This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nishi, Y. Articles by Watanabe, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nishi, Y. Articles by Watanabe, S.

Recent Status in the Occurrence of Leukemia in Growth Hormone-Treated Patients in Japan

Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital (Y.N.), Hiroshima 730-8619; National Children’s Hospital (T.T., T.S.), Tokyo 154-0004; Tokyo Women’s Medical University (K.TA.), Tokyo 162-0054; Hokkaido University (K.F.), Sapporo 060-8638; Igarashi Children’s Clinic (Y.I.), Sendai 982-0831; Hanew Clinic (K.H.), Sendai 980-0824; Ibaraki Children’s Hospital (T.H.) Mito 311-4145; Toranomon Hospital (S.Y.), Tokyo 105-0001; Kanagawa Children’s Medical Center (K.T.), Yokohama 232-0066; and Tokyo Agricultural University (S.W.), Tokyo 156-8502, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Yoshikazu Nishi, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital, 1–9-6 Senda-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8619, Japan.

The Foundation for Growth Science in Japan has monitored the safety and efficacy of GH treatment in GH-deficient patients since 1975. Data were collected from more than 32,000 patients up to December 31, 1997. New leukemia was observed in 14 patients and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in one patient. The types of leukemia were acute lymphocytic leukemia (n = 6; 40%), acute myelocytic leukemia or MDS (n = 7; 47%), and chronic myelocytic leukemia (n = 2; 13%). Leukemia developed in 9 patients during GH treatment and in 6 after the cessation of GH treatment. Six patients had known risk factors for leukemia, such as Fanconi’s anemia and previous radiation or chemotherapy. Patient-years of GH therapy was defined as the time from the first dose of GH to the date of the last visit during GH therapy, and patient-years of risk was defined as the time from the first dose of GH to December 31, 1997. The incidence of leukemia of patient-years of GH therapy and patient-years of risk in GH-treated patients without risk factors was 3.0/100,000 and 3.9/100,000, respectively, a figure similar to the incidence in the general population aged 0–15 yr.

We conclude that the incidence of leukemia in GH-treated patients without risk factors is not greater than that in the general population aged 0–15 yr, and a possible increased occurrence of leukemia with GH treatment appears to be limited to patients with risk factors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Bolar, A. R. Hoffman, T. Maneatis, and B. Lippe Long-Term Safety of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in Turner Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2008; 93(2): 344 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. B. Allen Growth Hormone Therapy for Short Stature: Is the Benefit Worth the Burden? Pediatrics, July 1, 2006; 118(1): 343 - 348. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Quigley, A. M. Gill, B. J. Crowe, K. Robling, J. J. Chipman, S. R. Rose, J. L. Ross, F. G. Cassorla, A. M. Wolka, J. M. Wit, et al. Safety of Growth Hormone Treatment in Pediatric Patients with Idiopathic Short Stature J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2005; 90(9): 5188 - 5196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sohmiya, I. Kanazawa, and Y. Kato Effect of recombinant human GH on circulating granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and neutrophils in patients with adult GH deficiency Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2005; 152(2): 211 - 215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Rose Studies Reveal Minimal Cancer Risks with Growth Hormone Therapy AAP Grand Rounds, November 1, 2002; 8(5): 49 - 50. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Cook Shouldn't Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency Be Offered Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy? Ann Intern Med, August 6, 2002; 137(3): 197 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Sklar, A. C. Mertens, P. Mitby, G. Occhiogrosso, J. Qin, G. Heller, Y. Yasui, and L. L. Robison Risk of Disease Recurrence and Second Neoplasms in Survivors of Childhood Cancer Treated with Growth Hormone: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2002; 87(7): 3136 - 3141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Leung, S. R. Rose, Y. Zhou, M. L. Hancock, S. Burstein, E. A. Schriock, R. Lustig, R. K. Danish, W. E. Evans, M. M. Hudson, et al. Outcomes of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia J. Clin. Oncol., July 1, 2002; 20(13): 2959 - 2964. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Swerdlow, R. E. Reddingius, C. D. Higgins, H. A. Spoudeas, K. Phipps, Z. Qiao, W. D. J. Ryder, M. Brada, R. D. Hayward, C. G. D. Brook, et al. Growth Hormone Treatment of Children with Brain Tumors and Risk of Tumor Recurrence J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2000; 85(12): 4444 - 4449. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. Guyda Four Decades of Growth Hormone Therapy for Short Children: What Have We Achieved? J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 1999; 84(12): 4307 - 4316. [Full Text]