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Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Epidemiologic and experimental research on the potential carcinogenic effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) has now been conducted for over two decades. Cancer epidemiology studies in relation to EMF have focused primarily on brain cancer and leukemia, both from residential sources of exposure in children and adults and from occupational exposure in adult men. Because genotoxic effects of EMF have not been shown, most recent laboratory research has attempted to show biological effects that could be related to cancer promotion. In this report, we briefly review residential and occupational EMF studies on brain cancer. We also provide a general review of experimental studies as they relate both to the biological plausibility of an EMF-brain cancer relation and to the insufficiency of such research to help guide exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies. We conclude from our review that no recent research, either epidemiologic or experimental, has emerged to provide reasonable support for a causal role of EMF on brain cancer.
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PMID:Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) and brain cancer in adults and children: review and comment. 1155 Mar 14

This study reports on over 40 years of mortality follow-up of 40,581 Navy veterans of the Korean War with potential exposure to high-intensity radar. The cohort death rates were compared with mortality rates for White US men using standardized mortality ratios, and the death rates for men in occupations considered a priori to have high radar exposure were compared with the rates for men in low-exposure occupations using Poisson regression. Deaths from all diseases and all cancers were significantly below expectation overall and for the 20,021 sailors with high radar exposure potential. There was no evidence of increased brain cancer in the entire cohort (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7, 1.1) or in high-exposure occupations (SMR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0). Testicular cancer deaths also occurred less frequently than expected in the entire cohort and high-exposure occupations. Death rates for several smoking-related diseases were significantly lower in the high-exposure occupations. Nonlymphocytic leukemia was significantly elevated among men in high-exposure occupations but in only one of the three high-exposure occupations, namely, electronics technicians in aviation squadrons (SMR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.7). Radar exposure had little effect on mortality in this cohort of US Navy veterans.
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PMID:Cancer in Korean war navy technicians: mortality survey after 40 years. 1254 30

Previous studies have raised concerns about possible excess risks of bladder, brain and hepatobiliary cancers and leukaemias near landfill sites. Several cancers have been implicated, but no consistent pattern has emerged. We present a large nationwide analysis of selected cancers near landfill sites in Great Britain. The base population comprised people living within 2 km of 9565 (from a total of 19 196) landfill sites that were operational at some time from 1982 to 1997, with populations living more than 2 km from a landfill as reference. Risks of cancers at the above sites were computed with adjustment for age, sex, year of diagnosis, region and deprivation. National post-coded registers provided a total of 341 856 640 person-years for the adult cancer analyses and 113 631 443 person-years for childhood leukaemia. There were 89 786 cases of bladder cancer, 36 802 cases of brain cancer, 21 773 cases of hepatobiliary cancer, 37 812 cases of adult leukaemia and 3973 cases of childhood leukaemia. In spite of the very large scale of this national study, we found no excess risks of cancers of the bladder and brain, hepatobiliary cancer or leukaemia, in populations living within 2 km of landfill sites. The results were similar if the analysis were restricted to landfill sites licensed to carry special (hazardous) waste. Our results do not support suggestions of excess risks of cancer associated with landfill sites reported in other studies.
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PMID:Cancer risks in populations living near landfill sites in Great Britain. 1208 58

Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) MD-fraction containing beta-1,6 glucan with beta-1,3 branched chains has previously exhibited strong anticancer activity by increasing immune-competent cell activity.1,2 In this non-random case series, a combination of MD-fraction and whole maitake powder was investigated to determine its effectiveness for 22- to 57-year-old cancer patients in stages II-IV. Cancer regression or significant symptom improvement was observed in 58.3 percent of liver cancer patients, 68.8 percent of breast cancer patients, and 62.5 percent of lung cancer patients. The trial found a less than 10-20 percent improvement for leukemia, stomach cancer, and brain cancer patients. Furthermore, when maitake was taken in addition to chemotherapy, immune-competent cell activities were enhanced 1.2-1.4 times, compared with chemotherapy alone. Animal studies have supported the use of maitake MD-fraction for cancer.
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PMID:Can maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients? 1249 70

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are associated with the production, transmission, and use of electricity; thus, the potential for human exposure is high. These electric and magnetic fields are predominantly of low frequency (60 Hz in the United States and 50 Hz in Europe) and generally of low intensity. Epidemiology studies have suggested a potential for increased breast cancer, brain cancer, and leukemia rates with increasing magnetic field exposure. Therefore, given the widespread exposure to low-intensity, 60-Hz magnetic fields in industrialized societies, standard toxicology studies and long-term carcinogenesis studies were conducted using traditional rodent models. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1mice were exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields by whole-body exposure for 2 years. 2-YEAR STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 100 male and 100 female rats were exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields at intensities of 0.02, 2, or 10 G for 18.5 hours per day, 7 days per week, for 106 weeks. Groups of 100 male and 100 female control rats were housed in the same exposure chambers without applied magnetic fields. Additional groups of 100 male and 100 female rats were intermittently exposed (1 hour on and 1 hour off) to a 10 G 60-Hz field 18.5 hours per day, 7 days per week, for 106 weeks. The highest field intensity (10 G) is approximately 5,000-fold greater than what was considered high intensity for homes in epidemiology studies in humans. Survival and Body Weights: Survival and mean body weights of exposed groups of male and female rats was similar to those of the control groups. Pathology Findings: The incidences of thyroid gland C-cell adenoma and carcinoma in 0.02 G male rats, adenoma in 2 G males, and adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in 0.02 and 2 G males were significantly greater than in the control group. The incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia in males in the 10 G intermittent group was significantly less than in the control group. 2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 100 male and 100 female mice were exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields at intensities of 0.02, 2, or 10 G for 18.5 hours per day, 7 days per week, for 106 weeks. Groups of 100 male and 100 female control mice were housed in the same exposure chambers without applied magnetic fields. Additional groups of 100 male and 100 female mice were intermittently exposed (1 hour on and 1 hour off) to a 10 G 60-Hz field 18.5 hours per day, 7 days per week, for 106 weeks. Survival and Body Weights: Survival of male mice exposed to 10 G was significantly less than that of control mice after 2 years; survival of all other exposed groups of mice was similar to that of control mice. Mean body weights of exposed groups of male and female mice were similar to those of the control groups throughout the study. Pathology Findings: The incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma were significantly decreased in 0.02 and 2 G male mice and 2 G female mice relative to the control groups; the incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) were significantly less in males and females exposed to 2 G than in the control groups. In female mice, the incidence of malignant lymphoma in the 10 G intermittent group was significantly less than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these 2-year whole-body exposure studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of 60-Hz magnetic fields in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of thyroid gland C-cell neoplasms in the 0.02 and 2G groups. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity in female F344/N rats or male or female B6C3F1 mice exposed to 0.02, 2, or 10 G, or 10 G intermittent 60-Hz magnetic fields. In exposed rats and mice there were no increased incidences of neoplasms at sites for which epidemiology studies have suggested an association with magnetic fields (brain, mammary gland, leukemia).
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PMID:NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 60-HZ Magnetic Fields IN F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Whole-body Exposure Studies). 1256 43

Although conventional chemotherapies are used to treat patients with malignancies, damage to normal cells is problematic. Blood-forming bone marrow cells are the most adversely affected. It is therefore necessary to find alternative agents that can kill cancer cells but have minimal effects on normal cells. We investigated the brain cancer cell-killing activity of a homeopathic medicine, Ruta, isolated from a plant, Ruta graveolens. We treated human brain cancer and HL-60 leukemia cells, normal B-lymphoid cells, and murine melanoma cells in vitro with different concentrations of Ruta in combination with Ca3(PO4)2. Fifteen patients diagnosed with intracranial tumors were treated with Ruta 6 and Ca3(PO4)2. Of these 15 patients, 6 of the 7 glioma patients showed complete regression of tumors. Normal human blood lymphocytes, B-lymphoid cells, and brain cancer cells treated with Ruta in vitro were examined for telomere dynamics, mitotic catastrophe, and apoptosis to understand the possible mechanism of cell-killing, using conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques. Both in vivo and in vitro results showed induction of survival-signaling pathways in normal lymphocytes and induction of death-signaling pathways in brain cancer cells. Cancer cell death was initiated by telomere erosion and completed through mitotic catastrophe events. We propose that Ruta in combination with Ca3(PO4)2 could be used for effective treatment of brain cancers, particularly glioma.
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PMID:Ruta 6 selectively induces cell death in brain cancer cells but proliferation in normal peripheral blood lymphocytes: A novel treatment for human brain cancer. 1296 76

The objective of the study is to characterize the risk of tumors from radiation exposure to the head and neck. A cohort of 2,224 children given x-ray treatment and 1,380 given only topical medications for ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) during 1940-1959 have been followed up for a median of 39 y to determine tumor incidence. Follow-ups were by mail/telephone questionnaire, with 84-88% of the original cohort followed and with medical verification of diseases of interest. Sixteen intracranial tumors [7 brain cancers, 4 meningiomas, and 5 acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas)] occurred in the x-irradiated group following an average brain dose of about 1.4 Gy, compared to 1 acoustic neuroma in the control group. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for brain cancer was 3.0 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 5.9]. Even though the dose to the thyroid gland was only about 60 mGy, 2 thyroid cancers were found in the irradiated group vs. none among controls, and 11 vs. 1 thyroid adenomas were found in the respective groups. Following an average dose of about 4 Gy to cranial marrow, 8 cases of leukemia (SIR = 3.2, CI: 1.5, 6.1) were observed in the irradiated group and 1 in the control group. There was also a suggestive excess of blood dyscrasias. There was no difference between the groups in the frequency of other cancers of the head and neck (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) or in total mortality.
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PMID:Tumors and other diseases following childhood x-ray treatment for ringworm of the scalp (Tinea capitis). 1367 80

A new method for assessing both current and historical occupational exposures to magnetic fields has been developed and used in health studies involving a cohort of electricity generation and transmission workers in England and Wales. The exposure values are derived by calculation from engineering and operational data about the power stations rather than from measurements. They are provided for each of 11 job categories for each year of operation of each power station represented in the cohort. The engineering data are used to determine the average magnetic fields in specified areas of work within the power station and then applied to information about the time spent in these areas by each of the job categories. The operational data are used to adjust the exposures for each year according to the power station output for the year. Earlier methods used measurements or the advice of panels of experts to provide exposure scores for a number of job categories across all power stations and years. Such methods were not able to distinguish exposures from different power facilities or during the different years of their operation. Measurement surveys at 10 power stations of the magnetic fields in the work areas gave confidence that the calculations were realistic. Exposure measurements on 215 workers at three power stations were compared in job groups with the exposures predicted by the method. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.86 and the slope and intercept of the line of best fit were 0.87 and 0.07 microT respectively. The method gives a good prediction of measured exposure and is being used for studies of occupational exposure to magnetic fields and leukaemia, and of cardiovascular disease, and a reanalysis of brain cancer.
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PMID:A method for assessing occupational exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields for electricity generation and transmission workers. 1458 20

It has been recently established that low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMFs) exposure induces biological changes and could be associated with increased incidence of cancer, while the issue remains unresolved as to whether high-frequency EMFs can have hazardous effect on health. Epidemiological studies on association between childhood cancers, particularly leukemia and brain cancer, and exposure to low- and high-frequency EMF suggested an etiological role of EMFs in inducing adverse health effects. To investigate whether exposure to high-frequency EMFs could affect in vitro cell survival, we cultured acute T-lymphoblastoid leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM) in the presence of unmodulated 900 MHz EMF, generated by a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) cell, at various exposure times. We evaluated the effects of high-frequency EMF on cell growth rate and apoptosis induction, by cell viability (MTT) test, FACS analysis and DNA ladder, and we investigated pro-apoptotic and pro-survival signaling pathways possibly involved as a function of exposure time by Western blot analysis. At short exposure times (2-12 h), unmodulated 900 MHz EMF induced DNA breaks and early activation of both p53-dependent and -independent apoptotic pathways while longer continuous exposure (24-48 h) determined silencing of pro-apoptotic signals and activation of genes involved in both intracellular (Bcl-2) and extracellular (Ras and Akt1) pro-survival signaling. Overall our results indicate that exposure to 900 MHz continuous wave, after inducing an early self-defense response triggered by DNA damage, could confer to the survivor CCRF-CEM cells a further advantage to survive and proliferate.
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PMID:Exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field induces an unbalance between pro-apoptotic and pro-survival signals in T-lymphoblastoid leukemia CCRF-CEM cells. 1460 34

Patterns of illness in children have changed dramatically in the last century, and will continue to change in this century. The major diseases confronting children are now chronic and disabling conditions termed the "new pediatric morbidity"-asthma, leukemia and brain cancer, neurodevelopmental dysfunction and neurobehavioral abnormality, reproductive and systemic developmental problems. Chemical toxicants in the environment, poverty, and little or no access to health care are all factors contributing to life-threatening pediatric diseases; children are uniquely vulnerable to chemical toxicants because of their disproportionately heavy exposures and their inherent biological growth and development. Genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures during vulnerable periods of development are also important contributors to the etiologies of many diseases of childhood. It is vital that we develop a better understanding of the mechanisms and interactions between nutrition, infectious disease, environmental exposures, and genetic predisposition in order to develop better prevention methods. This paper briefly examines modern contributors to children's environmental health problems, efforts to date on both the regional and international level to address these challenges, and reflects upon major research needs that must be addressed in order to close the gaps that exist in our understanding of the relationship between environmental exposures and children's health.
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PMID:Environmental hazards to children's health in the modern world. 1464 25


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