Fallon cancer study attn

[Guest guest]

, this was in today's paper in Las Vegas. I wonder if you might have some

thoughts and/or want to contact this doctor.

a

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Jul-06-Tue-2004/news/24250682.html

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Doctor to study cancer in Fallon

Research on cluster to focus on genetics

By CARYN ROUSSEAU

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- An Arkansas doctor is hoping a study of genetic factors

reveals the cause of a cancer cluster in Fallon that has sickened 16 children

with leukemia since 2000, killing three.

The cause of the cluster in the Northern Nevada community is unknown despite

exhaustive studies, including one by the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention that found higher-than-normal concentrations of arsenic, antimony,

tungsten, cobalt and uranium in the Northern Nevada town of 7,500. But the CDC

found no single cause for the leukemias.

Between 1997 and 2002, 16 children with ties to Churchill County were diagnosed

with the deadly blood and bone marrow cancer. Three have died.

With $224,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Jill of

the Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute hopes to build on the CDC

study and focus her work on any genetic causes for the cluster.

" We're interested in individual genetic profiles, whether they could interact

with these metals to increase the cancer, " said. " All of the Fallon

residents were exposed to the same stuff. What's different about the kids who

got leukemia than the families who did not? What's changed, because these metals

have presumably been there forever. "

The reason the metals are interesting is because all of them independently will

cause damage to DNA. said she is researching whether the metals combined

reach a threshold that might trigger leukemia.

She also plans to look at the mothers of the children who had the disease,

including their diet, genetics and metabolism to see if the sick children were

exposed to something before they were born.

" When a cancer occurs that early, there may be some prenatal exposure, "

said. " Most cancers take time to develop. What we're really looking at is

whether exposures during pregnancy could interact with the genetics. "

The Arkansas researchers will take blood samples from the Fallon families with

children who have leukemia and two control groups: One of Fallon families

without health problems but who were also exposed to the metals and one of

Arkansas families who have not been exposed to the metals.

The study is to begin by the end of the summer. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.,

helped secure the money through the University of Nevada, Reno to fund the

study.