ASPO Abstracts
Maternal and paternal characteristics and risk of colorectal cancer in adult offspring: a population-based study of 18,000 mother-child dyads
Category: Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2023
Abstract Body:
Purpose: To examine associations between maternal and paternal characteristics at birth and colorectal cancer (CRC) in adult offspring. Methods: The Child Health and Development Studies is a population-based cohort of women who received prenatal care in Oakland, California and surrounding areas between 1959-1967. Pregnant women reported her and the father's sociodemographic information during in-person interviews at enrollment; the 60-year follow-up enables linking this information with CRC diagnosed in adult offspring through 2021, ascertained from the California Cancer Registry. We used two multivariable logistic regression models to estimate associations of maternal and paternal characteristics and CRC in adult offspring, including: maternal and paternal education (less than high school [HS] vs. HS or more); maternal (e.g., service) and paternal (e.g., sales) occupation; household income (below $5,000 vs. above); and maternal nativity (U.S. vs. foreign-born). Results: Of 18,751 liveborn offspring, 83 were diagnosed with CRC. Offspring of fathers who were craftsmen and foremen (odds ratio [OR] 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09, 4.48) or service workers and laborers (OR 2.17; CI 0.97, 4.90) were two times as likely to be diagnosed with CRC vs. offspring of fathers in professional or managerial positions. There was no association with maternal nativity when measured as U.S. vs. foreign-born (OR 1.31; CI 0.58, 2.97), although risk was higher in offspring of mothers born in Latin America and the Caribbean (Mexico, West Indies [e.g., Cuba], Central or South America) (OR 2.64; CI 0.79, 8.87). There was no association with CRC in offspring and paternal education, low-income households or maternal occupation and education. Conclusions: Our results suggest that paternal occupation, but not paternal education or household income at offspring's birth increases risk of CRC in adulthood. These findings may be related to environmental exposures (e.g., flame retardants, pesticides) in craft and service occupations. Similarly, mothers born in Latin America and the Caribbean may have been exposed to environmental toxicants that contribute to cancer risk in offspring. Further examination of life-course environmental exposures can guide future cancer prevention efforts.
Keywords: colorectal cancer; parental-level factors; early-life experiences; disparities