title: Height at diagnosis and birth-weight as risk factors for osteosarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteosarcoma typically occurs during puberty. Studies of the association between height and/or birth-weight and osteosarcoma are conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a large pooled analysis of height and birth-weight in osteosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient data from seven studies of height and three of birth-weight were obtained, resulting in 1,067 cases with height and 434 cases with birth-weight data. We compared cases to the 2000 US National Center for Health Statistics Growth Charts by simulating 1,000 age- and gender-matched controls per case. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between height or birth-weight and risk of osteosarcoma for each study were estimated using logistic regression. All of the case data were combined for an aggregate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to average birth-weight subjects (2,665-4,045 g), individuals with high birth-weight (≥ 4,046 g) had an increased osteosarcoma risk (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01-1.79). Taller than average (51st - 89th percentile) and very tall individuals (≥ 90th percentile) had an increased risk of osteosarcoma (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18-1.54 and OR 2.60, 95% CI 2.19-3.07, respectively; P (trend) < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the largest analysis of height at diagnosis and birth-weight in relation to osteosarcoma. It suggests that rapid bone growth during puberty and in utero contributes to OS etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. mirabellol@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mirabello
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Najat C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Daw
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patiño-Garcia
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.forename: Chester
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Douglass
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schüz
authors.forename: Alan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Craft
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult