Skip to main content

Epidemiology

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial tumor in children. Based on the French 2000–2013 data, the annual age-standardized incidence rate is around 14 cases per million of children aged 0–14 years and is reported lower in low-income countries. Neuroblastomas are mostly diagnosed before the age of 5 years (85%), and 40% occur in infancy. The incidence has remained stable since 2000 in France. The overall survival rates in France are 92% at 1 year and 75% at 5 years after diagnosis, which is similar to other developed countries but much higher than reported in low-income countries. It varies strongly with age, with best figures among infants.

Because neuroblastoma is rare, literature on etiology is limited and studies often lack power. The characteristics of the cells and the early onset suggest a role of genetic factors and perinatal exposures. Positive associations have been observed with congenital malformations, high birth weight, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. Self-reported exposure to household pesticides during pregnancy was also associated with increased risk of neuroblastoma in some studies. By contrast, inverse associations are suggested between neuroblastoma and vitamin/folic acid supplementation before pregnancy and breastfeeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Trott PA. International classification of diseases for oncology. J Clin Pathol. 1977;30:782. http://codes.iarc.fr/. Accessed 14 Feb 2019.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Steliarova-Foucher E, Stiller C, Lacour B, Kaatsch P. International classification of childhood cancer, third edition. Cancer. 2005;103:1457–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.20910.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Spix C, Pastore G, Sankila R, et al. Neuroblastoma incidence and survival in European children (1978-1997): report from the Automated Childhood Cancer Information System project. Eur J Cancer. 2006;42:2081–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2006.05.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Berthold F, Spix C, Kaatsch P, Lampert F. Incidence, survival, and treatment of localized and metastatic neuroblastoma in Germany 1979–2015. Pediatr Drugs. 2017;19:577–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-017-0251-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kamihara J, Ma C, Fuentes Alabi SL, et al. Socioeconomic status and global variations in the incidence of neuroblastoma: call for support of population-based cancer registries in low-middle–income countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017;64:321–3. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.26244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Steliarova-Foucher E, Colombet M, Ries LAG, et al. International incidence of childhood cancer, 2001–10: a population-based registry study. Lancet Oncol. 2017;18:719–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30186-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Haupt R, Garaventa A, Gambini C, et al. Improved survival of children with neuroblastoma between 1979 and 2005: a report of the Italian neuroblastoma registry. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28:2331–8. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2009.24.8351.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Moroz V, Machin D, Faldum A, et al. Changes over three decades in outcome and the prognostic influence of age-at-diagnosis in young patients with neuroblastoma: a report from the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group project. Eur J Cancer. 2011;47:561–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2010.10.022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gatta G, Botta L, Rossi S, et al. Childhood cancer survival in Europe 1999-2007: results of EUROCARE-5-a population-based study. Lancet Oncol. 2014;15:35–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70548-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Coughlan D, Gianferante M, Lynch CF, et al. Treatment and survival of childhood neuroblastoma: evidence from a population-based study in the United States. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2017;34:320–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/08880018.2017.1373315.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Panagopoulou P, Bouka E, Georgakis MK, et al. Persisting inequalities in survival patterns of childhood neuroblastoma in Southern and Eastern Europe and the effect of socio-economic development compared with those of the US. Eur J Cancer. 2018;96:44–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2018.03.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hamrick SEG, Olshan AF, Neglia JP, Pollock BH. Association of pregnancy history and birth characteristics with neuroblastoma: a report from the Children’s Cancer Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001;15:328–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2001.0376a.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Schüz J, Kaletsch U, Meinert R, et al. Risk factors for neuroblastoma at different stages of disease. Results from a population-based case-control study in Germany. J Clin Epidemiol. 2001;54:702–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0895-4356(00)00339-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Schüz J, Forman MR. Birthweight by gestational age and childhood cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2007;18:655–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9011-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Parodi S, Merlo DF, Ranucci A, et al. Risk of neuroblastoma, maternal characteristics and perinatal exposures: the SETIL study. Cancer Epidemiol. 2014;38:686–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2014.09.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Rios P, Bailey HD, Orsi L, et al. Risk of neuroblastoma, birth-related characteristics, congenital malformations and perinatal exposures: a pooled analysis of the ESCALE and ESTELLE French studies (SFCE). Int J Cancer. 2016;139:1936–48. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.30239.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Buck GM, et al. Perinatal factors and risk of neuroblastoma. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001;15:47–53. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3016.2001.00307.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bjørge T, Engeland A, Tretli S, Heuch I. Birth and parental characteristics and risk of neuroblastoma in a population-based Norwegian cohort study. Br J Cancer. 2008;99:1165–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6604646.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Johnson KJ, Puumala SE, Soler JT, Spector LG. Perinatal characteristics and risk of neuroblastoma. Int J Cancer. 2008;123:1166–72. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.23645.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Chow EJ, Friedman DL, Mueller BA. Maternal and perinatal characteristics in relation to neuroblastoma. Cancer. 2007;109:983–92. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.22486.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Urayama KY, Von Behren J, Reynolds P. Birth characteristics and risk of neuroblastoma in young children. Am J Epidemiol. 2007;165:486–95. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwk041.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McLaughlin CC, Baptiste MS, Schymura MJ, et al. Perinatal risk factors for neuroblastoma. Cancer Causes Control. 2009;20:289–301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9243-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Buck BM, Michalek M, Chen C, Nasca N, Baptiste B. Perinatal factors and risk of neuroblastoma. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001;15(1):47–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Harder T, Plagemann A, Harder A. Birth weight and risk of neuroblastoma: a meta-analysis. Int J Epidemiol. 2010;39:746–56. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq040.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. De-Regil LM, Peña-Rosas JP, Fernández-Gaxiola AC, Rayco-Solon P. Effects and safety of periconceptional oral folate supplementation for preventing birth defects. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(12):CD007950.

    Google Scholar 

  26. French AE, Grant R, Weitzman S, et al. Folic acid food fortification is associated with a decline in neuroblastoma. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2003;74:288–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-9236(03)00200-5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Olshan AF, Smith JC, Bondy ML, et al. Maternal vitamin use and reduced risk of neuroblastoma. Epidemiology. 2002;13:575–80. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001648-200209000-00014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Mortensen JHS, Øyen N, Fomina T, et al. Supplemental folic acid in pregnancy and childhood cancer risk. Br J Cancer. 2016;114:71–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2015.446.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Daniels JL, Olshan AF, Pollock BH, et al. Breast-feeding and neuroblastoma, USA and Canada. Cancer Causes Control. 2002;13:401–5. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015746701922.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Smulevich VB, Solionova LG, Belyakova SV. Parental occupation and other factors and cancer risk in children: I. Study methodology and non-occupational factors. Int J Cancer. 1999;83:712–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19991210)83:6<712::AID-IJC2>3.0.CO;2-D.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Menegaux F, Olshan AF, Reitnauer PJ, et al. Positive association between congenital anomalies and risk of neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2005;45:649–55. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.20263.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Narod SA, Hawkins MM, Robertson CM, Stiller CA. Congenital anomalies and childhood cancer in Great Britain. Am J Hum Genet. 1997;60:474–85.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Foulkes WD, Buu PN, Filiatrault D, et al. Excess of congenital abnormalities in French-Canadian children with neuroblastoma: a case series study from montreal. Med Pediatr Oncol. 1997;29:272–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-911X(199710)29:4<272::AID-MPO7>3.0.CO;2-J.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Altmann AE, Halliday JL, Giles GG. Associations between congenital malformations and childhood cancer. A register-based case-control study. Br J Cancer. 1998;78:1244–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1998.662.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Norwood MS, Lupo PJ, Chow EJ, et al. Childhood cancer risk in those with chromosomal and non-chromosomal congenital anomalies in Washington State: 1984-2013. PLoS One. 2017;12:e0179006. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Stavrou EP, Baker DF, Bishop JF. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood cancer in New South Wales: a record linkage investigation. Cancer Causes Control. 2009;20:1551–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9400-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Heck JE, Contreras ZA, Park AS, et al. Smoking in pregnancy and risk of cancer among young children: a population-based study. Int J Cancer. 2016;139:613–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.30111.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Kramer S, Ward E, Meadows AT, Malone KE. Medical and drug risk factors associated with neuroblastoma: a case-control study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1987;78:797–804.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sorahan T, Lancashire R, Prior P, et al. Childhood cancer and parental use of alcohol and tobacco. Ann Epidemiol. 2002;5:354–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/1047-2797(95)00032-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Schwartzbaum JA. Influence of the mother’s prenatal drug consumption on risk of neuroblastoma in the child. Am J Epidemiol. 1992;135:1358–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116247.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Pang D, McNally R, Birch JM. Parental smoking and childhood cancer: results from the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. Br J Cancer. 2003;88:373–81. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6600774.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Yang Q, Olshan AF, Bondy ML, et al. Parental smoking and alcohol consumption and risk of neuroblastoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2000;9:967–72.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Rios P, Bailey HD, Poulalhon C, et al. Parental smoking, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the risk of neuroblastoma in children. A pooled analysis of the ESCALE and ESTELLE French studies. Int J Cancer. 2019; https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32161.

  44. Müller-Schulte E, Kurlemann G, Harder A. Tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs during pregnancy and risk of neuroblastoma: systematic review. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2018;103:F467–73. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Kristensen P, Andersen A, Irgens LM, et al. Cancer in offspring of parents engaged in agricultural activities in Norway: incidence and risk factors in the farm environment. Int J Cancer. 1996;65:39–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19960103)65:1<39::AID-IJC8>3.0.CO;2-2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Flower KB, Knott C, Shore DL, et al. Cancer risk and parental pesticide application in children of Agricultural Health Study participants. Environ Health Perspect. 2003;112:631–5. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.6586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Bunin GR, Ward E, Kramer S, et al. Neuroblastoma and parental occupation. Am J Epidemiol. 1990;131:776–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Olshan AF, De Roos AJ, Teschke K, et al. Neuroblastoma and parental occupation. Cancer Causes Control. 1990;10:776–80.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Kerr MA, Nasca PC, Mundt KA, et al. Parental occupational exposures and risk of neuroblastoma: a case-control study (United States). Cancer Causes Control. 2000;11:635–43. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008951632482.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. MacCarthy A, Bunch KJ, Fear NT, et al. Paternal occupation and neuroblastoma: a case-control study based on cancer registry data for Great Britain 1962-1999. Br J Cancer. 2010;102:615–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6605504.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Daniels JL, Olshan AF, Teschke K, et al. Residential pesticide exposure and neuroblastoma. Epidemiology. 2001;12:20–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001648-200101000-00005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Rios P, Bailey HD, Lacour B, et al. Maternal use of household pesticides during pregnancy and risk of neuroblastoma in offspring. A pooled analysis of the ESTELLE and ESCALE French studies (SFCE). Cancer Causes Control. 2017;28:1125–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-017-0944-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Moore A, Enquobahrie DA. Paternal occupational exposure to pesticides and risk of neuroblastoma among children: a meta-analysis. Cancer Causes Control. 2011;22:1529–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9829-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Heck JE, Park AS, Qiu J, et al. An exploratory study of ambient air toxics exposure in pregnancy and the risk of neuroblastoma in offspring. Environ Res. 2013;127:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2013.09.002.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Kumar SV, Lupo PJ, Pompeii LA, Danysh HE. Maternal residential proximity to major roadways and pediatric embryonal tumors in offspring. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15:eE505. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030505.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacqueline Clavel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Clavel, J., Lacour, B., Rios, P. (2020). Epidemiology. In: Sarnacki, S., Pio, L. (eds) Neuroblastoma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18396-7_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18396-7_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-18395-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-18396-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics