Assisted reproductive technology and risk of childhood cancers

Children born after use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) may have increased risk of epigenetic alterations and adverse perinatal outcomes, which may be associated with childhood cancers. A population-based cohort study in Taiwan found that ART conception was associated with an increased risk of any type of childhood cancers compared with natural conception (HR 1.58; 95% CI 1.17-2.12) and compared to subfertility with non-ART conception (HR 1.42; 95% CI 1.04-1.95). The increased cancer risk of children conceived with ART was mainly owing to leukemia and hepatic tumor. The increased cancer risk associated with ART conception was not mediated by preterm birth or low birth weight.