Parental smoking and alcohol consumption and risk of neuroblastoma

Previous studies and animal evidence have suggested a relationship between parental tobacco or alcohol use and the risk of some childhood canters, inc luding neuroblastoma. A case-control study was conducted to investigate the relationship between parental tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and ri sk of neuroblastoma. Cases were children diagnosed with neuroblastoma over the period 1992-1994 at Children's Cancer Group and Pediatric Oncology Grou p institutions throughout the United States and Canada. One matched control was selected using random-digit dialing. Information on parental smoking a nd drinking history was obtained from 504 case and 504 control parents by t elephone interview. Overall, there was no consistent pattern of association with parental smoking and alcohol consumption, For example, both maternal smoking and drinking during the period from 1 month before pregnancy throug h breastfeeding had adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 1.1 [95% confidence inter val (CI), 0.8-1.4], There was no association with paternal smoking (OR, 1.2 ; 95% CI, 0.8-1.6) or paternal drinking 1 month before conception (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.7-1.4), There was no consistent increase in risk by the amount o f smoking or drinking during any time period relative to pregnancy. There w as no suggestion of an increased risk when only one parent smoked. Smoking or drinking among both parents did not jointly increase the risk of neurobl astoma in their offspring. The child's age at diagnosis, stage, or MYCN onc ogene amplification status did not materially alter the OR estimates. it is concluded that the results from this study do not indicate any evidence fo r a relationship between neuroblastoma and parental tobacco or alcohol use.