Abstract
A case-control study of brain tumor was conducted in collaborating hospitals in Boston, Providence, and Baltimore. Cases were 160 consecutive patients being treated for glioblastoma, grade 3 or 4 astrocytoma, or anaplastic astrocytoma. Controls were 128 healthy persons identified among the case's friends. A complex self-administered questionnaire was used to assess exposure to factors of interest. There was some evidence that glioblastoma is associated with a decreased susceptibility to allergies, a finding that may call attention to the involvement of immunologic disturbances in brain tumors. Our data are not supportive of previous reports of an association between brain tumors and exposure to pets or farm environment, family history of CNS malignancies or other neurologic conditions, or irradiation to the head. We did not find any evidence for an association with life-style characteristics such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, use of drugs of any kind, or dietary intake of cured or smoked meat or fish.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Olin R, Ahlbom A: The cancer mortality among Swedish chemists graduated during three decades. A comparison with the general population and with a cohort of architects. Environ Res 1980; 22: 154–161
Selikoff IJ, Hammond EC (eds): Brain tumors in the chemical industry. Ann NY Acad Sci 1982, p 381
Tabershaw IR, Gaffey WR: Mortality study of workers in the manufacture of vinyl chloride and its polymers. J Occup Med 1974; 17: 509–518
Waxweiler RJ, Stringer W, Wagoner JK, et al.: Neoplastic risk among workers exposed to vinyl chloride. Ann NY Acad Sci 1976; 271: 40–48
Infante PF: Oncogenic and mutagenic risks in communities with polyvinyl chloride production facilities. Ann NY Acad Sci 1976; 271: 49–57
McMichael AJ, Spirtas R, Kupper LL: An epidemiologic study of mortality within a cohort of rubber workers, 1964–1972. J Occup Med 1974; 16: 458–462
McMichael AJ, Andjelkovic DA, Tyroler HA: Cancer mortality among rubber workers: An epidemiologic study. Ann NY Acad Sci 1976; 271: 124–137
Burch JD, Craib KJP, Choi BCK, Miller AB, Risch HA, Howe GR: An exploratory case control study of brain tumors in adults. JNCI 1987; 78: 601–609
Musicco M, Filippini G, Bordo BM, Melotto A, Morello G, Berrino F: Gliomas and occupational exposure to carcinogens: case-control study. Am J Epidemiol 1982; 116: 782–790
Choi NW, Schuman LM, Gullen WH: Epidemiology of primary central nervous system neoplasms. II. Case-control study. Am J Epidemiol 1970; 91: 467–485
Shore RE, Albert RE, Pasternack BS: Follow up study of patients treated by x-ray epilation for tinea capitis. Resurvey of post treatment illness and mortality experience. Arch Environ Health 1976; 31: 21–27
Modan B, Mart H, Baidatz D, et al.: Radiation-induced head and neck tumors. Lancet 1988; i: 277–279
Preston-Martin S, Paganini-Hill A, Henderson BE, et al.: Case-control study of intracranial meningiomas in women in Los Angeles County. JNCI 1980; 65: 67–73
Preston-Martin S, Yu MC, Henderson BE, et al.: Risk factors for meningiomas in Los Angeles County. JNCI 1983;70:862–866
Parker HL, Kernohan JW: The relation of injury and glioma of the brain. JAMA 1931; 97: 535–540
Hochberg F, Toniolo P, Cole P: Head trauma and seizures as risk factors of glioblastoma. Neurology (Cleveland) 1984; 34: 1511–1514
Carpenter AV, Flanders WD, Frome EL, Cole P, Fry SA: Brain cancer and nonoccupational risk factors: a case-control study among workers at two nuclear facilities. Am J Public Health 1987; 77: 1180–1182
White SJ, McLean AEM, Howland C: Anticonvulsant drugs and cancer: A cohort study in patients with severe epilepsy. Lancet 1979; ii: 458–461
Schuman LM, Choi NW, Gullen WH: Relationship of central nervous system neoplasms to Toxoplasma Gondii infection. Am J Public Health 1967; 57: 848–856
Schoenberg BS: Nervous system. In: D. Schottenfled, JR Fraumeni, eds., Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1982; 968–983
Rubenstein LJ: Tumors of the Central Nervous System Fascicle 6. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington DC, 1972
Mantel N, Haenszel W: Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J Natl Cancer Inst 1959; 22: 719–748
Mantel N: Chi-square tests with one degree of freedom: extension of the Mantel Haenszel procedure. J Amer Stat Assoc 1963; 58: 690–700
National Research Council, Committee on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer. Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer. Washington, DC. National Academy Press, 1982
MacMahon B, Newill VA: Birth characteristics of children dying of malignant neoplasms. J Natl Cancer Inst 1962; 28: 231–244
Gold E, Gordis L, Tonascia J, et al.: Risk factors for brain tumors in children. Am J Epidemiol 1979; 109: 309–319
Flanders WD, Austin H: Possibility of selection bias in matched case-control studies using friend controls. Am J Epidemiol 1986; 124: 150–153
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hochberg, F., Toniolo, P. & Cole, P. Nonoccupational risk indicators of glioblastoma in adults. J Neuro-Oncol 8, 55–60 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182087
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182087