Negligible Effects on Tumor Risk Associated With In Vitro Fertilization

To the Editor In their study, Spector et al reported a 28% increase in the embryonal tumors rate in children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) compared with children naturally conceived. Most of this risk increase was owing to hepatic tumors, predominantly hepatoblastoma. The authors hypothesized that part of the risk excess observed could be attributable to the association between IVF and epigenetic disruption leading to Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), an epigenetic disorder with embryonal tumor predisposition known to be the most relevant risk factor for hepatoblastoma. Here, we provide an estimate of the magnitude of this association in this setting.
Source: JAMA Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research