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About Lymphoma > Risk Factors for Lymphoma

Last update: 04/26/2008

TOPIC SEARCH: ASCO | ASH | Medscape
PubMed: Association of aspirin and other NSAID drug use | Dioxins 

Risk Factors | Allergies | Aspirin | Autoimmune Disease | Bacteria H pylori | Blood Transfusions | Chemicals  DioxinFamilial | Fats | FluorideGasoline | Genetic | Hair Dye | Hormone Replacement Therapy  Immune Suppression | Life Style: Diet / Sunlight | Magnetic Fields | Melanoma | Mothballs | Nitrates | Pesticides  Psoriasis | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Sjogren's | Smoking (tobacco) | SV40 Virus | Viral

There are many factors associated with the increased risk of developing lymphomas, but no definitive causes have been identified, with the possible 
exception of H pylori infection for mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue lymphomas (MALT). 

To many observers, the increase in incidence rates of lymphomas over the past 20 years, and the higher incidence rates in industrialized countries, suggests that environmental factors play an important role. 

Factors thought to increase risk of lymphoma include:  

Chemical exposures - dioxins, PCBs, pesticides, solvents, and fertilizers 
 

Chronic infections - H pylori is strongly associated with MALT
 

Depressed immunity - such as caused by immune-suppressing drugs 
used to prevent rejection of organ transplants. 

* Lay perspective: It may be that depressed immunity is a common underlying risk factor. 
For example, chemical exposures and chronic and viral infection may depress immunity. 
 

Family history - genes and/or shared environmental determinants
 

Genotypes - normal genetic variations that regulate immunity
 

Viral exposures - Epstein Barr, Hepatitis C, and SV-40

Here we also include factors that may reduce risks, such as a diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Resources
Infection-Driven Lymphomas:  The List Grows thehematologist 2004
NIH 11th report on carcinogens  NIH.gov | Lymphoma-specific
Update on Epidemiology and Therapeutics for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 
Julie M. Vose, Brian C.-H. Chiu, Bruce D. Cheson, Janet Dancey and John Wright  
(Posted Nov_28_02)  Abstract   asheducationbook.org
Viral Origins of Lymphoma  MD Anderson Cancer Center
Do you live in a high risk area?  MAP on NCI website
Occupation and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 
J Occup Environ Med. 2002 May;44(5):469-74. PMID: 12024692 PubMed abstract
Risk factors, overviews  MSKCC | UCSF
Rachel's Environmental & Health Weekly  garynull.com
Roswell Park Cancer Institute  Journal updates
Some aspects of the etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma NIH.gov
Allergies
(might reduce risk?)
Allergies and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by subtype. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002 Apr;11(4):401-7. PMID: 11927501  PubMed
Case-control study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among women and heterosexual men in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Am J Epidemiol. 1999 Aug 15;150(4):375-89. PMID: 10453814  PubMed
Aspirin
Regular use of aspirin, but not other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is associated with a significant reduction in risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma  docguide.com
Aspirin may help prevent Hodgkin's disease- study 18 Feb 2004  cnn.com
Autoimmune
Autoimmune Disease Is a Risk Factor for the Development of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma  rheum.com
Bacteria
H pylori
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Clear association has been made, and treatment of H pylori can resolve the MALT lymphoma.

Regression of gastric high grade MALT lymphoma after Helicobacter pylori eradication
Blood
transfusions
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"The findings in this study suggest that occupational exposure to specific chemicals plays an important role in the development of NHL in Canada."

 Blood Transfusion Is Independent Risk Factor For Women 
Chemicals 
(PCBs),
and Virus

(occupational)
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"The findings in this study suggest that occupational exposure to specific chemicals plays an important role in the development of NHL in Canada."

A Cross-Sectional Study of Occupational Exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE), Chromosomal Aberrations, and Related Biomarkers in Guangdong, China  ClinicalTrials.gov  

Comment: Every few months, it seems, I'm asked if it would be useful to poll support list members to help identify common life style factors and exposures that may have led to developing lymphomas. 

I've come to realize that it's very, very, difficult to find reliable answers to questions like this using surveys... there are just too many factors to consider, and it's virtually impossible to quantify the exposures of the participants (concentrations, time, confounding factors) ... many of which can happen without our knowledge.  Do we know, for example, what's in our drinking water, air, and foods?

For this reason, I think, epidemiologists concentrate on occupational groups so that the exposures of suspected agents can be more reliably estimated. But even with this approach there have been many suspects identified, but no conclusive information. Nobody to prosecute and lock up.

But, an important new investigational tool may help cement causal environmental factors that lead to increased risk of lymphomas. In the study below, molecular profiling will be done on persons exposed to TCE in the workplace who have developed a lymphoma, and who have not yet received treatment. With this tool it may be possible to identify specific "chromosomal aberrations that have been associated with NHL and related hematological malignancies."

It's one thing to say you have lymphoma and you were exposed to TCE, and another to say: TCE is known to cause specific chromosome damage to lymphocytes in animals and people. I have lymphoma, was exposed to TCE, and the malignant cells have this specific abnormality.

If the study determines this, we will have a much higher level of confidence about the risk of TCE specific to lymphoma ... a smoking gun - a biomarker. The link above describes a study with this goal that is recruiting patients. It's an NCI study. The center is in Maryland.
Persistent organochlorine (PCB) chemicals in plasma and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 
Cancer Res. 2005 Dec 1;65(23):11214-26. PMID: 16322272 | Related articles
PCBs, furans may factor in risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma  eurekalert.org

Scientists have found some additional evidence that environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a study published in the December 1 issue of Cancer Research.
Report Supports Association Between Agent Orange and CLL
  
"A re-evaluation of evidence now supports an association between exposure to herbicides used during the Vietnam War and the development of a specific form of leukemia in veterans"  IOM  protectingourhealth.org
Blood Levels of Organochlorines before and after Chemotherapy among Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients  cebp.aacrjournals.org
 
" Several small studies suggest a link between environmental exposure to organochlorine compounds and risk of non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Because NHL is uncommon, studies of the topic often use a population-based case-control design, in which cases generally are enrolled after treatment has begun.  If chemotherapy affects blood levels of organochlorines, exposure will be misclassified and findings distorted. "
Case-control study on concentrations of organohalogen compounds and titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus antigens in the etiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma   safe2use.com
A nested case-control study of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine residues.
Lancet. 1997 Jul 26;350(9073):240-4. PMID: 9242800  PubMed
NHL and occupational exposure to chemicals in Canada. Canadian Cancer Registries Epidemiology Research Group  PubMed
Diet
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Diet and nutrient intakes and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Connecticut women.
Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Mar 1;159(5):454-66. PMID: 14977641 

Risk of NHL associated with diet and nutrient intakes appeared to vary based on NHL subtype. An association between dietary intake and NHL risk is biologically plausible because diets high in protein and fat may lead to altered immunocompetence, resulting in an increased risk of NHL. The antioxidant or inhibiting nitrosation reaction properties of vegetables and fruits may result in a reduced risk.
Obesity and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A meta-analysis.
Int J Cancer. 2007 Apr 18;  PMID: 17443495 

These findings indicate that excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, especially of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Dioxin
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Dioxin emissions from a solid waste incinerator and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Epidemiology. 2003 Jul;14(4):392-8. PMID: 12843761 | Abstracts
Familial or Genes

Familial describes a trait or disease that is observed with higher frequency
within the same family, whether the etiology [cause] is genetic or environmental, or a combination of the two.  Where a hereditary disease is one that is caused by a genetic trait.

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TOPIC SEARCH: PubMed | Medscape | Web

"The risk of lymphoma among siblings of lymphoma probands (family members through whom a family's medical history comes to light.) was over 2.5-fold that of the general population and lower among other family members." [1]  

However, common environmental exposures have not been ruled out: "Lymphomas may also cluster within families, not because of an inherited genetic susceptibility, but because of shared environmental determinants." B. Cheson  asheducationbook.org

  1. The incidence of lymphoma in first-degree relatives of patients with Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: results and limitations of a registry-linked study.
    Cancer. 2000 May 15;88(10):2357-66. PMID: 10820359  PubMed
  2. Familial aggregation of hematopoietic malignancies and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
    Cancer Res. 1992 Oct 1;52(19 Suppl):5468s-5473s. Review. PMID: 1394155  PubMed
  3. The development of lymphomas in families with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome with germline Fas mutations and defective lymphocyte apoptosis.
    Blood. 2001 Jul 1;98(1):194-200. PMID: 11418480  PubMed
  • Risk of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Family History of Lymphatic, Hematologic, and Other Cancers - Vol. 13, 1415-1421, September 2004   aacrjournals.org
  • The role of genes in the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma  news-medical.net 

    "... variations of individual DNA building blocks in genes encoding for the cellular signaling molecules tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma."
  • Familial risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative malignancies by histopathologic subtype: the Swedish Family-Cancer Database  bloodjournal.org/cgi/content/full/106/2/668  Blood, 15 July 2005, Vol. 106, No. 2, pp. 668-672.

    "The present findings give evidence for a strong familial association of NHL, with little differences in the magnitude of risks for various histopathologic subtypes. The patterns of risks in parents and siblings support the hypothesis of an autosomal-dominant component for diffuse large B-cell NHL and a recessive one for follicular NHL."
  • Anticipation in families with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in their pedigree.
    Leuk Lymphoma. 2006 Oct;47(10):2115-27. PMID: 17071485 

    "Anticipation" is an earlier onset and/or increasing severity [of disease] in successive generations.  ... These data suggest that anticipation occurs in families that exhibit both HL and NHL and that both neoplasms may have a common genetic basis.
  • Family history of hematopoietic cancer increases non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk  cancerpage.com  2007

    "Our data support further examination of all sources of familial aggregation, including investigation of common gene variations that alter NHL risk in the search for etiologic mechanisms," the authors state.

    "Because family history represents the interaction between shared environmental exposures, behaviors, and genetic susceptibility, a full understanding of NHL heritability can provide clues regarding underlying disease mechanisms, particularly as it relates to disease and subtype-specific heterogeneity," the investigators explain.

    "Future efforts in sib-pair or twin studies may further our understanding of the sibling relationships, particularly for the male- and female-specific associations for family history of NHL and leukemia, respectively," the researchers add.
  • Fats
    (saturated, trans)
    and some meats
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    TOPIC SEARCH: PubMed 

    "Intake of beef, pork, or lamb as a main dish was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of NHL. Higher intake of trans unsaturated fat was also statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of the disease." [1]

    1. Dietary fat and protein in relation to risk of NHL among women  - Full Text
    2. Diet and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in older women.
      JAMA. 1996 May 1;275(17):1315-21. PMID: 8614116 | Related articles
    3. Dietary factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nebraska (United States).
      Cancer Causes Control. 1994 Sep;5(5):422-32. PMID: 799996
    Fluoride
    Modest correlations found in some studies.
    Return to top

     

    "The percentage of people supplied with "optimally" fluoridated drinking water (FD) obtained from the Fluoridation Census 1985, U.S.A. were used for regression analysis of incidence rates of cancers at thirty six sites (ICD-WHO, 1957)." [1]

    1. Regression analysis of cancer incidence rates and water fluoride in the U.S.A. based on IACR/IARC (WHO) data (1978-1992). International Agency for Research on Cancer.
      J Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;11(4):170-9. PMID: 11512573  PubMed
    2. Correlation of incidence rates for selected cancers in 29 census sub-divisions of Alberta, Canada, 1961-1981. Ecol Dis. 1983;2(2):129-33. PMID: 6332009  PubMed
    Life Style 
    Sunlight / Diet

    Also see Fats

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    "Higher intake of vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables, may reduce the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among women." [1]

    1. Higher intake of fruits and vegetables associated with lower risk of NHL  Harvard.edu 
    2. Gene-nutrient interactions among determinants of folate and one-carbon metabolism on the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: NCI-SEER Case-Control Study. Blood. 2006 Nov 21;  PMID: 17119116 

      lower risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) associated with high consumption of vitamin B6 and methionine, dietary determinants of one-carbon metabolism.
    3. Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Abstract

      "Recent findings suggest that ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure may reduce risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but the biologic basis for this relationship remains unclear."
    Gasoline
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    Occupational Exposures and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Southern Sweden  PDF
    Eric Dryver, MD, Lars Brandt, MD, PHD, Timo Kauppinen, PHD, Hakan Olsson, MD, PHD

    "Exposures to gasoline (OR 1.92; CI 1.20, 3.08), solvents (OR 1.59; CI 1.11, 2.28), and other oil products (OR 1.54; 1.01, 2.36) for more than five years were associated with increased risks of NHL (Table 2). The occupations of automobile mechanic (OR 1.82; CI 1.18, 2.81) and painter (OR 1.77; CI 1.13, 2.76) were also related to increased NHL risks."

    Genetic Susceptibilities
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    Polymorphisms are normal genetic variations that influence biological processes ... each variation may have both strengths (protective aspects) and weaknesses (susceptibilities). Just as being tall or short can provide advantages and disadvantages.

    We already know that normal genetic variations are what account for differences in how patients metabolize the same drugs, just one example - but also data is emerging that polymorphisms influence susceptibility to disease.

    Get used to seeing polymorphisms in the news, and SNP, pronounced "snips," which stands for Single Strand Polymorphisms.

    The way these genetic variations are discovered (best I can tell) is by the looking at select gene sequences related to immune function. 

    So add to the suspected array of environmental (external) factors, our (internal) normal genetic susceptibilities that may increase risk of developing a lymphoma.

    Polymorphisms may explain why persons exposed to the same toxins do not all come down with cancers. But susceptibility does not mean causing ... for example, other  triggers may be required, such as environmental exposures.

    NOTE: One concern is that in our present US health care system that folks with known genetic susceptibilities will be discriminated against.

    (KS 2/08)

    See SNPs fact sheet ornl.gov

    News Items

    NEW: A functional TNFRSF5 gene variant is associated with risk of lymphoma. Blood. 2008 Feb 20; PMID: 18287517  

    These results suggest that the TNFRSF5 -1C>T polymorphism may increase FL susceptibility through mechanisms that hinder cellular immune responses. Further studies are needed to explore these findings.
    Cytokine polymorphisms in the Th1/Th2 pathway and susceptibility to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood. 2006 Jan 31;  PMID: 16449530 | Related articles | SNPs Fact Sheet NIH
    Immune Mechanisms in Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma: Joint Effects of the TNF G308A and IL10 T3575A Polymorphisms with Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk Factors Abstract  

    These exploratory results require replication but provide evidence that autoimmune conditions, late birth order, and obesity act partly through a common inflammatory pathway, posing a greater risk to individuals with variant TNF and IL10 genotypes than those with wild-type alleles.
    Hair Dye
    ... experimental animal studies and other epidemiologic studies provides little convincing evidence linking non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with normal use of hair-color products in humans." [1]
    1. Hair-color products and risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a population-based study in the San Francisco bay area. Am J Public Health. 1998 Dec;88(12):1767-73. PMID: 9842372  PubMed
    Hormone Replacement Therapy
    "In conclusion, we found a weak positive association of HRT with NHL overall, and a strong positive association for follicular NHL, particularly for nodal follicular NHL. The association with follicular NHL is novel, and requires replication. Future studies should assess HRT formulation and duration of use and should classify cases by the current WHO system (9) . Further research on the role of estrogen in the development and progression of NHL, and follicular NHL in particular, may lead to new insights into the etiology and treatment of this disease." [1]
    1. Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia1 PuMed  | full text
    Magnetic Fields
    "Lymphoma Promotion Studies -- Studies conducted in two strains of transgenic mice [PIM mice carrying the pim-1 oncogene and TSG-p53 mice, in which the tumor suppressor gene, p53, has been deleted] revealed no activity of 60 Hz magnetic field exposure as a promoter of hematopoieticneoplasia." [1]
     
    1. Studies to Evaluate the Toxicity and Potential Carcinogenicity of 60 Hz Magnetic Fields in Laboratory Animals  infoventures.com
    Melanoma
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    It is prudent to check for melanoma often if you have NHL.

    An association between cutaneous melanoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: pooled analysis of published data with a review oxfordjournals
    Melanoma Images 
    Mothballs
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    Mothballs linked to increase risk of lymphoma in women  ehp.niehs.nih.gov | abstract
    Nitrates in
    drinking water
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    "These findings indicate that long-term exposure to elevated nitrate levels in drinking water may contribute to the risk of NHL." [1]

    1. Drinking water nitrate and the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - NCI
    Immune suppression/Organ Transplants/HIV/AIDS
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    A depressed or malfunctioning immune system is associated with increased risk of developing Lymphomas.
     
    Risk of Lymphoma Following Exposure to Calcineurin Inhibitors and Topical Steroids in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Nov 9;  PMID: 17096020 
    Cancer risk from arthritis drugs overstated-study  alertnet.org 

    The new analysis showed the cancer risk was 2.4 times greater among patients who used the drugs, and the risk of infectious disease was 1.8 times greater.
    Immunomodulators for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Raise Lymphoma Risk  oncolink

    "Treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) increases the risk of lymphoma by about fourfold, according to a report in the August issue of Gut. Still, the absolute risk of this malignancy is small and, for most patients, the benefits of these agents outweigh the risks."
    Primary Immune Deficiency (Hyper-IgM Syndrome)  Immune Deficiency Foundation
    Lymphoma risks in populations with altered immunity--a search for mechanism.  Cancer Res 1992 Oct 1;52
    HIV/AIDS: Update: cancer risk in persons with HIV/AIDS in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy.  AIDS Read 2000 Jun;10(6):341-6
    The role of immunosuppression in lymphoma.  Recent Results Cancer Res 2002;159:55-66
    Pesticides
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    Pesticides Research Report: Do Pesticides Cause Lymphoma?
    A nested case-control study of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine residues.
    Lancet. 1997 Jul 26;350(9073):240-4. PMID: 9242800  PubMed
    Pesticides and childhood lymphoma: "A newly published study has found that children exposed to pesticides in the home may be three to seven times more likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), compared to unexposed children." article - CNN  abstract - Cancer 2000 Dec 1;89(11):2315-21
    Published studies showing pesticides increase risk:
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2001 Nov;10(11):1155-63
    Cancer 1999 Mar 15;85(6):1353-60
    Environmental epidemiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in eastern Nebraska.  Am J Ind Med 1990;18(3):303-5
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
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    "Disease processes at work in patients with rheumatoid arthritis appear to increase their risk of developing lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects lymph tissue, according to Swedish researchers."

    Remission of lymphoma after drug withdrawal in rheumatoid arthritis  eMJA
    Lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: what is the evidence of a link with methotrexate? Drug Saf. 1999 Jun;20(6):475-87. Review. PMID: 10392665  PubMed
    Rheumatoid Arthritis & Lymphoma  PersonalMD.com
    Psoriasis
    Return to top

     

    Patients with psoriasis are at increased risk for developing lymphoma. But additional studies are necessary to determine if the increased rate of lymphoma is related to psoriasis severity, psoriasis treatment, or an interaction between these risk factors. 
     
    Lymphoma Rates Are Low but Increased in Patients With Psoriasis: Results From a Population-Based Cohort Study in the United Kingdom. 
    Arch Dermatol. 2003 Nov;139(11):1425-1429.  PMID: 14623702 | Related abstracts
    Researchers Link Psoriasis to Increased Lymphoma Rate  psoriasis.org 

    They also commented that it is not clear whether the increased rate was due to psoriasis severity or treatment, or whether the results apply to younger patients.
    Sjogren’s
    Syndrome
    Return to top

     

    Malignant lymphoma in primary Sjogren's syndrome.  Isr Med Assoc J 2001 Oct;3(10):761-6
    "A low grade marginal-zone lymphoma related to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue is the commonest lymphoid neoplasia in Sjogren's syndrome."
    See Sjögren's Syndrome for details about this condition and its associations with lymphomas.
    Smoking
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    Expression of DNA mismatch repair proteins in transformed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Relationship to smoking. Leuk Lymphoma. 2006 Sep;47(9):1806-12. PMID: 17064992 

    We found that the relative risk of negative immunostaining for either MLH1 or MSH2 was 2.2 times higher in smokers than non-smokers (relative risk = 2.2041, 95% confidence interval: 0.89714, 5.41491). No direct correlation was found between smoking and the mutations in the p53 gene. These results suggest that cigarette smoking may play a role in the development of transformed lymphomas through defective mismatch repair.
    Tobacco and alcohol consumption and risk of lymphoma: Results of a population-based case-control study in Germany. Int J Cancer. 2005 Aug 3; PMID: 16080191 
    Italian Study Links Tobacco Use to Development of [follicular] Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma  cancerconsultants.com 
     
    "They reported a 50 percent increased risk for 16-33 pack-years and an 80 percent increased risk with 34 pack years or greater. There was no increased risk for the other NHL subtypes. In the second study, data on over 6,500 cases of NHL showed only an increase incidence of follicular NHL and not other cell types."
    Smoking AND lymphoma  Related PubMed abstracts
    Cigarette Smoking in Women Increases Risk for Follicular Lymphoma.
    United States Researchers from Yale University have reported that long-term cigarette smoking in women increases the risk of developing follicular lymphoma.  cancerconsultants.com
    SV40 virus
    Return to top

     

     

    Caption; Toronto Star, March 8, 2002, SECTION: LIFE; Pg. LI04

    "SIMIAN LINK: The simian virus 40 has been found in 42 per cent of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma samples. This could shed new light on the origins of these blood cancers that have become more common over the last 30 years, reports The Lancet. SV40 usually infects rhesus monkeys. In the 1950s and early '60s, millions of people were given a polio vaccine accidentally infected with the virus. But some patients with SV40-infected tumors were born after 1963 and would not have been exposed to the contaminated vaccine. Researchers conclude that SV40 continues to spread among humans in ways that are not clear."

    See SV40 Issues for recent updates details.
    Viral
    Return to top

     

    "Accumulating evidence support a role for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the pathogenesis of human lymphoproliferative disorders.

    Treatment of Hepatitis C Reduces Incidence of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancerconsultants.com

    Researchers from Japan have reported that viral elimination in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients reduces the incidence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The details of this study appeared in the December, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Medicine.
    Hepatitis C infection increases lymphoma risk   aidsmap.com

    "Although the risk of developing lymphomas is small, our research suggests that screening of HCV-infected individuals could identify conditions which may lead to cancer. It might then be possible to prevent progression to lymphoma," commented investigator Eric A. Engels, adding, "more research is needed to further clarify the relationship between HCV infection and lymphoma."
    The lymphoid system in hepatitis C virus infection: autoimmunity, mixed cryoglobulinemia, and Overt B-cell malignancy. Semin Liver Dis. 2000;20(2):143-57. Review. PMID: 10946420 

    It can be postulated that HCV is the stimulus not only for the apparent benign lymphoproliferative process underlying a wide spectrum of clinical features, but also for the progression to frank lymphoid malignancy in a subgroup of patients. Current data indicate a higher prevalence of overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in HCV-infected patients, especially in some geographic areas.
    Hepatitis C virus infection and non-hodgkin lymphoma: Results of the NCI-seer multi-center case-control study. Int J Cancer. 2004 Aug 10;111(1):76-80. PMID: 15185346 | Related Articles
    Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated lymphomas  Related abstracts
    The three main types of EBV-associated B-cell lymphoma are Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and post-transplant lymphomas.
    Case-control study on concentrations of organohalogen compounds and titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus antigens in the etiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma   safe2use.com
    DNA Transforming Viruses  tulane 
    Hepatitis C virus, B-cell proliferation and lymphomas.
    Leuk Lymphoma. 2002 Apr;43(4):747-51. PMID: 12153160  PubMed
    Viral Origins of Lymphoma  MD Anderson Oncology
    Association between hepatitis C virus and NHL, and effects of viral infection on histologic subtype and clinical course
     
    Disclaimer:  The information presented on Lymphomation.org is not intended to be a substitute for 
    professional medical advice or to replace your relationship with a physician.
    For all medical concerns,  you should always consult your doctor. 
    Patients Against Lymphoma, Copyright © 2004,  All Rights Reserved.