Research

Project Title:
UK Case Control Study of Adult Brain Tumours

Start Date:
January 2002

Expected Date of Completion:
June 2004

Cost:
£270,000

Principal Investigator:
Dr P McKinney (formerly Professor R Cartwright)

Contact Details:
Information and Statistics Division
NHS Scotland

Project Team:
Professor Tom Sorahan, Professor of Occupational Epidemiology, Institute of Occupational Health, University of Birmingham
Dr Ken Muir, Reader in Epidemiology, Division of Public Health, University of Nottingham
Dr Martie Van Tongeran, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Occupational Health University of Birmingham (contract end December 2003)

Expertise:

A collaborative group of epidemiologists, with an occupational hygienist working closely with nonionising irradiation experts at the NRPB. The group has an independent Steering Committee chaired by Professor David Coggan of Southampton University.

Approach:

This is a population based case-control study. It is conducted by identifying newly diagnosed patients with brain tumours from four areas in England and Scotland. The patients (with permission) help the study by giving details of their past use of mobile phones, other information about their past occupations and medical histories and also donate a blood sample. People without brain tumours are chosen at random from the general population but to be of the same age, sex and residence as the patient group, and are asked identical information. The information from patients are then contrasted with that for the public as a whole. This will help to ascertain, for example, if their past use of mobile phone is the same as, or different to, that of the general public. Other possible causes of brain tumours are examined in the same way.

These other areas of interest include, exposure to solvents, head injuries, exposure to ionising irradiation.

Potential Difficulties:

This study commenced in 2001 and most difficulties have been dealt with. The study has comprehensive ethical approval from national, local and hospital sources and requires the informed consent of all participants and their hospital doctors and general practitioner.

Importance:

The study directly addresses concerns about the effects of the use of mobile phones. However, equally importantly, it will also identify whether other possible causes of brain tumours exist or not. This work is part of a larger national and international effort in this regard and it is important to ascertain if the UK is the same as other countries with respect to the risks of mobile phone use, or if it is different, why this might be.