Factors related to pregnancy and birth and the risk of childhood brain tumours: The ESTELLE and ESCALE studies (SFCE, France). Issue 8 (31st January 2017) - Bailey, Helen D.
Abstract : Little is known of the causes of childhood brain tumors (CBT). The aims of this study were to investigate whether extremes of birth weight were associated with increased risk of CBT and whether maternal preconceptional folic acid supplementation or breastfeeding reduced the risk. In addition, other maternal characteristics and birth related factors were also investigated. We pooled data from two French national population‐based case‐control studies with similar designs conducted in 2003–2004 and 2010–2011. The mothers of 510 CBT cases (directly recruited from the national childhood cancer register) and 3, 102 controls aged under 15 years, frequency matched by age and gender did a telephone interview, which focussed on demographic and perinatal characteristics, and maternal life style habits and reproductive history. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, study of origin and relevant confounders. No association was found between CBT and birth weight or fetal growth. The use of preconceptional folic acid supplementation was rare (5.3% in cases and 7.8% in controls) and the OR was 0.8 (95% CI 0.5, 1.4). There was no association with breastfeeding, even prolonged (six months or more; OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.8, 1.4). Neither was there any association between CBT and other investigated factors (maternal body mass index, gestational weight gain, congenital abnormality, maternal reproductive history or use of fertility treatments. Although large, this study was underpowered for subtype analyses. Pooling data with other population‐based studies may provide further insight into findings by CBT subtypes. Abstract : What's new? In the search for causes of childhood brain tumors (CBTs), birth weight, fetal growth and maternal behaviors have attracted significant interest. Despite extensive study, however, associations between those factors and CBTs remain unclear. This investigation of 510 CBT cases and over 3, 000 controls from two French studies yields no evidence of an association between fetal growth and CBT risk. There also was little indication that maternal preconceptional folic acid supplementation or breastfeeding protect against CBTs. The findings highlight the importance of replicating analyses in different populations and the need for international consortiums to make full use of available data.