The risk for cancer among children of women who underwent in vitro fertilization

BACKGROUND. The possible association between ovarian carcinoma and ovulatio n-inducing drugs has led to renewed interest in the potential carcinogenic risks of these drugs. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been linked to multi ple pregnancies and possibly congenital malformations. However, to the auth ors' knowledge the association between IVF and pediatric cancer has been de scribed only in sporadic case reports. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence rate of pediatric cancer among a cohort of children born afte r IVF. METHODS. A historic prospective study based on a cohort of 332 children fro m 1254 women who underwent IVF treatment between 1981-1994 was performed. M edical files were reviewed and names were linked to the National Population and Cancer Registries. Pediatric cancer incidence rates were compared with the expected age-adjusted rates of the general population during the respe ctive time period. RESULTS. No cancer cases were observed among the study cohort with respect to 1.7 cases that were expected. CONCLUSIONS. Because the small cohort analysis in the current study lacked the necessary power to reach definite conclusions, larger prospective studi es are needed to assess the potential carcinogenic effect on children born after ovulation induction and IVF. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.