© 2003 by Oxford University Press
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 7, 532-539,
April 2, 2003
© 2003 Oxford University Press
ARTICLE |
Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated With Simian Virus 40
Affiliations of authors: E. A. Engels, H. A. Katki, P. S. Rosenberg, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD; N. M. Nielsen, H. Hjalgrim, M. Frisch, Department of Epidemiology Research, Danish Epidemiology Science Center, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; J. F. Winther, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen; F. Gjerris, University Clinic of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Center, H.S., Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen.
Correspondence to: Eric A. Engels, M.D., M.P.H., Viral Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Blvd., EPS 8010, Rockville, MD 20892 (e-mail: engelse{at} exchange.nih.gov).
Background: Early poliovirus vaccines were accidentally contaminated with simian virus 40 (SV40). In Denmark, poliovirus vaccine was administered to most children from 1955 through 1961. SV40 DNA sequences have been detected in several human malignancies, including mesothelioma, ependymoma, choroid plexus tumors, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. To clarify whether SV40 infection increases risk of these cancers or of cancers arising in children, we examined cancer incidence in three Danish birth cohorts. Methods: Population-based cancer incidence data from 1943 through 1997 were obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry. The relationship between exposure to SV40-contaminated vaccine and cancer incidence was evaluated by examining incidence in birth cohorts that differed in exposure to SV40-contaminated vaccine. In addition, cancer incidence was examined in children who were 0–4 years of age before, during, and after the period of vaccine contamination. Incidence was compared using Poisson regression, adjusting for age differences. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: After 69.5 million person-years of follow-up, individuals exposed to SV40-contaminated poliovirus vaccine as infants (i.e., born 1955–1961) or children (i.e., born 1946–1952) had lower overall cancer risk (age-adjusted relative risk [RR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.81 to 0.91 and RR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.84, respectively; P<.001 for both) than unexposed individuals (i.e., born 1964–1970, after the vaccine was cleared of SV40 contamination). Specifically, SV40 exposure was not associated with increased incidence of mesothelioma, ependymoma, choroid plexus tumor, or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After 19.5 million person-years of follow-up, incidence of all cancers combined, of intracranial tumors, and of leukemia among children aged 0–4 years was also not associated with SV40 exposure. Ependymoma incidence was higher during the exposed period than during the unexposed period (RR = 2.59, 95%CI = 1.36 to 4.92; P = .004 versus the period before contamination); however, incidence peaked in 1969, after the vaccine was cleared of SV40. Conclusion: Exposure to SV40-contaminated poliovirus vaccine in Denmark was not associated with increased cancer incidence.
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Correspondence about this Article
- Re: Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated With Simian Virus 40
- Riccardo Puntoni, Matteo Puntoni, and Marcello Ceppi
J Natl Cancer Inst 2003 95: 1552-1553.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
- RESPONSE: Re: Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated With Simian Virus 40
- Eric A. Engels, Hormuzd A. Katki, Philip S. Rosenberg, and Morten Frisch
J Natl Cancer Inst 2003 95: 1553-1555.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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