For more information about this topic, read "Multiple Primary Malignancies."
▶As cancer survivorship increases, there is greater concern about the development of secondary malignancies
▶Analysis of the SEER registry estimates secondary cancer risk in cancer survivors at about 16% (1 in 6)2
▶MPMs are defined as being separate primary cancers with the possibility of being a metastasis or recurrence excluded4
▶MPM prevalence has ranged from 0.734% to 11.7% in various populations5
▶MPMs are further defined as being synchronous (occurring within 6 months of each other) or metachronous (occurring more than 6 months apart)
▶Risk factors for MPMs include baseline host factors, genetic predisposition, exposures, and past cancer treatments7
▶In 2006, a NCI workshop developed recommendations for future research approaches in understanding MPMs. These included improving a national research infrastructure for cancer survivorship studies, creating a coordinated system for biospecimen collection, promoting the biomarker development, developing new epidemiologic methods, and creating new clinical practice guidelines7
▶By improving understanding of MPMs on a clinical and molecular level, researchers aim to identify populations at risk and improve outcomes7
▶Past radiation and chemotherapy have been associated with the development of secondary solid and hematologic malignancies20,21
▶Even newer targeted or immune-directed therapies have shown risk for the development of secondary malignancies
