Incidence of childhood precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in north-west England

A temporal increase in the incidence of childhood acute lymphoblastic leuka emia (ALL) in the UK has been noted. We present data from the Manchester Ch ildren's Tumour Registry which provide strong evidence that the increase is a result of an increase in the precursor B-cell subtype. In the childhood peak (age 1-4 years), the annual increase in precursor B-cell ALL between 1 980 and 1998 was 3.0% (p=0.024). Recent findings are consistent with the ca usal involvement of infections in precursor B-cell ALL.