Epidemiological Factors in Childhood Cancer Risk

Childhood cancer arises from a complex interplay of genetic, prenatal and early‐life environmental influences. Established risk factors include congenital anomalies and chromosomal syndromes, which can confer markedly elevated risks for specific malignancies such as leukaemia and central nervous system tumours. Birth characteristics—particularly high birth weight and preterm delivery—have been associated with increased incidence of certain cancers, suggesting that perturbations in foetal growth and development contribute to carcinogenic pathways. Maternal health during pregnancy, encompassing immune status, nutritional intake and exposure to medications or infections, also shapes risk, while socioeconomic determinants influence both exposures and access to preventive care. Large population‐based cohort and case–control studies have clarified the relative importance of these factors, yet measurement challenges—such as recall bias in retrospective designs—persist. Ongoing research emphasises modifiable influences, notably maternal diet and breastfeeding, offering opportunities for primary prevention through public health interventions. Global registry linkages and collaborative meta‐analyses continue to refine understanding of how early‐life exposures imprint on the risk of childhood malignancy, with the ultimate aim of reducing incidence through targeted maternal and neonatal health strategies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Epidemiological Factors in Childhood Cancer Risk publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiological factors in childhood cancer risk across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Case–control study: An observational design comparing individuals with a disease (cases) to those without (controls) to identify prior exposures associated with the outcome.

Cohort study: A longitudinal investigation following a group of subjects over time to assess how specific exposures influence the incidence of disease.

Odds ratio (OR): A measure of association quantifying the odds of an outcome occurring in an exposed group relative to an unexposed group.

Confidence interval (CI): A statistical range around an estimate (such as an OR) that is likely to contain the true effect size with a given probability, often 95%.

Meta‐analysis: A quantitative technique that combines results from multiple independent studies to produce a summary estimate of effect.

References

1. Maternal autoimmune disease and offspring risk of haematological malignancies: a case–control study. EClinicalMedicine (2024).
2. Maternal dietary patterns and acute leukemia in infants: results from a case control study in Mexico. Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).
3. Early Life Nutrition Factors and Risk of Acute Leukemia in Children: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients (2023).
4. Birthweight and Childhood Cancer: Preliminary Findings from the International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C). Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology (2015).
5. Cancer risk in children and young adults born preterm: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (2019).