AUS-CBT

 

Childhood brain tumours are the second most common childhood cancer after leukaemia, and are the leading cause of cancer death in children. In Australia, approximately 120 new cases of childhood brain tumours (CBTs) are diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, the risk factors for CBTs are largely unknown, despite several decades of research.

The Australian Study of Childhood Brain Tumours (AUS-CBT) is a 5 year, national case-control study that commenced in 2006. It aims to investigate genetic, dietary and environmental causes of childhood brain tumours by comparing families of children with a brain tumour and families of children who do not have a brain tumour. AUS-CBT is the sister study to the Australian Study of Causes of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Children (AUS-ALL).

The Australian Study of Childhood Brain Tumours involves families of children (aged 0-14) diagnosed with a brain tumour since 2005 (our ‘Cases’), as well as families with children the same age, who have not been diagnosed with a brain tumour (our ‘Controls’). Recruitment for the study commenced in 2006, and by the end of 2010 we hope to have recruited 350 case families and 700 control families.

Families participating in AUS-CBT are asked to complete self-administered exposure and dietary questionnaires which are mailed out their home. It also involves a telephone interview with each parent, covering occupational and other exposures. DNA samples are also provided by all case families and some control families.

If you are one of the families who receive an invitation to take part in the study, we would really appreciate your consideration. The more families agree to participate, the more accurate our research will be. If you would like some more information on this study please contact the Project Coordinator at: aus-cbt@ichr.uwa.edu.au , or on 08 9489 7949.