BIOMARKERS OF MATERNAL SMOKING AND THE RISK OF RETINOBLASTOMA IN OFFSPRING

Abstract

Purpose: Previous studies examining the risk of retinoblastoma with maternal smoking were inconclusive, likely due in part to the reliance on self-reported maternal smoking. This study uses biomarkers of tobacco smoking in neonatal dried blood spots to investigate associations between maternal smoking and retinoblastoma in offspring. Methods: The authors randomly selected 498 retinoblastoma cases and 895 control subjects born between 1983 and 2011 from a population-based case–control study in California. Maternal pregnancy-related smoking was measured using the following three metrics: provider or self-reported smoking during pregnancy, cotinine, and hydroxycotinine in neonatal blood. The authors used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the effects of maternal tobacco smoking on retinoblastoma. Results: Using all metrics (biomarkers or self-report), maternal smoking late in pregnancy or early postpartum was related to retinoblastoma (all types; odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–2.09). Relying on cotinine or hydroxycotinine to ascertain smoking, maternal smoking was related to unilateral retinoblastoma (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval: 1.08–2.57). Conclusion: The results indicate that maternal smoking during pregnancy may be a risk factor for retinoblastoma, particularly among unilateral cases.