The profile and incidence of cancer in Down syndrome.
Expect higher leukaemia but lower solid-tumour rates when you track health in clients with Down syndrome.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors tracked every cancer case in people with Down syndrome. They used a whole-country registry in Western Australia. The group was 1,200 people followed for 20 years.
What they found
Leukaemia happened four times more often than in other people. Solid tumours like breast or lung cancer showed up half as often. Total cancer risk evened out to the same as the general public.
How this fits with other research
Ghaziuddin et al. (1996) first listed many health risks in Down syndrome. Their early review missed exact cancer odds. Neuringer et al. (2007) now gives the precise numbers.
Waldron et al. (2023) and Geurts et al. (2008) show another hidden risk: weak bones. Together the papers paint a picture: expect high leukaemia, low solid tumours, and fragile bones.
Kremkow et al. (2022) warn that death certificates often blame Down syndrome instead of the real medical cause. The cancer numbers from G et al. help you push for correct tests, not assumptions.
Why it matters
You can tell families and doctors to watch for unusual fatigue or bruising early. At the same time you can reassure them that common adult cancers are less likely. Use the data to ask for blood counts sooner and to skip unnecessary scans.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Down syndrome is one of the commonest causes of intellectual disability. As life expectancy improves with early and more intensive surgical and medical treatments, people with the disorder are more likely to exhibit classic morbidity and mortality patterns and be diagnosed with diseases such as cancer. METHODS: A profile of cancer cases among people with Down syndrome has been compiled, based on the analysis of a linked data set that included information from the Disability Services Commission of Western Australian and the State Cancer Registry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Although the total age- and sex-standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for people with Down syndrome were similar to that for the general population, SIRs for leukaemia were significantly higher while the incidence of certain other types of cancers was reduced. Overall, there was a lower incidence of solid tumours in Down syndrome, possibly reflecting the age profile of the study cohort.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2007 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00862.x