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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Preeti Singh, M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

The known risk factors in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are weakened immune system, autoimmune disorders, certain infections, and previous cancer treatment. Other possible risk factors include positive family history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, exposure to pesticides, exposure to trichloroethylene, diet, obesity, hair dyes, and occupational exposures.

Risk Factors

The known risk factors in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are:[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Known risk factors Factors that Decrease risk
Age (above 60 years) Alcohol consumption
Ethnicity (Caucasians more than African and Asian Americans) Atopic disease
Positive family history of first degree relative with non-Hodgkin lymphoma Hormone therapy use after ≥ 50 years of age
Weakened immune system ( genetic diseases like ataxia telangiectasia or infection like HIV) High sun exposure
B-cell activating autoimmune disorders
Radiation exposure
Infections ( HIV, Hep C, HTLV-1, EBV, HHV-8, Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydophila psittaci, Campylobacter jejuni),
Previous cancer treatment
Exposure to chemicals and drugs (pesticides, methotrexate,tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, trichloroethylene)
Cigarette smoking for ≥ 40 years
BMI ≥30 kg/m2
Occupational exposures (hairdresser, farmer)
Diet
Hair dyes
Breast implants

    References

    1. Kane EV, Bernstein L, Bracci PM, Cerhan JR, Costas L, Dal Maso L, Holly EA, La Vecchia C, Matsuo K, Sanjose S, Spinelli JJ, Wang SS, Zhang Y, Zheng T, Roman E, Kricker A (February 2013). “Postmenopausal hormone therapy and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a pooled analysis of InterLymph case-control studies”. Ann. Oncol. 24 (2): 433–41. doi:10.1093/annonc/mds340. PMC 3551484. PMID 22967995.
    2. Skibola CF, Slager SL, Berndt SI, Lightfoot T, Sampson JN, Morton LM, Weisenburger DD (August 2014). “Medical history, lifestyle, family history, and occupational risk factors for adult acute lymphocytic leukemia: the InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project”. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monographs. 2014 (48): 125–9. doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgu009. PMC 4155464. PMID 25174033.
    3. Bracci PM, Benavente Y, Turner JJ, Paltiel O, Slager SL, Vajdic CM, Norman AD, Cerhan JR, Chiu BC, Becker N, Cocco P, Dogan A, Nieters A, Holly EA, Kane EV, Smedby KE, Maynadié M, Spinelli JJ, Roman E, Glimelius B, Wang SS, Sampson JN, Morton LM, de Sanjosé S (August 2014). “Medical history, lifestyle, family history, and occupational risk factors for marginal zone lymphoma: the InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project”. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monographs. 2014 (48): 52–65. doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgu011. PMC 4207869. PMID 25174026.
    4. Morton LM, Slager SL, Cerhan JR, Wang SS, Vajdic CM, Skibola CF, Bracci PM, de Sanjosé S, Smedby KE, Chiu BC, Zhang Y, Mbulaiteye SM, Monnereau A, Turner JJ, Clavel J, Adami HO, Chang ET, Glimelius B, Hjalgrim H, Melbye M, Crosignani P, di Lollo S, Miligi L, Nanni O, Ramazzotti V, Rodella S, Costantini AS, Stagnaro E, Tumino R, Vindigni C, Vineis P, Becker N, Benavente Y, Boffetta P, Brennan P, Cocco P, Foretova L, Maynadié M, Nieters A, Staines A, Colt JS, Cozen W, Davis S, de Roos AJ, Hartge P, Rothman N, Severson RK, Holly EA, Call TG, Feldman AL, Habermann TM, Liebow M, Blair A, Cantor KP, Kane EV, Lightfoot T, Roman E, Smith A, Brooks-Wilson A, Connors JM, Gascoyne RD, Spinelli JJ, Armstrong BK, Kricker A, Holford TR, Lan Q, Zheng T, Orsi L, Dal Maso L, Franceschi S, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Serraino D, Bernstein L, Levine A, Friedberg JW, Kelly JL, Berndt SI, Birmann BM, Clarke CA, Flowers CR, Foran JM, Kadin ME, Paltiel O, Weisenburger DD, Linet MS, Sampson JN (August 2014). “Etiologic heterogeneity among non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes: the InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project”. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monographs. 2014 (48): 130–44. doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgu013. PMC 4155467. PMID 25174034.
    5. Cerhan JR, Kricker A, Paltiel O, Flowers CR, Wang SS, Monnereau A, Blair A, Dal Maso L, Kane EV, Nieters A, Foran JM, Miligi L, Clavel J, Bernstein L, Rothman N, Slager SL, Sampson JN, Morton LM, Skibola CF (August 2014). “Medical history, lifestyle, family history, and occupational risk factors for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: the InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project”. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monographs. 2014 (48): 15–25. doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgu010. PMC 4155465. PMID 25174023.
    6. Chihara D, Nastoupil LJ, Williams JN, Lee P, Koff JL, Flowers CR (May 2015). “New insights into the epidemiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and implications for therapy”. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 15 (5): 531–44. doi:10.1586/14737140.2015.1023712. PMC 4698971. PMID 25864967.

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