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Rising Leukemia Risk After Cancer Treatment, Especially Breast Cancer

A population-based study in Japan has found a gradual increase in cases of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (tAML) over the past three decades. The research, analyzing data from 1990 to 2020, shows the annual incidence of tAML nearly tripled. Breast cancer has become a prominent primary cancer preceding tAML, while cases linked to gastric cancer have decreased. The findings highlight a growing concern as the population of cancer survivors increases worldwide.

Key Points: Cancer Treatment Linked to Rising Leukemia Risk, Study Finds

  • tAML rates rising since 1990
  • Breast cancer a top primary cause
  • Study analyzed 30 years of data
  • Therapy can cause DNA damage
2 min read

Study finds rising cancer rates especially after breast cancer treatment

A new study reveals an increase in therapy-related leukemia, particularly after breast cancer treatment, as the number of cancer survivors grows.

"The study provides an important step towards better understanding how the nature of tAML is changing - Kenji Kishimoto"

New Delhi, April 6

A population-based study in Japan has revealed a gradual increase in the rates of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia in recent years, especially after breast cancer treatment, a study showed on Monday.

The findings, published by Wiley online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, showed that some therapies used to treat cancer may increase the risk of later developing cancers that affect the blood.

"tAML" is an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that develops after prior chemotherapy or radiation for an earlier, primary cancer, likely arising in part due to DNA damage from these treatments.

"The study provides an important step towards better understanding how the nature of tAML is changing with the increasing number of cancer survivors," said lead author Kenji Kishimoto, of the Osaka International Cancer Institute.

To assess whether "tAML" is increasing as a post-cancer therapy complication as the number of cancer survivors increases, investigators analysed data from the Osaka Cancer Registry pertaining to patients in Japan who were diagnosed with AML between 1990 and 2020.

Nearly 9,841 patients with AML, 636 (6.5 per cent) had tAML. The annual tAML incidence increased from 0.13 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 0.36 per 100,000 population in 2020. The proportion of tAML cases in overall AML cases almost doubled.

The most common primary cancer that was treated before tAML developed was another form of blood cancer (23.1 per cent), followed by breast cancer (14.6 per cent), colorectal cancer (11.5 per cent), and gastric cancer (8.7 per cent).

The distribution of primary cancers changed over time, with a prominent increase in breast cancer and a decrease in gastric cancer, said the study.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Important research, but the headline is a bit alarming. The absolute risk is still very low (0.36 per 100,000). We must remember that these treatments save countless lives. The focus should be on better monitoring for survivors, not fear of treatment. 🙏
A
Aditya G
Shows why we need more investment in targeted therapies and immunotherapy in India. Less toxic treatments mean fewer long-term complications. Hope our medical research institutes are paying attention to these findings.
S
Sarah B
As someone who works in oncology support, this data is crucial. It underscores the need for lifelong follow-up care, not just a 5-year all-clear. Survivorship plans in India need to be more robust and accessible to all economic groups.
K
Karthik V
The decrease in gastric cancer as a primary cause is interesting. Might reflect better treatment or screening? Meanwhile, the breast cancer increase is concerning. Early detection is key, but so is understanding the full journey of treatment. More power to the survivors.
M
Meera T
It's a difficult balance for doctors and patients. You fight one battle only to potentially face another. This is why holistic health post-recovery is so important—diet, stress management, regular check-ups. Jai Hind to our medical researchers working on these problems.

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