may be appropriate.”
Source: Sud A, Chattopadhyay S, Thomsen H, et al. Familial risks of primary myeloid leukemia,
myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Blood. 2018;132:973-6.
0.75
0
2018
2026
2035
“A continued increase in federal funding for … basic, translational, and clinical research
will allow us to make major headway moving forward,” said Elizabeth M. Jaffee, MD,
president of the AACR.
Source: AACR, “AACR Cancer Progress Report 2018.”
24
ASH Clinical News
November 2018