Question ID: WS-27
Submitted by: Allan Hildesheim
February 3, 2011
Question: Do events in early life affect risk of cancer development in later life? Background: It has long been hypothesized that early life events are important predictors of adult-onset diseases including cancer. In-utero endocrine exposures, early life exposures and responses to viruses and other pathogens, and early life exposures to environmental/chemical toxins have all been suggested to be associated with cancer development. Most studies to date, however, have been retrospective and/or small, and have therefore been limited in their ability to fully elucidate the link between early life exposures and cancer. Feasibility: Advances in our ability to 1) measure early life exposures postulated to affect health, 2) collect the necessary biological specimens required to measure these exposures, and 3) evaluate proximal intermediate cancer precursors and their outcomes make thoughtful study of this area feasible should the political will to embark in such an effort be present. Implications of success: Understanding important early life predictors of adult-onset diseases could make currently unmodifiable risk factors amenable to modulation through early life public health interventions.
Average Score: 2.5
 (3 evaluations)Provocativeness - 2.5
Novelty - 3.0
Public Health Significance - 2.5
Feasibility - 2.5
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Comments
Submitted By Olivera Finn
An exciting development in this area that would be encouraged by attempting to answer this important question, is the connection between the observations of cancer risk modulation by epidemiologists and immune mechanisms that appear to be involved, described by immunologists. Continued collaborations between epidemiologists and immunologists should be supported
