Genetic birth defects increase cancer risk in children

According to a study, children born with genetic birth defects like Down’s syndrome are more susceptible of developing childhood cancer. Scientists have said that children born with non-chromosomal birth defects have a two-fold higher risk of cancer before age 15, when compared to children without birth defects. Cancer risk varies by the type of birth defect and is not significantly increased in many more of the common birth defects.

As birth defects are an increasing global health concern, the WHO in 2010, identified birth defect prevention and care a s a global priority. "There is a large body of evidence for increased cancer risk in children with Down's syndrome, a genetic birth defect caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21," says Lorenzo Botto, professor of paediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and an author of the study.

"However, studies to date have provided inconsistent findings on cancer risk in children with structural birth defects that are not caused by chromosome abnormalities." -IANS