Tumor and tissue registries in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Continued monitoring of tumor incidence is an important part of the surveillance of health effects of atomic bomb (A-bomb) radiation. The Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF)(formerly Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC)) has been engaged in the operation of tumor and tissue registries in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These registries have been instrumental in studying risk of various specific cancer sites (thyroid, breast, lung, stomach, colorectal, and salivary gland) in a defined sample of A-bomb survivors. A recent analysis of registry data revealed little basis for suspecting systematic biases of registry data (e.g., hospital-related, or diagnostic biases related to radiation dose) which may confound observed association of cancer and radiation. The analysis also showed similarities in relative risk of cancer based on incidence and mortality data. However, absolute risks estimated from mortality data may underestimate the true magnitude for certain cancer sites (including breast, stomach, lung, and uterus). The registry data are also useful in assessing secular trends of radiation-induced cancer incidence which are essential in determining the latency of cancer. (author)