The shape of the cancer mortality dose-response curve for the A-bomb survivors

Abstract

The shape of the dose-response curve for cancer mortality in the A-bomb survivor data is analyzed in the context of linear-quadratic models. Results are given for all cancers except leukemia as a group, for leukemia, and for combined inferences assuming common curvature. Since there is substantial information aside from these data suggesting a dose-response curve with upward curvature, the emphasis here is not on estimating the best-fitting dose-response curve, but rather on assessing the maximum curvature under linear-quadratic models which is consistent with the data. The apparent shape of the dose-response curve is substantially affected by imprecision in the dose estimates, and methods are applied to correct for this. The extent of curvature can be expressed as the factor by which linear risk estimates from these data should be divided to arrive at appropriate estimates of risk at low doses. Influential committees have in the past recommended ranges of 1.5-4 and of 2-10 for such a factor. Results here suggest that values greater than about 2.0-2.5 are at least moderately inconsistent with these data, within the context of linear-quadratic models. It is emphasized, however, that there is little direct information in these data regarding risks following low doses; the inferences here depend strongly on the assumption of a linear-quadratic model.