Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40463883›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oncology2025

Cumulative temporal association between assisted reproductive technology and childhood cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Yanjie Jiang, Qiangqiang Dai, Shipeng Zhang, Hanyu Wang, Xingyi He, Rui Fu, Junwen Tan, Qinwei Fu, Qinxiu Zhang, Yan Lu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yanjie JiangNeurology Department, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Qiangqiang DaiHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Shipeng ZhangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Hanyu WangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Xingyi HeHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Rui FuHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Junwen TanHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Qinwei FuHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Qinxiu ZhangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Yan LuNeurology Department, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has contributed to the birth of over 10 million children worldwide; however, its long-term health impacts, especially the potential risk of childhood cancer, continue to be a subject of debate. This study aims to examine the most current risk associations between ART and childhood cancer. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases up to August 1, 2024. These studies aimed to explore the association between ART and childhood cancer risk, covering overall cancers, haematological malignancies, neural tumors, other solid tumors, and 11 specific cancers. Pooled analyses of risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals were conducted using random effects models, while cumulative meta-analyses were conducted to provide a time-based summary of the evidence. The study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024547262). Results: Sixteen large sample observational studies were included. Our findings showed a 21% increased risk of overall cancer in children conceived via ART (relative risk [RR] = 1.21, 95% CI, 1.11-1.33), with elevated risks also noted for haematological malignancies (RR = 1.16, 95% CI, 1.05-1.28), neural tumors (RR = 1.19, 95% CI, 1.07-1.32), and other solid tumors (RR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.26-1.73). Six specific cancer types also demonstrated higher risks. The direction and magnitude of the effects remained relatively constant over time, while the degree of precision increased as data from newer studies were incorporated. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, and no publication bias was found. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a potential risk association between ART and childhood cancer, raising concerns regarding the future application of ART. These findings are critical in informing infertile couples considering ART about the potential risks involved. Clinical trial registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024547262.

Indexed as

assisted reproductive technologychildhood cancermeta-analysispreventive healthrelative risksystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40463883
PMCPMC12129972

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.